Barrow Gurney cricketers, inspired by the memory of former player Rod Reeves, set out on a golfing marathon to raise funds for Cancer Research as Connor Jones reports:
A year after it was originally scheduled, 6 intrepid cricketers put down their bats for sticks for 72 holes of Golf to raise money for Cancer Research.
At approximately 5:45am, we pulled into Farrington Golf Club. A few putts, some shuffling of clubs, and a selfie to two later and we were on the first tee. All 6 of us teed off (with varying degrees of success) and we were away. We then split into 3s and set a furious pace, playing the first 9 holes in a tick over an hour…! We finished the 18 holes in 2 hours 30 minutes – surely some kind of record for a course that usually takes over 4 hours. This did however mean that we were sat outside the bar at 8:30am knowing full well that it didn’t open until 9am… eventually, it opened up and we were able to get our bacon sandwich and coffee. Ironically, our timing couldn’t have been better as whilst we sat and reflected on the first 18 holes, the heavens opened up (this prompted me to ask for a shot of Baileys in my coffee – not that I needed much encouragement).
Barrow Players (L-R front), Frank Forge, Grant Ashley, Mark Fisher, Back Row Guy Fisher, Jonny Sykes and Connor Jones
We set off at 10am on our next 18 holes on the par 3 course which offered some respite from the long and difficult holes of the main course. This meant fewer balls were lost which certainly helped our pockets since we’d agreed 50p towards charity for every lost ball over the course of the day. The par 3 course brought about some better scoring and some rather hilarious moments, one highlight being Mark Fisher hitting a tee shot which deflected back off the ladies tee markers and shot back past where we were stood on the tee, extending the original tee shot by about 20 yards for his second shot. Again, we flew round the 18 holes and so were early for lunch.
Lunch was a sandwich platter and some chips (accompanied of course by some pints to help wash it down, naturally).
At 1:24pm we then set-off for another 18 holes on the main course. Scoring on the whole was slightly better than the first time round with everyone now knowing where not to hit it, and reluctant to lose quite so many balls. This 18 did however take far longer than the first-time round given that the course was now decidedly busier than it was at 5:45am.
We had a chance to have one last change of clothes and to grab some snacks and fluids (including a couple of pints at the bar) before setting off just before 6pm for our final 18 holes. With the end now in sight, everyone seemed in good spirits and this was reflected in some good golf. The highlight of this 18 came on the 8th hole where myself, Frank and Guy were stood on the tee. We then watched on as firstly Grant had a couple of hacks to try to get his ball out of the green side bunker, only to fail to do so which prompted him to snap his lob wedge over his knee and launch it into a nearby bush. I must add that he did pass this club to me on the previous 18 holes suggesting that if I didn’t take it off him, he would snap it… Jonny then took his turn at getting out of the same bunker with about the same amount of success, prompting him to pick up his ball and lob it onto the green.
The 18th hole was a bittersweet moment. We were all very relieved to have finished, but after such a marathon it was sad to think it was all over. We stumbled off to our cars and with what little energy that we had left reflected on what had a been a simply superb day. Well over a thousand pounds raised (and with about a tenner to add to the pot from each of us for the lost balls, Frank being heard to say that he had lost so many that he could not afford to give any more to charity!) for Cancer Research and our thoughts turned to our dear friend and club legend, Rod Reeves. Rod was and is the epitome of what a club man should be – ever devoted to the club, and someone you could rely on not only as a friend, but when your backs were against the wall on the field. I’m sure all would agree that despite the trials and tribulations of the day, having Rod with us made it that much easier to remember why we were doing this, and this has been reflected in all of your kind contributions and donations to the cause. This was for all of us who have lost someone to this despicable disease, and for that we thank you.