Jamega Tour – The Players Club

16th

The Players Golf Club is a place where I seem to have mixed fortunes.

I’ve shot plenty of rounds over par around it, yet last year I won the Stiff Salver and earlier this year I led EuroPro first stage after round 1 so it’s fair to say I have mixed feelings about this golf course.

Round 1

I started off steady with an easy par at the first, however my second tee shot air mailed the pin and went into the pond long, which resulted in a double bogey.

A par at the third seemed to get me back on track but a dropped shot at 4 followed by a lost tee shot on 5 as well as going bogey double on 6 and 7 all of a sudden I was +8 through 7 with alot of work to do.

A birdie at 9 and 11 brightened up the scorecard but another double arrived at the 13th and a bogey at 15 soon followed before three straight pars to finish an eventful round of golf at +10.

Round 2

The second day arrived and with me way out of the tournament I treated it as more of a practise round to try and get my swing back into shape and perhaps rescue myself from a disappointing tournament.

A poor three putt at the first had me start with a bogey but I didn’t let it get to me as I struck two perfect 6 irons at the third which left me a tap in birdie.

I played more aggressively on the 5th by hitting a long drive up the middle leaving only a 5 iron to the par 5 green, two putts for a birdie. This was followed by four pars ended my front 9 being -1 for the day.

A birdie at the fairly easy par 5 eleventh got me to -2 for the day and some solid pars followed with me still not missing a green yet all day.

Three simple shots set up another birdie at the par 5 fifteenth but an aggressive tee shot at 16 fell over the pin and just long of the green. A duffed chip made me think another poor finish was coming but a well struck putt from just outside 10 feet and I managed to scramble a par.

A missed opportunity at 17 saw me reach the tough eighteenth hole at -3 for the day.

A cracking tee shot left me a gap wedge to the green and a perfect yardage. As soon as I struck the shot I knew it was either going in or going close and i was right as it rested within inches of the cup.

I signed for a 68 (-4) and certainly felt better about my game despite a shocker of a first round.

Here’s my scorecard

Players