Monday 24th October - Bob Millar Memorial Day
Monday 3rd October - 3 Ball Alliance, Aston Wood
This is a very popular competition with Ladies across Staffordshire, this year held at Aston Wood. With 2 great players Di H and Carol A, it was going to be a day of fun regardless of the scores we came in with.
120 Fire-Fighters and selected guests attended this years Bob Millar Memorial Day at The Leicestershire Golf Club.
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| Tina and Me |
First T time around 0800 and we were off near the end at 11:08 with Tina and Mark.
Fine weather, great company and prizes for best guest, best Fire Service winner, plus numerous spot prizes, a raffle and an auction.
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| Brian, Mark, Tina, Me |
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| Tina (best guest winner) Me (longest drive) |
Well done to Tina, steady game all the way to the end and winning the guest competition. Nearest the pin should have been furthest from the pin for me on the 17th but managed to clinch the longest drive.
Monday 3rd October - 3 Ball Alliance, Aston Wood
This is a very popular competition with Ladies across Staffordshire, this year held at Aston Wood. With 2 great players Di H and Carol A, it was going to be a day of fun regardless of the scores we came in with.
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| Di, (Diane), Me and Carol |
Some good, some bad but generally above average for us all. We were out just after 12. 30 with the first T time at 08:30 and the last around 13:30. We realised that we were probably not in with the prizes but yours truly managed to get within about 8ft to claim nearest the pin on one of the par 3's, but with another half a dozen or so behind us, alas my claim to the prize didn't last long. Some familiar faces also playing, Ladies that I had met over the past 12 months while playing in the inter club friendlies. A lovely sunny day, nice to have an Indian Summer even if only for a few days.
Monday 12th Sept - West Midlands Fire Service, Brigade Championships
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| Shaun, me and Richard |
We were joined by the charismatic Shaun M and Richard, both from WMFS and both with very respectable handicaps below 18.
Team game to loosen up with a difference. Best score of the team of 3 to count on the first 3, best 2 scores on holes 4 - 6, then all to count on the last 3.
We realised by the 3rd we weren't really in with a chance but had a fun morning anyway.
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| Richard, me and Phil |
Slight change to the teams for the main competition in the afternoon, we lost Shaun and gained Phil. A great format of best gross, best nett and best stableford to give everyone a chance of winning. Scores would not be record breaking and not one of my best games. Struggled to get into form on the front 9 but was determined to play out every hole. Better on the back but not going to be a contender but glad to have finished.
Would like to play again in better conditions, just about managed to get near the greens on the par 4's in 3
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| Shaun and Dave B - Stableford and Gross Winner |
Finally. a £5 entry into the 2's competition didn't result in any winners so a great sum of over £125 was donated to a chosen charity for that day (details to follow)
http://www.hagleygolfandcountryclub.co.uk/
Playing on Monday at Hagley Golf Club for the first time, also for the first time playing in the Brigade Championships with approx 20/30 playing. Starting with 9 holes in the morning, then 18 holes for the main competition in the afternoon. Prize for best nett, best gross and best stableford. Brian can't play in this one but he's caddying for me for the first time, plus he knows my game really well so looking forward to the day.
Hagley Golf Course is set in the shadow of the picturesque Clent Hills. It was first laid out in 1980 with nine holes, (now the back nine), with a second nine added in 1984. Plus two contrasting halves as the outward nine holes are reasonably flat and the inward nine are hilly.
The signature hole is the 557 yard 15th known as "The Monster", but the website staes that all holes should be played with care, as most have a sting in the tail!
So homework done and all ready for the big day. Forecast is cloudy with sunny intervals so shirt and skort ironed, waterproofs folded ready just in case, clubs cleaned, bag sorted and caddy resting after ironing, folding, cleaning and sorting.
Friday 9th September, Perranporth, Cornwall
http://www.perranporthgolfclub.co.uk/
Played today at Perranporth which boasts that it is one of the finest links courses in the South West with spectacular panoramic views throughout. A great day with playing partners Brian and Richard (plays of 3) followed by Kevin and Freddie
Click on the pictures to see some truly stunning views over the sea and beach below.
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| Richard and Brian |
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| 18th Deweth (Finish) |
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| Richard, Me |
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| Freddie and Kevin, having difficulty finding their balls!!!!!!! |
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| .....Found one of them........... |
Thursday 8th September, Carlyon Bay, Cornwall
http://www.carlyongolf.com/
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| 19th overlooking the first Fairway |
Played today at the Carylon Golf Club which nestles on the cliffs at Carlyon Bay and is at once beautiful, dramatic and spectacular. Overlooking St. Austell Bay, the panoramic backdrop is truly breathtaking and offers the most dramatic golfing challenge. The course stretches along the coastline towards the port of Par, with a signature 9th hole hanging dramatically on the cliff edge. An accurate tee shot is essential if you are to negotiate the quarry which lies just short of the green.
More Photos with some great views regardless of where you take your shot, click on the picture to appreciate the view.
