Despite some confusion over the correct lunch and tee times, Wiltshire ventured west to Worlebury Golf Club on a dry and sunny day with a very strong north easterly wind – the exact opposite of the prevailing direction. The course had dried out very quickly as a result of the stubbornly long period of warm, dry and windy weather, making Worlebury a real challenge to play. Our start was also affected by a travelling Wiltshire car with Ian Lund (Match Manager) meeting another car going the wrong way down a dual carriageway!
The Somerset team gathered their energy in the Clubhouse, wondering if they would be the “chosen ones” to break our duck for 2023 wins. Whatever the result, it became clear that the weather conditions would be a major factor (Factor 50 being generally the most popular)!
In Match One, Captain David Bate was paired with Worlebury Captain Phil Stone against Wiltshire Captain Ian Armstrong and his partner Jeremy Bowers. A great match ensued but with a strong Wiltshire pair finding more fairways than Somerset as well as a chip in on the 15th, Somerset lost the match 3&1.
In Match Two, previous Worlebury Captain Kerri Allchurch and Phil Barrett teamed up to play Steve Powers and Ray Smith. Despite Phil’s assertion that he had lost his game he turned in a great performance which saw Somerset ease to a 5&4 win over a Wiltshire pair who simply had no luck at all. Great company and friendships made nevertheless.
Match Three saw Match Manager and Vice Captain Mike Rossiter and new SGC Secretary Clive Stilwell take on Gary Gale-Sides and Paul McLaughlan. Somerset were out of the blocks very quickly, taking the first four holes with some very good golf. But Wiltshire began to dovetail, pulling holes back here and there before the tough Par 3 16th proved their nemesis and a 4&2 win for Somerset resulted.
In Match 4, Roger Gazzard and Graham Load took on the Wiltshire pair of Ian Lund and Howard Thompson in a match that was one-sided even though we won the first hole! Wiltshire’s par golf was unmatchable over the 13 holes they played and they ran out 6&5 winners. Somerset’s pair reported that they were playing Mexicans!!
Match 5 saw Somerset pair Bob Acland and past Worlebury Captain Graham Hewlett take on Ron East and Bill Lawrence. Despite losing the first two holes, Graham’s local knowledge began to tell and Somerset began to win holes regularly, finishing the match on the 14th with a 6&4 win. It was a match with great company and fellowship and very enjoyable for all.
Match 6 saw Derek Hanson and the evergreen Jim Scott take on Wiltshire’s Dave McGrory and Robin Kingston in another one-sided affair that Somerset wrapped up early with a 6&5 win. The four enjoyed each other’s company and some great golf was played.
Match 7 was a far closer affair with Geoff Rooke and Robert hardy eventually halving with Steve Smith and Clive Watson in a match that never had more than a hole in it. The testing conditions were tackled with great company and the half was seen by all as a fair result.
Match Eight pitted Steve Butterfield and Tony Taylor against Wilsthire’s final pairing of Richard Hartley and Paul Shimell. Another closely fought match ensued with Wiltshire narrowly edging out Somerset by 1 hole at the 18th and great company was enjoyed by all.
So a final score of Somerset 4 ½ Wiltshire 3 ½ marked the first win of the season for Captain David Bate. Some banter and great food followed the match and Ian Armstrong presented the usual home club ball marker to David Bate to be added to the trophy contested for by the two counties. All the players left Worlebury saying that they had a great day, and were probably looking for the after sun lotion when they arrived home!
