JFord (unofficial) Nett Round 1 24th August 2019

It is a matter of astonishment to this observer that the member with the best nett score over 36 holes is not heralded given the titanic nature that such an achievement represents . On the official intelligent golf scoresheets it references that there is a nett Championship thus it seemed apt to briefly report on it . Given the prominence of those competitions which celebrate the achievements of the best collective gross and nett scores (RAFA and T Povey ) and whilst bemoaning those members who can only play on one day it still seems ironic that the most difficult competition in our entire calendar ( given we play on the maximum length of the course ) is not duly heralded with a trophy . That said they will be given due recognition on these pages ... 

Gary Shaughnessy (92/28/64) posted a wonderful net 64 to take a 3 shot lead into the crucial final round . The affable , easy-going lorry driver has shown in the past that he is capable of produce wondrous scoring ( especially in the pairs format ) and today he stunned the field in tricky conditions by playing his front 9 5 under his handicap and consolidating that with gaining 2 more on the more challenging back 9 to put himself three clear . But can he maintain his form ? The handicapper has curiously intervened mid-comp to drop his handicap by 3.2 to a new mark of 24.4 . 

Brian Nicholls (87/19/68) has profited all season from the generosity of the handicapper to give him a lenient handicap and he has contended strongly on several occasions . Even now he continues to post quality rounds and today he has again cocked a snook at the handicapper and found himself 2 under his handicap at the turn with a solid unspectacular display of 2 pars and 7 bogeys . On his back 9 he started encouragingly and after net birdies on 10 ,12 and 13 he stood on the 14th tee at 5 under his handicap and challenging for the lead . 3 double bogeys in the last 5 holes ensured that he finished with a net 68 to leave h8m 4 shots behind .The handicapper has again addressed his ‘improvement’ and dropped him 1.2 to a mark of 17.3 ... this observer will not be surprised if he maintains his form and continues a strong contender . 

Luke Dunlop is another relatively recent recruit to our Alty GC family and is playing in only his fifth competition ... once again it would appear that his handicap mark would appear a tad generous given his excellent display in our Championship today . Originally given a 20 handicap he won the Monthly Medal with a net 65 in his last comp and today the trigenarian ( cut to 18 handicap ) has maintained his form with a gross 86 that represents an 8 shot improvement on his initial comp score ... he completed his front 9 in a magnificent 4 under his ( newly revised ) handicap , consolidated further and stood on the 14th tee at 6 under and challenging the leader . Luke foundered on the last 5 holes and dropped 3 shots to finish on net 68 ... the handicapper has again attempted to address his excellent scoring cutting him a further 1.3 to 16.8 . Given his form we can expect a strong showing in tomorrow’s final round . 

Only three players played better than their handicap today which is testament to our wonderful course even though only 17 holes had bunkers ( only greenside ) in play . 

Special mentions ...

Owen Fallon (90/19/71) is one of our long-standing members who have played with distinction today ... Owen started poorly and did not record a par in his entire front 9 , finishing 3 over his handicap and in mid-table . He played the tougher back 9 3 under his handicap highlighted by a superb birdie on 11 and also parred the uber-tricky 15th to finish level par for his handicap . A fine effort ... ... the handicapper has cut him 0.3 to a new mark of 18.2 .

Danny Miller (79/7/72) remains in contention for the ‘double’ ( lowest JFord gross AND nett scores ) ... his efforts are chronicled on the Championship pages to view . 

Overall a war of attrition for many of us given that we all played the course from its maximum length .More fun awaits tomorrow to those of us playing the full 36 holes !

NB Having once occupied a chair at the handicapping high table this observer is certain that the handicaps given out are in direct relevance to the scores on the qualifying cards but it is clear that some of our new members have improved rapidly ( as opposed to the more sedate changes in the vast majority of our membership ) and that this potentially could be deemed controversial to some of us . All we can hope is that the current occupants utilise everything at their disposal to effectively try to ensure that golfing banditry is restricted given the idiosyncrasies of the ‘three cards in’ system as to whether they always accurately reflect the handicap of the individual submitting them .