23rd September Friendly day out at Hopwood Cottage, Manchester GC
Eight of us played at Hopwood, following a cancelled match at Moor Allerton. It was a grey day, with a strong breeze.
What a tough course, rated as one of the hardest inland courses in the UK. I certainly worked this out after a seemingly short, uphill, medium length par 4 that was stroke index 16. I hit what seemed like a good drive that left me with 170 yards uphill again. My fairway iron sent me right and I carded a 7.
The contours and space on the course are certainly used to defend it, and each green seemed difficult to find, despite some being larger.
I finished with 29 points with three no scores, but Tony Showman, playing in the other fourball, found the course quite easy, scoring 42 points to take the cash. Modestly, Tony agreed he’d had a rare day when everything came together.
In the clubhouse, we met Gareth Clark, an old friend of Whitefield GC, who has the honour of being Captain of his home club this year.
I look forward to playing this course again, need to be in best form to face the test it poses.