Boy was it windy…
This year’s event (the ninth consecutive) was held at Woolston Manor Golf Club. Situated on the outskirts of Chigwell the course presents a serious challenge in good conditions but with a force eight gale blowing it really took a toll on the 21 competitors brave (or stupid) enough to take it on.
Mercifully the predicted rain kept away until after play had finished so although severely wind blasted we were at least dry.
After scoffing down the bacon rolls and topping up on caffeine we held a 10 hole Texas scramble in the morning. With not much more than pride at stake we split into teams and the winners came in with a very creditable net score of 30.2.
A sumptuous lunch followed (oh all right, a ploughman’s) and then it was back to the first tee for the serious stuff.
After scattering balls all over Essex the scores were tallied and Craig Hooker is to be congratulated on scooping first prize with a very good score of 35 points. Just behind in second place was Brian Cobb with 33.
Longest Drive with a phenomenal effect went to Peter Bosher, although not measured it had to be approaching 300 yards and took the rest of us at least two shots to reach. Nearest the Pin went to Alan Smith who seldom leaves one of these events empty handed. Winner of the “Mr Blobby” booby award was Ray Gibbs who picked up the trophy for the second year running. I say “picked up” because he had already left the course at some speed presumably because he had an urgent appointment elsewhere.
There were several candidates for shot of the day but the accolade has to go to Mark Venables who blasted an eight iron from a fairway bunker on the 18th to within two feet of the hole. He sunk the putt for a gross birdie and four points. At the other end of the scale I can personally lay claim to the two most errant shots of the day. The first succeeded in smashing a few roof tiles on a pretty summer house but this effort was easily eclipsed by my tee shot on the 8th.
Having selected an iron for safety I proceeded to hook the shot wildly, it clattered into a small storage shed before bouncing around the club house patio and finally ending up in the swimming pool. Luckily due to the weather the patio was empty and no lives were lost. A young lad was running around in shock having witnessed the event but his shrieks were comprehensively drowned out by the howls of laughter coming from my playing companions.
Thanks to all who took part, details of next years event will be announced in due course.
John Gardner