January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Golf / Teeing off
What could be better than this?
These team matches are superb fun, except for one rather important, and of late recurring, feature - MOC keeps getting its proverbial derriere kicked.
I was fortunate enough to be picked to play for the MOC team and my partner, Arthur Jones, and I went with high hopes to what ultimately would turn out to be the scene of a vicious crime.
Arthur and I were drawn to play against Keith Smith and Coleridge Place, two finer gentlemen one could not hope to play against, or so you would think.
I've had the pleasure of playing against Keith and Coleridge a number of times and, while I cannot remember what our win/loss stats are, I knew two things were guaranteed - The match would be very competitive and, importantly, the needle back and forth between us would be non-stop and fun.
In these team matches, each foursome typically plays for 20 points and Arthur and I were determined to pick up more than half of the 20 points that he and I would be playing for.
Arthur came out of the starting blocks fast, making three birdies and an eagle before we reached the turn.
To their credit, Keith and Coleridge defended admirably and, despite Arthur's fine play, we were only one up at the turn.
To my partner's chagrin, I was yet to show up and make a contribution to the match.
I would feature in the back nine but not exactly in the way my partner was hoping for.
On the 11th, I had an opportunity to take us to two up but missed my birdie from eight feet and then on 13, I missed a 10 foot par putt that would have halved the hole. Our match was now all square.
Cardinal sin
On 14 and 15, I made the cardinal error of not knowing where my one shot was falling.
For some reason, I thought my shot came on the 15th but it didn't, it came on the 14th.
The movie Dumb and Dumber flashed through my mind when it became clear that we had lost 14 and 15, in part because of my careless error.
All of a sudden Arthur and I were two down and running out of holes fast.
Those two fine gentlemen that we had started the day with, Keith and Coleridge, were now resembling demonic monsters, and their smiling faces were not helping matters any.
Arthur and I stood on the 17th tee two down with two to play, in other words, our backs were up against the wall.
The two demons, Keith and Coleridge, were still smiling but Arthur and I were focused on winning the final two holes.
On 17, I finally holed a putt, from 15 feet for birdie. Coleridge acknowledged the putt and then calmly, and very demon-like, holed his own birdie putt from 12 feet.
Hole halved, dagger in, match over, the two demons win 2 and 1.
The truth of the matter, despite the loss of this specific match, and despite the 50 point thrashing Mid Ocean Club was handed by Ocean View Gold Club, each and every participant is a winner in these matches.
On the course, each foursome enjoys strong competition, a lot of good humoured needling, and four hours of wonderful fellowship.
If that wasn't enough, all of that is then followed by good food, good drink and more good fellowship at the 19th.
What could be better than that?
Beating Keith and Coleridge, that's what could be better.
Eric 'Hav' Trott is a golf enthusiast and writes a column for the Bermuda Sun every Friday. To contact Mr. Trott, e-mail at [email protected].[[In-content Ad]]
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