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If you have been a recent visitor to the Clubhouse, or a member reading emails from the Committee, or perhaps a Facebook user, you are no doubt aware of the ongoing activities to boost "The Georgia Fund" (see
here for previous emails from the Captain and the Secretary).
In addition to the
Georgia Day event, held on 27th March, Thursday 8th April saw another occasion with the intent of raising charitable donations.
Covid-19 played a part in this. Matthew Southgate, a European Tour professional player (see
here), was recently playing in a tournament in Kenya. His next tournament would have allowed him to return home to UK for a few days first. However, that would have involved 10 days quarantine in a hotel, due to the British government's requirement for someone returning from a "Red List" country, Kenya being one of these. Instead, he decided a preferable option was to visit friends in Bahrain, and have a sunny interlude between tournaments. One of those friends was Jamie Elson, who is the head coach to Bahrain's Ministry of Interior golf team, and who is based at the Royal Golf Club.
Via Rory's contacts at RGC, Matthew kindly agreed to take part in a
Club Pro vs Tour Pro four-ball at AGC: Rory Young versus Matthew Southgate as the Professionals, to further increase the Georgia Fund. To become a playing partner of either Matthew or Rory, one had to bid for the chance in an online auction.
Bidding commenced on Tuesday 6th for the Thursday 8th match, with KN Singh and Bronson John leading the charge. Keith Gale considerably upped the ante and was clear leader for some time - as part of his bid he advised that he couldn't actually play the event and was nominating Peter Rogers in his place. With Peter's tee-off carry length compared to that of Matthew, one can say that reticence was a little noticeable on Peter's face when advised of his nomination. However, the bidding nearer the advertised close time of 2pm on Wednesday 7th, just like E-Bay, really heated up. It was now a clear 3-horse race, between Matthew Deakin, Rod Allderidge and John Loughnane. Rory looked on (his smartphone) in amazement as the bidding tussle swayed, and he repeatedly extended the close time, accompanied by several verbal announcements of "Going once". Eventually, John called it a day and the hammer finally came down at 2:50pm. Teams were announced as Matthew Southgate and Matthew Deakin (RGC) versus Rory Young and Rod Allderidge.
Southgate had visited the course earlier in the week, having never played on a sand course or used an Astroturf mat before. As his acclimatization to this strange course and playing surface, he played Holes 1 and 2. For the match, the format was four-ball better ball, with the amateurs having the pleasure of extra shots - Deakin with 9 and Allderidge with 3.
Following the requisite photo shoot at the first tee, John Loughnane being allowed a photo as a commiseration concession, battle commenced. Tour professional Southgate fired the first shot, his club choice being a long iron that became his most often chosen tee-shot weapon. With slight caution the Matts were centre fairway but still with 150 yards to go. Meanwhile, Young let rip and was dead-centre fairway at less than 50 yards whilst Allderidge found the rough. Southgate, with his second shot, missed the green. Young failed in his attempt at a birdie putt and was down in four, leaving Matthew Deakin to halve the hole with a 5 net 4 at this Stroke Index 9 hole. Indeed, with the greens having been re-laid on Tuesday, nearly every green seemed to give the players putting consternation, most typically dominated by Doris and her woefully short attempts.
The lasting memory of Hole 2 tee shots was that by Young, a no-holds-barred attack with the ball coming to rest dead-centre at the edge of the green. Southgate was safely central but 30 yards back, Southgate chipped close, Young not reading the pace accurately, more distant than Southgate after two. Allderidge chipped onto the green for a chance of a birdie but not achieved. Young continued for a birdie but just lipped out. Southgate took his time and sank the birdie for a win. The Matts 1-up. Team Club-Pro were now chasing.
Hole 3 gave Deakin and Allderidge an extra stroke. All had acceptable drives that found the fairway. However, the professionals demonstrated their talent, curving their balls around the dogleg-left, to come to rest near the bunker at the green's approach. Everyone safely on the green in two, but the putting saw no birdie sunk, all players scoring gross 4 - hole halved.
Lovely tee shots by all players at Hole 4 Cardiac, all within 5m of the pin set everyone up with a birdie chance, Southgate and Allderidge closest. With birdies achieved by both teams, another hole halved. Team Tour-Pro still 1-up.
Eagle's Nest Hole 5 was not a masterclass by two of the players in the task of straight drives - those two players being the professionals. The amateurs got it better, Deakin centre-fairway around 200 yards, Allderidge near the fairway line on the right. Young's rough lie at the right was relatively obstruction-free near the ridge, and a mid-iron got him back on the fairway. However, the longer hitting Southgate was discovering the delights of Awali's shady glade on the right. Was there a shot? A 2-iron punch at an exact elevation of 10.7 degrees to avoid the overhanging branches whilst staying Exocet-like above the rubble? And all with a restricted follow through due to the proximity of a tree. When the umming-and-arring was finally over, much to Team Club-Pro's disappointment, Southgate capitulated and went for a safer chip to the side just to get back on the fairway. But Deakin then surprised with a thinned but stunning fairway wood which saw him on the green in two, whilst the others were on in regulation. The pressure now on Team Club-Pro. Deakin furthest from the hole was first to play - not an eagle, but good enough for a given birdie. So Team Club-Pro needed a one-putt for a half. This was not to be, putts lipping out as did Southgate's. Team Tour-Pro 2-up.
