FOURTEEN!!!??

Not sure I like this new policy of cutting people on general play. After being in the prizes again last week, I'm down another one. That makes TEN this year. I accept that I was overpriced during the early season, but steady on, chaps. The good news is that Tony Beech has also been cut by one, so the differential between us remains in place for next Sunday's showdown in the final of the Challenge Cup.

Played with Lee, Liam and Chris Bruce this week. I shot 89 for what is now 75 (4 over), which is not a disaster, seeing as I had two eights on the card. Pretty steady apart from that. We all had at least one birdie. Chris, a 7 handicapper, had an astonishing round. Off the tee he was either in perfect position or so far left he was occasionally nearly across two fairways. His approach shots were sheer poetry, though, and he made some great putts, including one for an outrageous birdie on the sixth after a 200 yard approach from at least fifty yards left of where he should have been over a stand of 40 foot conifers. The wheels finally came off for him on the 16th where he lost two balls. You could see what a good player he was, though.

One interesting thing from the weekend - I took the pro's offer up of having my wedges re-grooved. WOW! As long as you don't mind the cover being taken off the ball after a couple of decent wedge shots, the backspin was incredible. Our greens are hard (just up the road there's a brickworks, apparently the clay is perfect for it!) and when they are dry, there's no way you can stop the ball - but you can get pretty damn close with sharp grooves!

I'm hoping to get away this week with working in the mornings, golf in the afternoons and practicing guitar in the evenings. I'm looking forward to playing in Gary Disney's charity day on Friday. His wife very sadly died of breast cancer a couple of years ago and the very young age of 46, and Gary runs this event to raise money for breast cancer charities. This is the first chance I have had to play in the event. A lot of our members are supporting the day, and I hope it raises a good sum.

And a gig next Friday night - The Bricklayers Arms, Ruddington. Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Golf, that's what I say!