WCGS

We assembled at Bonalba only a couple of days after staying up late to see that dramatic finish of The Masters at Augusta. We were all going to try some of those Rory McIlroy shots. The one where he bent it 40 yards left around that tree to finish on the green pin high. And his second shot onto the green in the playoff, where he landed his ball past Justin's, but then got it to spin back wards towards the hole. And, we were all going to try to putt like Justin Rose, particularly the one that went away from the hole, then down towards the hole, then turned right, then finished agonisingly close just below. That was for an eagle, and that could have won him the tournament. Inches away, but what a putt that was. And so, finally, Rory has joined that illustrious group of 5 who have managed a career Grand Slam. This is considered one of golf's greatest achievements, as it marks the completion of winning each of the following competitions at least once during their career;

1. The Masters

2. PGA

3. US Open

4. The Open

Now, we know what you are thinking. Why is the headline of this match report WCGS? And what relevance has White Coast Golf Society got to Rory and the career grand slam? Good questions. First off, WCGS does not stand for White Coast Golf Society. No, it stands for White Coast Grand Slam. Not many people know this but yes, this does exist. The White Coast Grand Slam is considered another of golf's greatest achievements, as it marks the completion of winning each of the following competitions but, ON THE SAME DAY;

1. Overall Winner

2. More than 36 points

3. A Nearest the Pin

4. Lost Ball Sweep

It's never been done before, until today. Here is our very first WCGS winner. Colin Grant was the Overall Winner at Bonalba. He scored more than 36 points, 37 in fact. He was nearest the pin on hole 4. Coincidentally, his ball finished 37 feet from the hole. And finally, in a remarkable double coincidence, he correctly predicted that 37 balls would be lost. Not that it mattered but he did predict that the wind would be blowing at 37kmh. It was a 37 kind of a day for him. And here he his, looking resplendent in the green jacket.

Full results as follows;

Overall winner

Colin Grant - 37 points.

Division 1

Winner. Colin Grant - 37 points

Runner Up. Roger Jennings - 32 points

Division 2

Winner. Viv Bacon - 34 points

Runner Up. Paul Harrison - 33 points

NP's

Hole 4. WCGS winner Colin Grant hit his tee shot closest. Just left of the flag and 37 feet short.

Hole 14. Nobody hit the green, not even our WCGS winner.

LBS

No formula needed. It was always going to be 37. Fine margins though, just like Augusta. Your Poster Boy plonked his only lost ball into the water at 17, when there was no need to. Could so easily have been 36, and no green jacket.

CBKO

Two round 2 matches were played.

Wayne Stallings v Roger Miller

This was a match between our US newbie and a seasoned campaigner. Roger knows how to play this competition, was playing off the blues and had 14 shots. Wayne is steady, meticulous and quietly competitive. It was close all the way round, but steely Wayne came out on top in the end. Just by one hole though.

Paul Harrison v Viv Bacon

Oh dear. This is like the hare and tortoise story. Paul Harrison raced off and was feeling pretty pleased with himself when he was 3 up after 7, and playing well. Viv was feeling pretty glum to be 3 down so soon, even though she was playing ok. She was about to hit the panic button but decided not to. Keep calm, and carry on she said to herself. She won the 8th with a par 3. And she won the 9th by hitting good steady shots right up the middle. Paul's lead, and game, was slipping away, but he was not going to be beaten. Viv went two up early on the back 9, ( there was a monster putt at the 10th) but Paul came back and they were level after 16. Then came the equivalent Rory McIlroy moment at the 18th. Rory's putt to win was from 3 feet. Paul's putt on 17, to go one up, was from 1 foot. Rory missed, and Paul missed. Rory couldn't believe it, and Paul? Well, the look on his face said it all.

Paul couldn't get over that miss going down 18, and Viv kept going, just like the tortoise. She won on the last.

League Match. WCGS v French Amigos

We played this Round 4 match the following day at Altea. Great day for White Coast. A 6-2 win. This puts us on top of Division 1, as things stand, and gives us the chance to go stay top of Division 1 before the summer break. Only one team can equal our points total, and they don't play until 2nd May

This is the story of some heroics from our first pair. There is as much drama here as there was at Augusta. Gary Stone was playing with Ray Gambrill MOT. They were 3 down after 9. This is Gary's story of what happened.

"It was like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. Well, Ray forgot what end of the club to use on the first nine 🙃. I managed to scrape 6 halves then on 10 I told Ray to pinch his ear hard ! We will win this !!! Ray pinched his ear, but he wasn't convinced. Then we lost the 10th to go 4 down. Done the ear bit, need to try something differenct. 8 to play !!!! Ok crash helmets on, time to get on the bike.

That was it. I made a 3 at next to win our first 🕳️  I said “that’s the first hole we’ve won”. The French guy said “and your last”! Oh là là.

Ray decided to throw his driver into the water (metaphorically speaking) & go with his 2 wood, which worked a treat. He also changed his balls from ProVI's to Srixon. My partner was back in the game and our confidence grew. I made birdie at next par 5 dog leg & we won 6 holes on the spin from 10th. Ray made a great nett par at 16th so we stood on 17th 2 🆙 

I knew we couldn’t go down 18 just one up as they all had shots. So, on the tee at 17, now was the time. I hit my best drive of the day then curled my 3 rescue onto the green. Two putts to secure the half, and the win, 2&1 💥 . The Great Escape.

Exhausted we sat having a drink 🥃 on the terrace with the rest of the team who had performed extremely well to go top of the league". And here is the team, looking quite resplendent in their green shirts.

Back on the terrace of the clubhouse, Captain Jordan did admit to being very emotional at the end of Augusta, and wondered how many others were similarly affected. Not many, it seemed.

Our next game is at Alenda on Wednesday 30th April.

As ever, this game will be sponsored by Blevins Franks, International Tax and Wealth Management. peter.hodgkinson@blevinsfranks.com

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