Down In One Golf Society
Newsletter Issue 15 - October 2006
Introduction
As the previous issue of this newsletter was only published last month, the only news to report is from our autumn golf break.
Autumn Golf Break 2006
On Saturday October 7th seven diogs and two guests, Stephen Gulson and Andy Parkinson, made their way to Slinfold Park golf club for the first day’s competitions.
As this was a Ryder Cup year John suggested we should play our own version of the Ryder Cup over the three days of competitions. So the Secretary divided us into two teams – Old Order (i.e. members who joined before 1st January 2005) captained by Rod and New Order (i.e. everyone else) captained by Ray.
The Secretary also decided that the DIOGS Bowl should be the ultimate prize for the winning team with the usual stableford competitions being played in parallel with the matches for the other trophies.
Day 1 – Players in the first match with their captains
Day 1 – Players in the second match with their captains
Day 1 – Players in the third match with their captains and John
To be sociable we played in groups of three, although this restricted us to three two ball matches on the first day. The captains picked Rob & Hugh for the first match, David and Stephen for the second and Andrzej and Andy for the third. In two tight matches Rob beat Hugh by 1 and Andy beat Andrzej 2&1 but Stephen comfortably beat David 8&6. With a point for each win, New Order was now in the lead with 2 points to 1.
In the stableford competition, Andy came first with 33 points but the Secretary’s Cup was awarded to Rob as he was the leading diog with 32 points. Rob also won the longest drive and Ray won nearest the pin.
One highlight of the day’s play was Ray’s first attempt at a tee shot on the 10th over the lake. His ball thumped into the back retaining wall causing the ducks on the lake to scatter. The ducks were just regrouping when they saw Ray was about to make another attempt and quickly dispersed to the sides of the lake to watch this second tee shot safely clear the water.
Another highlight (or should it be lowlight) was playing the last hole as darkness descended. Andrzej, who was playing in the last group, found he couldn’t read the numbers on his clubs but somehow managed to complete the round.
After the day’s play we drove to the Nags Head Hotel in Chichester where we stayed for the next two nights. The restaurant in the hotel was packed, which is always a good sign, and so we decided to eat there.
Along with the normal wearing of hats and beards Andrzej provided a few novelty items such as headbands with arrows through them and an extremely annoying “fart” balloon, which he used to excess.
At breakfast it was revealed that one of our number, perhaps the worse for wear, had difficulty in finding his way out of the bathroom in the middle of the night (you know who you are!).
At Saturday’s meal
On Sunday we played the second round of matches coupled with the stableford competition for the Treasurer’s Trophy. As Richard and Mike had now joined us we were able to play two four ball better ball matches and a two ball match.
Tea at Chichester golf club
In the first match David and Mike beat John and Stephen by 1 and in the second Richard and Rod beat Andy and Hugh 6&5. In the last match Andrzej took an early lead but Ray won the last two holes to level the match. So Old Order now had 3½ points to New Order’s 2½.
Rod won the Treasurer’s Trophy with 33 points, David won the longest drive and Mike won nearest the pin.
Our visit to the golf club was completed with afternoon tea and cakes (my how we have mellowed in our old age).
In the evening we alighted on a Chinese restaurant offering a fixed price all you can eat menu. Of course when the bill came it had been somewhat increased by the cost of the aperitifs, wine and desserts.
Back at the hotel we retired to a quiet spot at the rear of the restaurant to hold our 8th AGM. As usual nothing much was decided apart from the make up of the new committee, namely: President - Francis Rossi, Vice President - Rick Parfitt, Treasurer - Andrew Bown, Secretary - John Edwards. Unfortunately none of Status Quo wanted to take up their new roles and so the committee remains as before (that joke wasn’t funny the first time – Ed).
During our deliberations on which ties we should wear at the next day’s dinner at Littlehampton a waitress passed by and expressed an interest in one of the bow ties on display. The conversation went along the lines of:
Waitress: I like this can I keep it?
Us: No
Waitress: Well I’m going to anyway
We were so stunned by her cheek that we let her keep it (I think they call that Nina Syndrome – Ed).
Presentation to the winning team
The final round of matches was played at Littlehampton Golf Club. On our arrival we were delighted to find that we had been accorded the recognition our society so richly deserves. There on the club’s main notice board was confirmation of our tee times.
As Stephen and Andy had returned to work and been replaced by Paul Tuke there were now ten players. This enabled us to field four two ball matches with the following results: John beat Richard 3&2, Mike beat Ray 2&1, Hugh beat Rod by 1 and Rob beat Paul 6&5.
So the final result of our “Ryder Cup” was a victory for Old Order with 6½ points to New Order’s 3½.
DIOGS are on board
In the stableford competition both John and Rob scored 37 points but Rob won the President’s Putter on countback (suspiciously Rob was in charge of processing the results – Ed). Mike won the longest drive and Andrzej won nearest the pin.. After showers and a change into jackets and ties we were treated to a meal of steak and ale pie followed by roly poly pudding & custard.
Finally it was on to the presentation of the trophies, which included the awarding of the Tous Trois Trophie to Andrzej who scored a total of 27 points beating the nearest rival, John, by 3 points.
We can now look forward to our Christmas competition and meal followed by a return to Norfolk next spring.
Presentation of the Tous Trois Trophie
Presentation of the Treasurer’s Trophy
Presentation of the Secretary’s Cup
Presentation of the President’s Putter