In a desperately close 2019 edition of the Kylie Tour it was Brian who claimed the trophy.
Just two points covered the top four at the end of three days and it was the Kingham man who finished on top of the pile. Brian is just the fourth player to win the title more than once.
Day One - Worcester Golf and Country Club
Driving to Worcester we wondered if day one would be washed out but the course had stood up well to the torrential rain and the Met Office radar looked suggested the weather might ease sooner rather than later. It didn't. Not quite Ilfracombe bad but bad enough.
Scoring was ok considering and Ben F did best of all with an excellent 35 points. He was five points clear of Ben W who has the only other player in the thirties. Five points is the biggest lead after day one, and also meant a handicap cut of one before the Saturday round.
Day Two - Handsworth
It was another wet start and the tourists decided to delay the round by an hour to take advantage of a window of better weather. This time the Met Office radar got it right.
This course was another good one and Kevin tok advantage and top scored with 37. That dragged him right back into contention as did Brian's 34 point round. Ben F's lead was now trimmed to a single point but Kevin in second place had earned a handicap cut to six - the Tour's lowest ever.
Day Three - Cleeve Hill
This could have been another Ilfracombe with a bit of wind and rain but it was fairly benign conditions that greeted the final round. This course was populated by sheep (and sheep excrement - it was goose excrement on Saturday) and a bit rough and ready but it was a challenge. There were no cheap points out there.
Ben F didn't have his short game keyed in and dropped out of the lead. Ben W top scored to put himself in the frame and Kevin scored a brave 30 off six. However, when the scores were read out in no particular order it was Brian, with a final day 32 points, that was crowned champion.
Final Scores
Brian - 28, 34, 32 = 94
Kevin - 26, 37, 30 = 93
Ben F - 35, 29, 28 = 92
Ben W - 30, 28, 34 =92
James - 22, 30, 25 = 77
Paul - 29, 17, 13 = 59
Monday 10 June 2019
Tuesday 4 June 2019
Cleeve Hill - "a hidden gem in the heart of the Cotswolds"
Preview:
The closing round of the 2019 Tour will be played at Cleeve Hill which has "fantastic views and a challenging course for all levels."
We finish on a heath land course on the highest point of the Cotswolds. Let's hope it's not windy and rainy eh? The course overview claims it "represents a good test of golf for all, from the low handicapper to the complete beginner."
The course is the longest of the three in 2019 but not by much. At 6,083 yards it's a par 69 with just the one par 5, the first.
It has some proper names for holes too. 'The Plateau' (3rd), 'The Camp'* (13th), 'The Punchbowl' (15th) and we finish at 'The Gullies'.
There aren't many pictures on the overview section but reading between the lines the course is going to defend itself with the weather and the natural undulations.
*"the green is actually in the centre of an Iron Age hill fort, surrounded by earth banks and ditches."
What happened:
Lots of undulations and there was plenty of gorse for the players who strayed off the straight and narrow. Thankfully the weather was on our side so scores were most likely affected by fatigue. It wasn't the best kept (there are sheep all over it - what can you do?) but this had a lot of different and challenging holes to keep us interested.
Best scores:
34 points - Ben W (off 7)
32 points - Brian (off 20)
30 points - Kevin (off 6)
The closing round of the 2019 Tour will be played at Cleeve Hill which has "fantastic views and a challenging course for all levels."
We finish on a heath land course on the highest point of the Cotswolds. Let's hope it's not windy and rainy eh? The course overview claims it "represents a good test of golf for all, from the low handicapper to the complete beginner."
The course is the longest of the three in 2019 but not by much. At 6,083 yards it's a par 69 with just the one par 5, the first.
It has some proper names for holes too. 'The Plateau' (3rd), 'The Camp'* (13th), 'The Punchbowl' (15th) and we finish at 'The Gullies'.
There aren't many pictures on the overview section but reading between the lines the course is going to defend itself with the weather and the natural undulations.
*"the green is actually in the centre of an Iron Age hill fort, surrounded by earth banks and ditches."
What happened:
Lots of undulations and there was plenty of gorse for the players who strayed off the straight and narrow. Thankfully the weather was on our side so scores were most likely affected by fatigue. It wasn't the best kept (there are sheep all over it - what can you do?) but this had a lot of different and challenging holes to keep us interested.
Best scores:
34 points - Ben W (off 7)
32 points - Brian (off 20)
30 points - Kevin (off 6)
Handsworth - "stunning views of the surrounding Staffordshire"
Preview:
You don't always need a 30-points plus score on the middle day to take the trophy but it certainly helps. Handsworth near Birmingham will be testing our games on the Saturday.
