Big numbers, big scores at Links Cup

SUBHEAD: The Links Golf Society

Wednesday, Feb. 1, Links Cup/Stableford

A Flight

1^st Bob Watson (8) 38pts

2^nd Maurice Roberts (12) 37pts

3^rd Gordon Uvanile (14) 36pts

4^th Keith Norman (15) 35pts

B Flight

1^st Bent Larsen (36) 42pts

2^nd Michael Pallesen (28) 40pts

3^rd Michael Brett (19) 39pts

4^th Phil Mitchel (21) 39pts

The Links Cup always attracts plenty of golfers for the occasion.  This event held at Silky Oak lived up to its reputation as a crowd puller, with 43 golfers teeing it up off 2 tees.  Handicaps 0-17 were allocated the longer yellow tees and 18+ went from the white tees.

Silky Oak is well known for some long water carries.  Not impossible, but daunting off the yellow tees, even for some “long hitters”.  And a couple did come to grief.  This course is in very good condition and somewhere between a joy and a challenge to play.  The greens seem to be a “work in progress”, not slick, not smooth and then some different from the one before.  Let’s hope work is progressing and the management is not intending to keep them this way.

Some very talented golfers were able to manage their games well as some excellent scores were turned in.  Even though prizes were awarded to 4 places in each of the 2 flights, sadly more good scores didn’t make it to the podium.

They say “beware the wounded golfer” don’t they?  Bob Watson has been getting treatment and taking pills for a shoulder problem for some time.  After this round it seems the therapy has worked.  Playing off c/h 8 he scored 38 points (that’s 78 gross) to take out A Flight.

Following closely behind was Maurice Roberts (c/h 12) with 37 points, Canadian visitor Gordon Uvinali (c/h14) played to handicap for third and Keith Norman(c/h15) completed the podium.

B Flight produced some big scores.  Bent Larsen used his c/h 36 to great advantage to take first prize with an excellent 42 points.  Visiting Danish player Michael Pallesen (c/h28) claimed the silver on 40 points while Michael Brett and Phil Mitchel fought it out for third place on 39 points, with Michael winning the count back.

But the day was not yet over.  The Links Cup is well known for prizes and with thanks to our sponsors Touch Agogo in LK Metro, Tommy Marshall Grips, the guys and girls at Links Bar and helpers on the day, every hole had a prize attached.

The usual near pins and long putts were there, along with ‘closest to pin in 4 shots’ (or less) on a par-5, ‘closest to pin in 2 shots’ on a par-4, and ‘closest to the beer keg’ on the 18th fairway.  There were 18 prizes to shoot for and our only lady golfer today, New Satita (c/h 21), picked up 4 of them.  A happy day for her!

So many people came back to Links Bar, Phil Davies had to fire up the microphone to make all the presentations.  A terrific feature noted was that every winner was present to receive their prize.

Friday, Feb. 3, Mt. Shadow – Stableford

1^st Len Jones (28) 37pts

2^nd Lee Rodman (10) 34pts

3^rd Soren Kuster (18) 31pts

Mountain Shadow is a good, if difficult golf course.  Certainly it has you thinking.  At one time not so long ago it was held up as an example to its sister course Crystal Bay, which had fallen in quality (particularly the greens).  Now the boot appears to be on the other foot and Mountain Shadow is falling behind (maybe the green-keeper changed courses).  The rough is rough, the greens need work and the clubhouse and locker room are looking tired.  The course is apparently up for sale, so hopefully someone will spend some time and money and bring it back to its former glory.

What about our golfers today?  There were 15 of them after 4 Canadians got lost after breakfast and missed the bus.

Golf is a game where one or two in a group can have a day when scoring is not so good.  But everyone on the same day?  The one shining light was Len Jones who was the only player to better handicap, scoring a steady 37 points off his c/h 28.

Visiting from the UK, Lee Rodman (c/h10) was excited to get second place with 34 points and filling third spot was Danish visitor Soren Kuster (c/h 18) with 31 points.

We had four ‘2’s today and excitable Lee provided one of them.  He wished to spread his good fortune with everyone in his range of vision so it was drinks for all.  Good onya Lee!