Result - McKelvie 4BBB Trophy. Queen’s, Yellow Tees, Sat Oct 18th.
McKelvie Fourball Better Ball: A Masterclass in Putting (and Forgetting!)
Well, what a day we had on the Queen's Course for the McKelvie Fourball Better Ball! The sun shone, the birdies flew (mostly), and your humble correspondent had a rather existential crisis in the bunker on the 2nd. But more on that later.
First, a hearty round of applause and a tip of the cap to our magnificent winners: Mr. Paul Lewis and Mr. Ken Marshall! With a truly stupendous net score of 58, they didn't just win; they romped away with the George McKelvie Trophy, leaving second-place finishers Mr. Kevin Beattie and Mr. David Bruce a full two strokes in their wake.
Now, Mr. Lewis, with an individual gross 74 (net 63), has a rather delightful dilemma on his hands. Should he keep that shiny new putter he just acquired? His partner, Mr. Marshall, who himself carded a very respectable gross 75 (net 67), gleefully reported that Mr. Lewis had, in a moment of pre-round absentmindedness, left his new acquisition in the car. Instead, his trusty old flatstick was called into action, and boy, did it answer the call, sinking putts from every conceivable corner of the greens! One can only imagine the winning margin if Mr. Lewis hadn't, in a moment of what we'll charitably call "trophy-induced nerves," bogeyed the final three holes. The mind boggles!
Taking a well-deserved third place were Mr. Billy "Z" McNeill and Mr. David Abercrombie, with a net score of 61. Mr. McNeill, ever the gentleman, continued his commendable tradition of treating everyone to coffee at the halfway house. A true patron of the game, and caffeine!
1st Place - Paul Lewis & Ken Marshall - 58
2nd Place - Keving Beattie & David Bruce - 60
3rd Place - Billy Z McNeill & David Abercrombie
As for your golf correspondent, well, let's just say the bunker guarding the front of the 2nd green became my personal stage for a Hamlet-esque soliloquy. "To get out, or not to get out, that is the question..." Four shots later, I emerged, a little wiser, a lot sandier, and with a newfound appreciation for the simple act of hitting a golf ball forward.
All in all, it was an exceptional day, played in tremendous spirit, and huge congratulations once again to Mr. Lewis and Mr. Marshall for some truly exceptional golf.
Looking ahead, next week brings the highly anticipated Medal Finals. Get those swings tuned!
And finally, a gentle reminder: there are just two weeks until the magnificent Dun Whinny Ball and Prize Giving Dinner on November 1st! There's still plenty of space available, so please do join your fellow members for what promises to be a wonderful evening of entertainment, camaraderie, and, of course, the presentation of those coveted prizes. Don't miss out!