The SCC: July 2009

Thursday 2 July 2009

Incoming captain called into question, says Daily Telegraph…

The following transcript has been obtained of a press conference given by the incoming SCC Captain on Sunday morning, 28 June 2009, at the clubhouse, Pennard GC.

It is reproduced here verbatim, without permission, and in association with Golf on Gower FM:

SCC Press Officer, Ms. E. Macpherson: Thanks for coming gentlemen, now if you’ll just be seated...

Mat Kinson (cuts across her): Which one of you is Derek Lawrenson?

Lawrenson (Golf correspondent, Daily Mail): Me...

Mat Kinson: You're a massive C.

Lawrenson: Thanks very much.

Mat Kinson: Which one of you is from the Telegraph?

Mark Reason: Me.

Mat Kinson: You're out of order, you are. F**king out of order. You don't know what you're doing. What's this about Chris Seddon carrying Team Liverpool through 36 holes of golf on Friday? (Slams copy of the Telegraph on the table.)

Reason: Well, free comment...

Mat Kinson: It's bang out of order. I had very bad hay-fever. I'll not have you near this tournament next year, you hear that? And you, from the Mail. I did not “jam my way into contention again, only to choke on the final nine”. You got that?

Lawrenson: We're just reporting on the weekend Mat Kinson, the popular demand for coverage of this event is sky high. We double our circulation at the Mail every time the SCC comes around.

Mat Kinson: Who are you calling Mat Kinson?

SCC Press Officer Macpherson: The incoming captain would like to be referred to as "Mr Captain".

Lawrenson: Mr Captain.

Mr Captain: Quite right.

John Hopkins: Er…John Hopkins here, Golf correspondent, The Times. Mr. Captain, how do you think you played out there today?

Mr Captain: That's a golf question. I'm not here to answer golf questions.

Hopkins: Right, no, of course not. Well, what are your plans for next year?

Mr Captain: I want to win.

Hopkins: Yes, thanks. But I was thinking more on the lines of what do you plan for the event, the venue, we heard St Andrews was in the running to host the SCC 2010?

Mr Captain to Macpherson: What’s he talking about? And why is he snivelling?

Hopkins: I have hay-fever.

Mr Captain: Pathetic.

SCC Press Officer Macpherson: He’d like to know whether you plan to host the event somewhere special for the 5th Anniversary SCC.

Mr Captain: These things sort themselves out in my experience. Next question.

Lawrenson: Did you congratulate Pete Bramwell on his tournament winning 17th hole yesterday?

Mr Captain: That’s another golf question. Next.

Reason: Do you have a word for the fans who turned up today? They’ll be interested to see if you develop a rapport as your predecessor did. Ben also, might I add, always had a word for the press.

Mr Captain: You dicks were watching the Lions, weren’t you? There were a couple of female fans on the 18th, but they seemed to be looking out for Nick Brooker. Next.

Hopkins: Are you in a bad mood because you only finished third this year?

Mr Captain: Were you watching the Lions?

Hopkins: Well…most of us were, yes.

Mr Captain: Timewasters, the lot of you. First and fourth – that’s all that matters, ok? The middle placings are a lottery.

(At this stage a member of the public, sporting a Team Nottingham polo shirt and looking much like Team Nottingham member Dom Williams, was escorted from the building, yelling “Massive C you are… Massive C… Fourth is the new first… Fourth is the new first…”)

Lawrenson: Do you have a word or two for the staff of Pennard GC?

Mr Captain: Didn’t like the rough. Next.

Hopkins: In all seriousness though, it’s a beautiful course isn’t it?

Mr Captain: Neil Guyton seemed to like it, yes.

(At this stage the press conference was interrupted by the shattering of a clubhouse window, followed by the slamming of a club, followed by an exasperated “Simon”.)

Hopkins: Mr Captain, one last question. What do you think of the FWAG's decision to set up their own blog?

Mr Captain: Sloshpots, the lot of them... I’ve had enough.

(Storms off in the direction of the driving range for another 25 balls…)

For the inspiration for this blog, see: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/03/newcastleunited.premierleague

SCC History

The idea of an annual golfing challenge between Birmingham and Manchester was first proposed at some time over the Christmas of 2005. Since that time, two-ball teams have fought over a gruelling weekend for the honour of calling their city ‘Britain’s Second City’.

Royal Nefyn Golf Course in North Wales hosted the first competition over the Easter of 2006.

The representatives of Birmingham, Nicholas Brooker and Benjamin Williams fought to the last hole of an intense weekend of golf, over three rounds, only to succumb to a world-class put on the final hole from Peter Bramwell, representing Manchester. Neil Guyton, the other member of the Manchester pairing carded an estimated two under par for the final round to help the Mancunians to the title of Britain’s Second City, 2006.

The success of the competition in its fledgling year was enough to generate interest from other cities around the country believing they can stake a claim to the title of Britain’s Second City.

The competition moved to Royal St Davids in 2007 and witnessed a swelling in competitor numbers with the introduction of groups from Liverpool and Nottingham. Mathew Atkinson playing for Liverpool and Simon Porter and Dominic Williams playing for Nottingham were unable to mount any sort of a challenge in the new format competition. Manchester retained their crown after another tense final hole in which Nottingham could have won either the title or wooden spoon. They ended up with the latter. Birminghams challenge was dealt a cruel blow as Ben Williams was struck down by tonsilitus.

SCC2008 was hosted by Averdovey over a cold and windy April weekend. For the first time, competitor numbers were at capacity with the addition of Chris Seddon to the Liverpool team. As seems to be the tradition with the competition, the title went to the last hole where Birmingham held their nerve against a rejuvinated Nottingham pairing. Liverpool collected the wooden spoon.

SCC2009 tooks the competitors to South Wales and the Pennard Golf Club, near Swansea. With a surge of golf club membership over the summer, the event promised to dish up golf of an even higher quality than had been witnessed so far. However, the extreme challenge presented by Pennard reduced the competetors to wrecks of the former golfers they once were! Manchester secured their 3rd title at the 16th hole of the final round against a highly competitive Team Liverpool. Birmingham narrowly beat Liverpool to second place with a final round victory over the wooden spoon winners Nottingham.

2010 was a big year for the SCC. The 5th year anniversary competition saw the teams take on a the new challenge of Tenby Golf Course. In a break with tradition, this years captain was elected from outside of the original foursome and all agreed than Matkinson did an excellent job. Neil Guytons absence from the Team Manchester line up did little to change the recent trend. Pet Bumwell, partnered by Matt Miller, chalked up another victory on the excellent Tenby track. The only thing counting against the course was the huge journies faced by all.

2011 saw Nick take up the captaincy reigns. The SCC went back to it's roots and introduced Nottingham and Liverpool to the wonders of the old course at Neffyn.

2012 is a seminal year in the history of the competition. The format and name were both changed in order to expand the number of competitors to 9. The Second City Challenge from this point on became simply The SCC. The new competition now pitches 3 3-ball teams against each other, drawn according to handicap this year, but in future years based upon performance in the previous years competition. The first test of the new competition was held at Pyle and Kenfig. 'Getting blobby' was born amidst some high scoring as a result of the usual SCC weather.

2013 took The SCC to North Wales Golf Club, Llandudno in the hope of providing a slightly less harsh golfing test for the players. The rain and wind stayed away for the most part and scores were must improved. An early target for best individual score was set by B Williams of 46 points (off a handicap of 20).

Thursday 2 July 2009

Incoming captain called into question, says Daily Telegraph…

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