Golf - "The Great Leveller"

The recent Diplomats Golf Scramble Competition held at the Glyfada Golf Club of Athens was a fine example of how the game of golf is "The Great Leveller" and can truly be played universally.
……"Play the course as you find it and the ball as it lies"…..
is the spirit of the game of golf.

By Robert Simpson

Essentially then, all players are faced with the same challenges when playing in a golf tournament. The variations of play however, are endless and each player must choose to play to the best of their ability in order to succeed. Decision-making, knowing when to play safely and when to take a risk, can make or break every golfer’s day. Good decisions generally boost player confidence and can adversely affect the opponents’ game. However, with poor decision-making the reverse is often true!

The handicap system allows for ladies and gentlemen and players of differing ability to play together by making allowances based on the statistics of each golfer’s historical playing record. It was no surprise then, that the final scores of each team in the competition on the day were remarkably close. Generally, the winners will have played to the best of their respective abilities and will also have had a share of good luck! (This is called "the rub of the green" in golfing parlance.)

Distinguished guests (6 Ambassadors accepted the invitation to join in the 2008 Diplomats Scramble Competition), senior, junior, lady and gentleman members all participated equally, as, on the course, they are all golfers and play by the same rules and etiquette.
The "Scramble" format of play is good fun, interesting and often full of surprises. The players of higher standard usually contribute the most to the team effort, but often the high handicap players will do the needful, by holing a long putt or playing a great bunker shot when the others all failed!
Smiles all around!

Matchplay, strokeplay, singles, pairs, fourballs, foursomes, greensomes, solo against the course are all variations of this great game. Just don’t ever believe that you have truly found the ultimate formula for success. All golfers know that this when "The Great Leveller" bites you where and when you least expect it!

Diplomats Scramble Results 2008
Gross Hcp Net

1. Armenia 66 16 50 CB
Palamoudian Kevor
Boudouris Panos
Koukoulas Alexis
Papaoikonomou Leonidas

2. USA I 64 14 50
Perez Chris C.
Vafiadis Stefanos
Athanassopoulos George
Vafiadi Eleni

3. Korea 69 16 53
Bae Young Han
Bae Sung Hee
Kontoes Filippos
Toumanzanis Theodoros

4. Spain II 72 18 54
Aboy Carmen
Criticos Yannis
Chourdakis Stamatis
Vanikiotis Stavros

5. Spain I 68 12 56 CB
Salazar Martinez Jose Ramon
Sofronis Vasilis
Simpson Robert
Simpson Sofia

6. Canada 72 16 56
Dr Wielgosz Renata
Vafiadi Chrysi
Fotinaki
Berberakis Takis

7. Japan 73 14 57 CB
Kitamura Tanakori
Amano Akira
Hoshino Fumiaki
Janakiev Naoum

8. Switzerland 68 11 57
Vafiadis George
Rokadakis Spiros
Katsoufris Antonis

9. Indonesia 70 13 57
Inak Rayadi
Kimitzis Alex
Pournarakis Makis
Pournarakis Dimitris

10. USA II 75 18 57
Young Jake
Lehmann Lisa
Ashford Morris
Zeibeki Sybille

11. Portugal 72 10 62
Katsaros Christos
Katsoufris Spiros
Anagnostakis George

12. USA III 76 13 63
Valassakis Constantinos
Theodossiou Despoina
Theodossiou Vasilis