RAF Representative team vs. Norfolk County Golf Union, 27/28 Mar 10

This year’s fixture took the RAF Team to Swaffham Golf Club to face a rejuvenated Norfolk County side. In 2009, Norfolk thrashed the RAF 13-2 but went on to finish bottom of their Inter-County league after some poor results from an ‘ageing side.’ Consequently, new Captain, Jon Baker-Odlin decided to bring in many youngsters to the 2010 County team and build for the immediate future. Our own RAF Captain, Dean Lewis, was one of the team that suffered in the RAF loss last year and so he decided to field as strong a team as he could avail, with just one debutant in this developmental fixture.

The Swaffham course had suffered badly at the hands of the UK’s harsh winter and the greens were really struggling to recover. As a result, it was agreed that any putt within a putter-length would be conceded. ‘Easy,’ you may think, but the large undulating greens and ‘nasty’ pin position combo made even that first putt difficult to get inside the proverbial ‘dustbin lid.’

The morning foursomes showed the technical quality of the Norfolk side early on but the RAF lads held their ground as best they could; however, it was not enough to prevent the Norfolk team taking lunch having gained all five points with some excellent foursomes play. The RAF fellows knew that they could make amends in the singles with their best performances and this is exactly what Captain Lewis demanded from his Team; needing to win eight of the afternoon games, it was going to be a very tall order but not beyond our capabilities.

The wind that had been present throughout the morning session persevered during the afternoon to make an already troublesome course just that little more difficult for everyone. Consequently, mistakes were aplenty, especially on the putting surfaces, and the RAF had a potential ‘turnaround upset’ on the cards through 9 holes in most matches. The relative inexperience of the Norfolk side was exposing small weaknesses for the RAF to probe. Sadly, the technical prowess of their well-grooved group held firm and, eventually, the big-hitting teens started to produce stunning birdies at critical holes of the first 5 games to reverse the fortunes of our brave lads. Billy MaCleod could only watch in disbelief believe as his opponent incredibly birdied the 17^th and then nailed another on the difficult 18^th to convert Bill’s grafted point into a half, from nowhere! Our Captain’s tale was just as painful - having gone down 6 holes through seven, Dean Lewis managed to get back to all-square through 15 before being dealt two hammer-blows by his opponent with birdies on 16 & 17! The RAF Team’s only singles point came through a very gritty performance from Iain Graham in the second set of five singles; Steph Usher couldn’t overcome a former EuroPro Tour player and Andy Moss met a determined Norfolk newcomer out to prove himself. Our own youngster Sam Whittle-Tanner made a good showing and will be a solid prospect for the future but his Norfolk academy opponent made numerous birdies early in the game and never allowed Sam to settle. For two-goal Icarus FC hero Jason Parr, the weekend was too much after his Saturday final and he couldn’t save this match against yet another powerful teen.

So, this the second year that the Norfolk result has appeared rather humbling, but there is always more to it than meets the eye and each point was hard-fought. We now need to ensure that we knuckle down and forge our season so that we can repeat the same feat following last year's Norfolk loss - that is to go on and win the Inter Services. Full results.

In his last match for the RAF, Stu Halliday was presented with a framed picture to remind him of our adopted home at the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa where he has played many an impressive game; but his last Team memory will be of yet another painful birdie from a Norfolk youth! Nonetheless, Stu can be proud of all he has achieved on behalf of RAF Golf during his career, be that as an RAF player, Combined Services player or RAF Director of Golf. We all thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future.

Words by Wg Cdr Richie Matthews, Director of Golf RAFGA.