At last! Summers arrived and the sun finally shone on Sundridge Park for our Colts season opener. An early start and a few minutes to meet and bond with the players. Then back into my managers position and a few early big decisions...Bacon or Sausage, Bacon or Sausage.............. 9 Sausage & Egg Rolls please.
The morning foursomes were key and boy did our lads perform, The morning foursomes were key and boy did our lads perform, 31/2 to 1/2 in our favour made lunch taste fantastic. At lunch I had an opportunity to pass on the County's best wishes to Sundridge for their continued support in supporting team Kent. I also asked my team not to rest on their laurels and reminded them that the job was only half done.
The singles were close and halfway through we weren't sure where the 3 points were going to come from to push us over the winners line. But this is Team Kent... And many great performances saw some wonderful comebacks to secure a deserved winning result 7 - 5.
How pleased am I to be in charge of the Colts and pick 8 players who really wanted to play and perform for Kent.
Can I thank our President, Captain and Ray for their support at this match and Bernie and Sue for their patience with me and hard work in helping get these matches on.
Where do I begin: There goes my 100% record as Colts manager.
I just have to say how impressed I was with Kent Ladies from the moment I arrived at Littlestone, to the way they bonded together as a team at breakfast, to the way they practiced together before the match and the desire and quality of their golf all day. The officials and team were a credit to the County and I would like to wish them well for the rest of the season.
This was a good opportunity for us to play some players who would gain valuable experience for the years to come, the side I selected in my opinion were going to trounce the ladies, I was that confident I penned my winners speech on the way to the course........ I had to rewrite it on the sixteenth hole as the realisation hit me that we had been beaten. The players were gracious in defeat and a credit to us all with their attitude after.
I was feeling terrible, how was I to face the Committee members present Pat our illustrious leader told me a joke, Chris our President gave me some words of encouragement "That's probably the first time we've lost to the ladies", Ian said "he would check the course rating because he hadn't considered the hazards and undulating areas from where our boys were playing some shots from", Ray tried his hardest to convince me that the ladies had infringed the rules and Chris Reynolds asked if my resignation was in the post.
I can't ever remember being at Littlestone on such a glorious day. The sun shone and there was hardly a breath of wind. The course (one of my favourites) was superb as were the staff and catering.
