Seniors Match Results - 2011 | The Leicestershire Golf Club

Seniors Match Results - 2011
Date	Match	Venue	Players	Result	Comments
APRIL
6th	Hinckley	Home	16	Lost 31/2 - 41/2	Conditions for the match with Hinckley could hardly have been better. The weather was perfect, the course was in superb condition and the visitors were delighted by the quality of our greens. The contest itself was very even, and our team considers itself unfortunate at losing by the narrowest margin. We all enjoyed the company of our guests. Altogether a promising start to our season.
18th	Wollaton Park	Away	12	Won 5 - 1	The weather, the scenery and the Wollaton Park course were all superb, and our team rose to the interesting challenges posed by many of the holes. The Leicestershire won by 5 matches to 1, in a contest marked by great sportsmanship. We salute the Home team too for our very friendly reception before and after the match.
21st	Western Park	Home	12	Won 51/2 - 1/2	On a day when the temperature locally reached 25 degrees C (77 F), and even a slight breeze was at a premium, the Leicestershire team convincingly mastered both the conditions and the Western Park opposition , winning the match by 5 1/2 to 1/2. It is becoming routine to report that our course is in superb condition, the envy of the visitors; and so it proved again today. Both teams enjoyed a good-natured and sporting encounter, and a very convivial clubhouse lunch afterwards.
28th	Glen Gorse	Away	16	Lost 6 - 2	After two wins in a row, the Seniors team came down to earth with a bump when we encountered Glen Gorse on their home territory. The weather was kind after a chilly start, the course was in fine condition, and the home team pairs kept up a high standard of play, winning by 6 matches to 2. In addition to winning those two 'consolation' matches, our team can boast that Pat O'Callaghan won the nearest-the-flag competition on the par-3 hole 15. Our hosts were as hospitable as could be, and the post-match meal was a most pleasant occasion.
MAY
4th	Scraptoft	Home	16	Half 4 - 4	Another day of gorgeous weather, with our course in immaculate condition. Even the recent strong wind had moderated to a more friendly breeze. Today our opponents were, on paper a very strong team indeed, many of their players familiar with The Leicestershire course. In a match marked by good-natured sportsmanship, our team felt highly satisfied at achieving a creditable half.
12th	Kirby Muxloe	Away	12	Lost 3 1/2 2 1/2	More nice weather, but also a short burst of very heavy rain just for a change! The course was in excellent condition, a joy to behold and to play. Our hosts could not have been more welcoming and considerate. The teams were well matched, but local knowledge gave the home team the narrowest of winning margins.
23rd	Northants County	Away	12	Halved 3 - 3	Anyone who thought that their golfing skills at The Leicestershire would transfer easily to Northampton County was in for a rude awakening. The course was exceptionally firm, the ball would bounce and run for miles, and bounces off the firm ground could be wicked. The greens had been scalped for a tournament, and were yards faster than we are accustomed to. As if that were not enough, the wind blew relentlessly, converting what seemed reasonable tee and fairway shots into search and rescue operations in the dense gorse rough. Having said all that, the Northamptonshire is indeed a gorgeous and challenging golf course, with terrifying bunkers and superb greens; and it is greatly to the credit of our players that we held the home side to a hard-earned draw. Our hosts were a model of consideration and generosity, on the course and in the clubhouse. Long may we keep fixtures like this in our programme.
26th	Stoke Rochford	Home	16	Lost 2 1/2 - 5 1/2	Our first seriously rainy outing of the season. Stoke Rochford sent an impressive team, all dressed in team colours to frighten us; but when we all had to don weatherproof clothing the effect was lost. Despite the weather our course played splendidly, winning much praise from the discerning visitors. Our team held out bravely against strong opponents, and in the end were by no means disgraced in losing 2 1/2 to 5 1/2. As always, we enjoyed the company of our visitors, and the post-match lunch was a pleasurable way to end the day.
