After receiving a message from Ian on Sunday morning saying course still open, I had to wonder why he had sent such a strange message when in Bangor where I live the sun had been shining from virtually sunrise.
It turns out there had been some snow but had melted very quickly. I headed up to Massereene GC to be met with this fine sight, blue skies!
After meeting and saying hello, we headed to the 1st tee.
Having played the course twice before I thought I would remember most of the way round....wrong!
We paired off for a match playing high lows. Ian (bunkersave07) and Scott vs Steve (smange) and myself.
The first couple of holes were a bit of a blur for myself as I managed to almost loose my first two tee shots each time going too straight and too far rather than laying up.
So the game was up and down and soon we all started to lift our games a little, Ian most notably barely missing a putt including draining one putt from off the green for a nice 2 towards the end of the first nine.
Scott battled with his driver having sent a few to the right but was still scoring well meaning we had to score better than par to win holes, this just didnt happen often enough for our liking. Through out the day there were tiny flurries of snow which was strange as the sky was blue, talk about 4 seasons in one!!
Scott prepares to hammer one.
Steve easing a couple of drives down the middle
Ian powering a couple tee shots down the middle
Come the turn of the nine, Steve and myself were 1 down and really struggling on the greens while Ian virtually single putted his way round only missing the occasional putt due to recently spiked and treacherous putting surfaces.
Having been 1 up at one point we managed to lose another hole early into the back nine and the game although windy wasnt proving impossible to hit greens in regulation, only the odd stray drive slowed us down as we flew round the remaining holes. having gone 3 down and holes running out fast both myself and steve knew the writing was on the wall as Scott took full advantage of his shots and made it difficult for us, scoring pars were just not good enough and finally the game was over on the 16th with a fine half from scott.
Steve Ian and scott check out their putts.
Ian takes aim.... and drains yet another.
Steve lags one up
Steve and Ian playing into the sun.
Scott and Ian Sailing close to the water on the 16th
On the 16th Steve strikes a pose
Meanwhile Ian uncharacteristically loses on in the bushes though the main competition is pretty much over
Steve Makes good of an escape route
One of the fine 190yd par 3's
After finishing out on the 500 yd par 5 final hole for par, I shook my partners hand and commiserated with him and congratulated Ian and Scott on a match well won.
We retired to the club house for Burger and saute potatoes and a pint.
A rematch has already been mentioned and Scotts home course of Edenmore in Moira has been agreed. Hopefully with similar weather and more forgiving greens!
The only consolation I have is that it wasnt all in vain, Ian now has to buy a new driver as per one of his previous posts regarding drives.
Well done Ian and Scott.
I have only got photos of the three other fellas as Ian took pics also and Im sure will post them up when he gets a chance to upload them.
It turns out there had been some snow but had melted very quickly. I headed up to Massereene GC to be met with this fine sight, blue skies!
After meeting and saying hello, we headed to the 1st tee.
Having played the course twice before I thought I would remember most of the way round....wrong!
We paired off for a match playing high lows. Ian (bunkersave07) and Scott vs Steve (smange) and myself.
The first couple of holes were a bit of a blur for myself as I managed to almost loose my first two tee shots each time going too straight and too far rather than laying up.
So the game was up and down and soon we all started to lift our games a little, Ian most notably barely missing a putt including draining one putt from off the green for a nice 2 towards the end of the first nine.
Scott battled with his driver having sent a few to the right but was still scoring well meaning we had to score better than par to win holes, this just didnt happen often enough for our liking. Through out the day there were tiny flurries of snow which was strange as the sky was blue, talk about 4 seasons in one!!
Scott prepares to hammer one.
Steve easing a couple of drives down the middle
Ian powering a couple tee shots down the middle
Come the turn of the nine, Steve and myself were 1 down and really struggling on the greens while Ian virtually single putted his way round only missing the occasional putt due to recently spiked and treacherous putting surfaces.
Having been 1 up at one point we managed to lose another hole early into the back nine and the game although windy wasnt proving impossible to hit greens in regulation, only the odd stray drive slowed us down as we flew round the remaining holes. having gone 3 down and holes running out fast both myself and steve knew the writing was on the wall as Scott took full advantage of his shots and made it difficult for us, scoring pars were just not good enough and finally the game was over on the 16th with a fine half from scott.
Steve Ian and scott check out their putts.
Ian takes aim.... and drains yet another.
Steve lags one up
Steve and Ian playing into the sun.
Scott and Ian Sailing close to the water on the 16th
On the 16th Steve strikes a pose
Meanwhile Ian uncharacteristically loses on in the bushes though the main competition is pretty much over
Steve Makes good of an escape route
One of the fine 190yd par 3's
After finishing out on the 500 yd par 5 final hole for par, I shook my partners hand and commiserated with him and congratulated Ian and Scott on a match well won.
We retired to the club house for Burger and saute potatoes and a pint.
A rematch has already been mentioned and Scotts home course of Edenmore in Moira has been agreed. Hopefully with similar weather and more forgiving greens!
The only consolation I have is that it wasnt all in vain, Ian now has to buy a new driver as per one of his previous posts regarding drives.
Well done Ian and Scott.
I have only got photos of the three other fellas as Ian took pics also and Im sure will post them up when he gets a chance to upload them.
