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Bert, Jack,
Fred and Mick started playing as a fourball over 40 years ago. They were just youngsters then and had all played football
in the island at a fairly high level but for one reason or another had to give up the game and as a result turned to
golf.
As with many ex footballers, golf seemed to come naturally, well it did for three of the boys. For Jack
it was a struggle and to this day he has never won a competition or managed to attain a nice looking swing. He has the
sort of swing that greenkeepers dread and behind his back he is known as "Divot".
They often play during
the week but the game gets serious on a Sunday which is when their worship of the religion they know as golf kicks
in.
Each week they seem to own the 9am tee off time and woe betide anyone who gets in ther way - especially the
ladies. The game always starts with the throwing up of the balls and then the banter starts.
The Players
Bert is always dressed to kill and likes to think he is a ladies man. If there are ladies
that are brave enough to step on to the tee at around 9am on a Sunday they will inevitably receive a kiss from Bert and be
told how gorgeous they are looking. He sports the latest gloves, the best kit and his clubs are always immaculate. At one
time, before he bought the first electric trolley at the club, he used to employ a young caddy from the junior section.
The others were not impressed.
Fred was the best of the footballers in his day but an injury ended
his career early and he still walks with a limp to this day. That limp gets worse according to how badly he is playing and
on a few occasions he has been known to limp off the course early when his game has been really bad. Fred has been
known to remind the boys about his prowess on the football pitch, usually during one of their reminiscing about the old days
sessions. He actually needs a knee replacement but doesn't want to admit that to the boys or more importantly miss
any golf!
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The Players
Mick
is the youngest of the 4 Ball. He has played Golf at the highest level in the Island, won many competitions in his
day and still plays off a single handicap. It has crept up to 9 in recent years but he is still capable of a good round, particularly
in good weather and on a dry course. He doesn't like wet weather and has recently started to use an electric cart
as opposed to carrying his bag. He also tends to use old gear and is reluctant to spend money. This leads to some
interesting moments on the course, some sharp comments from the others in the four ball and he is always looking
for balls!
Jack was a goalkeeper in his heyday and the
others all enjoyed scoring goals past him at one time or another. That fact tends to crop up more than occasionally when the
banter gets personal. He is also the oldest and was born on the Island while the Island was occupied by the Germans during
the Second World War.
A good head of bright white hair and startlingly blue eyes has also earned him some
serious ribbing about his heritage. Jack "the German" may seem unkind to outsiders but for the fourball it is a
source of great humour and Jack takes it in good part and gives as good as he gets. In fact he is quite proud of the fact
that he was in Guernsey in 1945 and still remembers, albeit a bit vaguely, the Liberation of the island and his first taste
of chocolate when he was given some by the relieving troops.
As for his Golf he is as steady as they get. He has
always been around a 12 handicap and a year rarely passes when he doesn't win a competition or at least pick up a few
veterans prizes.
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