Glamorganshire V Pontypridd

From Champions to demotion

Glamorganshire Golf Club First Team only managed a half in their last game of the season at home to Pontypridd Golf Club, completing their freefall out of the South Wales Premier League just a year after wining it.

Nick Grimmitt and Leighton Brooks went out first and played like league survival depended on a win as they hammered home the pars on a tough scoring night, with an eagle thrown in for good measure, leaving the Pontypridd pairing in their wake going 3 up.

Chris Payne and Jordan Price Davies were second off, and as has been the storey of their year they struggled to get into any real form, the Pontypridd pairing sensed this, getting up and down from everywhere to go 2 up.

Simon Curle & Brian Rigby were out last and again they could not get any momentum going, soon finding themselves 1 down.

Nick Grimmitt and Leighton Brooks kept up the onslaught and ran out convincing winners by 5 & 4.

Chris Payne and Jordan Price Davies were still 2 down playing the 16^th, and superb back to back birdies from them put them all square on the last tee, with a great chance to snatch a win. Chris’s tee shot short right was not his best and left them hoping for Pontypridd to miss a match winning putt, which they duly did leaving them with a half.

With Simon Curle and Brian Rigby walking in having lost 2 & 1 a half was all that Glamorganshire could muster, and sadly demotion with Pontypridd from the Premier League was secured.

The Premier League title and relegation is decided by fine margins, and this year Glamorganshire lost nearly every single game that went down the last hole, where they won these games last year. Special mention should be made to Nick Grimmitt who won 7 ½ out of his 8 games and was easily team player of the year.

This Glamorganshire side does have cause to celebrate as they’ve qualified for the Welsh Team Championships Singles that will be played at Whitchurch Golf Club on the 14^th – 16^th of August, which with a little belief they stand a chance of upsetting the apple cart and wining.

Club Championship 2009

Simon Curle claimed his 6^th Glamorganshire Golf Club Championship Title, 27 years after winning his first Championship in a thrilling final against Matt Mullooly who was looking for his 3^rd title in a row.

Qualifying

The Championship started the week before with the 36 hole scratch qualifying event with the Gold Medal and top qualifying slot being won by Brian Rigby with rounds of 70 & 74, with the silver medal for the best Nett score over 36 holes won by the talented junior James Greenslade with outstanding scores of 73 & 62 Nett.
Defending Club Champion Matt Mullooly was first in the Clubhouse with two work man like rounds of 75, whilst Jay Morris was left sweating on his qualifying place with rounds of 78 & 75. Leighton Brooks a new recruit from Wenvoe golf Club shot solid rounds of 74 & 75 to book his place as 2nd seed in the last 8.
With a good crowd on the veranda the atmosphere was building nicely, just in time to see Chris Payne hole out for a superb afternoon round of level par 70 to go with his morning round of 83 securing a Houdini like place into the last eight.
Dean Bezant backed up a round of 77 with a quality 73 in the afternoon and yet another reminder to everyone in the club at how good yet underrated this youngster is.

Peter “Porky” Edmunds hung in for rounds of 74 & 79 despite suffering with a leg injury, and he was into the last 8.
Simon Curle was one of the last home and his afternoon round of 78 went with a superb 71 in the morning, and Brian Rigby completed the top 8 in the Club as he qualified as the No.1 seed.

Quarter Finals

Brian Rigby played Peter “Porky” Edmunds where Brian’s short game was just too good for Porky and he went through by 3 & 2 into the Semi Finals.
Dean Bezant faced Matt Mullooly in a repeat of the 2007 final, with Matt cruising to 4up. However, Dean’s putter, ironically bought off Matt had other ideas as he putted away the 4up lead to leave the game all square on the last hole, but Matt’s experience showed as he took a crucial up and down on the last to leave Dean ruing his chances.
Simon Curle played Chris Payne in what was the toughest looking quarter final to pick, but Chris had too many sloppy holes on the back nine and Simon Curle went through by 4 & 3.
Leighton Brooks the Clubs new recruit from Wenvoe was too steady for Jay Morris who never found his rhythm and Leighton won by 3 & 2.

Semi Finals

Brian Rigby faced Matt Mullooly and the pre-match hype was lived up to as Brian birdied 4 of the first 6 holes, only to find himself all square. Clearly Matt had the bit between his teeth and went on to birdie 3 more holes on the back 9 to give him a safe passage into the final.

