This year’s Harris Hat of Glory draws inspiration from Augusta, Georgia with a Masters colour scheme. Whose head will this adorn?
Harris Hat of Glory – 2018
2018 Trophy
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Author Archives: d_4_v-e
Early Spring Away Day Report – 18th February 2018
Carswell Golf Club
The 2018 “Birthday Bash” event took place on 18th February with the hosts being marginally outnumbered by guests.
Three contenders tied at the top of the individual table on 32 points.
On count back, David Wain came third, Richard Edmonds second (avoiding a cut to 2) and Steve Mulford was our wiinner for the day.
Team wise Richard ,David and Reg Brown triumphed with Richard bagging NTP, NTP X2 and Longest Drive – with one NTP + the 2’s prize unclaimed.
Thanks to the attendees for their company + onwards to our next awayday on 8th April @ West Berks
2018 Away Days – Dates Confirmed
Carswell Golf Club – 18th February
Looking ahead to 2018, the “Birthday Boys” day has been booked for Sunday 18th February at Carswell Golf Club. First tee is 12:00pm and the cost will be £20.
West Berks Golf Club – 8th April
The Spring away day will take place on Sunday 8th April at West Berks Golf Club. First tee is 13:30 and the cost will be £20 (inc prize kitty).
Autumn Away Day Report – 1st October, 2017
Rye Hill Golf Club
A select group gathered for the final away day of 2017, held on an old stamping ground (for some) at Rye Hill on Sunday 1st October.
Champion on the day was Richard Edmonds with a score of 32 points closely followed by Dave Scott with 31 with Peter Harris in bronze position with 26.
With the 2 shot reduction for winner(s), Richard is now playing off a handicap of 4. Quite how he will cope on future days remains to be seen.
The team event went to team B. Richard, Dave ,Paul Needle & Sue Scott with 71 points.
Spot prizes went to Dave for Longest drive on the 9th and Richard NTP on the 17th.
No 2s or NTP x2 were recorded.
2018 Agenda Confirmed
A new year, a new country.
The 2018 tour will be based at The St Pierre Marriott Hotel & Country Club, at Chepstow in Wales. It will start on Sunday 20th May.
There are 2 courses at the resort and our trip will see us playing each one twice. Peter has also organised an away day for the Tuesday at St Mellons Golf Club near Cardiff.
By all accounts, both St Mellons and St Pierre should offer an excellent golfing challenge and by switching the location to Wales, we will obviously guarantee fine weather as well.
The full agenda is as follows:
Sunday, 20th May – St Pierre Mathern Course
Meet at 11:00am for a 12:00pm start. Four ball, better ball team event.
Monday, 21st May – St Pierre Old Course (am) & Mathern Course (pm)
Morning tee – 8:03am. Four ball, better ball team event. Lunch at 1:00pm. Afternoon tee – 2:30pm. Format tbc.
Tuesday, 22nd May – St Mellons Golf Club
1st tee at 11:30am, Coffee/Bacon roll on arrival and 2 course meal afterwards.
Wednesday, 23rd May – St Pierre Old Course.
1st tee at 10:00am.
The formats for Tuesday & Wednesday will be confirmed once our current champion (Nigel) has selected his preferred venue to defend his crown (well, baseball cap).
Please confirm with Peter asap whether you’re able to attend.
Finally, may I wish you all pob lwc with your golf next year (look it up, I had to…)
Summer Away Day Report – 23rd July, 2017
Ogbourne Downs Golf Club
The July away day took place on an overcast day at Ogbourne Downs with seven attendees plus host Christine Mitchell who joined team B at the halfway stage.
With the rain holding out until 14 holes had been completed, the event was won by Richard Edmonds who scored a very creditable 34 points (including 20 on the outward 9).
Paul Needle carded 32 points in second place with Frank Tanner third with 31 points.
Team wise Frank with David Mitchell, Steve Mulford and Christine triumphed by one point.
Richard won the NTP x2 prize on the 3rd.
Christine won with the Longest drive on the last.
Frank the NTP on 15th which was converted for the only birdie two of the day.
Autumn Away Day News
The date for the Autumn awayday has been set for Sunday 1st October at Rye Hill with meet @ 11 for a 12:00pm Tee. Price will be £25 for golf & prizes.
2018 Trip Update
In the meantime, the 2018 trip is currently a work in progress.
Factors under consideration include:
1) a possible later date to avoid inclement weather (little chance);
2) a different venue in the UK as the concensus is that we have exhausted Cornwall; and
3) keeping the cost to a reasonable level.
More news will follow in due course.
2017 Tour Report
Borringdon Park, 14th May
The 2017 trip commenced at Boringdon Park on a dull and blustery Sunday.
With “guest ” Bruce Mercer bringing us up to a round 16, the results of the doubles matches were as follows:
Rob Austen & Reg Brown lost to Dave Scott and Jane Wain 1 up.
Paul Needle & Bruce Mercer lost to Richard Edmonds & Sue Scott 2up
Derek Craston & Sue Pritchard beat Nigel Wain & Phil Reay 1up
Pete Cosford & John Pritchard beat David Wain & Peter Harris 2&1
All Square in the team challenge after day 1
Spot prizes:
NTP Hole 13 Paul Needle
NTP Hole 15 Richard Edmonds
NTP x2 Hole 1 Dave Scott
Longest Drive Hole 17 Rob Austen
Trethorne, 15th May
Monday at Trethorne dawned with much Cornish rain. A theme that would continue for the week.
