When you go to a holiday resort in Britain you can sure of one thing – rain. Horizontal rain, incessant rain, rain with no prospect of clearing, rain that gets heavier even after the golf as you take your bag to the car, rain that gets everywhere no matter what you wear. The Past Captains entertained the Somerset Ladies at Brean and whilst the day started dry but windy it soon changed as the god that rules the rain clouds wanted to make sure everyone was soaked to the skin.
There are two ways of handling this situation; you can continue to play until the bitter end (especially in a close match), or you can walk in after a few holes. Both methods were used.
In the first match and in his last as Captains of Captains Mike Rossiter alongside Colin Mantle played Clare Biggs and Susie Gibbons. With good golf played by all the players there was never more than one hole in the match and the perfect result of a half was the result. This close game caused Mike to review his views, and he was heard to say that ‘he enjoyed the game and was revising his feelings about mixed golf’.
In the second match the Roy Parmiter and Martin Morgan were allowed to go 3 ahead by Heather Kerr and Pat Frazer. A ‘light shower and a slight increase in the gentle breeze’ made the Ladies review their approach and put the men ‘to the sword’. The match was halved.
In another very close match Glynn Sewell and Ian Suttle played Lyn Bird and Ros Gait. A very enjoyable game went all the way to the last where the ladies won the match. A game that ticked all the boxes including good company and bonhomie.
In an outstanding game Ian Gover and Max Putnam took advantage and went 5 up after 11 holes. All this did was ‘to poke the bear’ and Di Yates and Sue Kirch, came back into the match and a half was agreed after the 17th. Max benefited from the advice given about how to care for his jumper which was getting longer and longer as it got wetter and wetter. An offer of high heels to go with the increasing length was declined.
The last four pairs showed intelligence and only played 11 or 12 holes.
Brian Reeves and Tim Nicholls started in a gale and finished in a wet gale, halving on the 11th with Cathy Sheppard and Gwen Cavill.
Rob Ford and Iain Robertson were 3 down on the 11th against Lyn Grindley and Sue Acland. The men claimed to have lost 3 and 7.
Geoff Rooke and Bob Acland halved on the 12th with Paulette Worten and Yvonne Bate.
Phil Stone and Phil Slater lost with Sandra Ford and Ginny Suttle, again only getting as far as the 11th.
The last groups were the first into the clubhouse and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company as they viewed that first groups trudging up the 18th.
Despite the conditions all relaxed in the friendly atmosphere throughout the well-received meal. Mike (in his last speech) congratulated everyone on playing in such conditions and thankfully did not try a joke. Clare praised the course and the catering for their marvelous efforts and was looking forward to next year’s match after winning 5½ to 2½.
It was amazing that even after playing in conditions that would make a weatherman question if they should show their face in public everyone ended with a smile on their face.