Simon Curle Faced Leighton Brooks who had got himself 2up, but Simon Curle’s beautiful broom handled putting stroke went into over drive and he ran out winning 2 & 1.

The Final

For 99% of amateur golfers it doesn’t get much bigger than your Club Championship final, and it was great to see a good crowd as Simon Curle and Matt Mullooly hit their first shots of the 2009 Final. With a very strong wind blowing and rain in the air, the weather was not ideal for great scoring and Simon Curle’s putter was first to strike as he went 1up through 5 holes.

Moving into the back 9 Matt could not convert any of the chances he made and Simon continued to give a superb display of putting ability, rolling in 6 footers as if he was out on his own practicing and Simon moved to 3up. With the 18^th hole left in the morning Matt’s superb iron to the green was enough for him to grab the last hole leaving the score 2up with the afternoon round to come.

The first 2 holes were shared, then Simon Curle converted a cracking birdie on the 3^rd hole to move 3up, with Matt missing crucial putts at the 4^th and 5^th and bogeying the 6^th from the middle of the fairway, you could sense that the momentum was with Simon Curle at 3up.

However, Matt rallied and as he birdied the 7^th and won the 9^th hole, with both players making a horlicks of the 10^th Matt’s 2 superb blows down the 11^th gave him a great chance to get the match within touching distance, but Matt’s clumsy chip handed Simon a get out of jail and he calmly knocked in his 6 foot putt dead centre for the half.

With Simon playing an outstanding pitch to 12 inches on the 12^th Matt was now 3 down with much to do, especially as Simon had ripped his next shot into the 13^th green that glanced the cup finishing 8 feet away, looking odds on for 4up, but Matt dug deep holing a 20 foot putt for a half.

Simon Curle hit another great iron into the 14^th only to see it roll off the back of the green, with Matt missing the green left both faced near impossible up and down’s, so when Matt’s chip hit the centre of the flag and dropped the crowd erupted as he’d grabbed a vital hole back.

With Simon’s second shot at the 15^th safely on the front of the green, Matt was chasing a win and his wedge did not disappoint as he knocked it too 8 feet, but as was the storey of his day he could not convert the putt and with holes running out Simon was moving in on his 6^th title.

Looking very calm Simon Curle closed out a superb day’s work as he hit 2 perfect shots down the 16^th leaving his birdie putt hanging over the lip and with it the much deserved 2009 Club Championship Title.

Glamorganshire V Creigiau

Glamorganshire Golf Club First team faced Creigiau First team at St. Pierre golf club in the last preliminary round of the Singles Matchplay Welsh Team Championship and pulled through with the tightest of wins by 3 – 2.

Jay Morris led the way for Glamorganshire and he got away to a steady start at all square after 3 holes. Brian Rigby was out second against one of the Counties hottest talents and Brian’s 1 over par through nine holes was eclipsed and he went 4 down.

Nick Grimmitt faced another of Creigiau top players and right from the start you got the feeling that this match would go the full distance, with both players trading early birdies.

Jordan Price-Davies headed out 4^th and he got into a good rhythm edging 1up on the front nine.

Simon Curle was the anchor man as he has so often been for Glamorganshire and he immediately stamped his authority on the game going 3 up through the front 9 holes.

However, upfront things were not looking good for Glamorganshire as both Jay Morris and Brian Rigby had been beaten giving Creigiau the first 2 points, needing only one more for victory.

However, Simon Curle nudged his birdie putt stiff on the 14^th and with it Glamorganshire’s first point in what was a commanding display from Simon Curle.

Nick Grimmitt had entered the 15^th hole 2 down, but no matter as he slammed in back to back birdies to level the match, and with Jordon Price-Davies 1 up behind him things were on the up.

All square facing the 249 yard par three 18^th hole, Nick Grimmitt’s Tee shot came up short right, where he chipped up to 10 feet, but with his opponent down for a safe par Nick faced a crucial putt to keep the match alive, which he duly slotted right in the middle of the cup and off he marched to the 1^st tee for the second time.

Meanwhile, Jordon Price-Davies rounded off a fantastic display with a great shot to the 18^th hole and with it Glamorganshire’s vital second point.

