I know that keen followers of this column will be desperate to hear how RobM is progressing in his search for the state of inner Zen-like calm on the golf course, and in particular at the top of his back-swing, as described by Timothy Gallwey in his book The Inner Game of Tennis but before I get to that I must mention that we gratefully welcomed RobA back onto the golf course this morning following the removal of that very irritating piece of male surgical gear that every feminist nurse takes great delight in installing as she knows that she will have increased pleasure from the removal.
Although it was misty in parts and thereby chilly in parts, the day was great for golf with no wind and very, very smooth fairways and greens. We really do not know how the Temple staff achieve such wonders.
We were grateful to see Rob because it put us back to 6 players again following the usual last-minute medically -influenced withdrawals and additions of sundry members. Today it was a Novelty Game and I had selected the format where the 3-man team selects up to 15 scores per each 9 holes, the selection of what is to be included to be made after each hole. The throw of the balls partnered PeterR, RobM and me playing against MikeW, RobA and Bill.
As an aside I do know that you can buy a second-hand copy of Mr Gallwey’s masterpiece for £6.60 on the World of Books website – I am too cowardly to ask RobM if that is his copy. So last week he was pre-occupied with Chapters 1 to 3 but 7 days have passed and the frontier of Chapter 10 and the promised land is now close upon us.
Following this method, it seems that you are allowed to use the first hole for calibration as Robert hit a magnificent draw straight into the trees on the left which, despite the passing Course Marshal’s assertion that he saw it drop, we were unable to find. So Rob, aka Self 2, decided to drop another ball for practice and hit a majestic shank into the woods on the right. While PeterR and I were putting out we could see Rob wandering around forlornly in the mist behind us looking for his ball. Some time later a ball emerged from the trees and landed in the middle of the fairway from where Rob put it nicely on the green and after 2 putts he joined us on the 2nd green.
Perhaps I have misunderstood the Inner Game and it is more about how you handle calamities because, showing no ill-effects whatsoever, Rob, now aka Self 1, hit 3 great shots up the 2nd to score a 5 for 3 points. This pattern became his way and by alternately scoring 3 and 4-pointers and blobs, he made his way to 29 points overall whereas PeterR followed a much steadier path to 30. Whatever the Inner Game is about it cannot produce much Inner Calm but somebody following the Path does make for a handy team-mate.
As far as the game was concerned we plotted our route carefully to 37 points over the front 9 and we had scored that by the time we reached the 8th tee which showed a slight element of caution. If we had held back a score or two for the relatively simple 8th we would have reached 38 which would have been good for the final outcome.
On the back 9, we scored 36 but that turned out to be irrelevant as Bill had decided to call it a day after 13 holes so, after much discussion witnessed by the extra lunchers = Nick, MikeS, Pete as well as Bill, we revised the scoring system for the back 9.
The result of all of this effort transpired to be a dead heat:
MikeW, RobA and Bill 39 + 20 = 59
PeterR, RobM and Richard 37 + 22 = 59
Another validation for the DisHon Sec Handicapping.
Next week it should be Chaptert 11 and who knows what will transpire.
