The 2025 season got underway at Druids Heath, warm sunny weather greeted the players, with members hoping to lift the Fix-UP Trophy our usual season opener.

With the issues we had the previous year with our tee time, on this occasion Druids Heath didn’t make the same mistake with over forty golfers gearing up for play.

The course was in excellent condition with the best greens many of us have played this year, they were quicker than anything experienced so far this season and would prove a real challenge for many. Any shots into the green ending up above the hole with a downhill putt could prove costly and more than likely would result in a three or even a four putt.

Once play got underway it was clear to see that the quick greens were causing an affect on play. As well as three putts, they may have made an impact on the speed of play. This was a hot topic once everyone reached the clubhouse. It’s not acceptable, a point made by many, we have to do better after all we’re not playing medal so if you cannot score a point you should pickup your ball and wait by the side of the green or help pace of play by managing the flag. We have a new committee this year but they cannot be on every hole to tell a player to speed up or pickup. We still have to think and use common sense to help with the flow of the game, keep up with the group in front and not ahead of the group behind! I hope everyone makes an effort on this matter.

With that topic out of the way its back to the golf: The warm weather which the country had been experiencing throughout the week had dried the fairways and the greens so tee shots on the wrong side of sloping fairways would run-out into the rough and on occasion resulting in no shot to the greens. The greens themselves were quick and dry and on occasion would require a run-up shot rather than hitting onto the green, the conditions were almost like playing a links course.

Although the conditions were challenging it didn’t prevent the field from making eleven birdies and an eagle. The second group consisting of Roan McLeod, Chris Wilson and Rob Giles had four birdies and an eagle amongst them. On the par three 14th one of the nearest the pin holes Roan hit his tee shot to a foot and looked a dead cert for the nearest pin before Rob Giles hit his tee shot to an inch. We could swear from the tee that the ball was going in, from where it ended up it must have lipped out. Even Chris Wilson’s tee shot on the same hole looked like it was going in, he was just one club to many otherwise it would have been close also. Chris however wasn’t going to be left out of the prize giving so decided to eagle the 18th hole the nearest in two prize hole. With his second shot from the fairway the ball tracked towards the flag then we didn’t see it pass the flag and from all angles the ball was not visible. The ball landed on the front of the green, rolled up towards the pin then went straight into the hole.

There were four nearest the pin prizes out on the course two we’ve seen were won by Chris Wilson and Rob Giles, the other two were for nearest in one on the par 3 11th and the nearest in three on the par 5 13th which were won by Roan McLeod and Trevor Lammy respectively.

The prize giving weren’t over as the overall winner of the 1st CGS Major of 2025 and the Fix-Up Trophy was yet to be decided. With only ten players scoring in the 30s it was clear the course was a challenge. This venue also hosted the Fix-Up Trophy in 2024 and on that occasion the course didn’t play as tough with the winning score of 36 points coming from George Branch. On this occasion even with the tougher conditions our new Chairman Mickey Taylor was able to finish his round with 33 points, pipping three others on 32 points. Playing off a 12 handicap it was a good score from Mikey considering how difficult the greens were.

In the runner up spot on count-back was Roan McLeod with third place going to Vassel Brown, also on 32 points and just outside the prizes also on 32 points was Andy Mac.

A big thanks to Druids Heath for providing a challenging and excellent venue for our opening major of the season. Next up is our Founders Day event held every season on Good Friday to commemorate our first event back in 2007. Then its onto the 2nd Major of the season at Gaudet Luce.