Golf Academy take on Staff
Monday 5th July 2010
On the hottest day of the summer with searing temperatures nearing 30 degrees the scene was set for an epic encounter. Both sides were in confident mood with Mr Dodd using his new clubs, new recruits for the team including Mr Macdonald, Mr Atkinson & Mr Fallon, as well as the trusted few remaining from last years crushing defeat. These were Mr Pickersgill, slightly under the weather with sunburn, Mr Dodd, Miss Pearson, Craig Morris, Retford’s golf professional and Mr Lindley. Unfortunately our charismatic leader Mr Craig was unable to attend so left us very short on experience.
 The first match saw current Golf Academy Captain, Kavan Smith playing against Mr Dodd and captain elect for next year, Jamie Harrison playing Miss Pearson. The staff gained a lot of shots but unfortunately they were not quite enough to help. Mr Dodd (left) was in complete awe of the playing standard shown by Kavan and although he kept the game tight for the first 9 holes the back 9 saw Kava pull away and secure the Golf Academies first point with a 5 & 4 victory. All Dodd could say was “he went, Birdie, Birdie, Eagle, too good for me”.
The second match was a much closer affair. Miss Pearson put up a really brave fight. Jamie had birdied 2 out of the first 5 holes and was still just 1 up. This theme continued throughout the game with Miss Pearson hanging in the match. By the 18th hole Jamie had 6 birdies and an eagle “2” on the 400 yard par 4, 16th and this was to scrape home with a victory of just 1 hole up on the last. The modest Miss Pearson said I gave him a good game but my lack of practice told in the end. A rather relieved Jamie was just happy to get the Golf Academy their 2nd point on the board.
In the next matches saw the Staff put out their weakest players, Craig Morris Retford Golf Club’s professional and Mr Lindley, suffering from a lack of form. The were up against a pair of formidable golfers in Amy Marper, the sole girl on the squad and Joseph King, the joker in the pack. Craig was that desperate to gain victory he demanded Amy play from the men’s tees not the women’s but in return gave her 3 extra shots. Also he managed to squeeze himself into his 1980’s bright red waterproofs as a distraction tactic. This however failed to work as Amy nailed her drive miles down the centre of the fairway. After they halved the first in pars, Craig managed to get a few holes ahead but only to be clawed back again by Amy to all square after 6. Craig birdied the 7th to go 1 up but the game turned on the 8th when both Amy and Mr Lindley played the wrong balls to give Craig the hole by default and a 2 hole advantage. From here Amy battled hard but went down to a 4 & 3 victory for Craig giving the staff their first point on the board.
In the next match Mr Lindley had to put up with the constant chatter and jokes from Joseph King. After trying to put Mr Lindley off his first drive by mentioning the out of bounds he had to watch Mr Lindley hit it straight down the middle. Joseph taking his 3 wood for safety hit a weak drive short left, much to the amusement of the crowd gathered around the first tee. Mr Lindley went 1 up after lipping out for Eagle on the first hole and secured this position to be 4 up after 7 holes. Joseph took full advantage of this mistake on 8 of Mr Lindley playing the wrong ball by sinking 2 birdie puts on 8 and 9 to reduce the deficit to 2 down. Lindley went 3 up on 11 but Joseph again pulled another birdie on the 12th to go back to 2 down. After playing 14 and 15 well Joseph was all square on the 16th but a pulled drive down the left cost him any chance of reaching the green and hence lost the hole. The final problem happened on 17 when Lindley birdied the hole with King still in the jungle grass and bushes looking for his ball. Lindley therefore got the staff’s second point and tied the competition.
 With the match in the balance both sides were hoping the rest of their team would play well and secure the win. However there was to be only one winner. In the 3rd group of matches saw the new recruits for the staff team of Mr Fallon and Mr Atkinson do battle against an experienced pair of yr 13’s in Kris Vardy and Daniel Bratton. Mr Fallon fresh from his practice round at Pannal started like a house on fire by going 1 up on the first with a terrific birdie. After that the first few holes were tightly contested but Kris experience from being a member at Retford began to tell. After the game progressed on to the slightly longer and more challenging back 9, Kris began to win holes and eventually ran out a 4 & 3 victor. This again put the Academy into a 1 point advantage.
In the 2nd match in this group the result at one point looked like a nailed on victory for the Golf Academy but on the back 9 holes there were a few twists and turns. Mr Atkinson admitted his golf was not the best on the front 9 holes but put this down to nervousness and apprehension from playing his first match play match. His true Balby grit came through in abundance on the back 9 holes. With Danny becoming slightly erratic, with his long driving getting him in trouble Atkinson saw his chance. On the 12th hole Bratton had gone too far with his drive and ended up in trees on the right. Atkinson pulled another hole back. However by the time the game reached the 14th tee Atkinson was Dormie 5, meaning he was 5 holes down with just 5 holes best to play. This meant the best Atkinson could do was get a half but he battled for it like a trooper. He won the 14th, then 15th, then 16th and amazingly enough the 17th. On the 18th Atkinson approach shot went left of the green and his putt to win the hole narrowly missed. A relieved Danny secured another point for the Golf Academy with a 1 up victory. This meant the staff needed to win the final 2 games to half the match.
In the final pairing, the staff had left their two bankers, Mr Macdonald and Mr Pickersgill. These two were surely nailed on for victory playing against the vastly inexperienced pair of Atkinson and Woodcock from yr 12. In the Golf Academy’s favour however, was that both were Retford Golf Club members. More importantly though could these two lads compete with the whit and banter to come from the staffs bankers. Both Mr Macdonald and Mr Pickersgill had not been able to dedicate as much time to their game and had to sacrifice a practice round. This began to show with the academy students knowledge of the course becoming a real advantage. The students began to show the staff where they should not go by actually putting their own balls in to these positions. However either by skills (the student’s comments) or by luck (the staff’s comments).Mr Macdonald actually has video evidence of the academy student’s miles off line on the 17th hunting for a ball!
Mr Pickersgill started off with his usual game that’s quite slow to get going but he soon got into the match. However the game began to slip away from him and Alex gradually built up a few holes advantage. This was never really relinquished and unfortunately the winning putt for both their own game, and the overall match, came on the 14th hole. This secured a 5 & 4 victory for Alex and an unassailable lead for the academy students.
However in the final game pride was at stake and Mr Macdonald was not going to let the side down. After stating “The lads are rubbish, they are always in the trees, can’t we play against better players”, I’m afraid the tide turned and Mr Macdonald had to accept defeat on the 16th green with Adam running out a 3 & 2 victor.
After the match Mr Craig treated both teams to a meal, Steak Pie and Chips. Before the meal Mr Craig donated a White Blazer to be worn by the victorious team captain for the duration of the meal. The jacket was presented by the staff team captain, Mr Lindley to Kavan Smith. Kavan tried to keep the jacket to go around town but we just managed to get it back from him. Then the shield was awarded to Kavan (pictured) for his team’s magnificent victory 6 – 2.
Kavan made a tremendous acceptance speech thanking all for their attendance at the match. In his last act as Captain he then presented Jamie Harrison, next years captain with his Captains Shirt. Jamie thanked Kavan and hoped he would be as successful in his year as captain next year.
Mr Lindley
Golf Academy Director | 