Hole 6 tee shots resulted in three players on the green, Allderidge the exception, Deakin the closest to the red flag with a shot that rolled along the wall of death before opting to come to rest on the green. Three players putting for birdie, the pace of the green or its contours confounding them all. Gross pars on both sides, hole result
announced as halved, Team Tour-Pro remaining 2-up and the players moved on. However, in retrospect, it seems that none of the players realized that Deakin, with a handicap of 9, had a shot on this hole rated as Stroke Index 7, and actually won the hole for Team Tour-Pro with a net-birdie. Team Tour-Pro still 2-up.
At the Old First Hole 7, Deakin teeing-off first found a fairway bunker, Southgate long but just into the right rough, Young another superb drive just short of the furthest bunker, Allderidge between the first two bunkers. Southgate and Young on the green in two, whilst Allderidge sufferred an unlucky "Awali bounce" that turned his ball away from the green at the last moment and was thus on the green in 3. Neither Southgate nor Young achieved their desired birdies, having to settle for pars. Deakin was on in four and down in 5 for a net 4. The pressure was now on Allderidge - a one-putt to win the hole for a net-3. But sadly not to be, and another hole halved. Team Tour-Pro still 2-up.
Hole 8, notoriously challenging for the macho amongst us, saw only Southgate on the green. Allderidge, the most out of place beyond the green to the right, played first. And what a beauty - a near-perfect chip back onto the green avoiding the trees, gripping the green impressively, and giving the impression it was the shot of his day. Young, off to the right with a bunker between him and the pin, unimpressive with a chip straight into the bunker and straight out of contention. Deakin followed with a well controlled chip over the right bunker, safely on the green. Southgate was now putting for a birdie win, again not reading the pace and short: down in par. Deakin now had a chance for a win as the Hole's Stroke Index of 5, meant an extra stroke for him. But no, again the green won out and he took two strokes for a net-3. Allderidge, without any extra strokes, needed to hole out just to secure a half. He did, and was visibly relieved as the ball trickled into the cup. A half the hard way. Team Tour-Pro still 2-up.
Hole 9 drives again saw professional drives in the rough, only slightly, Young left Southgate right, whilst the amateurs safely on the fairway. Deakin a fine second just short of the green, Southgate a great iron shot and on in 2, whilst Young was on in 3. Southgate going for an eagle win had to settle for a birdie 4. Allderidge managed to hold his nerve, and his birdie putt halved the hole. At the turn, Team Tour-Pro, 2-up after the fifth hole and still 2-up.
The second nine saw 10th hole drives of a diverse nature. Southgate laying it on the line with a straight drive within 25 yards of the green, Deakin and Allderidge safely on the fairway about 80 yards remaining, and Young not the best thing since sliced bread, his massive slice being nearer the 11th tee than the 10th green. Rory's lie was not the greatest, his second shot not reaching the fairway let alone the green, and his third - attempting a small chip with a wood so as to avoid the stones on his line - only just trickling onto the green. The remaining three players were on in two. Southgate and Deakin holed out for par. Leaving Allderidge to do better. Which he promptly did for a birdie-3 win and a celebratory "Yes!", boosting his confidence. With thoughts that this was Team Club-Pro's comeback, the score had been pulled back to Team Tour Pro 1-up.
Allderidge on Hole 11 with the honour, his tee shot found the left rough, whilst Young found that his driving form was still something in his quiver - another great drive curving around the right-hand dogleg to be on the fairway at 60 yards. Southgate and Deakin both achieved safe drives, but a little further back. Deakin played first with a little over boisterousness to be over the back for two. Young and Southgate both found the green with their second shots, Allderidge taking three to get there. The amateurs both had the pleasure of an extra shot on this hole - Deakin down in 4 net-3. Allderidge with a long putt to achieve the same score, but not making it. Pressure was now on Young, needing to sink it to half the hole. Not to be, and the familiar ring of Team Tour-Pro 2-up returned again.
With a few moments of reflection at the next tee, Southgate contemplated his performance, and announced that the state of his ball was not to his normal expectations, it being as knackered as he was perhaps. The old ball was retired and donated to Charmaine Young as a souvenir. Voicing that he hoped his performance would now be better, a retort was heard from a member: "We play with our balls for weeks!". Back to play, Southgate's explanation appeared accurate as his new ball sailed majestically away to end close to the pin. Deakin not quite straight enough and ending right of the right bunker. Young also safely on the green and Allderidge suffering an Awali bounce that pushed the ball right and after traversing the green it trickled into the right bunker. Deakin chipping, successfully avoided the right bunker, but only to end in the left bunker. Allderidge out of the bunker, putting for 3 but missing. Down to the pros, each with a chance of a birdie. Southgate's teetered on the edge but failed to drop, Young also failing. Hole halved, Team Tour-Pro remaining 2-up.
