|
|
|
|
|
Match v TGS - Hankley Common GC - July 16 2024
Match Report
Once again we gathered early in the morning at Hankley Common, that little known but highly rated gem of a golf course, to continue our long-standing battle with the Transport Golfing Society. A contest which dates back to the very dawn of golfing history - well at least to the late 1960’s - early 1970’s.
None of us on the MTGS side could remember when last we lifted the Motor Transport Cup from the clutching, grubby hands of TGS, but we nevertheless arrived in high hopes that this time we might be able to prise away said trophy from TGS’s usual tribe of Bandits and ex PGA Professionals.
MTGS’s team of fine athletes included, perforce, a scattering of ordinary members this time alongside those of Past Presidents which in previous years had been the qualifying entry requirement. It has become more and more difficult to find Past President’s under 90 years of age, sans carer’s, don’t dribble food and drink down their shirts, who can still walk and play, are available, can find their own way to Hankley, don’t cause damage to other road users on the way or to other cars already parked in the Golf Club car park when they arrive late and try to guide their vehicles in.
That said, we had a fine turnout of 8 players in our team including your humble non playing Captain who, due to a late withdrawal, was now preparing himself to play despite medical advice to the contrary. And then Oliver Harris turned up unannounced! We all thought, as a member at Hankley, he had come to play with friends in a social round. But no, he had turned up to play for MTGS. Anyway, to cut short the whole story, there had been some communication IT issues - no fault of anyone - Oliver was immediately drafted into the team and your non playing Captain, who thought he was playing, reverted to being once again your non playing Captain, actually not playing. Are you all keeping up so far?
On to the match itself. There were three societies playing on the day but we were thankfully first off the 1st tee at 09.00 hrs with no-one in front to hold things up and the weather, although a tad cloudy, was mild and good for golf.
Hankley always lives up to the highest expectations and this time it was no different. The course has undergone a few changes since last year with a revamped and improved 10th hole and an even further improved par 3 11th. Fairways impeccable, greens fast and true and the heather as ever lurking but not as penal as could be. In the opinion of many, both ourselves and TGS, one of the very best tracks we are privileged to play throughout the golfing season.
And to the scores. Well, we were up against it in the first match where TGS President, John Haines, playing against Oliver, was level par gross for the first nine and finished 3 over gross and won 3&2. Oliver gamely kept the match alive until the 16th which was a great effort. John’s playing partner for TGS, Matt, went one better and finished 2 over gross to beat our Ian Hill, 5&4. It was like watching Pro/Celebrity golf all over again - with MTGS on this occasion the celebrities!
In the next match, both Peter Featherstone and Graeme Hunt managed fine wins, Peter beating TGS’s Steve Burtenshaw 4&3 and Graeme triumphing 2 up against the normally hard to beat Frank Silvester. So, at that stage, all square at 2 : 2.
And that’s nearly as good as it got. Both Roger Prowting and John Smith narrowly lost, in John’s case on the 18th hole one down and Joff Suter too found his opponent too good on the day. But our anchorman, Gordon Watt, managed a win for MTGS beating the in-form Martin Broome of TGS in a match which went right to the end and finished with Gordon one up.
So, the result, another win for TGS albeit in a closer contest which finished 5 : 3 in their favour.
Then on to the famous Hankley luncheon. As we were first out in the morning so we were first into the dining room for lunch. The first cuts of carvery meats were ours to behold, the many and varied vegetables all glistening in their untouched state and then our desserts quivering in anticipation of being attacked by all those not quite content or replete after their starters and main courses.
A mild disappointment, it must be said, not to see the Louis Latour Ardeche on the wine menu anymore and even more so the Chateau Caronne - Ste - Gemme 2016 Haut Medoc. So we had to make do with the house Chablis and a lesser Haut Medoc but, in truth, that was no real hardship judging by the number of bottles consumed. An additional benefit of Oliver’s attendance was that we were again able to consign the bar tab to his members account and looking at that bill which he checked and paid before leaving, we saved ourselves a small fortune.
Convivialities continued afterwards on the terrace where multiple iterations of the above beverages were purchased by generous benefactors and brought to the terrace tables for all to enjoy. Your humble correspondent eventually sought his departure at about 7pm and he was by no means the last to leave.
On that basis, it must have been quite a good day after all and despite the result we all voiced determination to put an end to this freakish TGS run by returning to Hankley for the match next year and bringing the Motor Transport Cup back home.
If only!
Gerry Lynch
Match Manager