Angel Cup - Burghill 2022

Angel Cup – Burghill – 18th September 2022

Quite a poignant time for us all with the recent passing of our Queen and then with her spectacular but very sad funeral happening the day after.

The Angel Cup, the final and most prestigious medal of the Pershore Golf Society’s year arrived in an oft used venue on Sunday last.

A very welcoming Burghill Valley saw 19 participants play out for the honour of having their winner’s jumper stolen and bandied about the country in future years by persons unknown, perhaps Mr Brazier will be happy to pass on the baton of the horror and ignominious pictures of his jumper frequenting the internet to the next deserving recipient.

Although it wasn’t completely clear to this scribe as to how many players had actually qualified, there were 9 who received bonus help on the day with some extra shots, I somehow surprisingly got a welcome extra shot. This was down from last year by popular demand, from 6 to 4 for the leading light and favorites. Although I’m reliably told that the 6 shots were no help to Mr Yule last year, and looking at the results, evidently 4 shots weren’t much help this year either. But more of that later.

This has also been a time to remember Juan, recently departed, who was a lovely man and the long time sponsor of the Angel Cup, so named after his world famous hotel in Pershore.

So, the day started with a fabulous bacon roll, a Burghill speciality, and a final Captain’s Brief by our departing Capitano Pete of the Dodds. Up to his usual top standard of course. No snake to be punished for this time out, but a whispered warning that any malbehaviour could result in an intervention by some near neighbours and the culprit being taken away at gunpoint, never to be seen again. Sassy speech!

My prediction for the two top favorites for the first fine of the day was ruined by a holiday in Italy for the always late and notso jolly PJ and the appearance of Simon Reggie Well before I had arrived. But stepping up to the plate well late, missing the Capt’s Brief and finding a plate of stone cold bacon sarnies and an immediate fine apiece were Sam M and his guest Chris Scarrot who he blamed for their tardiness. Looking at the results board I saw that Chris was the best guest, being the only one, with a fenomenal score of….1085. Unbelievable!

While Rory and Fitz were simultaneously teeing it up on top of the leaderboard in the final round of the Open d’Italia a Roma, we all teed off for an equally important cup on a very pleasantly sunny and warm afternoon in Herefordshire. The prize fund being a bit un-LIV-like (poetic licence), not $4 million but a still worth-having 40 quid for the winner, but wow! the prestige, and the jumper!!!

A blind but short 1st hole saw many sprayed tee shots, but got us underway easily, followed by another doddle of a short second hole (for the Captain). Who didn’t par them both? Terry did. Not sure about the 3rd but he parred the 4th, 5th and several more, plus a birdie, for a 2 over gross front 9. Spectacular golf which kept him quite quiet. I have to say, neither of which is usual for Terry. Things got a little dodgy as the back 9 wore on, with some doubles and worries as it started to slip away. A cracking escape on the 16 after driving into the lake, then after hitting the dropped ball, he found himself buried deep in a bush! Again, very unlike Terry. But hitting it onto the fringe from his second drop and sinking a Rahm-like curling 30 footer to “save” the 6, which our group decided was just a bit lucky. But he redeemed himself with a skillful birdie on the 18th to post a leading 68 (minus his 2 bonus shots) now a 66.

This 68 was matched by Sam Marshall later, another fine round that nobody else got near. Sadly for Sam, he remained on 68 and second place, as he had no bonus shots. This might have been because he was so late arriving, we’ll never know! A classy 74, nett 70 with his skillfully used 4 bonus shots gave our departing Capitano Doddy a well deserved 3rd place and a nearest the pin in 2 prize as well. Simon Tennant was dead close on the 3rd to win the NP, a hole I found was savage, hitting my second from the 4th fairway!

A piece of top advice came to light from our group. This could lead to bribes and underhand dealings with the new captain next year. It turns out that Daren Thompson, a new member this year, has been in the same group as the winner in 3 comps so far, and in fact marked the winning card twice. I must say what good company he is, personally I’d love to play with him again…worth a fiver???

Back in the bar afterwards, some notable fines were given out by the Finesmaster and Champion Terry:

Top of the leaderboard was Robin (easy to fine) Eaton…he kindly put a tenner into the Captain’s charity, for hitting through the group ahead twice on the green, falling over in a bunker, picking up for a gimme (but only once this time) and after belting it thought the group in front, a wardrobe malfunction when his belt broke and his trousers were falling down for the last 4 holes. Stirring stuff!

Doddy for his supposed De Chambeau-like 300 yd hit with a 6 iron..mmmn, dubious but worth the fine.

John V for too much posing over shots. Nothing new there.

I don’t know if there was a fine for Sam using the “C” word often during his round. It would have been a tad unfair as someone pointed out, as he was just speaking to Cuth.

I was told that Terry did get above himself with all his great play when he actually thought he could get backspin on a chip. He knobbed it!

Finally, thanks to all for the great company over the season, great courses organised as always by JV, and Pete for being a great Captain.

All the best for those players who qualified for the Ryder Cup being played soon, play well and bring it home lads!