The whole game depended on the sudden death playoff, where both players found the fairway at the par 5 first hole. Nick Grimmitt hit his second leaving him 100 yards with Creigiau not far behind. Both players looked calm but you could sense the pressure building on them, and it showed as the Creigiau man skulled his 3^rd shot through the green, but Nick’s pitch was not up to his high standards and he missed the green left. However, Nick re-grouped and his chip was enough to close the game out in what was a truly superb Team win for Glamorganshire.

This win see’s Glamorganshire in the Welsh Team Finals for the first time in 6 years, which is played at Whitchurch golf club on the 13^th – 16^th of August.

Perforamnce Table Update:

Nick Grimmitt	12
Matt Mulloly	6
Simon Curle	6
Gordan Price-Davies	5
Brian Rigby	4
Chris Payne	3
Jay Morris	1
Harry Rigby	1
Simon Hall	0
Martin Price	0
Leighton Brooks	0
Dean Bezant	0
Andy Hughes	0

Wenvoe I V Glamorganshire I

Glamorganshire Golf Club First Team travelled up the road to Wenvoe and narrowly lost by 2 -1.
Brian Rigby and Simon Curle lead off against Wenvoe’s Star pair Nick James and Lloyd Evans. Both sides showed their intent early exchanging solid pars and the game was deadlocked at all square.
Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt took on Wenvoe veterans Lee Ivory and Sean Davies and they went straight in too a high quality game, but they got their noses in front at 1up through 9 holes.
Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies were out last and they’re great form of last week deserted them like Ronaldo and they were soon 3 down.
Brian Rigby and Simon Curle kept up the pressure and a telling putt from Glamorganshire’s Simon Curle pushed them 1 up with 4 holes to play, but this lead soon disappeared as they struggled off the Tee.
Behind them Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt were just closing out another solid win, maintaining their 2 year unbeaten partnership. However, one match behind Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies had lost making the match 1 all.
With only Brian Rigby and Simon Curle left on the course at all square playing the 18th hole the match could have gone either way, but sadly for Glamorganshire it went Wenvoe’s way as they holed a great 10 foot putt for the win.
Next week see’s a break from League Team golf but Glamorganshire face Creigiau at St. Pierre in the Welsh Team Championships on Sunday afternoon.
Performance Table
In the race to Meat Pie Nick Grimmitt is blitzing the performance table and looks totally unassailable already.

Nick Grimmitt 10
Matt Mulloly 6
Simon Curle 4
Brian Rigby 4
Gordan Price-Davies 3
Chris Payne 3
Jay Morris 1
Harry Rigby 1
Simon Hall 0
Martin Price 0
Leighton Brooks 0
Dean Bezant 0
Andy Hughes 0

Glamorganshire I’s V Wenvoe I’s

Glamorganshire I V Wenvoe I
Glamorganshire Golf’s First Team got back to winning ways as they hosted local rivals and newly promoted Wenvoe GC recording a gutsy 2:1 Victory.
It was a welcome relief for skipper Simon Hall to have all 5 First team regulars back in action, as Nick Grimmitt and Matt Mullooly got the match underway against Wenvoe’s hottest star Nick James, but the Glamorganshire pair struggled off the tee visiting more tree’s than David Bellamy and Wenvoe forged ahead 3 up.
Brian Rigby and Simon Curle were out second and their game was evenly balanced as both sides struggled to get any consistent form going.
Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies anchored the side against Wenvoe veterans Lee Ivory and Sean Davies, and they showed no respect hammering home early birdies to storm 5 up going up the 9th hole.
Thankfully Nick Grimmitt and Matt Mullooly decided to wake up as they holed 3 great putts in a row at the 13th, 14th and a snaking 15 footer by Grimmitt at the 15th was enough to put the game all square.
In the middle match Brian Rigby and Simon Curle could not recover from 2 down, but one match back Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies had wrapped up the first win for Glamorganshire on the 14th green, leaving the team who won the first game to take the match points.
With Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt all square playing the treacherous 200 yard par Three 18th hole, Grimmitt’s superb iron to 5 feet was just the tonic Glamorganshire needed as they won the final game and with it all the match points.
Playing Wenvoe is always a potential banana skin with the away side knowing the course so well, but this Glamorganshire side showed genuine belief to win this match that will put them in confident mood as they travel away to Wenvoe this week.

