Info on Calcot suggests that the course is owned by the members. It’s easy to believe, as it seemed that sometimes not a blade of grass was out of place. Could it be that some of the owners are Swiss?.
The greens were in excellent condition but with their subtle borrows and difficult pin positions many 3 puts made their way on to the score cards. The bunkers could have usefully been refilled with some soft sand to give some of us a better chance of elegant bunker shots, Dave F especially. It was really great to welcome back John W after a long absence.
On a day warm enough for everyone to wear shorts there were some who sadly (delicate flowers that they are) were feeling the cold and were duly fined. Luke’s orange top and red shorts woke us all up, but he was asleep on the 18th and didn’t take his cap off for the handshake.
Ian D topped the rest of us with black socks (hastily replaced by a white pair from somewhere) and blue shirt and black shorts, although these were replaced by long trousers at some stage. Other delicates were Ian, Colin, Dave, Mike P, Peter C and James Mc. Ian T received some comments about his strange haircut (is it called a ‘Jethro’ from NCIS?) and the fact that when JohnT told him he couldn’t make a friendly game last week, as it would have taken 16 hours on an A350 (Airbus from Malaysia), Ian thought he was on a road somewhere !. Alan B arrived with no socks, in shoes that used to be called ‘Brothel creepers’. Is Alan not telling us something?. Army golf from bunker to bunker across the greens didn’t help his mood, which was further depressed at dinner, when Ian had the temerity to leave a second piece of steak on the plate without offering it to our favourite trencherman.
Frazer proved on the day to be a sad reflection of his former self.........two tries to hit the group in front and failing miserably on both occasions!. Must do better !. Bryan was fined for practicing with guest Mike P., Dave S for being late on the tee and not scoring correctly and Dave W again for his shirt.
Despite being in the very very slow last group, which unforgivably held up dinner, Mike P had a glorious return from honeymoon in Namibia (Swakopmund anyone?). Well done Mike, but a bit of a shame he had, at the last moment, to cruelly steal nearest pin from Dave F.!.
Below is winner, Ian T, collecting his trophy from Captain Shorter. Well done to all.
Roving reporter: John Thorp