It’s day one of the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship – the 12th hole.
I’m playing with two golf professionals – Andrew Sherborne, winner of this tournament two years ago, and Tommy Horton, twice a Ryder Cup player, four time winner on the European Tour and a 23-time winner on the Senior Tour – plus another amateur, Jerry Price. I couldn’t have asked for better company.
The pin is hidden from view, but I hit a decent shot and moments later hear a welcome ripple of applause from perhaps 100 people gathered behind the hole.
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Every golfer walks the fairways in hope and as we approached the green, I note three balls to the right of the putting surface and another, perhaps three feet away from the pin. “I’ll take that,” I thought to myself.
My playing partners each putt to within a foot and tap in for par; then it’s my turn. Bright sunlight bathes the now silent crowd. Several feet away, Peter, Tommy’s caddie, holds the flag still. I line my birdie putt up. There would be no disgrace in registering a three, but how good would a two be? Here goes. Clunk. Right in the middle. Bloody marvellous.
As I walk to collect my ball from the hole, the crowd starts applauding. This has never happened to me before. Peter wanders over with the flag and whispers, “Don’t forget to acknowledge the crowd’s applause.” He’s right. I actually want to go over and shake each one of them by the hand. Instead, I actually doff my cap and mouth an animated ‘thank you’ from behind a broad smile – y’know, the way Phil Mickelson would.
Later, my wife said she couldn’t bear to watch as I was about to putt, although I felt under no pressure, the scale of which was considerably greater on the opening tee after being introduced to the crowd in the clipped tones of a well-spoken chap who has clearly spent much of his life with microphone in hand. “And on the first tee, Peter Sharkey…”
At this point, I noticed a discernable shake in my left hand as I placed a ball on the tee. Surrounded by professionals, Sky Sport cameras, other amateurs and a paying audience, I was intent on just hitting the ball properly. Fortunately, I did. The pressure began to evaporate, though not immediately.
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Playing in the pro-am event over two days at Nailcote Hall last week was, without doubt, the very best golfing experience of my life.
I can’t wait for next year’s event.
* Peter Sharkey played in the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall last week, finishing 5-under par, thanks mainly to his playing partner, Andrew Sherborne. He was polite at all times, remained sober and is hoping for an invitation to play in the same event next year...