CRACKING WEATHER, CRACKING COURSE & CRACKING DAY
Despite having a delay of a few weeks due to the current pandemic restrictions, our Spring meeting was undoubtedly a success, as we managed to tick all the boxes to ensure a cracking day.
Badgemore has become a regular haunt of Shanks and this is the 4th visit in the past 8 years and all those attending can vouch that the course and facilities just get better and better.
So, 23 golfers met at 12 noon for the bacon roll and coffee and debriefing instructions with first group setting off at 1.00pm. 6 teams set off competing for trophies and prizes, brilliant sunshine and immaculate fairways and greens awaited us – and we were not disappointed. Badgemore has a few tricky holes with left and right turns halfway down the fairway, some punishing par 3’s which for the oldies needed drivers, and interestingly only one par 5 but some long par 4’s. While out roaming, we were accompanied by red kites flying and soaring in the thermals which is a sight to enjoy – just another bonus that made this a special day.
A few hours later we were back at the golf club to recover with a nice cool drink and to reminisce about our golf experiences – and for the first time in my memory the number of “incidents” which you expect from Shankers was minimal. A buggy driver who lost his way, a golfer driving a ball from a fairway to the car park and avoiding some expensive cars / windscreens – all to be expected on a Shanks day. But known of these qualified for being shanker of the day and being awarded the Steve Beckett trophy – more news on the winner later.
Our meal for the evening was traditional steak& kidney pie, followed by apple crumble and custard – proper golfers’ grub which was appreciated by those dining as another sign that normality is slowly returning.
The golf results at Shanks are not something that is a prime objective of the day – comradeship / exercise and surprise makes a Shanks day so special. But I can announce that the best stabelford score was recorded by Jonathan Tame with a stonking good score on the front 9, and then as we all know followed by a mediocre back 9; so that earned Jonathan a bottle of bubbly. The winner of the Syd Humphries Trophy, which is awarded to the golfer with a h/cap of 24 and higher, with the highest stableford score was Phil Trudgeon. Nick Piper had the best guest score.
For as long as I can remember we have the Yellow Ball team competition and it still baffles me that with the simplest of instructions, whereby golfers take it in turns to play each hole with a yellow ball, we still manage to enter a long debate before and after playing on the rules of engagement. And this golf day was no exception. So, the teams have their cards written up with names, order of play per hole and A BRAND-NEW YELLOW BALL with their team number clearly shown on the ball to help them play the proper ball. Nothing could be easier I am sure you will agree. Alas if a team should lose the yellow ball, then the game is over, and the score up until the loss of the ball is the result they will be judged upon. The objective being to complete the round with the yellow ball and to get the maximum stableford score. So, at Badgemore on this Tuesday we saw 3 teams lose the yellow ball – for one team it was all over by the 4th hole, another at the 11th and one team lost their ball on the 13th. However, for the rest, 2 teams completed the course with the original yellow ball clearly showing the security marking of their team “letter”; but one team allegedly lost their yellow ball on the 18th (last hole). That was somewhat strange as the Shanks “police” found their ball marked ball (“A”) on the righthand side of the 10th fairway by the side of a tree.
In the light of this yellow ball infringement, it was a unanimous decision that Team A would be reprimanded by being awarded the Steve Beckett trophy for the misdemeanour. You would have thought the members of Team A would know better – one ex-president of PICT, the current President and Vice President – and if that’s not enough our very own Shanks Captain – Peter, alias Faldo. Speechless is I think the term that sums up the situation.
Oh, by the way, Yellow Ball competition was deservedly won by Team F – Alan and Nick Piper, Tim Bowler and Jonathan Tame. Congratulations and they earned a bottle of wine each.
So a great day at Badgemore which raised £218 for the PICT charity, and thanks to everyone who attended.
I just now want to conclude by making a special mention for a couple of Shankers who unfortunately were not fit enough to join us for this golf day but wanted to wish all the players a good day’s golf. Firstly, Mike Windett (and occasional starter and Kit Kat provider), alias Divot, who regrettably has mislaid his clubs and as many of you know is wrestling with some health issues. Patrick Shorten phoned me a while back and was concerned that he would love to be at a Shanks golf day, especially as he keeps up to date with our progress through e mails and reports in the PICT Newsletter but the will is there but the body is not up to strenuous exercise, and he wished all a good golfing day. I have told Mike and Patrick, and all those ex Shankers – once a Shanker always a Shanker, and we will continue to keep you posted with our developments, anecdotes, and trivia.
Finally, next Shanks outing:
ALDWICKBURY PARK GOLF CLUB, Harpenden AL5 1AB
TUESDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2021. Meet @12 noon, golf and evening meal.
COST £65
Come and join us.
Signed: Mike Kerlogue
(alias Kit Kat) June’21