Event 9 saw HGS on our annual pilgrimage to what some online forums describe as a quaint and cute Par 3 course at Ampfield. Being a par 3 course, Ampfield offers a different test to our usual events and I, for one, was glad to leave the big stick in the boot of the car.
It was another very pleasant late afternoon / evening; the car-park was full, live music filled the air and even the typically skittish deer seemed to be embracing the relaxed summer vibe, getting fearlessly up close and personal on the 4th green / 5th tee.
With 12 members and 1 guest joining us for the day, the field was on the small side but perhaps not too unusual for Ampfield, with it being a Par-3, some members chose not to compete, presumably their life choices favour tough and mean over quaint and cute, I look forward to developing this discussion at a future event😜
The golf was a little more challenging than we’re used to at Ampfield; with little grass between ball and ground making shots from the fringe additionally difficult; some, hmm, choose word carefully, interesting? fun? god-darn-annoying? (you choose) pin positions; and green conditions that varied between bone-hard fast and soggy, all meant that scoring was perhaps a little lower than expected.
Nevertheless, we’re all playing the same conditions and a worthy winner emerged. Someone, I should add, who before being confirmed as our winner, had queried, with a cheeky grin, the sporting integrity of some of our fellow members for having played a practice round at Ampfield the previous evening. A fair question indeed, one for development at a future event, but given the said accusers (spoiler alert) home advantage, I wonder how well he slept in his glass house that evening.
Congratulations to all our winners. The event was won outright, no countbacks needed this time. Speaking of sporting integrity, the best improver score of +10 (5 to 15) needs some serious spot-fixing investigation; if he rolls up at the next event in a Bentley, we’ll have our answer.Our Champion Golfer leader is doing what champions do, regularly picking up points and his lead is looking ominous for the chasing pack as we head into the home straight.
| Category | Winner | Score / Notes |
| Event Winner | Stuart Keen | 36 |
| Event – 2nd | Dean Lardner | 33 |
| Event – 3rd | Neil Young | 32 |
| Most Birdies | Dave Cousins | 2 |
| Best Improver F9 v B9 | Barry Tabor | +10 (5, 15) |
Event Winners |
Most Birdies and Most Improved |