Performance Table Update:

Nick Grimmitt 8
Simon Curle 4
Matt Mulloly 4
Brian Rigby 4
Gordan Price-Davies 3
Chris Payne 3
Jay Morris 1
Harry Rigby 1
Simon Hall 0
Martin Price 0
Leighton Brooks 0
Dean Bezant 0
Andy Hughes 0

Pyle & Kenfig I’s V Glamorganshire I’s

Glamorganshire Golf Club First Team travelled away to Pyle and Kenfig minus 5 of their regular 6 man team losing 3 – Nil despite a fantastic fight from this experimental string.

Martin Price and Chris Payne headed up the Glamorganshire challenge and they got off to a great start on Pyle’s cruel set up, going 1 up through 4 holes.

In the second pairing Wenvoe import Leighton Brooks and young Andy “Tiger” Hughes were out second, also getting off to a flying start at 2 up through 4 holes.

Captain Simon Hall anchored the side with Dean “Bazooka” Bezant and they were immediately on the end of Pyle putting display that saw 3 putts over 25 feet drop in the first 4 holes and they went 4 down.

Going into their back nine Martin Price and Chris Payne got caught up in the rough more than their Pyle opponents and they went 2 down.

Leighton Brooks and Andy Hughes paid the price for not holing out, with the luck of the bounce favouring the home side at a few crucial times and they went 2 down as well.

Meanwhile Simon Hall and Dean Bezant had rallied firing in 2 birdies in 3 holes, when Pyle’s Ian booth drove straight down the middle of the 9^th fairway hitting his partner’s bag resulting in an immediate loss of hole and the match went all square.

Upfront Martin Price and Chris Payne hit back with solid pars at the very tough 16^th and 17^th holes and they were 1 down playing the last hole. With Pyle short sided and Glamorganshire facing a birdie putt a half looked odds on, but a miracle chip from Pyle’s Dai Price was enough to half the 18^th and win them the first game.

Leighton and Andy couldn’t hold a strong Pyle pair who trotted out pars on the back nine and they lost on the 15^th, whilst a few errant drives from Simon Hall were enough to cost Glamorganshire the last match giving Pyle the full 3 nil win.

Although a whitewash many positives emerged from this Team performance with 2 Premier League rookies playing away against one of Wales strongest amateur Clubs. Dean Bezant and Andy Hughes performances warrant special mention as the 17 and 18 year olds took the massive step up to First Team golf in their strides. With a full season of Team Golf to come and the right application they could be threatening selection ahead of the old guard next year.

Performance Table Update

Nick Grimmitt has stormed to the top of the table with a welcome return to form this year, whilst his normal partner Mat Mullooly has paid the price for missing some key games as he’s slipped down the table.

Nick Grimmitt 6
Simon Curle 4
Brian Rigby 4
Matt Mulloly 2
Chris Payne 1
Gordan Price-Davies 1
Jay Morris 1
Harry Rigby 1

Vale I V Glamorganshire I’s

Glamorganshire Golf Clubs First Team travelled away to The Vale of Glamorgan Golf Club and came away with a fantastic half, that see’s the First Team back on level points for the season.
With Club Champion Matt Mullooly away Glamorganshire’s strength in-depth was tested, and Harry Rigby made his return to the first Team after a 2 year absence, playing with Nick Grimmitt. They got off to a solid start all square through 9 holes, playing against Zach Gould the Vale’s talisman and rising Welsh talent.
Jordan Price-Davies and Chris Payne followed and they had their hands full from the outset going 3 down early on.
Stalwarts Simon Curle and Brian Rigby were last to fire, and they started with clear intent rolling out 6 straight pars to go 1up.
With Harry Rigby and Nick Grimmitt heading into the par five 18th hole 1 up it looked like a dream start, but a final hole birdie from the Vale was enough to snatch a half in this crucial game.
Jordan Price-Davies and Chris Payne had battled back from 3 down to all square only to slip 1 down playing the 17th hole, where a solid iron into the heart of the green was enough for the Vale to secure the first clear point.
Simon Curle and Brian Rigby battled to the par five 18th hole all square, where Simon Curle launched a bomb of a drive over 300 yards down the fairway, only for Brian Rigby to rip his iron approach to 15 inches and secure a hugely important halved match for the Glamorganshire boys.
With last weeks loss away to Neath and a half at home and away with the Vale, the First Team have got their Premier League season back on track in the defence of their title.
Next week see’s the first Team travel away to Pyle & Kenfig, with 5 of the 6 first Team away warm weather training in Arizona.

