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MARTYRS GOLF GRAFTON MORRISH FINALS Brancaster and Hunstanton 6th-8th October 2023 Report by Robin Ellis (Segar’s, 1964-1969)

MARTYRS

H aving qualified successfully back in June, I was tasked with raising our best team for the finals in October. It should be said that the support and enthusiasm for Martyrs Golf has fluctuated somewhat in the past 54 years since I left School.There are a few faithful who turn out regularly for the meetings but I’m keen to encourage more recent alumni who might come and join in. In the end the team evolved into a happy mix of experience and youth. In the event the team comprised of: Robin Ellis (Captain) Hcp 5, Peter Neal (Corfe, 1993-1998) Hcp 2, Kerr Drummond (Segar’s, 1998-2003) Hcp scratch, Edward Watson (Apsley, 1996-2001) Hcp 5, Peter Hughes (Segar’s, 1973-1978) Hcp 3,Alex Holding (Field House, 2012-2017) Hcp 3, Josh Drennan (Apsley, 2016-2021) Hcp +1. With only three of us familiar with the layout of either course we were playing on, it was important to get a practice round in beforehand.We were due to play Wellington in the first round on Friday morning at Brancaster and if successful we would play again there in the afternoon. However, when I phoned the club in August to secure a time for a practice, I was dismayed to find the only time available was 7.40am. It became apparent that most schools had booked their practice rounds months ago. Luckily I then happened to meet and play golf with Peter

Holt, who is the organiser of the Grafton Morrish! This fortunate encounter enabled me not only to explain our predicament but also to secure a more favourable practice time for Thursday. In the event Josh and I and Alex Holding and his father Kevin arrived in Brancaster on Wednesday evening in good time to make use of the early morning practice slot. Kerr Drummond and Peter Hughes played in the afternoon.That evening we assembled for a convivial dinner at the Ship Hotel.The team seemed to gel well and there was a quiet excitement about our prospects.This after all was a group of very capable golfers. day.When the crunch came Kerr and Josh were our first pair out. Neither had played here before, but Kerr has a wealth of experience. Peter Neal was paired with Alex Holding. Both are fine strikers of the ball with deft short games.Alex is a prodigious hitter on his day. In our third pair Ed Watson played with Peter Hughes, who has a lot of experience at County level. Sadly, we lost narrowly to a very good Wellington side. Kerr and Josh came close to getting back on terms only to lose at the 17th to an outrageous putt from 30ft! Peter and Alex were superb together, both playing beautifully and putting securely.They also had the power to get home on the long par 4s into the wind, which was significant.They won! Peter Hughes and Ed played well going out with the wind behind to be one up after 10 and under par only to lose their edge Friday dawned with a fine dry day in prospect but there was a brisk breeze, which grew in strength throughout the

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