Armistice Day - 2 V 1 Doubles Knockout

Armistice day is one of the most important days of the year. Lest we forget the soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice to make sure we had a better tomorrow.

My eleventh day of the eleventh month was used to play in my pairs knockout first round. I had paired up with Nick Hall to make what I thought would be a very dangerous pairing on our day.

Why was the match 2 V 1?

Unfortunately Nick fell ill in the week leading up to the match, although feeling more human by the Saturday, he wasn’t able to make the tee time Sunday. I thought with the rain on the days leading up to the match, we may get away with postponing the match by a week due to a course closure, but it was not to be.

And so it began

At exactly 10am I took on Mike Fiksen and Richie Blackman, giving 41 shots between them over the 18 holes. As the heavens opened walking down the first hole, I went from being in pole position to 3 putting for bogey and letting Mike capitalise on a good 3rd shot to make his nett par. As the Rain stopped on the 2nd tee, I would have outside chances to win 2 & 3 from 25ft. Although annoyed that I had given the first hole away, I was pretty happy I had managed to get through the easy start just 1dwn. I would finally hole a 25ft putt on the Stroke index 1 fourth for a par 4, but a good 2 putt from same distance for Richie would secure his 6 nett 4. On the 5th tee the hooter was sounded for the 11am two minute silence, which was impeccably conducted by everyone I could see or hear on the golf course. I failed to capitalise on the 5th & 6th and with some good play from Mike & Richie I found myself 2dwn thru 6 and not out of 2nd gear just yet.

To me, To you

The game would be turned on its head in a culmination of me steadying the ship whilst Mike & Richie become wasteful. I would post one birdie and two pars on the final 3 holes of the front 9, to go from 2dwn to 1up. I always felt there was going to be a point where I would get the upper hand in the match for a stretch of holes, as there was a reason I was giving so many shots away.

I’ve known Mike and Richie for a lengthy amount of time and I knew they wasn’t overly experienced in how to deal with a competitive match that was either turning against them or getting away with them.

After a halved hole on the 10th I would let them off the hook on 11. A bold but well positioned drive left me with around 135yds in to the green, I misread the wind and went long right on 11. Now, for anyone that hasn’t missed The 11th green long right at Lamberhurst and wants to know what it’s like stopping a chip, go to the top of a marble staircase and try to stop your ball 3/4 of the way down. I would end up with the obligatory bogey 5 from that position whilst Richie made another 6 nett 4 on one of his double shot holes.

The 11th Flag for the day

I thought a great touch on Armistice Day was the 11th flag. I did see a few of these on social media throughout the day and I am pleased that Lamberhurst were able to be part of it.

Good isn't good enough

I found the 12th & 13th holes both inspiring and gut wrenching at the same time. I hit my best long iron shot of the day into the 211yd par 3 12th, after Mike and Richie had failed to find the green. This time it would be Mike’s turn to hole a 25ft putt for a 3 nett 2. This was a blow, as with the match all square I thought I could get my nose back in front with a good putt. I would hole my 15ft putt for a 2 and keep the match all square, I thought this was a momentum changer. I feel Mike and Richie were more than confident they had snatched the hole from a scrappy position, only for me to shut the door in their face.

I would hit a loose drive off the 13th tee and be forced to lay up on the par 5. Within 5ft of Richie’s ball after his 2 shots, our next shots were probably going to decide how this hole would be won or lost. I was a bit disappointed I wasn’t going first, with the stream in front of the green I felt that if I could throw my 90yrd shot in close I could affect Richie's nerves and shot selection.

I will hold my hands up and say that Richie hit a shot I wasn’t expecting with Mike out of the hole. Richie took on the flag and hit his approach to around 8ft, forcing me get up and down from 90yrds to at least get a half. After hitting my approach to 12 feet I would go on to hole my birdie putt. Although Richie would make sure of the 2 putt for a nett birdie, again I had holed a decent length putt to grab a half from a losing position. I was hoping this would end up frustrating them and they would begin to panic.

How it all played out

I would lose the 14th hole after finding a unpredictable lie right of the green. This was probably the turning point in the match, as they may have felt the pressure cooker slightly simmer. I was agonisingly Close to holing a 30ft putt for the win on the 15th before an excellent 2 putt from Mike would secure the half they was very much struggling for. A nett birdie from Mike on the 16th was enough to give them the 2up with 2 to play lead they was desperately after.

The 17th was a joy to watch for me. Both Mike and Richie missed the par 3 green right, leaving easy chances for nett pars. Knowing this I knew I had to make a birdie. I dispatched my tee shot straight at the flag, even hearing Mike say 'Oh no!'. Walking up the hill I was just hoping to see my ball within 12ft, as that pressure could cause some nerves from Mike and Richie. When I saw that my ball had ended up 25ft short of the flag but on the green, I sensed I needed the winning position Mike and Richie found themselves in to cause the pressure and mistakes.

My 25ft putt reduced me to my knees as it slid past the left edge, Mike and Richie were both left with putts inside 4ft to win the match. I was pretty sure Richie would hole his 2ft putt, but I was never going to give it to him for the match. Mike‘s putt would slip past the left edge and leave Richie to cap off the win. As thought, Richie would hole out for the 2&1 win. It was fun to watch them sweat it out and see the panic of trying to get over the line. I think the experience of that situation will help them in further matches to get over the line easier next time.

Self Summary

The pressure of 41 shots and having to hit good shots on every hole proved a little to much for me, although I enjoyed the challenge. Looking back at the match I can see where I could have saved the 2 holes, which can be both frustrating and positive. If I weigh up the missed chances against the 3 lengthy putts I holed for halves, I can’t say the missed chances definitely cost me the match.

I feel Mike and Richie deserved the win as much as I would have, sometimes when both teams play well you will end up on the losing side. The putts I holed on 12 & 13 especially sparked an inner belief that I use to have. There was a time when I, and the players I was against just knew I was going to pull something out the bag to get a win or a half. These moments have been very few and far between over the last 2 years.

Congratulations to Mike and Richie on the deserved win and all the best in the future matches.

I would be be interested to hear your thoughts on the match in the comments below. Does my version of the match sound like it got the right winners?

GOC