Pedro rode into town

HomerJSimpson

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I played our Jubilee Cup today (4 ball better ball stableford off 3/4 handicap) with Hywel. As most of you know he's far better than a 17 handicapper and today he was off 13 and played with the captain.

Some days you have to stand back and admire a guy playing well, a bit like McIlroy last night. He was different gravy today and played the best golf I've seen him play and I think the captain has made a very big mental note. Although the results aren't confirmed yet we are clubhouse leader on 44 points and I reckon I was probably good for about 4 of them. He was hitting out of fairway bunkers (about 140 from the green) and sticking them to 10 feet. He hardly missed a drive and his GIR numbers must be pretty good. Even my ailing game had a revival especially on the back nine where I finally managed to make some contributions but in truth I was riding his wave.

It was great to see and suffice to say his bandito reputation has now lept from the forum to the bar and he is definitely become known amongst the top golfers in our club. I'm more than happy with my choice of partner and looks like we've won a gold letter event so will get a trophy on presentation night and we both qaulify for the masters, our invite only event for competition winners.

He's been threatening for a while to hit a silly score as those that have played with him will testify. Even his new Scotty Cameron behaved. Well down Pedro but don't forget to take the sombrero off befor you go to the bar.
 
I'm more than happy with my choice of partner

Well knock me down with a feather.

As far as the quest for success in "gold letter events" was concerned, wasn't getting Hywel to join Ascot all part of the master plan Homer????

PS I'd still like to play YOU for a tenner
;)
 
It was part of a cunning plan Smiffy but you've played against HTL on numerous courses and know that 17 is a joke handicap. While all these pairs events are non-qualifiers its fill your boots time and if my game ever comes back and I can do some of the work then it makes it even better.

I've got to say he's got a silly score in a stableford coming soon especially as the course begins to play shorter.
 
Playing devils advocate - Is this thread secretly advocating the bandits people seem to moan about all the time, surely not?

there's another explanation isnt there? Please tell me there is....
 
Well if he's such a bandit then the club captain should be speaking with the match secretary who should rule 19 him.

Bandits should be hounded out!
 
It isn't moody. It is official and he play in all the medals and stablefords. The captains partner just happened to be the handicap secretary anyway.

My point was/is that he had a sensational day and was playing great golf. Nothing more. And as I understand it the handicap secretary was chatting with Hywel in the bar and Clause 19 was being mentioned anyway.
 
While all these pairs events are non-qualifiers its fill your boots time

And that's the thing that wrankles Homer.
When I was a member at Crowborough I played off 23 for some considerable time. I couldn't sort it out.
But then something "clicked" and I found myself playing good, steady golf. My handicap started coming down.
But I wanted to get lower. Pride, ego, honesty, call it what you like.
As you know, I am a bit of a journeyman golfer and love playing different courses. But it didn't matter where I played, who I played with, or whether the game was a fun game or not. If I scored anything more than 37 points ANYWHERE my card went back to the secretary of Crowborough for consideration. It may not have always worked, but it showed willing. It could have been on the crappiest golf course in the country, SSS67 par 70, 5400 yards short. The card went in. Because I wanted to be a lower handicapped golfer. I wanted to stand in the bar and say "I play off 10" not "I play off 23". I must have drove her mad in my quest for a lower handicap. But do you know what? It worked. I got down to 11. I could feel proud that "I'd done it".
OK if I played badly the following week in a medal with a card in my hand, tough titty. The handicap system would sort it out. But if I shot 42 points the following week around Watherhall in Brighton the card would be back in for consideration.
Don't get my wrong. I like Hywel, like him a lot. He's a great guy, great sense of humour. And I'd play with him anytime. But not for money. Not off 17.
Within 5 or 6 holes of our first match at Leatherhead, Norman said to me "that blokes handy"...meaning Hywel.
By the end of the round the word "bandit" had raised it's ugly head. That was a year ago and to find that Hywel is still playing off the same handicap he was then, despite the games I have seen him play is quite frankly a joke, and an abuse of the handicap system.
It's not sour grapes. I've had my turn. I'm too old to get down to single figures now. But Hywel? Remember when I first saw him play I said "he'll be off single figures within a year?"
It's just a shame that he's not. Because he would be a better golfer for it.
 
Smiffy

I totally agree with you 100% but whats the guy to do? So far at Ascot he's not performed in competitions in the same way as he does when you or I play against him. You know him as well as anyone on here and will agree (I hope) that he is definitely not a handicap protector. I think the fact that he was out with the captain and handicap secretary will help him if he asks for a cut on todays play.

I think the fault lies in the fact that off 3/4 handicap it wasn't a qualifying competition. Most of our pairs (with the exception on one) are off 3/4 and so unless a general play cut is invoked then he or anyone else will win the prize and remain on the same figure. He wants to get down to single figures. He's said it to you and he's said it on here. The post wasn't suppose to be "look a bandit won again" but was trying to congratulate a guy who played the best golf I'd seen him play.

He will get cut. Maybe not today but soon. I think there are enough people at Ascot aware of his talent and current form now to make sure a general pay request is looked at very carefully. Even without it, with the course playing shorter he'll have another day like today and get chopped anyway.
 
Smiffy
I totally agree with you 100% but whats the guy to do?

Errr..what happened to the card from Lewes, or the card from the London Club?
What's happened to the cards you mark from "bounce" games?
I don't care what anybody says about Congu handicaps and qualifiers. If the guy is playing well enough to clean up the way he does, any secretary would take those cards into consideration.
It's a real shame that you started this thread Homer because I feel like I'm talking about Hywel behind his back which I'm not.
But let's put it this way.
If Hywel plays in the GM meet at Ascot in June off 17 handicap...who the hell is going to beat him?
Is that fair?
Murph gave me the GM shield yesterday to bring with me because he won't be able to come on the day.
I might as well go out and get Hywels name engraved on it now.
Because unless he has an absolute skinful the night before and plays with a hangover, which is hardly the fault of his handicap, nobody else stands a chance.
 
Point is I wasn't starting this as a bandito thread. Most of you had aleady labelled him Pedro anyway on various threads. If I had written - we won the jubilee - everyone would have been congratulating him on his performance and for carrying me in the process.

I've said my piece regarding him and his handicap. Saturday morning bounce games won't get considered at Ascot - end of. If he had put in his London Club card he might have got a cut but that's down to him and to late to change now anyway. We're off to Pyrford on Saturday week so I guess we could put that card in (its his handicap and so his choice) and see what happens. Otherwise he just needs to get todays game head on with a card and pencil in hand and do it the same way as the rest of us. It will happen.

Anyway like I said he played superbly. Apart from the shot from a bunker on 3, he hit a par 5 (15th) in two playing just a 5 iron for his second. He had a birdie at the 8th (nearly aced it) and made a great up and down at 17 from heavy rough and no green to work with. Other than that it was fairway and green all the way. Putting was solid too which has been an achilles heel. Irrespecitve of what he did or should be plying off I reckon his individual score would have beaten a lot of the pairs on his own today. He just had one of THOSE days. Well played mate!
 
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