"Widely acknowledged as a hidden gem", this course was founded in 1895 and is located in the "picturesque Sandwell Valley". Similar to Worcester this is "tree-lined and undulating with greens that run true and fast and the whole course is protected by more than 70 bunkers."
It's another Par 70 and is a little bit longer than Friday's challenge at 6,070 yards. This one has a gentler start (four of the highest stroke index holes in the first six) so bagging some points straight out of the gate could set the tourists up for a decent round before the tougher holes kick in. The first is the signature hole according to the Club Professional who also says that the fifth (called 'Exchange', one of many dull hole names) has the most intimidating tee shot on the course.
Course overview
What happened:
After we'd sat in the rather lovely clubhouse for an hour and a half waiting for the rain to ease we got out to find another super course. (If I can be super-critical it could do with some more signage around location of tees.)
It was our second decent, but fair, test of the weekend and probably only rated behind Worcester due to a bit of work going on around the 12th and 13th where there are some temporary (semi-permanent) par 3s took the place of some forthcoming par fours by the look of it.
Paul's challenge fell away as quickly as the sole of his left shoe, Kevin blazed back into contention with a 37 but Ben F held on to the lead by a single stroke going into the final day.
Best Scores:
37 points - Kevin (off 8)
34 points - Brian (off 20)
30 points - James (off 36)
You don't always need a 30-points plus score on the middle day to take the trophy but it certainly helps. Handsworth near Birmingham will be testing our games on the Saturday.
"Widely acknowledged as a hidden gem", this course was founded in 1895 and is located in the "picturesque Sandwell Valley". Similar to Worcester this is "tree-lined and undulating with greens that run true and fast and the whole course is protected by more than 70 bunkers."
It's another Par 70 and is a little bit longer than Friday's challenge at 6,070 yards. This one has a gentler start (four of the highest stroke index holes in the first six) so bagging some points straight out of the gate could set the tourists up for a decent round before the tougher holes kick in. The first is the signature hole according to the Club Professional who also says that the fifth (called 'Exchange', one of many dull hole names) has the most intimidating tee shot on the course.
Course overview
What happened:
After we'd sat in the rather lovely clubhouse for an hour and a half waiting for the rain to ease we got out to find another super course. (If I can be super-critical it could do with some more signage around location of tees.)
It was our second decent, but fair, test of the weekend and probably only rated behind Worcester due to a bit of work going on around the 12th and 13th where there are some temporary (semi-permanent) par 3s took the place of some forthcoming par fours by the look of it.
Paul's challenge fell away as quickly as the sole of his left shoe, Kevin blazed back into contention with a 37 but Ben F held on to the lead by a single stroke going into the final day.
Best Scores:
37 points - Kevin (off 8)
34 points - Brian (off 20)
30 points - James (off 36)
Worcester GCC - "a good test of accuracy for golfers of all standards"
Preview:
2019's Tour starts with a visit to Worcester Golf and Country Club.
Designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1927 (seven years before he designed Augusta National), this parkland course 'features long narrow greens' and failure to hit them 'will definitely test the short game abilities.'
A par 70 weighing in at 6,019 yards off the yellow tees, four of the nine hardest holes come in the first five we play so we're going to need to be on our game.
Here's the course overview if you want a look. Flicking through it quickly it seems like there are plenty of bunkers just waiting to catch the errant shots.
What happened:
The rain eased enough for us to give it a go. Then started raining harder when we are out there. This was an excellent course and largely stood up to the weather apart from around the turn where there were a couple of very soggy greens. The par 3 'drop-hole' was particularly affected which was a bit of a shame.
It would be good to go back when it's not belting down to see if how much scores can be improved by. Ben F would be doing well to improve on a great 35 pointer though which gave the rest of the field something to think about on the drive to Birmingham.
Best scores:
35 points - Ben F (off 15)
30 points - Ben W (off 7)
29 points - Paul (off 36)
2019's Tour starts with a visit to Worcester Golf and Country Club.
Designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1927 (seven years before he designed Augusta National), this parkland course 'features long narrow greens' and failure to hit them 'will definitely test the short game abilities.'
A par 70 weighing in at 6,019 yards off the yellow tees, four of the nine hardest holes come in the first five we play so we're going to need to be on our game.
Here's the course overview if you want a look. Flicking through it quickly it seems like there are plenty of bunkers just waiting to catch the errant shots.
