The match against Wells Golf Captains has a unique and special place in the Somerset Golf Captains fixture list, and this year was no exception. This is now the only remaining fixture against the past captains from a Somerset Golf Club.
Both teams had had to shuffle their teams around. Partly due to a clash with an inter-club competition elsewhere; and partly due to players being unavailable. Indeed, at 10.00 am on the day of the match, Somerset lost another player and it looked as if Mike Usher-Clark would have to play on his own as match manager. However. Mike Snaith contacted Hugh Glandfield – who was dropping his daughter off at Bristol Airport at 1.00pm but still managed to be on the first tee at Wells by 2.00pm- what a trooper!
The match was played with 12 players in each side and the weather was very kind to both teams.
Match One
Rob Ford and Murray Parsons played against Steve Bocquet and Dean Hamilton. Somerset Golf Captains enjoyed the company but it was a pity about the golf! Well played to the Wells captains who won by the margin of 5&4.
Match Two
Rich Bartin and Colin Davies played against Andy Williams and Geoff Spinks. This was a tight match played with good spirit. There was never more than one hole in it and Wells were one up with three to play. Somerset stole the last two holes for the win by the margin of being one up!
Match Three
Andy King and Jim Boyce played against Steve Rowse and Derek Biggs. A very enjoyable round of golf was very tight until the 15th and then the cream came to the top and Somerset won 3&1! But most importantly good friendships were made – thank you to Wells.
Match four
Tony Taylor and Paul Hucker played against Rob Coate and John Chillington. Somerset lost a close match to birdies at the last two holes played. And victory for Wells by the margin of 3&2. Somerset were up against past Captain Rob and John who supported where necessary.
Match Five
Glyn Sewell and Mike Snaith played against Mike McKay and Richard Birch. Somerset went off to a quick start and were three up after eight. After losing the fourth, Somerset (or at least Mike Snaith) continued his winning ways. Good golf played by all and in great spirit. does anybody know the Mendip Handicap Secretary? Somerset winning by the margin of 7&6.
Match Six
Match manager Mike Usher-Clark and late reserve Hugh Glandfield played against Colin Mantle and Jim Saint. Hugh and Mike quickly became four up and it was nip and tuck after that. A great game ended with a 3&2 victory for Somerset and it was an example of what makes Captains golf so unique.
And so the overall result at the end of the competition was :
Somerset Golf Captains 4 Wells Golf Club Captains 2.
This result was quite unusual as records show that, before today, Wells Golf Captains had won 14 matches and Somerset Golf Captains had only 4 times.
We would like to thank Mike Usher-Clark as Match manager fopr all aspects pf organising this match.
