Rim Stinger IX, 2012 - Belton Woods, Lincolnshire

The ninth edition of the Rim Stinger Invitational Classic Masters Cup had no debutants (the first such instance) and produced its ninth different winner in 2012, proving once more the truism that the title is hard to win and even harder to retain. At least that’s how the Handicap Committee prefers it.

For almost the whole history of the Rim Stinger, Andy Henderson has sat neatly on a handicap of 18 or 19, a benchmark for the group, and has finished consistently in the upper middle order. Over time, the handicap purges have focused elsewhere on the real bandits of this world as well punishing previous successful players. This has helped Andy as his handicap has remained inviolate. Finally, at the eighth time of asking, and after a number of near misses, this year Andy produced a storming round on Rim Stinger day (including a birdie at the par five last over water) to win ahead of David Zarmalwal.

After a brief kerfuffle regarding the possible grounding of a putter head (?!) his victory was confirmed by one point. Although he hadn’t known it at the time, he needed that last hole birdie to win outright, so this was a great way to win the title, so much better than limping over the line as most previous winners have done. It was also a great performance from Dave Z, backing up his pairs win the day before with the runner up spot. Mindful of the impact this would have on his handicap at RS X, Dave promptly registered 8 points on the final day. (This outlier will surely be ignored by the HC). As for Andy, his handicap will be inviolate no longer (especially as he also finished third in the money even after the traditional RS alcohol and handicap penalty).

Of course any hope of a retention of the title was out of the question this year after the savaging that the RS VIII champion received at the unanimous hands of the bloodthirsty Handicap Committee. Proving he had learned nothing in nine years, the OCC justified the HC’s known appetite for cuts in naively producing his best golf of the weekend on day one, winning the pairs in partnership with Dave Z. In fact the pairs event produced the first play off in the rich history of the Rim Stinger, with the OCC making a par at the second play off hole to pip the trio of Paul Henderson, Jim Willson and Rich Aylmer. The HC’s retribution was swift, deep and long lasting.

The OCC mounted what can only be described as a woeful defence of his hard won title from 2011. The handicap reduction meted out the night before was a factor, but 13 points was never going to win any prizes except one and the gleaming RS trophy that had proudly adorned the mantelpiece for a year was replaced by the bag o’shite award. No one has done that before, another unwanted record. For those that like stats, this was the fourth successive year that the gap between the winner and the bag o’shite was 15 points. For the OCC, this was a stark illustration of exactly how far he had fallen.

On the final day, pre-tournament favourite V Holmes finally managed to prevail against his personal demons and won his first major prize at the Rim Stinger by bringing home the money. The one point addition to his handicap generously made by the HC the night before has not gone unnoticed.

The Champagne moment award almost went to the weather since in a ridiculously wet summer, the Rim Stinger only suffered occasional showers. However, ultimately there was no contest once it emerged that N Williamson had managed to sleep walk (pretty much naked) outside his hotel room to find himself locked out in the corridor without his key. Not the best way to prepare for a major tournament (which might explain his finishing 13^th=)

It only remains to thank everyone for coming along and to look forward to Rim Stinger X, the first tournament that will be held overseas.