There is always a buzz on the Sunday of the club championship. It's different from the usual golf played throughout the year. It matters! Expectations are high. Players get butterflies on the opening tee because it’s the big one.
There is a starter present. You are announced on the tee. So different from an optional Stableford with your mates. For a lot of golfers, there are 36 holes ahead and it's going to be tough going and it was.
Championship day consists of several events these days. There is the Bateman Plate for the best net handicap score of the morning round. There are prizes in the morning for the best scratch round, as well as prizes in the afternoon rounds for both handicap and scratch players.
Ultimately the champion golfers compete for the Lindsay cup which is presented to the 36-hole handicap winner and the champion golfer of the year is the player with the best Scratch score over 36 holes are presented with the Lucas badge and crowned the club champion. Their names will be etched on the honours board forever!
There were hard luck stories everywhere great rounds spoiled by an errant 9 on one hole. As usual, the infamous 18th hole tee shot going astray adding unnecessary shots to the scorecard.
The good news is the sun shone and it was hot, and the greens were magnificent.
The scratch part of the day is a shootout by the clubs’ lowest handicappers and best players single figure guys who know how to play. The leading faces were up there as expected. Tom Rutherford Tom Carding Darren Ward Carl Green and George Waites. It was a close-fought battle but the very steady, Thaine Hacon came out as the overall club champion, and he played very well, very steady, great golf.
The handicap champion came in under the radar and we must pay credit to Ciaran Clark a junior home bread with a good golfing pedigree. He played steady during both rounds and came out on top from Nigel Drewery and Cain Esherwood and Jamison Gray who produced very steady rounds.
There were some very proud grandparents and a tearful Dad in the audience as the presentation was made.
These days are special, and they don’t just happen. Thank you to everyone behind the scenes who made it a day to remember.
