Eaton
I have to start with the distressing news of Keith Birmingham’s unexpected death on Thursday. We knew he was quite ill, battling again with lymphocytic leukaemia, but we (and he) fully expected that the hospital would sort out a new chemo regime and restore him to reasonable health, back to us all at Eaton, but it was not to be. His emails earlier in the week revealed he was feeling very poorly (he actually had another word for it). The family - his next of kin is his sister - are sorting out funeral arrangements and a wake: details will be shared when known.
On the course all attention has been given to the County Stroke play. The team were in very early all week, including Saturday (at 5 am on the competition days). The course was mown throughout, and greens cut and rolled every day - they were running at 9’ 8” on Wednesday, 10’ Thursday. With the warm drying weather they would continue to speed up, but they were still holding well-struck shots. The course looked an absolute picture on Thursday morning.
The winner comes from Delamere but actually plays college golf in Florida. He won by 1 shot with a 4 round total of -5, which included a final round of 66, the lowest of the week. He said our greens were the best he had played on since returning to the UK. Praise indeed! Others found the course rather more difficult: the cut after 2 rounds to the last 40 for Saturday’s 36 holes was made at PLUS 15.
Course Committee
25th June 2023