Parker's next - three on the fairway, Allderidge unhappily in the left rough. Those with a fairway lie all eased onto the green in two. Allderidge, somewhat of a nightmare ensuing, and still not on the green in three. Three with birdie chances, all of which were missed, with Deakin closest of the three. Hole halved, no change to the score.
Missile Creek hole 14 presented itself next. It seemed to conjure up a magnetic repulsion to all players. Southgate coming to rest over the back, 2 feet from the pipes, Young over the back too, whilst Deakin and Allderidge were in the soft fringe just in front of the green. Southgate clearly preferred to play from his pipe-impeded lie, but found that he needed a balletic pose with his rear leg on top of the pipes. After several practice swings he conceded that the Drop Zone was wiser. A lengthy discussion with caddy Elson ensued, so as drop to a location that was chosen with microscopic accuracy. Choosing a 3-wood with a short putting action, his swing speed was not what it should have been and the ball never cleared the ridge, which guided it sideways into the back bunker. The other three players found the green in two, Southgate in three. Allderidge's par attempt was the closest, appearing to enter the cup but then to be spat back out. All down in bogey-4, apart from Southgate double-bogey 5. Hole halved, score remaining at Team Tour-Pro 2-up.
Graveyard Hole 15 next and the pressure mounting on Team Club-Pro. With the amateurs each getting an extra stroke, solid fairway-finding drives were delivered from everyone. Southgate, Deakin and Young found the green in two, Allderidge quite close on the right.
Playing first, Allderidge's chip still left a long putt. Deakin down in four net-3. Southgate attempted to putt-out in birdie, but narrowly missed. With Young needing a birdie to halve the hole and basically stay in the match, he knew he had to perform. And the ball dropped nicely into the cup for a birdie and a halved hole. Young celebrated with an upper-cut fist punch. Score at Team Tour-Pro 2-up, with three to play.
Hole 16. Team Club-Pro needing something special. Southgate long and left rough, Deakin steady-Eddie and central fairway, Rory attempting to reach the green but his intended fade around the right-hand dogleg somewhat too pronounced and thus finding the right rough. Allderidge playing friendly and also in the right rough. Young, with not the easiest of iron shots onto the green, managed to get close at left of the green. Allderidge, also playing from somewhere he did not want to be, found the fairway, just. Playing his 3rd shot, the chip was not at the elevation he wanted it to be, the result being the bunker and a clearly frustrated demeanour. Meanwhile, Southgate was having problems of his own - his shot from the soft lie in the left rough not finding the green and it taking him five to eventually hole-out.
Deakin's second shot was gloriously close to the pin. Rory's putt from off the green was going to be one almighty challenge. Good enough, but not in the hole. Deakin stepped up to his ball, and a lovely controlled putt for a birdie-3 sent Team Tour-Pro into a match-winning score of 3-up and 2 to play.
With the match over, the last two holes were played out for the fun of it, and the players and audience adjourned to the Clubhouse terrace for a welcome cool-down.
But there was another aspect to the success of the day. A student of Rory's, who had recently started having lessons at the range, had generously agreed to donate a sizeable sum for each birdie scored. An even greater sum was promised if both members of a team achieved birdies on the same hole. Rory advised him there were 14 birdies - Southgate 5, Young 4, Allderidge 3, Deakin 2 - and that the Young/Allderidge partners both achieved birdies on Hole 9. Doing the math and thinking that this resulted in a number that was too untidy, he rounded it up even further to increase the number of zeroes that needed to be written on the cheque. As a result of this magnanimous gesture, his contribution was more than that raised by the player auction.
See a
gallery of photos taken at the event (more than 500).
Addendum #1 (added Sunday, 11th April 2021)
Further to the Thursday 8th fund-raising event, Tour Pro Matthew Southgate, happy to generate further donations for the Georgia Fund, provided a clinic on the morning of Saturday 10th at the range. Matthew was assisted by Jamie Elson. During the clinic, he demonstrated a variety of playing techniques, the envy of all attendees, and described his thinking in so doing. Additionally, he answered the questions of the audience and their requests to physically show how to achieve what the audience could not. Here is a small
gallery of photos.
Our Head Professional Rory Young was heard to make an astute observation after the clinic:
It's a bit like AGC's members play rounders, I play professional rounders, and Matthew plays professional baseball.
With the clinic over after a couple of hours, it was Awali Golf Club's turn to provide a hospitality clinic, located on the terrace.
