Warwickshire Golf
SENIORS LOSE NARROWLY IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Warwickshire Seniors suffered defeat for their non-league clash against Northamptonshire at Kingsthorpe Golf Club on Monday 24th June. With the home team adding something to the scoreboard from five of the morning six matches, this ultimately proved the difference between the two sides despite a spirited effort from Warwickshire on the day. Whilst five of the six Warwickshire pairings contributed something to the scoreline, it was not sufficient to prevent defeat and my congratulations go to Alan Wrigley and his Northamptonshire side on their fine win.
On a misty morning with very low cloud the two sides arrived at the golf course, where both nervously studied their mobile phone apps to see if the impending weather forecast of possible thunderstorms was more or less likely, than five minutes ago when they last looked!! This compact course, which is situated in the heart of Northampton, measures just over 5900 yards from the back tees and has only three permanent members of green staff but nevertheless was presented in very good order. The greens played little slower transom team members were used to however they offered a consistent surface on which to putt on.
The morning greensomes saw Northamptonshire, with three wins and two halves from the six matches played, leading by four points to two at lunchtime. The afternoon fourball matches were very uniform with three matches going all the way to the eighteenth hole and the other three all finishing on the fifteenth green. With Northamptonshire winning three and Warwickshire doing the same, the margin from lunchtime remained the same and the home side was victorious by ten points to eight. The play in Match 3 was perhaps the pick of the afternoon, with just one of the Northamptonshire players alone registering seven birdies. The Warwickshire pair themselves were under par when the end came on the fifteenth green. Special mention to Adrian Cashmore from The Warwickshire and Gordon Allen from Sutton Coldfield who won both their morning and afternoon matches and also to Andy Collins from Harborne and John Wilson from Rugby who were making their County Senior debuts.
To Kingsthorpe Golf Club my thanks to the staff for their hospitality and presentation of their golf course which whilst not long, offered a very fair challenge with many tree lined fairways and a consistent surface to their greens. Mention must also be made to the caterers for looking after us all so well on the day.
To Alan Wrigley and his Northamptonshire team mates, my thanks to them for their welcome and good humour, I wish them well for the remainder of the season.
My special thanks to my Warwickshire team mates for their time and efforts yesterday in getting to a venue that took a little longer to get to than the mileage indicated, but then that's Monday mornings for you.
Our next match is the visit to Worcester Golf & Country Club next month to play Worcestershire. For the third year in succession we put our unbeaten league record on the line against our near neighbours. A win will see us in sight of a second West Midlands League title in three years. Here's hoping.
Mark Reynolds
Seniors Captain
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