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| Couldn't wait any longer for a train; would have been a great picture though! |
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| A great place to take a T Shot |
Wednesday 7th September, Lostwitheil, Cornwall
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| Yes, I did get it over the water, had to use my driver though.. |
Played today at Lostwitheil Golf Club, south coast in the heart of Cornwall, which look down onto the beautiful tranquil valley of the River Fowey. A challenging front nine with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside, while the picturesque back nine runs through leaf parkland, flanked by the Cornish River Fowey, with some spectacular views.
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| Very unusual par 3 |
Par 3, 8 iron - great view in the near distance, not seen on many courses.
Thought for the shot
'Dont want to go out of bounds onto the railway track'
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SUNDAY 26th JUNE - Horsley Lodge Mixed Open
Some IT problems with Blogger so this is my first update for over a week.Off to Horsley Lodge on 26th June for the Mixed Open, 4bbb - I've always found this a confusing title considering the format of the game
4BBB" stands for "four ball, better ball." and is one of those golf formats whose name can mean something different in different places.
For this competition, we teed off in groups of four as two 2-person teams, with each golfer playing their own ball. So there are four balls in play on each hole, but only one ball (the better ball, or low ball) counts per team per hole.
We played with Jeanette and Chris B at 13:30, the last group starting around 3pm. Thankfully, a glorious, hot, sunny day and a very well supported competition with a fair few visitor from Branston.
Brian and I came in with 70 but some very good scores, the winners from Horsley coming in with a 64
FRIDAY 27th APRIL - Greetham Golf Club and Stuart W is 50.........
http://www.greethamvalley.co.uk/
A great day out at Greetham Golf Club which boasts 2 x 18-hole championship courses.The format for the day was 2 rounds of golf, with prizes for the overall Stableford winner from both games, nearest the pins and the winning team from both courses.
The Lakes Course, is the longest and has long wide fairways favouring the big hitters but water hazards and numerous bunkers. We were out last with Bob N and Steve P both from Coalville. It didnt take long to realise that none of us were in with a chance of being the winning team plus no chance of winning nearest the pin (more like furthest from the pin)
However, Brian came in with a respectable 34 and was able to challenge for overall 1st but needed a good score on the afternoon round. I came in with 30 and the other 2, well lets just say in the 20's!!
The Par 3's were very challenging, lovely with deceptive tricky water features on each one. The signature holes are the Par 3 10th and the Par 4 18th, both right in front of the clubhouse. Liked the 18th very much but not as intimidating as Branston......... Shorter and sweeter is the Valley Course, picturesque with some spectacular holes across the valley, notably the 3rd, with it's elevated tee, the 16th with a 3 tiered green and the final flourish on the 18th. Although the shorter of the two championship courses, the Valley is still very challenging. It has the longest par 5 hole on the entire complex and with water, sand and glorious views over Rutland, it might be an idea to hire a buggy in future, if this is the 2nd of 2 rounds. Very hilly however a good few calories burnt off that day, especially in the afternnon.
Nice whisky Paul, so cruelly taken from you at such a late hour!!!!
A great day was had by all, hope you had a great birthday weekend, Stuart and look forward to the Bob Millar Day in October.
Friday 6th May - 48 Firemen and Me!!!
Stuart W organises the matches for the Leicestershire, Midlands and National, Fire Service Golf Fixtures each year. Friday 6th May, Chevin Golf Club near Derby hosted the Midlands fixture with a total of 49 players. My first time and I played for my own Brigade (West Midlands). Teams went out as a 3 ball and a total of 5 Brigades were represented.
Section winners for the Leicestershire Ladder and England Luxfor National were:
Paul S (37, Mick T (37) and me (43).
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| Brian and Me |
Had a great day, my 3 ball was with Brian and Chris M, aka Pony. Both Brian and myself had a steady round but Pony alas has been working hard (and loved up) for a few months so not much golf for him.
He settled down though and we had some laughs watching him trying to get out of a bunker on the front 9. We heard a thud, followed by a shower of sand then a little blue cap bobbing up and down while he got into position again. (and of course the expletive that followed each duff shot)
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| Pony and Me |
He settled down though and we had some laughs watching him trying to get out of a bunker on the front 9. We heard a thud, followed by a shower of sand then a little blue cap bobbing up and down while he got into position again. (and of course the expletive that followed each duff shot)
FRIDAY 28TH JANUARY - Horsley Lodge
Played at Horsley Lodge with Chris and Jeanette Brown who both work there.
Chris plays off 2 and is the head Greenkeeper, Jeanette plays off 12 and works in the club shop working tirelessly to keep everyone happy.
Had a lovely game, boys beat the girls again but we have to let them win to keep them happy!!!. Didnt play till just after 1300 hours so not a full round. Such a different course to Branston, not as much water and the greens are harder to judge. A very cold afternoon but great company.
TUESDAY 18TH JANUARY - Celtic Manor, Roman Road Course
We played on the Roman Road Course, very cold but very enjoyable. Last year we managed to play on the 2010 and the Montgomerie but I think this is the best as there are some lovely views of the Celtic Manor and the surrounding areas as well.
