Oh Yes for O’Grady at Purley Chase
The challenge faced by all on this occasion was Purley Chase Golf club in Nuneaton. Not a very long course but the undulating and reasonably speedy greens provided the protection and prevented some of the longer hitters from taken the course apart.
The weather abated for most of the day but caught some of the late starters with a small down pour. All in all everyone enjoyed the course and would return to give it a better challenge.
This season the CGS membership has grown and this is due to the attendance of guests coming and enjoying themselves so much that they decide to take up the membership and this season more than any other as seen a welcoming increase in our membership. Most, if not all of the events this season as included at least one guest and this event was no different. Lately we’ve seen players coming from as far afield as Southampton and London and on this occasion two guests traveled from Bristol to play in a CGS major event. Representing the Bristol Titans Golf Society were Fearon Newell and Dunstan Taylor. Both enjoyed the day’s entertainment and the golf wasn’t too bad either, with Dunstan taking with him on the journey home the bragging rights for the best score of the two from Bristol. Returning a well-respected 34 points Dunstan showed a consistent level of golf playing from an 18 handicap and Fearon or “Fez” as he’s known scored 29 points.
Consistency is the name of this game when it comes to contending for the season end titles and some have been able to produce that more than others. One whom we can surely point to when consistency is mentioned is Dave Brown. Dave has been running either first or second on the Order of Merit for most of the season and that includes a few handicap adjustments which have not hindered is play. Yet again he has managed to produce the goods with a solid third place here at Purley Chase. A score of 35 points as again propelled him to the lead in the race for the end of season title. If anyone wants to beat this man then they need to step-up at the next event, there are only three majors remaining but as we know anything can happen and that’s why we play this great game. Following on from Dave but one step further up the leader board at Purley Chase was one of two lady members and in her first season with the CGS is Lyn Webb. Lyn played a fantastic round of golf and as some of her playing partners would say later on “she never missed a fairway” It goes to show that anyone within this society as a chance to win and compete for prizes. Lyn scored an excellent 37 points which on any course would be one under her handicap. Now with a new handicap of 27, dropping two strokes, Lyn is heading in the right direction.
Golf is a funny game and sometimes you play really well and the next day it’s all gone wrong. When things aren’t going right for you there is always the challenge of nearest the pin or longest drive, so at least you can get to take something home besides a sore back and tired feet. The longest drive challenge has been one of those much loved of the CGS events and one where everyone will give it a go with the “Big Stick” to try and bomb one out there like a Bubba Watson or Dustin Johnson. In the first group out was CGS captain Jacko Powell, who was playing a very good round which included an eagle and birdie on two of the par 5 holes. When it came to the longest drive whole he didn’t hold back and let rip with a “long bomb” right down the middle of the fairway on the par 5 12th. Sometimes the green keeper will draw a chalk line down the middle of the fairway for the longest drive challenge, where combined nearest the line and longest wins. Well if that was the case on this hole I’m sure Jacko would’ve won because his drive spilt the fairway. Unfortunately the line down the middle wasn’t used on this occasion and of course the CGS as some really big hitters who were yet to come. In the 2nd group out was notorious big hitter Junior Harris who’s draw shape drives usually travel a long way and on this occasion that again was the case – “sorry Jacko”! It wasn’t to be yours this time. Earlier I talked about the attendance of guests at CGS events and how that number as increased this year, some of those guests were former members. A former member was Len Hayles and Junior knows Len Hayles well when it comes to long drives, with Len beating a previous Junior Harris effort a couple of years ago. Well that day as come again, Jacko’s drive was long, Juniors drive was long but neither were long enough to beat Len Hayles.
Knocking the ball 12 feet from the pin on the par 3 17th to take the nearest the pin prize instead of usually contending in the longest drive was CGS handicap secretary Roan McLeod. Out in the first group it was a long wait to see if he would take the trophy. The green was very undulating and the pin placement on the bottom of a slope made it difficult to get close. Ian Higgins another long driver contesting for the shorter yardage, hit a good tee shot but caught the down slope and ran off the green. Ian, you need to use “Pro V1” balls!
Now onto the winner of the day, Chad O’Grady (in picture left) is another new member playing in his first season with the CGS. With a score of 38 points, Chad played a very good round of golf, coping very well with those undulating greens. Again 38 points on any course is playing two under his handicap. The win as now reduced Chad’s handicap from 14 to 12.9 and also moved him up the CGS order of merit after only two events, moving pass some fellow members who’ve have played 5 events, it just goes to show that a win can move you right into contention for the Order of Merit title. Congratulations to Chad, well done.