JUNE
7th	Greetham Valley	Away	12	Lost 6 1/2 - 1 1/2	We played the Valleys Course at Greetham, which is only partly well-named; 'Alps and Valleys' would be more appropriate. I lost count of the number of intimidating par threes played off platform tees down to a green beside water or surrounded by bunkers. The course has a spacious appearance and feel, and it does contain one huge par five; but most of the holes were shorter than our long par fours As usual these days, local knowledge of how the ball will bounce and run when it hits the rock-hard ground proved to be a critical factor separating the two teams. A very testing course indeed, and our team was not disgraced in losing 61/2 to 1 1/2 The weather threatened us, but we kept dry most of the way round.
8th	Willesley Park	Away	16	Lost 4 1/2- 2 1/2	Great credit is due to those of our team who played two days running - especially following the exhausting round at Greetham the previous day. Willesley is one of the loveliest and most interesting of golf courses, combining great scenic beauty and a capacity to seriously challenge the visitor. Not quite as hilly as Greetham - thank goodness - it does have numerous high vantage points and complex hole layouts. Approaching the greens, especially on the prevailing hard surfaces, proved to be an art better understood by the home team, and the result was a home win by 4 1/2 to 2 1/2. We began the day in lovely sunshine, and although lots of cloud and some rainy spells developed, they did nothing to spoil the enjoyment of this lovely course. We would all like to play here more often.
15th	Rothley Park	Away	12	Lost 1 - 5	Another very beautiful golf course, playing superbly after the weekend rain. The bare scoreline - a loss of 1 to 5 - does not show how closely contested were a couple of our team's losses. The whole match was played in excellent spirit, and our hosts made us very welcome over a fine lunch. This is an exacting golf course, with severe punishment for waywardness. But it's also a course that maintains interest and variety throughout, right down to the intimidating par-five 18th. This must be one of the highlights of our away visits programme.
27th	Kilworth Springs	Home	16	Lost 21/2 - 51/2	The weather at least was kind to us today; the threatened heat deluge did not materialise, and we played in cooler, breezier conditions than forecast. Not that this helped us greatly against a talented Kilworth Springs team, whose members made themselves thoroughly at home on our course. The result was a loss by 2 1/2 to 5 1/2. However, our guests were excellent company, both on the course and over lunch.
JULY
15th	Cosby	Away	16	Lost 3-5	Cosby is a course that constantly challenges the newcomer, off the tee and around and on the green. Our visit found the course playing very long, with firm greens. calling for ultra-careful consideration of shots to the green. Full credit to those in our team who handled these conditions and the opposition successfully; unfortunately we could not all maintain this high standard, resulting in an honourable 3 - 5 defeat. Our reception was exceptionally friendly and considerate, and we shall remember this as one of our most enjoyable visits.
21st	Longcliffe	Home	16	Won	A day to remember. The threatening weather was kind to us, no downpour, or thunder, or lightning. After recent heavy rain the course had lost much of its recent hardness, which both teams seemed to appreciate. Our opponents did not make it easy for us, and this was in truth a hard-fought victory. We all enjoyed the company of our guests, and lunch was a most convivial occasion.
25th	Charnwood	Away	12	Lost 4 - 2	On a warm and very humid day we enjoyed the unique assets of the Charnwood course. The run of the ball on the fairways, the nuances of the very fast greens, the spectacular vistas, all held our attention from beginning to end. Our hosts were truly hospitable and we all tucked heartily into the treacle sponge and custard - a great day despite the result!
28th	Luffenham Heath	Away	16	Lost 4 1/2 - 3 1/2.	There was much to enjoy at Luffenham today, the good condition of the course, the warm welcome of our hosts and the excellent atmosphere as we dined together. The result of the match was in the balance until the last pairing came in, and we departed for home looking forward to our next golfing encounter.
AUGUST
1st	Kibworth	Away	16	Lost 5 1/2- 2 1/2	On one of the hottest and humid days of the year the Kibworth team were very deserving winners. The course was in excellent condition with true and fast greens and we thoroughly enjoyed the knowledgeable and friendly company of our hosts. Our meal can only be described as a delight.
