The Wyder Picture by Mike Pennington
2009 will go down as a real mixed affair. As ever, it is great when the MAGs get together and do what they enjoy doing, but obviously, the overwhelming memory will be Winky.
I thought the effort and reasoning that went into this years Wyder was very special indeed. Many of us know of the trials and tribulations involved in organising our special event given a years notice. To accomplish this in such spectacular fashion in far less was a huge achievement.
Kev – you’re a true star and should be immensely proud of pulling everything together and setting the scene for such a wonderful event. I know how much you put into it - nothing was left to chance. I am sure all involved, old and new, are extremely appreciative. There wasn’t a glum face on view. Crikey, even the losers looked happy!! 
You will be a tough act to follow but I know Terry and Dave will rise to it next year. Good Luck boys.
As for the golf …. Captain Kev and I had a great match against Superstar and the Cat in the fourballs which, after ROW winning the first three holes, was halved on the 18th when Superstar left (yet another) putt half a revolution short. ‘Never Up, Never In’ my old mate!
The Foursomes should have been renamed batter-ball as Mick J and I never really got much of a look in against the ever steady Darren and rookie Daz Moulden. Both boys played some superb golf and were too good on the day. It was as ever a pleasure to play with Darren and great to meet and play with Daz having only seen him through a cloudy beer down in Dartmouth earlier this year. Hopefully, he will become a regular ROW member.
So to the singles and as fate would have it, it was my old mate Superstar and I once again. We were paired with Darren who was taking on one of our rookies, Dave Jackson (Jacko Senior) and I suspected that both could go down to the wire with little between the two sets of handicaps and knowing the three others so well.
As usual, my predictions were about as good as my lottery numbers. After losing the first hole (again) against Steve, I admit to a Déjà vu moment. However, after a quiet word with myself on the second tee, things got going and that, with Steve not quite firing on the day, started what would become a welcome win against my great mate and adversary. Great playing with you as ever Superstar.
Whilst Steve and I toiled away, we could only watch on as Darren did to Jacko what tall women in tight rubber suits and long boots normally do to their clients.
Jacko got an absolute bottom whipping. Darren played superbly and Jacko’s baptism to the Wyder was complete after the 12th hole with Darren’s tap in birdie. I felt desperately for Jacko, who, like the client, took it in great spirit and the knowledge that he had met someone most definitely on their game. Next year Jacko!!
I have to admit that I was more than a little surprised to receive the Player Of The Tournament award. On reflection, I would not have wished to win it any year more than this.
Once again the Wyder Cup event has come up trumps. Great location, great course and great company. New faces and as usual all fitting in to become a bunch of mates playing golf where the winning matters but the company matters more. Our captain’s did us proud on the golf course, and in the perfect organisation, down to the spreadsheet for meals. Well done Kev, Steve (and Dave S) for organising this in such a short space of time.
The reason for this, as we all know, was Martin. I have only known Martin for 4 years but in that time he has become a good friend. He is a true gentleman on the golf course, always wanting RoW and himself to win but always giving positive comment to anything good his opponents did. If he had played this week, I don’t doubt he would have put a good dent in the 2 ½ point swing the RoW needed to win the trophy. He is truly ‘the heart of the Wyder Cup’ and it was really touching moment to see his video after the last night dinner.
Martin,
For your enjoyment here are my recollections of my 3 rounds (I seem to remember more about the winning ones – strange that!).
Enjoy and keep fighting mate.
Jamie
Fourballs:
This, as for many of us,was my first time of playing the course. My partner was Charlie Longbottom and opponents, as have been many times in previous years, Dave Winkle and Scottie Walters. If going on handicap alone we should have won this and so after 4 holes, and 4 pars from Scottie, we found ourselves 3 down!! All of us found the course pretty tight (this certainly wasn’t Newquay) but the majority of the holes were beauties. I especially loved the 8th with the two lakes. Anyway by the turn I had managed to keep it to still 3 down and I needed a partner. At this point Dave phoned Martin so we could have a quick chat. Where Martin told Charlie and I ‘Pull your finger out, come on RoW’. Fortunately Charlie took this on board and decided to turn up for the second 9, gradually getting us back to level going down the last, which we won making this the only time in the match we were ahead. Phew!!! Bad luck Dave/Scottie.
Foursomes:
I was partnered with Terry Edmonds against Mark Sherratt and Steve O’Dowd. On paper they had the upper hand and it turned out that way losing 4 and 3. This is the first time I have partnered Terry and, as he is next year’s Captain, I have only good things to say!!! It was a pleasure to play from the variety of places Terry put me during the round. The wildlife I saw that I’d have missed if it wasn’t for Terry. If only he could have stomached that bucket of caffeine before the start! Seriously, I would have no problems playing with Terry again he always has a smile on his face and a comment to make you laugh but still with a great will to win. To be fair, I put Terry in as much trouble he put me into and Mark/Steve didn’t give us a sniff.
Singles:
Finally to the Singles, where I was paired with Dave Winkle again. We traded holes until the 5th where I finally found the cause of my irons to fade. From there I was cruising, I parred 4 in a row to go 4 up going down the 9th. At this point, Dave changed his mindset. He started to go for everything, and everything was coming off! He reduced the deficit to 2 (even though I had chipped in during this period) as we approached the tie of the 15th (230 yards dogleg with the two tier green with 10 foot drop). I thought I had him when he pulls out a driver! But he gets away with it leaving a 40 yard chip, we half the hole. Dave wins the short par 3 and we half 17th with a par.
So we are down the last with me 1 up. For once Dave fluffs his second shot leaving him on the left behind a big tree and a pond, 200 yards from the green with branches impeding his long back swing (and I am sure you know how long Dave’s back swing is). I am 40 yards short in the fairway. Again I think I have him, he must chip out. He swings and all I can think is he connected well with that (or words to that effect). The ball bounces on the green and rolls just of the back 10 feet from the pin. So I putt to 2 foot meaning Dave has to hole the chip to half (as he did against me in Newquay, before jumping all over my putting line ala US in Ryder cup a few years back). This time Dave lips out to 3 foot, but sinks the putt leaving me a nervy putt for the match. Thank goodness it when in.
This was by far the best golf match I have played in the Wyder, I was 6 over for the last 14 holes and Dave was, by my calculations, 4 over for the last 10 (and deserved a ½). Great game.
Cheers Jamie