Definitively worth a visit especially if you have a sat nav and after following what looked like a farm track, there was a warm welcome in the clubhouse at Woodlake Park.
The offer of more chips and sandwiches at lunch was taken up with the knowledge that the players would need the energy to counter the hilly course with plenty of slopes and the expected Welsh rain – something the Gwent team said had come in from England and therefore it was our own fault and we should cope with it.
With our Captain of Captains being absent (he was finding a step to blow the 70 candles out on his birthday cake) Andy Carter led the side. In the first match and playing alongside Bob Alcand they played Eric Brown and Colin Watkins. Only when they were on the course was there mention that Bob was going to have a lot of shots. This slight misdirection led Somerset to start with a win of 5 and 4.
Matt Lazenby and Colin Mantle found that they were playing not only the Woodlake Park Captain James Lowden but that his handicap was 1.9. Playing well with Dave Williams the Gwent pair had too many birdies and net birdies and Somerset lost 6 and 5. A very enjoyable game with some excellent golf played by both sides.
Phil Slater and Ian Gover were playing another side that like them when they played together were unbeaten. Somerset were always on the front foot but Gwent kept in touch with Mike Nightingale on the 8th apologising for a bad shot from 150 yards as it bumbled its way to 4 foot short of the pin. Somerset continued to put on the pressure and then went two up only to be pulled back to all square on the 14th following good play from Alan Miskelly the other player in the Gwent pair. By getting a 2 on the 14th par 3 and then winning the 15th Somerset finally overcame the Gwent pair winning 2 and 1.
Rob Load, playing his first game, was paired with Alan Hurford who had managed to find the correct course with ‘Wood’ in its name. The Somerset pair held Ray Hooper and Graham Smith for most of the round but were finally subdued losing 3 and 2. A game played in good spirits and great bonhomie.
Olivero Davis and Bill Jones, playing for Gwent, made life difficult for the Somerset pair of Graham Load and Colin Davies in the 5th match in a tight game. Slotting together quite well the Somerset pair managed to end the battle on the 17th winning 2 and 1.
In the 6th match the Gwent pair of George Cook and Maurice Bridges were obviously worried about the wear and tear on their putters recording only 8 putts on the first 8 holes. This was enough for them to hold off the Somerset pair of Barry Saunders and Martin Morgan for a 5 and 4 victory.
In yet another competitive but enjoyable match the Gwent pair of Dilwyn Bull and Bill Morse excitedly celebrated a 2 on the 16th with a shout of ‘shoved it’ as it hit and jumped into the hole. Unfortunately Rob Fear, who was playing with Neil Whisler, also managed to get a 2 winning the hole with his shot! Game over as Somerset won 3 and 2.
In the last match, a great game played in the right manner home advantage counted. By winning the 10th and 11th holes the Somerset pair of John Beer (who was a magnificent Match Manager) and Murray Parsons managed to pull back the Gwent pair of Andrew Eveleigh and Chris Blight to 1 down after there being a 3 shot difference at the turn. Andrew’s birdie on the 13th and Chris’s half on 17th gave Gwent the win 2 and 1.
Andy Carter was nearest the pin in 2 on the 18th for Somerset but he was beaten by James Lowden who putted his second ball to one foot from the flag to win a sleeve of balls for the Gwent.
As always the friendships between the two teams was evident by the chatter and conversations in the bar and restaurant with Gwent retaining the trophy after a halved match.
Now all the Somerset team had to do was to work out how to get a frozen lamb home!
