The annual 'Awayday' event took place in Welsh Wales this year and three courses provided ample challenges...

Friday 15 July - St Pierre

On the Friday, we played the Marriott St Pierre Course at Chepstow, where guest Chris Bassett carded 36 points to 3rd place, 2nd place was Terry Portway with 39 points but Declan McGinn recorded a very impressive 41 points to take the spoils.

In the evening, everyone decamped across to the Vale Resort - a very large hotel with lots of bedrooms apparently.  It was a shame therefore that responsibility for the room pairing and organisation had been given to Mark who once again came up (Donald) Trumps and resulted in many people being allocated the wrong rooms with the wrong people.  The receptionist must've thought the group was some kind of Essex Swingers party - especially when three people found themselves in the same bedroom.

The good news however was that Mark's bedroom had been correctly booked... so that was alright then...

The food at dinner was excellent though the size of the bill at the end of the evening resulted in a few raised eyebrows and a few empty chairs, leaving poor old Captain Donald to negotiate the total bill lower.

 

Saturday 16 July - The Lakes Course

On the Saturday, we played The Lakes Course which as the name suggests had plenty of water - including a fair percentage in the air also...

Brendan had to wear his 'Low Score' pink sash for coming last the previous day - but put it on his trolley instead.  You can see how much he enjoyed wearing it the night before...

In joint 3rd place was Terry Portway and Chris Bassett with 29 points; John Capstick was 2nd with 33 points and the winner was Ian Boden with 36 points.  There were a few trick shots played - on one, Peter hit a beautiful 120 yard shot onto the island green only to see his ball bounce off the flag and come to rest four feet from one of the Queen's swans at the edge of the green. Needless to say, the next put was pretty rushed and not the best, what with having one eye on the swan...

Derek played his trick shot onto the same green but his approach shot to the green saw his ball come to rest on top of some planks on the bridge.  Being a hazard he decided to play it off the bridge onto the green - but only after he bent his body into angles that he probably hadn't treid since his younger days banging his balls off the Tyne Bridge...

 

 

Sunday 17 July - Wales National Course

The Sunday saw us tackle the beautiful - and challenging - Wales National Course, which was in fantastic condition.  Peter had the honour of wearing the pink sash.. but as it impacted his swing he put it on his bag also...

In joint 3rd place was guest Tony Bowyer and Nigel Halliwell with 32 points, 2nd was Ian Bowden and in 1st place was Mark Bignell.  It was suggested that he forfeit his prize for being such a kid and having a hissy fit over the order of play, but we thought he had enough behaviour problems as it was...

 

Congratulations to all the winners - and well done to the organisors... well, most of them :)