Match 1  - Kevin and Andy

Clacton birdied the first hole in a very strong wind - the Stoke pair went down hill from there. At the turn Clacton were only 4 up. Kevin and Andy fought back to 2 down but ran out of steam and lost the match 4&2 . A friendly game played in good spirits.

Match 2 Brian & Alan

Slow start from the youth team and we went one down on the first but kept cool and got it back on the 3^rd and slowly started to take control against the 8 and 24 handicap pair. Got to 3 up and the turn and then got to 5 up at the 12^th and then looking good until we lost next 3 holes - dormy at the 17^th after tee shots  no one hit the green. Alan was short of the green with very difficult chip but manged to chip right next to the hole. Game over and 3& 1 win.

Match 3  Roger & Steve

Steve was 5 up after 7 then young Davies joined in and the partnership went down to 2 up after 15.  A spawny putt but Davies closed out the match on the 16^th . Lovely company (not sure Steve would agree about his partner) course played well and so did Steve . As it was getting dark the 4 walked in and did not play 17or 18^th  slow play from group 2 and Clacton player made a comment about clocks going back ( not funny )

Comment from group 2 pair – "are we bothered"

Match 4 Malcolm and Allen

SBN were under the cosh from the first hole with the home team dovetailing well all the way round the course. Giving 15 shots to a player who was regularly parring holes with a shot made it very difficult to sbn to stay with the home players (also Malcolm seemed  to be more focused on his lunch) and did not win a hole until 14^th. The home team made an immediate response by making a birdie on the 15^th to win the match. Enjoyable game played in a good spirit.

Match 5  Trevor and Peter

A very enjoyable match against a Clacton pair, an American, who never let us forget that he loved Oregon links courses and hated Trump) and a member who tries to restrict himself to 5 rounds a week !! The Stoke pair didnt do too much wrong but found themselves 4 down after 5 holes. They battled back to 1 down at the turn but it clearly took its toll and the home pair roared away to a 5 & 3 victory. 

Match 6  Tony and Ian

TC/IB won 5&4 with lots of advice from TC to IB (no surprise there) and IB was masterful on the back 9 . IB played with poise and control . TC was his usual brilliance.

Not sure who wrote this  crap and thought I saw one of the bar staff filling  in the form.

Match  7  Dave and Eric

Eric and Dave  lost 3& 2  ( no surprise there then) Dave 1^st tee drive was heading for the ditch then swerved up the bridge and over  Bob got NP on 7^th for Clacton with a 7 wood to 18” . After  7 holes SBN were 2 up (we know the end of the story already) Clacton turned tghis round to go 2 up and won on the 16^th.  

Match 8 Ian and Mick

Ian and Mick lost 7&6 (yes we all were surprised and even Clacton had heard about Micks handicap)

Lost  first 2 holes but Ian’s new callaway apex clubs got us back to all square. Unfortunately we lost next 7 on the trot. Ian would not accept £56 for his new clubs. Afterwards Mick had no comment about his play as he was "S**t"

Seems that buying new clubs does not always help your game ask the guy in match 4 but a new bags does and ask the guy in match 2.

Many thanks to Brian Roloff for producing the report of the Clacton away match - cheers Brian