HAYLING ISLAND - 27th APRIL 2021

After the further 3 months of Covid lockdown when no golf was permitted, it was no surprise the April event attached a full field of 28 players. The April showers had not arrived with temperatures colder than normal resulting in most courses still recovering from Autumn maintenance work. As has often been the case (that was the kiss of death) the weather was perfect for links golf for the 9th event at Hayling.  We welcomed 5 new players to the event which included 2 local boys Nick Jones & Andrew Jameson, who one expected could clean up the field if it wasn’t for the unique scoring format which required both players to play well and can take some time to perfect. 

The Berkshire parade of Allum & Taberer led the way with Pritchard & Raven both scoring 10 points over the first 4BBB holes. Past Champions Berry & Pimbley got off to a strong start scored 11 points as did Deucher & Wingfield as did Patel & Lancaster who both birdied the 3rd hole with a stroke for 4 points but alas only one score counted – timing is everything!  Multiple past Champions Jackson & Naylor who had started slowly with only 7 points over the 4BBB holes stepped up a gear to bank 7 points on the Par 4 SI1 6th hole with Jackson nett eagle and Naylor’s net birdie. Only 3 other teams scored 7 points on a hole throughout the day – Jones & Jameson on the 6th hole with Pritchard & Raven and Hedges & Taylor both on the 14th hole.  

Kelly almost added his name in the Kangaroo Cup history books to join our only Hole in One holder Ben Angold but stopped an inch from the hole.   After 9 holes double defending Champions Bragg & Lumley led the field with 33 points only dropping 1 shot to Par between them, with Hanna & new boy Broer on 30 points.     

Bragg sunk a 60’ birdie putt on the Par 4 12th for 4 points which was matched by Deuchar sinking his 25’ birdie for his 4 points. Bragg and Lumley birdied 3 of the 4BBB holes but the course bit back on the 15th only scoring 1 point and finished the morning round on 62 points. The weather had turned colder with the home stretch of holes straight into the breeze resulting in many stray balls venturing into the gorse for nil points. Hedges & Taylor scored 21points on the last 5 holes against the field average of 15 for the best of the morning 30 points on the back 9 holes to lie second at lunch on 58 with Hanna & Broer in 3rd place with 55 points. Couzens & Bragg took gross honours at level par which included 1 Eagle & 7 birdies so no wonder the rest of the field were struggling to find any birdies on  the course!  

Bragg continued where he had left off before lunch with 2 more birdies for a -1 under par 35 giving the team 31 points which was matched by Jameson & Jones using their local knowledge having become accustomed to the format.  Patel & Lancaster finished strongly with 30 points matched by Hanna & Broer.  Hedges & Taylor watched victory slip away with only 2 points on the Par 3 5th followed by another 2 points on the tough 6th hole. Their 29 points were matched by Forsythe & Simpson and Pimbley & Berry with Berry snatching closest to the pin on the 5th in the last group of the day.  

Despite the Covid restrictions on the use of the clubhouse, presentation took place on the balcony, followed by the traditional group photo. The course had once again provided us all with a wonderful day of true links golf on what is known as the “Hidden Gem” on the South coast.