Mansfield and Dukeries Circle Golf Day – 15 May 2021
A special report from our intrepid on-the-spot correspondent, Bro. Peter Crowe:
LATE UPDATE … after a stewards enquiry (recounting of cards on Sunday!) it was discovered that Martin Dillon and Rob Hill had the same scores and so we have joint winners this year for the 2021 Catenian Trophy. Congratulations to BOTH our winners!! More importantly, is there enough room on the trophy for the two names?
For this, the 28th year of the Mansfield and Dukeries Circle Golf Day, the weather was sullen and forbidding. On arrival, the resolute group of doubtful golfers huddled under the protective portico at the front of Ramsdale Park’s clubhouse looking out at the pouring rain and thinking they could be tucked up on a nice comfy sofa watching Leicester City football club in the FA Cup final rather than risking life and limb on Ramsdale Heights!
However, 13 proved to be the lucky number as the heavy showers relented for most of the round, though the leading group of three golfers eventually staged a tactical go-slow towards the end to make sure that their compatriots got the full effect of the monsoon that arrived for the last hour of play!
The earliest golfing drama of the day involved the late arrival of Peter Macdougall who had convinced himself that the start time was 3:32 pm not 2:32 pm! However flustered he may have been, he still contrived a magical pitch on his first full hole – the 132-yard, par 3, 6th hole – landing his perfectly flighted golf ball a mere 5 feet from the hole and promptly winning the ‘nearest the pin‘ competition.
“Longest drive” went to young Richard Dillon (Martin’s son) who allegedly [hollow laughter echoed off stage] had not wielded a golf club in anger since last year‘s competition!
As is usually the case, the Catenians’ guest trophy was more hotly contested and two of the eight players took joint first place on 31 points. The aforementioned young Richard, last year‘s champion, was joined by the even younger Patrick Lee Junior, following in the footsteps of his illustrious father, and, like all cruel sons, smacking the little white ball twice as far as his father!
The main Catenian trophy was also snatched by the current reigning champion (and rapidly improving golfing pro) Bro. Rob Hill on 27 points with Bro. Martin Dillon a close second with 26 points. We are all convinced that Mrs H will have the trophy in pride of place for the forthcoming year in the nicest display cabinet in the house!😂👍🙏 [though she will only have to do so for six months now – see latest update at top of this story!)
Heartfelt thanks must go again to Bro. Pat Lee (on the right of the above photos) for his time and energy in organising the competition once again, something he has done since its inception in 1993, as well as maintaining meticulous records for the whole of its history!
Thanks are also due to Brother President Neil Harris (on the left in the above photo) for coming to award the prizes and to receive just over £100 for his ongoing charity for the year, the Emily Harris Foundation.
Despite the glowering rain clouds and the late monsoon a great time was had by all – not least with magnificent servings of steak pie and chips from the excellent catering staff at Ramsdale – and to make the epic day complete Leicester City won their first ever FA Cup. The golfers were spared the agonising 20 minute wait for the full-time whistle and the ubiquitous VAR controversy which thankfully denied Chelsea a way back, after the wonderful strike that put Leicester in the lead.
Roll on May 2022!
Congratulations Martin and Rob on overcoming the elements and jointly winning the trophy!! As Martin’s son also won the guest trophy, we had ‘lad and dad’ winners on the day for the first time since 2008 when Peter and son Juan Crowe lifted both trophies!!
LikeLike
Great job getting a blog out quickly.
Neil
>
LikeLike