On Tuesday 23 April our Scratch Team entertained Wollaton Park in their first home match. Our Team were looking
to recover from their disappointing defeat in their first match at Retford. The weather was fine although there was a tricky breeze and as the evening grew older it became quite chilly.
Wollaton fielded a strong side of low Handicap players so we were expecting a close match. Our Team were proudly wearing their new Team shirts. Fred Tindale following his recent selection for The Nottinghamshire County team led our challenge and made a fine start against a fellow County player by going 2 up after 3 holes. He built on this start and was 4 up after 7 holes and when he made that 5 up after 13 holes it seemed as though he was set for a convincing
win but his opponent had other ideas and when Fred lost 14, 15 and 16 the game was back in the balance. However a 20 foot Par saving putt for a half on 17 ensured that Fred set us off to a fine 2&1 win.
Behind him Bobby Large after some fine recent form in Club Competitions was making his Home debut. An indifferent start meant he was 2 down after 3 but he pulled one back on the 4th but was 2 down again after 7 but he was level by the turn. His opponent then won 11, 13 and 14 after a 30 foot birdie Putt from the fringe to put Bobby 3 down but again he showed fine fighting spirit to win 15, 16 and 17 to take the match down the last all
square. Here both players were in trouble off the Tee but a fine second shot gave Bobby a chance to win the match but unfortunately he was unable to follow this up so was beaten by just 1 hole after a brave effort.
In the third match Callum Fern was making his final appearance for our Team prior to him turning Professional next
week. A birdie to win the 1st was followed by a loss on the 2nd and then another win on the 3rd. His 1 Handicap opponent was not overawed however and was more than holding his own and it needed a fine 15 foot Putt for Par by Callum to level the match on the 9th. As the match entered the back 9 Callum at last exerted his authority to record yet another victory for our Team by 4&2.
Behind him our Captain Danny Alford also birdied the 1st to go 1 up against his Scratch opponent. This was followed by 2 halved holes and then another win for Danny on the 4th. Danny’s lead was reduced to 1 after he lost the 5th but wins on 6, 7 and 8 put him well in charge. He lost the 9th but by the 12th he was 5 up and it was no surprise when he closed out his match on 13 to win by 6&5 and record a really convincing performance with Danny
back to his very best form.
In the final match Alex Brewin was playing the Wollaton Captain. Alex won the 1st and he retained this lead after
the 6th but then lost the next 2 to go 1 down. Right from the start this was a very even match which looked like going all the way. So it continued with first one then the other player trying to break away without success. Alex lost 16 to go back to 1 down and then just missed his birdie Putt on 17 and then again on the last when another birdie Putt was just short so like Bobby he was beaten by 1 hole after another fine close match.
Mention was made earlier in this report that it was Callum Fern’s last match for us before he turns professional next
week. Since his debut for us as a Junior in 2011 he has played exactly 50 matches winning 38 of them halving 2 and losing just 10. As many of these matches have been against our opponents top player this is a truly outstanding record of which Callum should be rightly proud. Last year he was the County Champion and was a regular in the County First Team for three years. We wish him well in his professional career and we are sure that his talent and fine temperament will serve him well.
Our next match in just 2 weeks time on Tuesday 7 May is again at Home on our Championship Course when we will
be looking to build on this performance when we entertain Kilton Forest. The first Tee is at 4-00 pm when we will again be looking for the support of our members
