44 Squadron Golf Match Report
It was that time of the year when the adventurous and courageous (foolhardy?) venture onto a golf course to prove that their skill and accuracy can once again defeat the topography, wind, rough, trees and sand to post a winning score in the annual 44 Sqn Golf Match. Age and infirmity have whittled away the 44 sporting superstars, this year just four: Roger Dunsford, Paul Taylor, Paul Millikin and Peter Moore, a nav and 3 captains make the first tee at Sleaford GC; and they settle into two teams Roger Dunsford and Paul Taylor will play as Roger’s Raiders and Paul Millikin and Peter Moore as Paul’s Pirates. In fairish weather with a light breeze (some might say perfect conditions for low scoring) the balls of our stars swoosh into the distance
The first hole is always a settler, and Paul Taylor settles quickly, his 2 points put the Raiders 1 up. All drive well on the next, but Pete Moore puts a great shot onto the green and sinks a long, curving putt - all square! On the 3rd Pete Moore tries out the sand twice, but a great Roger Dunsford chip sees the Raiders inch in front again. This is going to be tight!
The 4th is a hard dog-leg left which, if your drive is a bit short, is protected by a row of six trees. Over the years these tough pines have taken more hits than Wainfleet bombing range! True to their bomber heritage, our stalwarts give them what for! Emerging from the flak and wood splinters, it’s Pete Moore who collars 2 points - all square again.
On the short 5th all are scoring, but Paul Taylor aces it with a par - Raiders 1 up. All score again on the 6th, but Raiders score a tad more and inch further ahead - 2 up!
The 7th at Sleaford is 352 yards, but it always plays a very long 352 yards! Two go left and two go right, too far right, Roger Dunsford goes haymaking! Pirates take the points, now only 1 down. The 8th is long and straight and our crew coped with the ragged fairway well. Once near the green, Paul Millikin was deadly accurate in line, however, despite shouts of “Whoa” and “Stop”, his ball sailed on past the hole! Generous gimmes (definition: gimmes are conceded putts, normally agreed upon by golfers who cannot putt straight) are agreed; however, Pete Moore saves the day - match all square!
The 9th is a hard, ninety degree, dog-leg left onto a green over a dyke. The second shot is the key at this hole, Paul Taylor smashes an iron into the heart of the green. Paul Millikin asserts that the pin keeps moving as he can’t get close to it! It ends as a Raiders hole; they are back to 1 up, with half the match to go. Rations are taken though Roger Dunsford says he shouldn’t take sweets from a strange man!
The 10th is 508 yards, but said Paul M, in optimistic mode, “The wind is behind” - hole halved. Good golf on the 11th with some solid putting - again halved. The 12th is a par 3, shortest, and should be the easiest hole on the course, but the green lies behind a copse of tall pine trees! This was the hole that offers a prize for the closest to the pin off the tee. In this case Roger D was the closest and winner, although 40 yards away and in the rough on the wrong side of a bunker, is not the usual result and that was the easiest hole on the course! Hole halved.
13th, unlucky for some, is halved in blobs! The 14th, second hardest and longest at 533 yards faces them. New tactics were employed to tame this beast, namely the ‘Topped Fairway Dribbler’ and the swerving ‘Oh bugger, or Bunker Seeker!’. Lots of sand raking finally ends in another halved hole, Raiders remain 1 up.
The crosswind picks up, the grasses are whistling and trees all a’rattle. Bunkers to the left of them, bunkers to the right, on into the valley of the 15th went the four 44s to get four 4s and another hole halved! Raiders have held onto their precarious one hole lead for the last six holes! Where are the Pirates? Well, here they come. On the 16th Roger is roughing it, Pete is steady on the short stuff and both Pauls are in the bunker, but out in three. Paul Millikin plays a beautiful pitch and run and sinks his putt to win the hole; after a struggle the match is back to all square once more with only two holes to go and all to play for.
The 17th sees some good drives, Paul Taylor goes into another bunker, but Pete Moore plays a super shot putting it close to the pin and sinks his putt, all change - Pirates 1 up, with one to play. The 18th at Sleaford is a lovely open run up to the clubhouse, where a gallery of spectators has gathered to watch the climax - well actually it was Simon Baldwin! Some good shots are played onto the green, but with putts down the hole, it is yet another half and the Pirates, Paul Millikin and Pete Moore, are the match winners, but it was a close call. In individual scores Pete Moore is runner up, but champion golfer for 2023 is Paul Taylor.
On to the 19th for the meal, beer and banter. But . . . oh dammit, the catering staff have closed the kitchen! Yes, it took quite a long while to finish the match, but we had not been told that the feeder closed early. So beer, banter and prizes, but this year sadly no food.
Well played all!
Kevin J Lawry
January 2024
