2024
Please note the Texas Scramble will been arranged for a date later in the year
2024
Club Championship Willesley Park
Its has been so long since the society was here last time it was back in the time when Simon |Douglas was Captain, yes really that long! And I’m sure we can all hear him now telling us “I had a car as a spot prize on my Captains Day” well I’m sure a Morris Minor was a great prize for a hole in one back in the day.
Club Championship, Medal on a course we don’t know was always going to be fun. In some ways Willesley is similar to Drayton with tree lined fairways and patchy bunkers, some had lots of sand in and other none at all. This might be the reason one member took seven shots to get out of one.
The greens were lovely once you got the pace of them, for some of us that took almost 16 holes, but they were all consistent and ran true. Apparently, they’d had a competition the week before and they hadn’t been cut since. I think I’d like to try them when they had been cut a little sooner but that’s a small criticism. With a few fairly steep hills on the course and a few blind holes I was beginning to think that the course had more bells than Westminster Abbey. I really liked the course which had some lovely holes, one of my favourites was the 9th 420 yards par 4 but you had to tee off and navigate a very steep hill for the first 100 yards or so making it feel a lot longer. This was followed by the 10th a short 136-yard par 3 but all down hill a super little hole.
With 18 society members taking part, with all but two in the correct coloured shirt, nice to know I can say what I like about those two here because they obviously don’t look at the website Wankers! With a sleeve of balls for everyone, or for those that could be bothered to wait I think it was a great day out. Two nearest the pins sponsored by the captain one won by Ada Rose (or ToaT as he’ll be known from now on) and the other by Steve Smith. We also had a couple of twos on the day one by Nick I’m sorry I’ve got to go early Williams and the other by Bob Clarke who went on to score a very impressive 68 and become the club champion for 2024. In second place with a score of 70 was Ben Stevens and in Third place Martin Sandford who shot a 71. Well played gents.
Willesly was a lovely course and only 20 minutes up the road I was surprised we haven’t played it sooner, it maybe the price that put a few off a little bit more than normal but we always try to play club championship at a better course and with golf clubs putting prices up everywhere I think this place has to be one to return to.
Oswestry G.C. Bulls Head Trophy
Firstly I have to say what a beautiful course Oswestry is, looking at their website and the hole by hole flyovers I must admit I was a little worried. The tree lined fairways looked so tight I thought it would be a real challenge to play but I’m happy to say it was more forgiving than the website suggested. Beautiful fairways and greens and for those Drayton members it was nice to see sand in the bunkers, even if it did prove difficult to get out of them having not seen any in months. After Ada’s initial concerns that a low turn out could spoil the day the number count finally got up to 17, with one member failing to make on the day after putting the wrong fuel in his van! Anyone need a plumber?
The format for The Bulls Head Trophy is Stapleford full handicap so a sigh of relief went around the room as we enjoyed a great breakfast, one of the best so far. Oswestry is a strange set up where you play 7 holes in a loop and then return to the clubhouse before setting off to play the rest. Some great holes a few doglegs where placement is better than just distance off the tee and a couple of tough up hill par 3’s. Although I didn’t play well I really enjoyed the course and wouldn’t hesitate to go back.
Congratulations to Martin aka Sanny on his first win taking first place with 36 points I’m sure Fordy will catch up with you soon as 36 points isn’t the norm Yorkie came in 2nd with 35 points a great score considering he looked like death warmed up at the end, in 3rd place was Trev with 34 points. With two nearest the pin prizes left by our holidaying captain being snapped up by Ash the only other thing to mention is that we had two two’s, one from Lee and the other I’m informed was a two on a par 5 that went in from 182 yards well done Pete Arnold. Great course Ada a really good fined its one I’m sure we will return to.
Oakmere G.C. Presidents Trophy
Golf at last! After having the Texas Scramble cancelled twice due to the weather it was nice to finally meet up with the members we hadn’t seen since November.
After a good breakfast 17 members set off to play what to most of us was a new course in the Bulls Head fixtures list, although standing on the first tee with the rain / sleet hitting us in the, what felt like 90 MPH wind there were a few that would have gone home had it been closer.
Oakmere is described as one of the best golf courses in Nottinghamshire designed by Frank Pennick, I’d love to ask him why when you can stand and see for miles in all directions across flat ground he decided to build it on a hill. The climb to the first tee was too much for a couple of members and the walk from the 16th green to 17th tee was like climbing Kilimanjaro. With wide fairways and some interesting holes. I liked Oakmere but there has to be question over if it was worth £45. I’d like to play it in the summer to judge that one.
Considering all the rain we’ve had the course wasn’t too bad but playing off mats isn’t great, and Bogey isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I found the greens hard to read but for pace rather than line. Some greens seemed slow, and others seemed quick, or was it just my poor putting?
The old phrase beware the injured springs to mind as just weeks after major surgery (or so we’ve been told) Steve Jackson took the win finishing -2. New member Mal Mason finished -3, early days yet I’m sure Fordy will get hold of hm soon. A couple finished on -5 but winning on count back was Ash Govani. With bottles of wine as prizes for two nearest the pins both being won by Ben Stephens, I’m sure a very happy night was had in the Stephens household that night.
Congratulations to all.
REMEMBER A COMPETITION CARD WILL NOT COUNT FOR THE NEXT EVENT.
The usual course websites can be viewed simply click on the links within the calendar and there should be all the information you need. The times you see for each event will be the first tee time. Don’t forget to get there at least an hour before this time if you want your breakfast.