The Black Course Drive In

Published: 28 March 2011

Saturday 26th March 2011 saw the official inauguration of our new Black Course. This incorporates the seven new tees and offers a round of 6714 Yards with a Standard Scratch Score of 73.

The auspicious day was marked with a challenge match between the four professional golfers attached to Eaton, Dale Marmion of the Europro and Challenge Tour,   Steve Mayer and James Westwood of the Europro Tour and our own assistant pro, Nick Foxon.

It was A BRILLIANT DAY OUT.

Just to be present was a privilege and to see those four balls , each so long and so consistently on the fairway was a revelation to me , a simple middle handicap man.

The match was close and ebbed and flowed , mainly a see-saw between Steve, James and Dale and with Nick always lurking close by and sinking some excellent birdie putts to keep his challenge alive. For me the new 8th is now the signature hole, the drives over the trees being, in the unavoidable parlance, “simply awesome “. A special memory was to watch Dale on the sloping far right bank of the stream on 14th simply blasting out with a 2 hybrid whilst Nick’s penchant for the driver instead of a fairway wood was also an insight into a different world. For Course Chairman Alan Wood the delight was to see his new bunkers proving their worth on several occasions and being in all cases just right for the long drives.

So, to the 18th tee where it stood at James 2 under, Dale 1 under, Steve at even par and Nick 2 over. My sweep money was on James and I felt it well placed.

Dale’s drive from the new tee was beyond the black and white marker post. All four put their second shots on the green or the immediate fringe. James elected to chip in but left himself a longish putt of about 7 ft……..3 played. The other two putted out well, at par. Dale now to putt for birdie, downhill, 8ft.   Not an easy line to see so he went horizontal in the press-up position a couple of times , then crouched from the knees for many seconds and then finally took stance. Two practice arcs …the ball is moving ….and a dead centre Birdie!. At least a shared podium.

What pressure on James. The par putt to halve…..surely it must…..but no, it glides by and Mr Captain steps in to acclaim Dale Marmion as the winner of a gripping match.

There were 20 or 30 followers on this raw , grey day, the contestants having called for hot tea at the 10th   and the 19th being a very welcome haven at the end, but if you missed it — you missed a lot.

Thanks, Gentlemen,
Charles Pritchard , scorer for the match.

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