Glamorganshire I V Vale I

Glamorganshire Golf Clubs Premier League Champions played The Vale in the first game of the season, only managing a half at home.
With an early start to the season the howling windy conditions resembled a November night, and the first pairing of Club Champion Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt were clearly cold promptly going 2 down.
Second out, Jordan Price-Davies and Chris Payne also started badly and found themselves at 2 down through 5 holes, with the anchor pair of Simon Curle and Brian Rigby suffering much the same at 2 down also.
Matt Mullooly and Nick Grimmitt faced a 10 foot putt on the 9th with the Vale only 3 foot away, with the game in the balance, Matt’s superb holed putt was enough to make the Vale miss and you could sense the turn in this game, which clearly showed as Matt & Nick won the next 3 holes.
Jordan Price-Davies and Chris Payne had wrestled back their bad start with a great run of 7 pars in the tough conditions, and they got their noses in front at 1 up.
Simon Curle and Brian Rigby woke up following a superb bunker shot by Brian Rigby on the 10th that Simon converted, which they followed with a great birdie down the 11th to go all square.
Playing the last 12 holes in 2 under par Matt and Nick wrapped up a superb win up on the 15th green, however, both of Glamorganshire’s remaining pairs had lost holes to leave both matches on the course all square.
Chris Payne faced 200 yards into the wind at the troublesome 18th hole, where he slammed a superb iron into the heart of the green, but a superb chip from short right by the Vale was enough to scrape them a vital half.
Simon Curle and Brian Rigby lost the 17th hole leaving them 1 down playing the 18th, where the Vale hit a superb pressure iron to the middle of the green which was enough to claim the last game and salvage a half from the jaws of defeat.
Glamorganshire’s First Team know they should have put this game away by 3 – nil, but it’s not the first time they’ve faced an indifferent result and pulled through . Next week see’s the First team travel away to Neath who’ll be looking to avenge last years home defeat.

The maestro sand saver

Men V Juniors

Premier League Champions take on the juniors

Glamorganshire’s Premier League Champions and Second Team took on the challenge of Martin Price’s feisty junior squad, and came away with a 4:1 victory.
With the golf season starting to awaken with the advent of the Masters, this Sunday afternoon clash was eagerly anticipated by Martin’s junior team looking for some big scalps, and a few of them were not disappointed.
Simon Curle and Brian Rigby’s relationship survived the winter layoff and they took on Dan Barnett and Ashley Jones, immediately struggling to deal with the talent on display from their junior opponents, and they limped to the halfway stage at 1 up.
First Team Captain Simon Hall played with Nick Grimmitt, who clearly had made the most of his winter layoff bulking up for the season ahead. They got off to a flawless start at 1 under par through 9 holes but were only 1 up against the gritty Luke Blatchford and Dan Reid (Spud).
Daily Mail supremeo partners Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies looked to blow away Josh Hole and John Greenslade, but they were totally upstaged at every turn and went 2 down.
The 2nd Team boys Glyn Mitchell and Gavin (Chopper) Davies took on Harry Roberts and Myles Harding, and they played solidly holding the junior pair at 2 down.
Dean Bezant and Dave Gooding played Alex Dodds and Ross Denson, but they struggled to hold an in form second team pair who raced to 4 up.
Upfront Simon Curle and Brian Rigby had found some form and they squeezed to a 2 & 1 win, Simon Hall & Nick Grimmitt had gone from 3 up to 1 down, but a majestic 4 iron on the 18th from Nick Grimmitt was enough for a winning point.
However, Daily Mail supremeo partners Chris Payne and Jordan Price-Davies trudged over the hill with a 3 & 2 stuffing under their belts from a delighted Greenslade and Hole.
The second Team boys rounded off with 2 wins to give the Men’s Team a 4: 1 win overall, in what was a great experience for the Clubs junior prospects.
The First Team get underway on May 8th when Glamorganshire take on the Vale at home.