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Match vs Transport Golfing Society
Tuesday 6 July 2021 - Hankley Common GC
MTGS Match Report
This old annual encounter was postponed twice last year and then ultimately cancelled due to Covid restrictions, so it was with some sense of anticipation that the two teams arrived at the Hankley clubhouse at 8am on a dull but mild July morning.
There had been bucketloads of rain the night before and indeed throughout the early morning hours and because of this there were to be no buggies allowed on the course and at our time of arrival the main greens were still closed and had been moved to ‘temporary’ ones. So, not great news but we were hopeful that conditions would improve.
Team news first. Our President, Nick Haigh, had earlier called off citing heavy work commitments so he was let off on this one occasion on the basis that John Smith had agreed to step in as reserve even although he was recovering from an unscheduled trip to A&E a few days before and that this day was also his birthday! A buggy would have been most desirable but regardless John ploughed on and recorded a memorable victory of 8&6 over the normally invincible Frank Silvester. Well done, John. One up to the MTGS.
In the same flight, the ever reliable Ray Fisher was playing TGS’s Gordon Watt but this time could not reproduce his normal winning form and lost the match to Gordon who said he had played ………………. ‘really well’! ……………….Barsteward!
Part of Ray’s golfing ensemble is of course his iconic power trolley which comes complete with black leather seat, cup holders, trinkets, secret pockets etc. An enigmatic, vehicular curiosity which has served him well for decades if not centuries. Well, something must have upset it this time because it refused point blank to move off the first tee and proceed down the fairway. Maybe it was just in a bad mood that day. Despite much petting and cooing sounds from Ray in an effort to assuage it’s damaged ego, the blasted machine would just not go! The Club were great. Quick to provide an alternative for Ray from the Pro Shop and when he returned after his round to pay, they graciously said it was to be complimentary given all the circumstances. Somehow, I don’t think you would get that level of service and understanding at, say, Swinley Forest!
Thus far, MTGS 1 TGS 1.
Next, your humble correspondent had been stricken with a recurrence of a lower back injury and sadly was unable to play. So his drawn partner, Roger Prowting, stepped up and played against both his opponents simultaneously winning 3&1 against TGS’s Bob Hughes and narrowly losing out on the 18th to TGS President Martin Broome to go one down. So won one, lost won. A magnificent effort from Roger. He had started par, par, birdie!
Thus far, MTGS 2 TGS 2
And that is where the story sadly ends. From the remaining 4 games we could only manage a well earned half point from Martin Derrick’s close fought contest ending all square with TGS’s Steve Burton. Derek Allen was drawn against TGS’s Jurgen Blaupunct who won comfortably and played very well being only 4 over gross at the turn. Nick Kingsbury lost out to TGS’s Colin Younger and Oliver Harris was involved in a very close game which went all the way to the 18th where Oliver suffered a lost ball right at the death in his game with TGS’s Steve Burtenshaw who thus triumphed 1 up.
So there it was. Again a TGS victory this time by 5 and a 1/2 to 2 and a 1/2 and that has been the unfortunate pattern since 2013 when last we got our grubby hands on the trophy.
Ah well, whatever. At least the weather improved during play where we had a virtually dry round and those temporary greens were replaced with the real ‘McCoy’ almost from the start.
Hankley Common benefits from a beautiful track of free draining heath and heather terrain. There is a lot of heather but the fairways are not too tight and the greens are superb. There is a feeling when playing of a lot of space around everywhere and it’s a relatively flat layout. A true gem of a golf course.
Then there is the country house feel of the clubhouse, the comfortable furniture and the impeccable service from the bar and dining room staff. Lunch was served from just before 2pm after a liberal round of cooling libations. Roast lamb, steak and kidney pie (with extra lashings of kidney on request) and roast pork where the crackling simply crackled with perfection.
A very decent Louis Latour Grande Ardeche 2019 was appreciated by all until it ran out and had to be replaced with the club Pouilly Fume which was no great hardship. But the star of the show, as adjudged by the assembled crew, was the Chateau Garonne Gemme Haut Medoc 2016. Quite possibly, too many bottles were ordered and consumed but it seemed to be quite orderly at the time. Funny how that often happens when you are enjoying yourself.
And enjoy ourselves we did. A great day. Fine, warm and kindred opponents in the TGS and a golf club that looked after us with understanding and warmth throughout the day.
It must be our turn to win next year?
Gerry Lynch
Match Manager
8 July 2021