South Buckinghamshire Golf Club Sunday 4 June 2023

by Richard Faulkner

As I approached the first tee, my expectations were low. The previous week had been challenging, with a total of 17 lost golf balls over two rounds, forcing me to urgently stock up on lake balls from the pro shop. However, without a cloud in the sky and the course in good condition, I remained excited to start playing.

Our group got off to a solid start, with Tim delivering an excellent wedge shot on the 2nd hole, landing within seven feet (which ultimately won him the nearest-to-the-pin competition), and Ian producing some impressive drives. The only disappointment during the front nine was our performance on the greens. One example was on the par four 7th hole, where my second approach shot left me with a three-foot birdie putt, while Ian and Tim both drove to the front of the green. Unfortunately, none of us managed to make a birdie.

Throughout the round, my game remained relatively consistent, while others in the group had moments of brilliance but also experienced some challenges in the punishing rough. With some improvements on the greens during the back nine, I was able to accumulate 39 points, and my Dad scrambled to 26 points, resulting in our first-ever Father & Son Trophy victory after multiple attempts over the years!

Congratulations to Colin for his impressive score of 38 points, narrowly missing out on the top spot. Thanks as always to Colin, Ray, Graham and Alan as stand-in captain for making the outing happen.

Overall, it was an enjoyable round, and I hope we can continue to have similar weather throughout the summer outings.

RESULTS

Winner Richard Faulkner 39 pts

Runner up Colin Staunton-Lambert 38 pts

Third Terry Harmsworth (Jnr) 33 pts

Nearest the pin Tim Houghton 10’ 11”

Father and Son Philip and Richard Faulkner 65 points