Martin Kaymer of Germany wins US PGA
Watching the U.S. PGA from Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, over the weekend, it brings home to us the huge differences between us normal club golfers and the elite of the game. Just looking at the layout of this famous course on the banks of Lake Michigan it is almost inconceivable to go around that course, from those tees, in anything resembling our handicap.
With par four holes of 509 yards and the seventeenth par three at 258 yards, we just do not have the power or technique to even approach the greens in regulation figures, even if the holes were in a straight line as the crow flies. American golfer Zac Johnson, not known for his length on the course, found the par four eighteenth fifty yards out of reach and throughout the round had to rely on his short game and excellent putting to complete the event just three strokes off the pace.
It was interesting to watch Bubba Watson, the young left handed American, who tied for the lead with Martin Kaymer of Germany before Kaymer won the play off; he was immensely long off the tee and was one of the few on the Saturday, when the wind was more benign, to reach the par five 628 yards twelfth hole in two shots with a three hundred and seventy one yards drive and then a four iron to the right of the green, but pin high! Peter Alliss would be coining some superlatives had he been commentating on the event I bet.
The par threes along the lake side were invariably played over open water or a cliff hanging down to the waters edge with a pure carry from tee to green and a very limited bale out area. I dread to think how many balls we would lose. Just as it is a given fact that the Augusta National course, with its sloping, lightning fast greens would just permit a scratch player to break ninety on a good day, so it was conceivable that Whistling Straits fell into the same category. Keep practicing!
Walking into the clubhouse after Saturday morning’s golf, it was a pleasant surprise to see tumblers of whisky laid out for the fortunate few who arrived in time to sample the good fortune of a hole in one. This week’s skilful player was Brian Davies, husband of Ladies’ Captain Anne Davies, who had holed out on the tenth hole with a seven wood. Chatting away, Brian had failed to see the ball drop into the hole until advised to “get his money ready” by his band of playing partners. A nice tradition; long may it continue.
Brian would have me point out that he was down the grip on the seven wood!
The Wrexham scratch team qualified for the Golf Union of Wales Team Championships held at Borth and Ynyslas last weekend and drew Whitchurch, Cardiff, in the first round. The team was managed by Jack Gittins and captained by Kevin Matthias and comprised Jamie Durkin, Rod Fieldhouse, Andy Bostock, Rhys Millington and Sam Higgins.
The Whitchurch team were losing finalists last year but the Wrexham team disposed of them by 4 to 1 in what was to prove to be the toughest half of the draw. In the meantime, Royal St. Davids, Harlech had beaten St. Pierre, Chepstow in the other match and were duly beaten by the Wrexham team by three matches to two in the next round.
Rod Fieldhouse won four of the last six holes to win his match and Andy Bostock came back from four down by winning five of the last six holes to win his game.
Rhys Millington was playing out at number one in the team and produced first class golf all week to win all of his matches to date.
Their quarter final was against the much fancied Vale of Glamorgan but they too fell to excellent golf by three games to two. On to the semi final against Newport who were sailing through their previous matches aided and abetted by Welsh international and anchor man, Joe Vickery, previous winner of the Clwyd Championships.
Despite Rhys Millington winning his match on the 21st hole, Wrexham were defeated by three matches to two to the eventual winners who comfortably beat Conwy in the final by four to one.
I am indebted to R. Paul Williams, Wrexham’s Match and Handicap chairman for a comprehensive report on the event.
Last Monday was the occasion of the Wrexham Junior Captain’s Day medal which witnessed a win for Jack Waters with 83 – 20 – 63 from Callum Gaughran on 96 – 28 – 68 and James Adamson with 94 – 24 – 70. Matthew Waters was in fourth place with 91 – 19 – 72 with Junior Captain Mike Peters reclining in fifth place with 82 – 8 – 74.
Sam Postle recoded 108 – 40 – 68 to win his division from Jack Hughes on 102 – 32 – 70
The Denbighshire seniors played Caernarfonshire at Abergele last Thursday and faced an immensely strong peninsular team which included ex Welsh International John Roger Jones and Aled Rees. The home team comprised Dave Hart and Neil Purdie of Llangollen; John Hughes, John Lewis and Tim Gorin of Ruthin Pwllglas; David Jones and Mike Lowe of Wrexham; George Smith of Chirk and Eric Howells and John Kenny of Denbigh. Despite our best efforts, Caernarfonshire proved just too strong and Denbighshire lost by three matches to two
The Vale of Llangollen veterans played a match against Chester Curzon at Llangollen and emerged the winners by 6 ½ to 5 ½ showing a change of fortune following one or two disappointing results just recently.
Clays Golf Club played a Ladies Stableford which resulted in a win for Jane Bell with 39 points from Rosalind Carman on 32 and then Diane Dare with 31.
The Seniors’ Open played on 12th August was won by J Bostock and J Evans with 40 points with Andrew Mitchell and Graham Stokes in second place with 39. Neil Sanger and R Jarvis were in third place with 37. Larry Birch took the nearest the pin on the 5th hole and L Highton was nearest the pin in two strokes of the 11th hole. Two players, D Gallimore and W Hewitt scored the only birdie of the day and shared five dozen golf balls between them.
The Shop Sunday Stableford was won by Grant Jones with and excellent 46 points off a handicap of 22 followed by Colin Bryan on 40 and Josh Green on 38.
The Ladies’ August medal was won by Anne Richards with net 69 from Valerie Jervis on 81 and then Rosalind Carman with 83.
Too late for this week, the Denbighshire Golfing Union’s Seniors’ Championships takes place at Wrexham Golf Club on Thursday, a report on which will be next week.