Match Report

The Princes team travelled to Littlestone for the first East Kent League Fixture of 2019. Glorious weather welcomed the Princes team where a very strong Littlestone team awaited them.

The kit had arrived (Wrong Colour, but we won't go into that), the weather was superb, the food was top notch, all that was required was some superb golf to give us half a chance of taking some points home from this very difficult venue.

Boy did these guys deliver!

The Princes team travelled to Littlestone for the first East Kent League Fixture of 2019. Glorious weather welcomed the Princes team where a very strong Littlestone team awaited them.

The kit had arrived (Wrong Colour, but we won't go into that), the weather was superb, the food was top notch, all that was required was some superb golf to give us half a chance of taking some points home from this very difficult venue.

Boy did these guys deliver!

1st Match

Darren Crabb / Michael Hart

First pair out, Darren Crabb and Michael Hart up against Littlestone's strongest pair i believe which included Jamie Guppy. Darren and Michael dovetailed nicely all game, going 2 up through 9 and controlling the game. They managed 6 birdies between them before finally closing the match 4&3! What a pairing, what a start to the season for new member Darren Crabb. First time these pair had met each other, let alone played together, hopefully this won't be the last time!

2nd Match

Steve Klosek / Lee Meakin

Both Steve and Lee hitting long off the first straight down the middle. This pairing started off fast, hitting 5 birides in 6 holes, these boys never once lost the honour for the duration of the match which kept the pressure on the opposition. Steve and Lee finally closed out the match on the 15th hole winning 4&3. An incredible performance.

3rd Match

Stuart Lane / Robin Orchison

Another very strong pairing for Princes, again both hitting fairway off the first tee. Stuart Lane popped into the pro shop before his match to pickup a new Ping G410 hybrid club, whilst standing on the fairway of the 5th (493 Yard Par 5) after hitting a superb drive, he unwrapped the new hybrid and smashed the ball onto the green for 2. With 5 birdies between them, Stuart and Robin closed the game out again on the 15th to win 4&3. Another terrific performance.

Thanks again to Stuart and Lansdells for sponsoring the team this year, whilst also securing Monster Umbrellas and hats for the team! Thanks Stuart.

4th Match

Sam Smith / Mark Bennett

Sam and Mark started in similar fashion, going 2 up through 2 holes but it wasn't to last as the Littlestone pairing clawed back the next 2 holes to make it all square through 4. It was a tight affair, on the 9th 212yard par 3 Mark topped one off the tee but luckily Sam had already hit the green with 3 wood to take the pressure off!

Come the 14th hole Mark and Sam had slipped to 1 down, by this time Sam had gone into his 'Tour Mode'. Basically he doesn't talk to anyone! The littlestone pair asked Mark on the 15th if they had done something to upset Sam as he wasn't talking much. Sam then chipped in for birdie to make it all square!

Mark came good on the 16th, making another birdie to put Princes 1 up, they then halved the 17th and 18th to bring home another win!

I remember playing in a EKL match at Princes with Sam and he never spoke to me for 7 holes! I was on his team, so I know how the opposition felt!

5th Match

Dave James / Paul Copley

Last but not least, myself and Paul tee'd off. After watching everyone stripe it down the middle, I decided to slice one into the bunker down the right whilst Paul went down the middle, no issues, I did manage to make par on the first to half so no damage done.

I did manage to scramble a few pars for halves on the front 9 however the star of the front 9 was Paul, he was awesome. I can't remember exactly but i think he hit 3 birdies on the front 9 to put us 3 up after 9. I knew I had worn that 'Pray for Birdies' hat for a reason, it wasn't for me though it was for Paul!

From the 10th hole the Littlestone pair picked up momentum, I picked up an even worse swing than I had already and Paul's putting which was nothing short of amazing started to desert him and we soon found ourselves only 1 up after 13.

On the par 3 14th myself and the opposition were both about a foot away after 2 to which I said his was good only for him to make me putt mine out! Luckily I made the putt! However, I won't make that mistake again.

We lost the 15th to go all square after I somehow managed to lose my ball in the face of the bunker! On the 17th I managed to half with a par then onto the 18th for the finale. Myself and Paul had a putt to win the match, Paul just shaving the hole, whilst mine was no where near unfortunately!

Apologies from me to Paul and the team, I wasn't at my best yesterday.

Here''s Paul retrieving MY ball from the ditch!

All square, final Result - Littlestone 0.5 V 4.5 Princes

Finally just want to say, I have been hearing from various sources just how good this Littlestone team is, they have some superb players in that team, some of which play for Kent. However that just goes to show how good this Princes team is and can be going forward to be able to go away and get a result like that, against players of that quality!

Absolutely fantastic result! Well played to you all!