Derek Craston beat Peter Harris 6&4
Pete Cosford & Reg Brown lost to Richard Edmonds & Phil Reay 1up
Paul Needle & Sue Pritchard lost to Dave Scott & David Wain 5&4
Rob Austen & John Pritchard beat Nigel Wain & Sue Scott 2&1
All square in the match.
Spot prizes:
NTP Hole 8 Reg Brown
NTP Hole 13 John Pritchard
NTPx2 Hole 4 Dave Scott
Longest Dr Hole 6 Rob Austen
With the inclement weather, Monday pm saw 3 foolish teams attempt a golfing scramble combined with freestyle waterproof testing. The sole surviving team of Cosford & the Pritchards triumphed.
The two completed spot prizes went to Peter Harris with a NTP in 2 on the second and Dave Scott with NTP on the 8th.
Dave managed to hole the putt for a two and joined Richard in the winnings who managed birdie twos at both the 13th & 16th holes in the morning session.
Carlyon Bay, 16th May
Tuesday dawned with yet more rain for the Open Championship held at Carlyon Bay. However, whilst the forecast for the day was quite dire, it only rained for the first 9 holes or so. More significant for the players was the fog / cloud / mist which descended on the course. At times, the only clue to a green’s location 120 yards away was the direction of the stripes on the fairway!
This years champion is Nigel Wain who, given the conditions, carded a respectable 34 points.
Runner up on countback with 32 points was Dave Scott with Paul Needle 3rd on the same score.
Spot prizes:
NTP Hole 5 Pete Cosford
NTP Hole 18 Sue Pritchard
NTP x2 Hole 14 Dave Scott
Long D Hole 10 Rob Austen
Richard again carded a birdie 2 at the 5th and shared the prize with Nigel (3rd) and Pete C (5th)
The competitors were welcomed in the clubhouse afterwards with a congratulatory / consolatory drink courtesy of Geoff & Kristine who were missed by everyone at this year’s tour.
Trethorne, 17th May
The final day of the trip dawned with yet more rain. However, a delayed start saw the ten remaining players compete in relatively dry (above ground) conditions in the singles event.
With only three of his original team remaining, Captain Derek went into the transfer market securing the services of Richard Edmonds & Phil Reay.
This proved a decisive move as they both won their matches against Dave & Sue Scott respectively.
With Jane Wain & Peter Harris defeating Sue & John Pritchard the decisive match saw Captain Derek overcoming David Wain.
Therefore following a closely contested event, the trophy remains with the Craston team.
No birdie 2s were scored.
Spot prizes:
NTP Hole 5 Phil Reay
NTP Hole 13 Sue Scott
NTPx2 Hole 2 Richard Edmonds
L D Hole 9 Richard Edmonds (or David Wain if you believe his version of trigonometry)
And finally…
And so onwards to 2018 where Peter is researching various options to offer for our consideration.
Spring Away Day Report – 23rd April, 2017
West Berkshire Golf Club
The second away day of the year was held in warm and dry conditions on a course that is an old favourite for our group.
Scoring was not as high as at the birthday bash, with the victor carding 35 points. Winner Peter Harris became the second participant after Richard to take the new two shot handicap reduction . Runner up Dave Scott carded 33 points with Richard Edmonds in third with 32 – edging out Frank Tanner on countback.
Only two of the spot prizes were earned – by Frank with NTP on 7th and Richard with longest drive at the last. Peter took the 2’s club money, also at the 7th hole.
Team wise the Scott team of Sue, Dave & Geoff took the Doom Bar award on count back – having scored 69 points. Unlucky runners up were Richard Steve Mulford and Martin Sykes.
Onwards to the main event!
Details of a July away day to follow once confirmed.
2017 Trophy
This year’s Harris Hat of Glory is a rather fetching Blue and Gold number.
Harris Hat of Glory – 2017
Handicaps
Update and Handicap List as of July 24th.
As previously announced, we’re introducing a new handicap mechanism and have received feedback on the proposed changes. The system moving forwards is as follows:
- Tour handicaps cannot be higher than your official Club handicap.
- Winners of Away-Days or the Championship will have their handicap reduced by 2.
- If your score in an Away-Day event or the Championship is more than 15 shots less than the winning score, your handicap will go up by 1.
- The handicaps at the start of each tour will apply to the Championship, but handicaps for matchplay will be adjusted during the tour as normal (+1 for losing / -1 for winning).
- At the end of each season (after the final Away-Day), the handicaps will be reviewed and altered based on performance during the year.
Handicap List 24th July, 2017
- Fay Austen – 14
- Rob Austen – 8
- Reg Brown – 30
- Pete Cosford – 7
- Derek Craston – 21
- Richard Edmonds – 6
- Peter Harris – 16
- Paul Needle – 14
- John Pritchard – 13
- Sue Pritchard – 19
- Dave Scott – 11
- Sue Scott – 23
- Martin Sykes – 24
- David Wain – 10
- Jane Wain – 21
- Nigel Wain – 20
- Phil “The Real Deal” Reay – 23
- Frank Tanner – 17
- David Mitchell – 14
- Christine Mitchell – 17
- Paul East – 20
- Bruce Mercer – 20
- Geoff Scott – 24