SIGS Matchplay Final...

So that's it then, the first piece of golfing silverware in the bag... The prestigious Smiths Industries Golf Society 'Nicholl Matchplay Trophy'.

Another really close match at Burford Golf Club, this time against 'The Fireman's Father'. I was ahead all the way round, although by no more than two holes, until the short par 3 15th... three shots to get out of a [deep] greenside bunker and we were all-square.

I then lost the 16th, one of the four holes where I had to give up a shot... one down, two to play, pressure on!

It seemed like neither of us wanted to get the ball in the hole on the 17th, but eventually I won the hole 6 strokes to 7... back to all-square.

And then cometh the hour, cometh the man!! An OK drive at the 360yd, par 4 final hole, left me with exactly 150yds to the centre of the green. Then the shot of the day... an arrow straight 6-iron to the heart of the green, about 10ft from the flag. Two putts was good enough to take the hole and the match.

Made Me Smile...

Today At The Golf Pitch...

We played all 18 holes! Although Neal did receive one warning from the umpire for 'raquet abuse' at the 16th tee... after slicing his tee shot about 80 yds right, back onto the 15th tee, he then hurled his driver up the field... unfortunately he pulled it a bit and missed the fairway on the left!


Neal actually got away to the better start, winning the first two holes with a par and a birdie... but a couple of sevens spoiled the front nine for him. At the half way point it was honours even at 47 strokes each. Neither of us played the back nine particularly well, although I should add that following the incident reported above, Neal went on to hit the 16th green with his second shot and then make two putts for a par.

No real highlights in my round, just steady scoring... with the exception of an 11 at the 13th, playing 5 off the tee after pulling the first two drives out of bounds. In the end I shot a total of 99, beating Neal by 2 or 3 strokes.

Playing Golf With Neal T on Wed...

I'm thinking 50p / hole for the first 6... £1 / hole for 7-12... and £10 / hole for 13-18!!

In our two previous meetings, on a grown up's course, Neal's frustration got the better of him and he walked off on the 12th and the 7th. ;-)

Neal on a golf course yesterday

SIGS Matchplay Semi-Final...

It was a game of two and a bit halves, at Burford Golf Club, playing against 'The Brief'.

I got off to an awful start, quickly going 3 down after 3 holes, before steadying the ship with a half at the 4th and a win at the 5th. I pulled one more back amongst a run of halved holes, to finish the front nine just 1 down.

-1, -2, -3, -3, -2, -2, -2, -1, -1

We also halved 10 and 11, I then went on a bit of heater, winning 4 in a row. Stood on the 16th tee I was 3 up with 3 to play and feeling confident... Doh! Big mistake!

-1, -1, AS, +1, +2, +3, +2, +1, AS

And so, back to the 1st tee for 'sudden death' extra holes. The end came, rather un-ceremoniously, at the 130 yd, par 3, second. My opponent scuffed his tee shot under a tree, left his second shot under there and then put his third into a greenside bunker... Meanwhile I had chipped my second shot onto the green, but a good twenty feet from the flag... he then hit his 4th shot out of the bunker, clear over the green and into a hedge... hole conceded and I am now into my first ever matchplay final.

I'm not sure if the other semi has been played yet... it is between 'The Stepfather' and 'The Fireman's Father', both of whom play of 28, so I will be in the unusual position of having to give 4 shots to my opponent.

It's A Small World...

but I wouldn't want to paint it!

I played my first ever round of golf at Burford this morning, with two other members of the Smiths Golf Society and very pleasant it was too.

Whilst chatting to one of them over a shandy in the bar, the conversation came round to poker, via holidays & Las Vegas. I tried to convince him that it's not all about luck and that there is a large ammount of skill involved, but he wouldn't have it.

He told me, "My stepson plays a lot of poker, he tells me that he outplays them all at the Three Pigeons, on a Sunday, but they all just get so lucky."

His name was Colin.

Fantasy WSOP & Last Longer...

With just 27 left in the ME, all 'Mob' team members have had their day at the 2010 WSOP. The final scores are -

Alan 56
Paul 48
Rich 24
Teresa 21

And so, by the power vested in me as keeper of the official scoring spreadsheet, I do hereby declare myself as the winner of said 'Fanstasy WSOP' competition.

As for the last longer bet, with none of the picks making the money, it is my belief that, according to the rules agreed upon last year, the result is a 'No Contest'.

I also managed to hold onto joint second place in the blonde forum fantasy WSOP, which returned $87.50.

So, all in all, not a bad series for me... if you disregard the $2500 in tournament buy-ins which showed exactly $0.00 return!!

Fantasy WSOP Provisional Result...

A cursory glance through the ME day 5 seating list appears to confirm my beleif that JP Kelly is the only 'Mob' team player left in the competition... the scores are currently -

Alan 56
Paul 48
Rich 24
Teresa 21

I am also lying T2 in the blonde forum comp. I can win it if JP makes the Nov9 and will finish 3rd if Jason Mercier or Eric Baldwin get there.

The Open 2010...

I have unregistered from the two APAT WCOAP tournaments that I had entered, due to lack of enthusiasm and a preference to play in golf comp on the Monday. This meant that £150 was returned to my Betfair account... I have withdrawn £100, but re-invested £50 in The Open.

The winner of this year's event will come from one of these 5 (£10 on each)...

Camilo Villegas @ 110
KJ Choi @ 120
Edoardo Molinari @ 120
Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 170
Thongchai Jaidee @ 360

Apologies...

for not keeping things updated. Just lost the will to write for a while. I've started on some updates on the rest of the Vegas trip and stuff.

Watch this space... although none of it very interesting! You have been warned.