A Blooming Rose!

Sheddy Rose wins his first ACGA Major at a wet and wild Heron Country Club…

For the 4th major of the 2024 season, the ACGA paid it’s first visit to the Heron Country Club (formerly South Essex Golf Club). The lack of familiarity of the course and the unseasonal wet and windy weather made for a challenging day for all. As members and guests started to arrive and everyone was lamenting the need for waterproofs and an umbrella, spirits were lifted by the appearance of long time members Lynette Mapp, Leo Faure and Peter Bennett with his son Rory. Mr Bennett Junior is fresh from his first year at Lamar University in Texas and it was great to see this young man who many of us have seen grow up, come back and represent himself and his family so well. Additionally, with a playing handicap on the day of +5 he is the lowest handicapper ever to tee it up on an ACGA event. More on this later…. 

Following the Captain’s address and explanation of the day, the 44 player field headed out to warm up and get ready to take on the course and the increasingly changeable weather. The Heron is made up of three loops of nine holes, The Heron, The Hawk and The Vixen. Our day comprised of the Heron/Hawk combination. This produced a mix of interesting holes, which in some cases looked fairly straightforward. However, things were not always as they seemed, as was witnessed by the scores and tales of woe as players returned to the clubhouse. Overall there were some notable scores of 34 points and above, but as usual, one or two rose above the crowded field. In 3rd place was Dave “Sarge” Sergeant with 37pts. In 2nd place was the ACGA’s most distant member Trevor “Brummie Gooner” Lammy with 38pts. Finally, the overall winner of the day was Sheddy Rose with 40pts winning his first major. Sheddy took time out to remind us in his winner’s speech that he had promised us at the AGM in December that he would win a major this year. Good to see a man keep his promises.. 

1st Sheddy Rose 40pts

2nd Trevor Lammy 38pts

3rd Dave Sergeant 37pts

Nearest the pins - Leo Faure (4th), Rory Bennet (17th)

Nearest the pin in 2 - Dave Sergeant

A great day was had by all and wrapped up with a good meal, presentations and a few drinks… 

Now back to Rory Bennett. It was a pleasure witnessing Rory’s round first-hand. To see someone shoot level par with so many putts shaving the hole was a great experience. The most notable part of the round however was to hear Rory tell member Randy Plowright “it’s ok you can’t reach the bunker from there….” I doubt many of us who know Randy have ever heard those words said to him. Mr P took it well to be fair as we both watched Rory launch the ball distances that I could only reach with the use of my 60+ Oyster Card!! Keep on progressing Rory and keep the focus.