On Winning Something

Today was an interesting day. It was the annual “Ryder Cup” tournament played between the local ex-pat British Golf Society and the American Golf Society. IT really was something of a do, with marshalls, tournament shirts and a wonderful reception dinner afterwards. Each team had 16 players, competing in a combination of two-ball and four-ball matchplay events. Having been drafted into the British Gold Society, I was in a two-ball event, which is the most hed-to-head form of golf.

My match was a close contest and having been down for most of the first nine holes, I managed to round the 9th hole with things all square. The back nine was still tight, but with four holes to go I finally managed to open up a two hole lead (birdies on both the back nines par5 holes helped). It was nervous stuff, but I held on, as did our team for a comprehensive win.

Though the experience did remind me that this is the first serious sporting competition I have taken part in since my teens and of course, the first thing I have won since then. I’m not sure that I have aquired a passion for competitive golf (in my match the marshall was called three times, which for me was three times too many), but I did certainly enjoy the experience and the pressure to perform.