What happened:
The rain eased enough for us to give it a go. Then started raining harder when we are out there. This was an excellent course and largely stood up to the weather apart from around the turn where there were a couple of very soggy greens. The par 3 'drop-hole' was particularly affected which was a bit of a shame.
It would be good to go back when it's not belting down to see if how much scores can be improved by. Ben F would be doing well to improve on a great 35 pointer though which gave the rest of the field something to think about on the drive to Birmingham.
Best scores:
35 points - Ben F (off 15)
30 points - Ben W (off 7)
29 points - Paul (off 36)
Wednesday 29 May 2019
2019 Tour - first time in second city
Birmingham will play host to the 2019 Kylie Tour Championships.
There will be a small but perfectly-formed six man field competing for the title. It might be the lowest turnout since 2009 but everyone competing has previously won the competition.
Worcester Golf and Country Club is the home of the Friday round, Handsworth Golf Club hosts the Saturday 18. The final round location has now been confirmed as Cleeve Hill Golf Club.
There will be a small but perfectly-formed six man field competing for the title. It might be the lowest turnout since 2009 but everyone competing has previously won the competition.
Worcester Golf and Country Club is the home of the Friday round, Handsworth Golf Club hosts the Saturday 18. The final round location has now been confirmed as Cleeve Hill Golf Club.
Tuesday 19 June 2018
Joy of six for Ben W
The 2018 Bournemouth Tour was won by Ben W. It's his sixth title.
There were two changes before the start. Bruce's handicap was revised to 17 while, sadly, Kevin was ruled out following a late knee injury meaning he missed his first Tour.
Ben W blazed into a three point lead (equalling the Tour record) on day one with Simon the only other player registering a score in the 30s. Saturday's play turned a procession into a competition though.
Bruce (38 - his best Tour round)), Simon (33), James (37) and Ben W (27) were all covered by four points after the second round. It would come down to a last day shoot-out.
In the end it was Ben W that outstayed the field. His score of 32 was too much for the other contenders who perhaps lacked the match practice and physical requirements to cope with three rounds in three days.
Final scores
Ben W - 35, 27, 32 = 94
Simon - 32, 33, 26 = 91
James - 24, 37, 26 = 87
Matthew - 26, 29, 32 = 87
Bruce - 25, 38, 20 = 83
Ben F - 26, 27, 29 = 82
Brian - 20, 21, 30 = 71
Stuart - 22, 22, 24 - 68
There were two changes before the start. Bruce's handicap was revised to 17 while, sadly, Kevin was ruled out following a late knee injury meaning he missed his first Tour.
Ben W blazed into a three point lead (equalling the Tour record) on day one with Simon the only other player registering a score in the 30s. Saturday's play turned a procession into a competition though.
Bruce (38 - his best Tour round)), Simon (33), James (37) and Ben W (27) were all covered by four points after the second round. It would come down to a last day shoot-out.
In the end it was Ben W that outstayed the field. His score of 32 was too much for the other contenders who perhaps lacked the match practice and physical requirements to cope with three rounds in three days.
Final scores
Ben W - 35, 27, 32 = 94
Simon - 32, 33, 26 = 91
James - 24, 37, 26 = 87
Matthew - 26, 29, 32 = 87
Bruce - 25, 38, 20 = 83
Ben F - 26, 27, 29 = 82
Brian - 20, 21, 30 = 71
Stuart - 22, 22, 24 - 68
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| Bens |
Saturday 2 June 2018
2018 Handicaps announced
You always know the Tour is getting closer when the handicaps are released.
Here's how they are for 2018:
8 - Ben W
9 - Kevin
11 - Matthew
15 - Ben F
15 - Bruce
16 - Brian
18 - Simon
35 - James
36 - Stuart
Last year's champ Ben F is cut by the semi-traditional 10% (rounded up) which equals two strokes. He's never played off less than 16 and never won off less than 17.
Simon and Brian are both up one on last year's starting mark while Bruce's first Tour for four years sees him on his lowest mark in Tour history.
Here's how they are for 2018:
8 - Ben W
9 - Kevin
11 - Matthew
15 - Ben F
15 - Bruce
16 - Brian
18 - Simon
35 - James
36 - Stuart
Last year's champ Ben F is cut by the semi-traditional 10% (rounded up) which equals two strokes. He's never played off less than 16 and never won off less than 17.
Simon and Brian are both up one on last year's starting mark while Bruce's first Tour for four years sees him on his lowest mark in Tour history.
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