oct17 sixofthebest?
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It certainly was no stroll in the park. I’ve played golf with the likes of Samuel L Jackson and this year’s Open Champion Padraig Harrington, but this was comfortably the toughest, most daunting test of my golfing career – if you can call it that – to date.
I’d been selected to partner Lee Westwood and represent England against Darren Clarke’s Rest of the World team in the first 6teesix event launched at Vilamoura, The Algarve. It was a warm-up for the Portugal Masters which starts tomorrow.
I didn’t think it would be that big a deal…until loads of people, including the TV cameras and other assorted media gathered on the 1st tee to see the fun and games that is. And who had the honour, or dubious distinction rather, of hitting the opening shot? You’ve guessed it: England skipper Westwood insisted his nervy 17 handicap teammate got proceedings underway, reminding him in his pre-shot routine to get a move otherwise we’d have no chance of finishing inside the 60 minutes time limit!
What happened next was fairly predictable as Brown slammed his ball into the timber – and beyond – on the right. Equally predictably there were sniggers from the gallery but not so from Westwood, well aware that three of the amateur’s six drives were to count. He was quickly fearing the worst and with plenty of justification.
After conceding the opening hole to Clarke and partner, Jock Howard of Golf World magazine, Westwood – or Eastwood as the announcer announced him – and Brown were always up against it and never really recovered. Particularly the latter.
But it was good, clean golfing fun and a terrific experience. It was short and sweet and Brown, now warmed-up, was ready, willing but not-so-able to go on and do some more. Not sure whether Mr Westwood was though. He’d seen and suffered enough, specially when I inadvertently pocketed his one Euro ball markers.
* The new 6teesix concept is a meaningful, but fun, 6-hole team format that can be played in just 60 minutes.
6teesix is not just shorter it’s quicker too. Slow play is still a burning issue on tour and continues to contribute to the ‘time pressure’ problems associated with golf as a modern day past time. In 6teesix the players are encouraged to play 6 holes in an hour, which at 10 minutes a hole equates to a three hour 18 hole round – a much more attractive proposition compared to the 5 hour plus rounds that are becoming the norm. William Anderson, one of the creators of 6teesix explains: “It is very difficult for golfers to find 5-6 hours every week to play a full round. 6teesix is a great way to keep your eye in more regularly and the team format ensures a competitive edge is maintained in the shortened version.
The launch event, backed by Oceânico Group, the owners of Oceânico Golf who play hosts to the inaugural Portugal Masters, saw England, captained by Westwood, take on a ‘Rest of the World’ team captained by Clarke. Darren Clarke’s team of Retief Goosen, Paul McGinley and 3 amateur players won the event 11 -7 and picked up a cheque for €10,000, which will be donated to the Darren Clarke Foundation. “It was great to take victory today and I am delighted to take the winner’s cheque for the Darren Clarke Foundation. We need to find ways to increase regular golf participation and I am confident that many golfers out there will enjoy this style of play,” commented Darren.
Westwood whose England team consisted of David Howell and Paul Broadhurst plus three happy hackers, including TG’s Courses editor, also enjoyed the 6teesix concept, saying: “The Millennium course was a great location to launch the Oceânico 6teesix format. Unfortunately my team didn’t perform, but we had a lot of fun. Speed of play is obviously a concern in both the Professional and Amateur games as no-one wants a 5-hour round and this format really highlighted that it is possible to play at a pace of 10 minutes per hole.”
The 6teesix concept was piloted earlier this year at a handful of golf clubs in the UK and will roll out across the country in 2008. Oceânico’s Simon Burgess was delighted to host the event. “We love the 6teesix format. Everyone involved in golf will benefit from both faster and more regular play so it is fantastic for us to be able to showcase this format on one of our famous five Vilamoura courses and welcome some world class players who I know love Vilamoura as a golf and holiday destination.”
* For more info visit www.oceanicogroup.com and www.6teesix.com
