Report from Mens Seniors Captain Simon Kay;
Match reports – Friendlies v Ashridge Scratch team, Surrey Seniors and Suffolk Seniors
The Seniors 2nd and 3rd pre-season friendlies were in a few days of one another hence a combined report. Both matches were played on dry spring days with plenty of sunshine.
This year the Ashridge’s scratch captain decided that the match would be fourball better ball with 10 players/5 matches. As ever, in these types of fixtures, the Seniors had to ignore the difference in distance off the tee and play to our strengths. The first game went to Herts with a win for debutant James Joyce and Garry Cooper. Paul Marshall and Nick Leconte managed a half, but despite other matches being close encounters they all went to Ashridge. The final score being 3 ½ to 1 ½.
The Surrey match was played at Betchworth Park GC. None of our team had played there before and therefore there was plenty of home advantage, including it being the home club to a few of the Surrey team. We didn’t get off to the best of starts but wins for the Brocket duo, Bob Peacock and Paddy Barnham, kept us in with a chance. Unfortunately, with many games going down the last we only managed an additional point with Jason Court’s half match. Final result being 5 ½ to 2½, against a strong Surrey team.
The team then travelled to Newton Green Golf Club in Suffolk for their last pre-season match. The Newton Green club was established at the start of the 20th century but only extended to 18 holes in 1994.
Much the same as the Surrey match, the course provided home advantage but good wins from Phil Embleton, Scott Bambridge, Gordon Stewart and David Scammell. These victories were supplemented by halved matches from Bob Peacock, Jason Kirby and Nick Leconte to provide for a 5½ to 4½ victory.
A fitting end to our 4 friendly matches. Our next team selection will be for our first League match of the season away to Middlesex at Crews Hill GC.
