An intrepid foursome from the Chelmsford Disc Golf Club took the short trip down to the glorious Creeksea championship course to play in the Inaugural Doubles Challenge. The course was in absolutely perfect condition, freshly pruned, landscaped and mowed in prep for the Euro Tour Event in a few weeks time. Let’s meet the teams:
CRAT: Chris & Matt (Both Nov.)
KPAD: Kevin (KP) & Alex (MA2 & Nov.)
Format: Best Shot Matchplay Doubles (both players throw from best lie). With consideration to fairness the team of 2 Novice Division players, team CRAT took in a handicap of 1 shot per par 3 and 2 shots per Par 4 over team KPAD.
Commentary: With two evenly matched teams it was always going to be a close battle. It turned out this way, with never more than 2 holes separating the teams. There were standout performances and plenty of highlights. Here’s what happened:
Hole 1: First hole jitters sent KP’s drive into almost first available tree, but having fought through to fairway’s edge pitched up nicely for the par. But Chris slammed in a huge outside circle putt to half the hole. ALL SQUARE
Hole 2: Despite a wayward drive, the added distance from KP helped setup a good par on this difficult par 4. Chris and Matt ricochet’d their way to a respectable 6. KPAD 1 UP
Hole 3: With KP almost guaranteed par from a pin high left drive, up stepped Matt to his blind shot, only to hit the top of the basket from well over 100ft!!! It didn’t roll away and so hole halved. KPAD 1 UP
Hole 4: Alex placed a nice forehand drive down the tree line so KP went for the pin. But he never got it turning and it sailed miles OB. Chris and Matt capitalised on wayward KPAD upshots with another big edge of circle putt from Chris to take back a hole. ALL SQUARE
Hole 5: Alex smashed a forehand, but it flipped early into the headwind diving straight into the OB pond, KP’s almost did similar on the hyzer line. A strong upshot from Matt meant another halved hole. ALL SQUARE
Hole 6: Alex placed a super drive to circle 2 to gain CTP but couldn’t sink the long putt for birdie. Matt managed to stay inbounds after Chris buried his first run Blizzard Wraith into the sharpest bushes known to man. A lot of scratches and scrapes later Chris sunk a difficult uphill putt from 20ft for par to take the hole. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 7: With KP lying in the fairway having almost hyzered OB, Chris smashed a fantastic drive to match him. Both teams upshots were inside circle. KPAD made good from 10ft and Chris yet again made a trick 20 footer to take the hole. CRAT 2 UP
Hole 8: A hole to forget for CRAT. Alex tapped out a low stress par to reduce the deficit. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 9: Spectacularly, all 4 tee shots found OB! Some scrappy scrambling from both teams gave KPAD an opportunity to level the match. Alex missed the first, but KP made sure of the second. ALL SQUARE
Hole 10: A lovely touch upshot from Matt left KPAD running uphill death putts for birdie in a strong tailwind. Needless to say CRAT restored their lead. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 11: Big drive from Chris nestled just in front of the mando tree and Matts forehand flick approach made light work of the hole. KP’s good drive to just outside circle was converted for solo birdie to tie scores. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 12: Both KP and Alex’s drives buried into the left tree lines, managing to scramble out to a disappointing bogey. But CRAT could not capitalise on the mistakes. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 13: A couple of pinpoint 150ft drives dissected the hold for CRAT leaving them with a long look for par. KP’s long but way right drive left an improvised 40ft thumber approach which was well executed. CRAT couldn’t convert and we move on to the water holes. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 14: Out came the floating discs for this nervous tee shot to the ponds edge, but only Alex found the water. Matt’s straight but short drive was duly flung under the bucket for a good par. KPAD’s risky 60ft putt straight at the water did stay dry, but didn’t go in. CRAT 2 UP
Hole 15: 3 out of 4 drives ended up in the drink here on this short water clearance hole. Alex however stepped up a parked a forehand within 15ft slightly down the bank. He sank the putt for his first ever Birdie and took the hole! CRAT 1 UP
Hole 16: KP busts out his only sidearm of the round to good effect, getting into circle 2. Matt’s accurate drive through the narrow gap, set himself up for another good approach to make a 4. KPAD couldn’t convert for birdie to draw level. CRAT 1 UP
Hole 17: Needing to claw a hole back to tie the match, KPAD were ace running! KP’s effort was long left with a tricky 35ft putt to come. Matt beautifully flicked out of the right side bushes to setup Chris to hole out a pressure putt. To take the match into the last hole KPAD needed to sink their birdie putt. Alex’s effort was valiant, but high and left. Then KP stepped up with his trademark jump putt and hit right side chains which duly nestled in the basket! Onto 18 we go with all to play for! CRAT 1 UP
HOLE 18: CRAT were confident of victory as they surveyed the last. But Alex’s accurate placement forehand gave KP opportunity to run the basket. The distance was looking perfect as his Star Orc assaulted the sky on a huge hyzer line. But the ripping crosswind has something to say about that and pushed it out 80ft pin high left. Chris’ beautifully shaped leftie Anhyzer drive put Matt into position to approach to the edge of the guardian bush. A missed putt and a tap in later, CRAT had carded the 4 meaning KPAD now needed to throw in for birdie to take this into a playoff. KP took out his Pro-Dart and launched a straight shot hard but 2ft wide. While Alex’s forehand attempt also flew past long. It was all over for KPAD…CRAT were the winners! CRAT 2 UP
So Chris and Matt are our first Doubles Challenge champions, winning by 2 Holes!
A great morning of disc golf was had by all and we’re already looking forward to the rematch, only next time…bigger and better!
