HOW I CAME 4th IN THE 2010 SHOOTOUT AT THAMES GOLF CLUB

The "Shoot out 2010 Thames" Hat

The 2010 Shootout at Thames Golf Club was played on Sunday 28th November. The players that scored the nineteen best net scores throughout the season were chosen to compete. It was played under some unusual rules. Once you had teed off you couldn’t touch your ball until it was holed out. Once every player’s ball was on the green you couldn’t touch your ball until it was holed in the cup. And the nearest player’s ball to the hole putted first. This was to speed up play. And also if your ball was next to the hole and another player hit your ball off the green while playing their shot you had to play from where your ball landed.

This was a unique way of playing the shootout different to the most usual rules of Golf.

Well, at 10:30am there were 12 players ready to start in the Shootout. So 7 players hadn’t turned up for various reasons. PH (Golf Director) who was the referee in the Shootout and RM (Duty Manager) was helping him. We waited for 5 minutes in case some players were running late. So at 10:35am off the 1st tee, we all teed off as our names were called out. Me, BW, NH(Farm Sales Rep), BH(Past President), RB(Thames Car Salesman), SG(Senior Champion), LT(Timber Worker), JR(Promising Junior), GO(Low handicapper), GP(Thames Timber), JF(Bus Driver), GL(Bank Manager) & IA(Greens Supervisor). I hit mine on the green and two putted for an easy par and advanced to the 2nd hole with a nett 3. BW had a nett 5 and was eliminated. He was running late, and he teed off when all of us were on the green. Maybe he should have just stayed at home...

So on to the par 4 2nd, I scored a 4, nett 3 and Advanced to the 3rd hole. NH (Farm Sales Rep) scored a nett 5and was eliminated. So the 11 of us walked to the 3rd tee. I secured an easy par 4 that became a nett 3 and easily advanced to the 4th hole. The unlucky person this time to be eliminated was BH (Past President) who lost a chip off.

So to the 4th hole, I made a par 4 that was a nett 4 and again easily got through to the next hole. But RB (Thames Car Salesman) was eliminated in a chip off. We walked back to the 7th hole, because PH (Golf Director) wanted to finish on the 18th hole. I scored a 5 that became a nett 4 and got through, but SG (Senior Champion) scored a nett 5 and his shootout came to an abrupt end.

So 8 players left and on to the 8th Hole. I managed a 4 that was a nett 4, but I got through. LT (Thames Timber Worker) had a major rush of blood to the head and ended up with a 6 that became a nett 5 and his shootout was finished.

So 7players left and on to the 9th Hole. I just got a 5 that was a nett 5 and I forced my way into a 4way chip off from the from off the green. GL(Bank Manager) went 1st and chipped to 10feet, JR(Promising Junior) was next and chipped to 20feet, GO(Low Handicapper) was 3rd and chipped to inside 15feet, and finally Me, I got inside JR(Promising Junior), so JR(Promising Junior’s) shootout was over.

6players left and on to the 10th Hole. I scored a birdie 2 for a nett 2 and got through to the next hole. GO (Low Handicapper) and IA (Course Manager) had nett 4’s and had a chip off which IA (Course Manager) won. GO (Low Handicapper’s) shootout was finished.

So the 5 of us headed to the 11th tee. I scored a 4 nett 3 and easily advanced. But GP (Thames Timber Worker) had a nett 5 and his shootout dreams had been smashed. So 4 players were left and on to the 16th hole. I had a 5 nett 4 and was in my 2nd chip off of the day. PH (Golf Director) took us to the front off the green for our chip off. GL (Bank Manager) went 1st and put it 15feet from the flag. Mine finished 20feet away, so my Shootout had come to an end. I won $15 cash for coming 4th and the Shootout 2010 Thames Hat.

So the 3 of them head to the 17th tee. IA (Course Manager) made a birdie 3, nett 3 and he was the first player through to the final hole. But GL(Bank Manager) and JF(Bus Driver) had nett 4’s and had too chip off. GL(Bank Manager) chipped to 8feet and JF(Bus Driver) couldn’t get inside him. So JF(Bus Driver’s) shootout had come to an end.

So to the 18th hole and the final two Players. IA(Course Manager) hit his drive just into the right rough, then GL(Bank Manager) hit his drive in the same place. They both missed their 2nd Shots to the right on the 18th. IA(Course Manager) chipped to 15th Feet and GL(Bank Manager) chipped to 8th feet. IA(Course Manager) putted first and it rimed the cup and then fell in. Then GL(Bank Manager) slotted his putt in showing no pressure. So a chip out was required to Decide the 2010 Shootout.

PH(Golf Director) took them both to the front of the green and they chipped off. IA(Course Manager) went 1st and chipped to 15th Feet as did GL(Bank Manager). It required an official measure by PH(Golf Director) and RM(Duty Manager). But when all was said and done IA(Course Manager) was declared the winner by 1foot, So IA(Course Manager) is the 2010 Thames Golf Club Shootout Winner.