Jeff Laing writes …
Having decided on a new approach to our matches against Devon Juniors, all our future matches will be played at the incumbent Captain’s course and will take in the last week of school summer holidays to allow for what is always an entertaining and refreshing match to take part in.
This year’s venue is one of North Devon’s challenging parkland courses, Libbaton GC – a course which was new to many of our juniors as Devon County are reluctant to move much further north than the A30 for their matches.
It was obviously going to be a very fine day with light winds and blue sky. The course was in excellent condition with the greens running well and in good condition due to the hard work of the two resident green keepers, Brian and Mark. A warm welcome is always assured by the Herniman family.
Mark Sangster, the County U18 manager, provided Devon Golf Captains with the normal stiff competitive and challenging opposition with many of the junior players having handicaps that the captains have long since forgotten. We did however have a surprise package in Brian Stevens, one of our younger Devon Captains, who played the match off +4 and provided much entertainment to his younger opposition – he also has the advantage of being one of Libbaton’s green keepers.
It has to be remembered that our opponents are under 18 in the main and giving shots to most of us – it’s far too embarrassing to say how many shots were given to the Captain. Whilst the way he played showed that he needed them, he was fortunate in picking the right partner with Dave Wonnacott, who was receiving 6 shots, rescuing the captain for what could have been an embarrassing day.
As is always is the case, these young men are a credit to their clubs, junior organisers, parents and, of course, themselves. They are courteous, generous in their compliments and play the game as intended, fairly but with good competitive spirit. On this occasion the ‘senior’ players were to provide unusually stiff opposition with some decent golf played generally.
An excellent day with thanks to Mark and Paul Cloke at Devon Golf for making this match happen.
