To say this has been a long time coming is an understatement.
I have been trying to do this since I was 15, but, in the same breath I know how hard it is to get around our golf course blemish free whilst knocking in birdies.
Having been close many times, but getting over the line was something I struggled with immensely . . . did it mean too much to me? Maybe so!
Firstly, to beat Mark Day’s original course record is very special. I have since phoned to Mark and he is full of class. I remember when Mark shot 65, I was 14. I came in the club with my family for some food, the buzz around the place was immense and as a young budding golfer to think someone could shoot that score was just incredible. I remember my dad saying to me “It will stand for a long time that son,” and he was right!
My round couldn’t have gone any better, the stars aligned for me that day. My playing partner Phil Martindale (perfect playing partner), was great all the way round. We were placed in to a two ball because his playing partner didn’t turn up (this two ball was perfect, pace of play etc). Phil and I had our first glare at each other on the first green when I rolled in a 30 foot putt for birdie, he gave me a little look and little did we know what would be happening in just over three hours time? If you want to go low at Furness getting off to a quick start is a must. Being only two under after five holes was not what I would call outstanding but I then went on to birdie 6, 7 and 9 to really set the cat amongst the pigeons, five under after nine.
The first nine we laughed all the way round, we were mostly laughing at my shots and the fact the birdies were flying in!
The back nine started somewhat fortunate, my errant tee shot on 10 hit the boundary fence, bounced back in and from where I made par, Phil didn’t know to either laugh or cry as he hit the green and three putted for a four . . . the golfing gods were certainly looking down on me!
I managed to steady the ship on 11, 12, 13, by then the juices really started to flow with birdies on 14 and 15. When the putt dropped on 15 it dawned on me what was happening, until this point we were having such a good laugh I was not taking too much notice of my score, but seven under par on the 16th tee was serious business . . . a score I had never been on before.
After a great wedge to five foot on 16 and a successful putt (-8 now for my round) my mind started to wander, a golfers head is not a safe place when they start to actually think about their game . . . two holes to get the job done. With a smooth drive 30 yards off line down 17 (which actually went down the first) followed a par.
I have two golfing heroes at Furness, one is Paul Lourie and the other is Dave Pearson. When I walked on to the 18th tee Dave Pearson was on the 16th. I had to stop myself going over to tell him what was going on, I knew something special was happening.
I needed a five down the last to break the course record. Over my tee shot on the 18 it was never in doubt where it was going, one of my best drives of the day.
I made par . . . the rest is history #63
Thank you Phil Martindale for getting me round, the perfect partner!
It is an honour to be the course record holder, if it lasts for two weeks or 20 years, I can say that I did it. Furness Golf Club holds a special place in my heart and it’s an honour to be a part of their history.
This round is dedicated to my Mam, Dad, my wife and three children.
