2017 Major 6 Bowood GCC
Major 6 & Champion of Champions - Bowood Golf & Country Club 16/17th September
KING RICHARD RETURNS TO RULE AT BOWOOD
For most ACGA members Bowood Golf and Country Club harbours many good memories and therefore rates very highly on the ACGA calendar. As is becoming increasingly normal and welcomed on our weekend jaunts, members brought their wives and partners with them to enjoy the spa, good food and fine facilities.
Placed in Wiltshire with beautiful views across the countryside, Bowood golf course will challenge the best golfers, whether it is the undulating terrain, teasing par 4’s, long par 5’s and well bunkered and protected with raised greens par 3’s. This course seems to specialise in placing a bunker or obstacle wherever you choose to drive the ball. This is a course with no let up, to win at Bowood you need to have all facets of your game in good order.
The weekend was comprised of two competitions, the first of which is the sixth major played over the two days, the second tournament is the annual Champion of Champions competition played on the final day of the weekend for previous ACGA champions.
The golf was made a little more challenging by the fact that Wiltshire had been subjected to high levels of rain fall, therefore there was very little run on the golf ball which caused the course play to its full length. The rain also affected the speed and roll of the greens and made putting difficult to negotiate. So to play to your handicap was a good achievement. The weather although always threatening to rain, generally remained calm but overcast for the duration of the weekend.
Despite the difficult conditions there were some good scores on the first day with the top 3 scores as follows: Richard Payne nett 74, Roger Goddard nett 78 and Steve Garner nett 79. This resulted in a high profile last day leading four ball group, all of whom had won ACGA majors before and were known for their tenacity and skills, not least of all being their collective big hitting. This was a group where no quarter was given or expected, and the challenge was not only to strike the golf ball well but also to maintain your mental strength in order to produce your best golf.
Well when all is said and done, the champion takes the spoils and the champion on this occasion was Richard Payne. Richard played a very high standard of golf for the duration of the two days and even though he incurred a two shot penalty on day two, for playing off the wrong tee box, he proved to be too strong both technically and mentally to be beaten. Congratulations to Richard who won both the Major weekend competition and the Champion of Champions prize. On collecting his trophies Richard reminded us that Bowood was the scene of his first major success, so as the title of this report indicates, Richard could rightly consider himself to be the crowned King of Bowood.
The top 3 scores for the weekend are:
1st Richard Payne 146
2nd Donald McCleod 155
3rd Steve Garner 156
The two closest to the pin awards were won by Roger Goddard (aka the captain).
As usual Bowood hosted a very enjoyable weekend for all who attended, the next event is Captains day at Park Wood golf course on 6th October.
See you there.