Last updated on May 21, 2021
I am left with an abiding memory from yesterday – that of standing on the 12th tee at Temple and observing a straggle of Ballbashers plodding slowly from the 10th green across the 2nd fairway and up the 1st fairway back to the clubhouse. It must have been similar to Napoleon’s view of the Imperial Guard on the retreat from Moscow.
Admittedly the temperature had just dropped 5C, wet hail was dropping from the sky and thunder was rolling through the dark grey clouds. But beyond the storm we could see a golden sky and perhaps hear the sweet silver song of the lark. Obviously some Ballbashers had decided after last week that they had no intention of risking a re-tossing of their dreams or what-have-you.
Despite my practice green assertion that it was a Summer League game, it was in fact a Novelty game which had been hijacked into a qualifier to enable Ballbashers to rack up another WHS score. Nick had sent round an email beforehand letting everyone know that, if it was to rain, as long as they had reached the 10th green, a score could be recorded and, for some that became the target.
Mike, Bill and I set off first and I should have known that when I put my second shot plumb behind a tree it was going to be one of those days and so it proved to be. It was also one of those days for Bill who, for a period, sunk into one of those reveries where one can only imagine that he is fondly remembering the waves off Hookipa Beach and smoking seaweed. Mike, for his part, started off well and after 6 holes was up against his handicap but thereafter, claiming that his steroids were of the anti-3wood variety started merrily shanking left and right. It was therefore no surprise that after taking the whole of last Wednesday’s evening recovering from that soaking, that after this week’s thorough soaking on the 10th to 12th holes, he elected to retreat up the hill.
For the record, the retreating Ballbashers arrived at the clubhouse in sunshine and settled for a cup of tea and a teacake, hopefully riven with guilt about jacking in the golf, but probably just congratulating themselves on a wise, warming decision.
Bill and I decided to carry on and were rewarded weather-wise with some sunshine to finish in. Along the way we had time to self-indulge in chats about the early days of the micro software world which are experiences not shared by other Ballbashers and would probably bore them rigid.
Behind us we knew that the 4-ball of Nick, JohnH, Rob and MikeW had dropped out at the 10th and we we guessed that the 3-ball following them, comprising Roger – in his shorts again, PeterR and Roger’s guest Steve Wilson had also dropped out. We were therefore totally surprised to find Roger and Steve coming along behind us and they too completed 18 holes and with excellent results, due in no small part to Steve scoring an impressive 35 points, 6 points more than the nearest Ballbasher.
And, in doing so, they swept all of the prizes. Steve does not have a BashCoins account so I have had to divide the spoils of their victory between Roger and PeterR who I am sure do not object to this plan.
For the record the scores were as follows:
Nick and MikeW 19 + 2 = 21
JohnH and Rob 15 + 2 = 17
Richard, MikeS and Bill 16 + 16 =32
Roger, PeterR and Steve 20 + 18 = 38
Re the wonders of WHS handicapping those who staggered off after the 10th and successfully entered their scores into the system will be glad to hear that it worked as expected and that their scores have been accepted, adding another submitted score to their total. Full details can be found on the MyEG phone app.