Tom Le Huray putts during the Hampshire Sevens CI section final in Jersey last year after he captained the Guernsey Juniors to victory locally. (Picture by Rob Currie, 0451813)
CLUBS are more than ever applying a ‘horses for courses’ philosophy to their Hampshire Sevens team following a dramatic directive change. The Council of National Golf Unions and the English GU now direct that full difference in handicap will now be used in singles matchplay.
It means that clubs might decide to use higher handicap golfers than they have in the past, perhaps depending on where they are playing. Previously three-quarters of the difference was used.
‘The maximum handicap [in the Hampshire Sevens] is now 15, but full difference is bound to play a significant part,’ said Nigel Chescoe, La Grande Mare club captain whose team face last year’s local section winners the Guernsey Juniors on Sunday.
‘I believe we have both got a lowest handicap of four. Our highest is 10 and theirs is 13.
‘It is in the lap of the gods, but if they [LGM lowest and the juniors highest] are drawn against each other, I think it is almost impossible to give nine shots around our course.’
L’Ancresse face a trip to St Pierre Park where par is 54 and due to the competition rules, their squad does not feature any of their island stars such as Steve Mahy, Jamie and Danny Blondel, Danny Bisson and Guernsey champion Jack Mitchell.
That does not surprise Chescoe in the least.
‘I have been talking to Howard Mauger, the L’Ancresse captain, and he is fielding a squad which is unrecognisable from that which played us and the juniors last year,’ he said.
‘Their best players are wonderfully talented, but even they probably cannot give that many shots around St Pierre Park.’
St Pierre Park’s selectors, handicap secretary Gary Sarahs and president Martin Lucas, have chosen to go down the traditional route and pick the best players at the current time in the club according to form. Their handicaps range from six to 13.
‘The selectors feel [the directive change] makes it more difficult for the away team because they have to judge the course without being used to playing it,’ said St Pierre Park committee member Guy Mitchell. ‘There is a definite home advantage.’
The course is in good condition and boasts greens which are being described in various quarters as the best in the island at present.
‘The greenkeeper has been working hard and the greens are very quick. You wonder what they will be like in the summer – they are going to be Augusta-esque,’ Mitchell said.
Back at La Grande Mare, Chescoe also reported that his course was in ‘as good a nick as it can be for this time of year’.
He was also delighted with the strength of the team he has been able to select, although it is missing a familiar name.
‘Hedley Ablitt is unbeaten in Hampshire Sevens matches for La Grande Mare, but he has just joined L’Ancresse this year so we cannot pick him,’ Chescoe said.
‘It is a bit of a loss, but he will be on Willie Gough’s bag and hopefully be able to have a positive influence for us that way.’
Arguably the star of the LGM squad is Dave Jeffery, who impressed many during last season’s Island Championships when his run was ended only by eventual champion Mitchell.
Chescoe likened him to Ian Poulter because of his fashion sense, which has seen Jeffery recently purchase a pristine, glaring white bag.
‘If you are going to have a bag like that, you’ve got to be able to play a bit,’ he laughed.
The juniors boast most of 2007’s successful squad, including the then captain, Tom Le Huray, who went on to play in the main inter-insular.
Luke Blondel is the youngest member of the team at just 11.
‘They had a fantastic year last year and have got a very good side,’ Chescoe said.
‘I was impressed when watching them practise [at LGM] this week. Some of them are obviously relatively small lads, but they hit it like men.’
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