3rd	Stoke Rochford	Away	16	Halved	An extremely sultry day with scarcely a breath of wind to cool us. The Stoke Rochford course had come through the prolonged dry spell with its fairways still attractively green; though the home players had obviously learned the tricks of cleverly running the ball to the green using the contours and landscape shapes. The contest might have been spoiled by heavy rain affecting the final pairings, but it is pleasing to report that good sportsmanship on both sides produced an overall result that satisfied us all. Our hosts were as welcoming as could be, the meal was excellent, and we all look forward to our next visit to this truly lovely course.
8th	Whetstone	Home	16	Won 5 - 3	On paper, this looked a nicely balanced match; and so it proved. The weather was pleasant, with a testing but not impossible breeze. The golf course and greens were in superb condition, and were much admired by our visitors. Our lunch was a very friendly affair, with many compliments for Gaynor and her team. Altogether a very enjoyable day - and with some icing on the cake. We won.
15th	Park Hill	Home	14	Won 5 1/2 - 1 1/2	Conditions for this match could not have been more favourable; the golf course played long, the greens were excellent, the weather was warm, but with a pleasant cooling breeze. Park Hill gave us a much tougher contest then the scoreline suggests, but home-course advantage was enough to give us the win.
18th	Market Harborough	Home	16	Won 4 1/2 - 3 1/2	Most of us got wet, the tail-enders wettest. But spirits remained high and the match stayed alive to the end as contest after contest went to the wire. Certainly one of our most exciting matches this year, and we enjoyed the company of our visitors at a very pleasant meal afterwards. If only people would refrain from observing that 'We really need the rain.' !
31st	Ladies Silver Putter	Home	16	Lost 5 - 3	Our team was the strongest we could field, every member knew the importance of the occasion and the absolute necessity to do well. And we were full of confidence, certain that we could lay the jinx that has bedevilled us for decades in this fixture. Even the weather was favourable, a pleasant temperature and more holding fairway surfaces than of late. But what were we to make of opponents who refused to play on the same golf course that we are accustomed to play on? They ignored the trees, bushes, long grass and sand - confining their play exclusively to fairways and putting greens! Anyone can play well if they keep doing that sort of thing! But is it really golf??? Be all that as it may, we magnanimously forgave and forgot all our grievances back in the clubhouse, where we all enjoyed a splendid meal and became friends again. Until next time. Commiseration for the Seniors who tried so hard, and failed. Admiration for those of our players who triumphed against the odds. The result was a well-earned 5-3 victory for the Ladies.
SEPTEMBER
12th	Wollaton Park	Home	12	Won 4 - 2	Wind strength such as we seldom experience did nothing to spoil today's encounter with Wollaton Park. Apart from the ferocious wind, our course is beginning to recover from it's lack-of-water trauma, and our visitors were full of praise for the excellent greens. Surprisingly, considering that wind, few golf balls were lost, and the quality of play was good. The Wollaton Park team are always fine company, on and off the course, and an excellent lunch sent us all home contented. For our team contentment was enhanced by victory, 4 matches to 2. This completes a 'double' against Wollaton Park this season, as we won memorably on their course back in April.
14th	Cotgrave	Home	16	Won 5 1/2 - 2 1/2	The Nottinghamshire sent a seriously strong team, and the match was close and exciting, producing some outstanding golf on both sides - including two eagles by Nottinghamshire players. Despite the high tension, the match was played in a very sporting and friendly spirit. As always this year, our lunch earned high praise from the visitors (as did the golf course!). This is my final match bulletin as Captain. I'll say my thank-yous to our incredibly loyal team at next week's AGM, and my final bonus is to report the result of today's splendid contest as a win to our side by 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 matches. Devoted followers of these match bulletins will no doubt perceive a raising of the tone, and less frivolity, in future reports, as our new Captain gets to work.
26th	Lingdale	Home	16	Lost 4 1/2- 3 1/2	We enjoyed a very pleasant sunny day with blue skies, receptive greens and well groomed fairways. The match was a close run thing with close encounters being the order of the day.Our opponents were good company and we look forward to the return fixture next year.
OCTOBER

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Seniors Match Results - 2011