Les Ormes Golf Club

Hampshire Seven's (Thanks to Paul Wood)
Hampshire 7’s Jersey Final, Les Ormes v Wheatland's – Sat 22nd May 2010

 With clear blue skies above and temperatures in the mid twenties, the Les Ormes Men's Section made their first appearance in the Hampshire Seven’s Jersey Final hoping to emulate the achievements of their opponents Wheatland's the previous year. Despite home advantage, the Les Ormes team knew Wheatland's would provide a good contest.

Wheatland's Alan Black opened proceedings against the tenacious Richard Muddyman. Black has proven his ability around the course in recent years by winning the Les Ormes Open and with Muddyman conceding four shots to the Scot this match looked as though it could go to the wire. Muddyman soon gained the upper-hand in this match and despite excellent shot making by Black, Muddyman maintained his momentum through the turn to win the match 6 and 4  and give Les Ormes the first point of the final.

In the second match Neil Kelly from Les Ormes was up against Paul Jones. Again, with Kelly conceding three shots to Jones this looked a close encounter and so it proved. Jones took the initiative winning the first and after halving the second, Kelly won the third hole to put the match all square. This pattern of play continued with either player unable to take control of the match. However, despite missing several short putts it was Kelly who eventually won the match on the eighteenth.

In the third match Richard Kemp represented Wheatland's against the Les Ormes team captain Dale Martin. Martin had showed typical good form prior to this match but Kemp was a ‘steely’ opponent and this was a tough one to call. Both men played excellent golf but with the score at Les Ormes 2 and Wheatland's 0 pressure was on Kemp to stop the tide and bring a point back for the visitors. Kemp held his nerve on the back nine and pulled a point back for Wheatland's on the seventeenth to win the match 2 & 1.

The fourth match saw local green-keeper John Wallwork against the visiting Marcel Le Claire. The local knowledge of Wallwork could prove decisive in this match but there was nothing between these two over the opening holes. However, a controversial breech of the rules by Le Claire’s caddie around the ninth green put Wallwork 1 up going into the back nine. This seemed to unsettle Le Claire and Wallwork comfortably won the match 4  & 3 to give Les Ormes a commanding 3 – 1 lead and require just one point for victory from the remaining three matches.

In the fifth match Mark Fail represented Les Ormes against the visiting Peter Horsfall. This match proved scrappy with both players unable to capitalize on their opponents loose iron play, and it was a similar story in the sixth match with Paul Sunter representing the home side against Dave Snell of Wheatland's.

It was left to the anchorman Allan Ferguson of Les Ormes to make the breakthrough in the last match against the evergreen Trevor Allen. Both players struggled to play to their full potential but it was Ferguson’s steady iron play on the back nine that made the difference and the Scot won the vital point on the fifteenth green to secure a Les Ormes victory.

News of the outcome soon reached the remaining two matches and Wheatland's Peter Horsfall eventually took an impressive 2 up victory against Mark Fail on the last hole. Despite chances to seal an extra point for Les Ormes, Paul Sunter stumbled over the closing holes and squandered a two up lead with just two holes to play.

Congratulations to the Les Ormes team who now play Lancresse of Guernsey in the Channel Islands final and many thanks for the caddies and supporters for their efforts.

Hampshire 7’s, Les Ormes v Jersey Western  (21 March 2010)

Sunday 21st March marked the start of this years Hampshire Seven’s matches as our Men’s Team entertained our local neighbours from ‘across the dunes’, Jersey Western. Whilst the crystal clear morning appeared perfect golfing conditions there was a chilly northerly wind on the first tee.
The first match out saw the enigmatic Scotsman Allan Ferguson take on Pat Patterson. This match was closely contested over the opening holes but after Ferguson’s head had cleared, after an over-indulgent night on the town, the Scotsman played some solid golf and went on to win comfortably 4 & 3 and notch up the first point for Les Ormes in this year’s Hampshire Seven’s campaign.

The second match saw the in form Billy Moir up against Jersey Western’s Captain, Chris Davy. Moir won the first hole, but Davy then took control of this match early on winning the next four holes to go 3 up. However, the ‘ginger Jock’ showed typical character by ‘digging deep’ and pulling back the deficit by winning the next three holes and reach the turn all square. Over the closing holes this match could have gone either way but it was Moir who kept his nerve to win the match 2 & 1.

The third match saw the controversial selection of Les Ormes’s Dave Freeman pitted against Dave Carey. Debutant Dave Freeman showed no signs of nerves on the first tee and made a solid start winning the opening hole and reaching the turn 2 up. Dave Carey rallied on the back nine but seemed to struggle on the greens. Freeman played solidly to remain up in this match, and the Irishman showed typical steely determination eventually closing out the match on the sixteenth green after splashing out of the front right bunker to two feet.

Les Ormes looked good at this point winning the first three points and only requiring one more point to seal victory.

Les Ormes Team Captain, Dale Martin was next out against the Western’s Michael Buckley. There was nothing in this match with both players ‘scrapping’ to win holes and struggling to find their game. Over the back nine holes it was Buckley who appeared to take control of the match and after Martin failed to hole crucial putts on fifteen and sixteen, Buckley stood on the seventeenth tee two up with two to play. A wayward tee shot from Buckley opened the door for Martin who didn’t need asking twice and took full advantage and pulled a hole back. By this time a sizeable crowd had gathered round the eighteenth tee to follow this crucial match. Both players missed the green with their tee shots and Martin was faced with a tricky chip shot from the right of the green which he knew he had to hole or get close to keep the match going. Martin played the chip well but was left with a tricky putt from five feet. Buckley failed to get up and down and scored a bogey four, to leave Martin with a chance to level the match and take it down the nineteenth. The Scotsman typically rolled the putt into the centre of the cup and marched to the next tee. The tide had turned and the momentum was clearly now with Martin. Both players hit drives down the left. Buckley played first and pulled a rescue wood left of the green into trouble. Martin seized the opportunity and hit a tremendous, soaring iron to the heart of the green. Despite efforts from both home and away supporters to find Buckley’s ball, it was to no avail and the match was conceded to Martin. Les Ormes had the four points required for victory.

Peter Clarke made his debut for Les Ormes in the next match. Clarke has played well throughout the early stages of this year to earn a place in the Hampshire Seven’s team but on this occasion his touch round the greens let him down and he was beaten 4 & 3.

The evergreen John Wallwork played in the penultimate match against the Western’s young Lee Pingleaux. This was another close encounter with both players stood on the eighteenth tee all square. Local knowledge eventually proved decisive for Wallwork winning the last hole with a gritty par. Earlier victor, Billy Moir from Les Ormes, witnessed the closing hole and kindly commented “John was huffing and puffing like an old man has he left the last green”.

The last match saw Richard Muddyman making his debut for Les Ormes against the Western’s Dom Cullinane. Ricky has shown consistent fine form since arriving at Les Ormes and has a proven track record in this event. However, Cullinane was a tough opponent and took a commanding 4 up lead in the back nine. Muddyman showed his class to pull the score back to just 2 down but this wasn’t enough and was beaten on the seventeenth, 2 & 1.

Final score Les Ormes 5, Jersey Western 2.

Congratulations to the Les Ormes Team on a fine performance and many thanks to the caddies and supporters.

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