Day 293 - Rule 19.5a

When I received the invitation to form a three ball in the Monday Stableford, it would be the first time that I had ever taken part in such a competition - and it turned out that my playing partners, Jan-Willem and David, were also Monday Stableford Virgins.  We had been due to play with Peter, but he dropped out with a chipped tooth (hope all is well!)

On the first Monday of the month, this competition is held, allowing anyone aged 55+ to play off the Yellow tees and everyone else the normal White tees.  One of our number is a few months short of the threshold, so Whites it was for us. 

We started well: a par on the long opening hole is always welcome, played the second decently but had a bit of drama on the third. David was on the green but a long way way from the pin. He chose not to ask any of the balls on the green to be marked and instead took on his lengthy putt. It was always going to move right to left... but not that much...: unfortunately, his ball hit another on the green leaving him 25 ft short and with a 2 stroke penalty (see Rule 19.5a).  That he then holed his next attempt was small comfort, as was the fact that on every subsequent hole he was always asked if he wanted all balls marked, even if they were behind him....

The round continued, with all going swimmingly until the turn: maybe we were going to have some good scores today?  Err, no... the second nine posed more problems and too many balls found there way into bunkers, rough grass and the suchlike. But, the sun came out, and we had a most pleasant round AND it was on a Monday morning.  Could be worse...