Following on from a very good pre season we moved onto our League campaign on Wednesday 14th June 2023. Given the league we are in life is never easy, but we were certainly looking forward to our opening match at home to BB&O with a degree of confidence we would be able to give them a decent game. We were as always made very welcome at Bedfordshire Golf Club as had BB&O when practicing the previous day, the course was presented in excellent condition and a few pin positions that I’m sure were there to keep us all on our toes and ensure birdies would be earned and not gifted.

    Having made a late team change due to injury to our regular tail gunner Banners, and following our customary extensive pre match warm up we started in the heat of the midday sun. Well things went fairly well from the off with 3 straight wins at the top of the field from the ever reliable trio of Dickie Harris, Colin Beard and Ian Farrant who was almost unrecognisable with his new hair style, fortunately his middle name isn’t Samson!!, this though was followed by 2 loses for Steve Kavanagh and Chris Smith, Phill Gibson making his league debut ground out a very good half with George Wilson and was disappointed he didn’t gain a full point, though I’m sure when he’s been around a bit longer he’ll appreciate that was a good half. I unfortunately lost 3 holes in a row to loose 2/1 to one of the longest hitting Seniors I’ve played in a while. So with 3 games still on the course the match stood at 3 1/2 - 3 1/2. Gareth Shorley was having an epic tussle with Gary Mumford and they stood on the 18th tee all square, a pushed drive by the BB&O Man resulted in the dreaded OB and a reload, Gareth kept his head down and his ball in play to ensure a final hole 1 up win. Trace White was also all square on the 18th tee and having found his drive in bounds by at least a foot!! and watched his opponent Ian Oakes play a great recovery 2nd shot from up against the Oak tree onto the green he kept his cool and played an excellent approach to the edge of the green, however from the BB&O traveling officials good news was filtering through our last minute call up Terry Mundy playing at 10 also in his first league match was known to be 1 up going up the 17th and he was seen to be shaking hands on the green, that must mean a win for Bedfordshire. By this time Trace White had made par and secured a half giving us 5 point and it wasn’t long until we had confirmation Terry who may have learned a bit about match play from someone he’s walked a few golf courses with over the years!! had indeed won his match.

   So a dream start to the league season with a 6-4 victory against a strong BB&O side, thank you to everyone at Bedfordshire Golf Club for looking after us all so well, to BB&O for a great match in which 8 of the 10 games went to the 17th or beyond and of course those in the team who represented our County so well on the day. We now have a very quick turnaround and with 3 changes to our opening winning side travel to Upminster Golf Club to play Essex on Monday 19th June.

  

    Andy Brown.

     A fairly happy Seniors Captain.