Add - first tee groupFor once the weather forecasters got it right unfortunately as a mixture of experienced and newby golfers arrived at The Addington for the 2015 President's Day. The day didn't start ideally when it was announced that President Charles Bowman had doubled booked his diary and wouldn't be able to make it - maybe he saw the weather forecast!

Despite this, a hearty and highly-calorific 'Full English' was just the job to prepare everyone for the worst that the British Summer would throw at them.  Despite arriving last, Mark somehow conspired to be served first when the waiter came out of the kitchen.  Any decent person would gracefully decline such an undeserved offering, but not Mr B who attacked the plate even before it had hit the tablecloth...

Add - JohnWhen the inevitable could not be delayed any longer, everyone eventually trooped out towards the first tee. Those in the know knew that waterproofs would be sorely tested and might not be up to it but sadly the Pro Shop had sold out of sou'westers and waders.  It had been agreed to hold the 18 hole singles in the morning and assuming the flood hadn't arrived, the four club challenge would be held after lunch.

The weather was OK for the first few holes but then the heavens opened up... Everyone navigated their way in challenging conditions including many lateral water hazards - or rather lateral ocean hazards - as all found themselves getting wet in places they didn't know they had places. 
 
We thought we'd have the course to ourselves what with the dreadful weather, so were surprised when we passed a local boat enthusiast erecting a large wooden ark and directing a range of different animals in twos into it.... must've been the Winter 'Pairs' :).  The only other golfers out were a Meteorologist Golf Society who were all dressed in t-shirts and shorts and looking suitably embarrassed...
 
At the end of the morning session, wet clothes were swapped for dryer ones and lunch was well received... In the afternoon, all poured themselves out into the elements once again to play in a four club challenge competition.  After two holes however, Captain Shaun Bookham decided that his carefully quaffed hair could take no more H2O and decided to go home for emergency root repairs and return later... <sigh> and I thought Captains were made of sterner stuff!
 
Honours of the day seemed to be shared amongst the usual suspects with Mark Bignell winning the President's Cup with 34 points and John Capstick nicking second place from Terry Portway on countback with 32 points.  John also collected three NTPs with the fourth being won by Tony Bowyer.
 
To cap a very good day's golf for him, Mark Bignell also won the afternoon's 12 hole four club challenge with 23 points with Nigel Halliwell second with 21.  To add salt to the wounds of others Mark also scooped the two NTPs in the afternoon...
 
A special 'well done' to Pauline Morrow for playing in her very first 18-hole round - don't worry, it won't always be this wet Pauline!