The year began with our annual trip abroad and the Lauro Shield Competition. Off to the Algarve again, 12 golfers played the courses at Salgados and Alamos over four days. The weather was a major contributor to the proceedings with the 3rd day’s round brought to a close after only seven holes. With a biting wind and hailstones thrown in for good measure, it was time for a double brandy and coffee, not that anybody needed an excuse to top up their alcohol intake. We certainly missed the warm sun this year but the excessive rain didn’t dampen a great competition.
Mark Hewitson won the 1st days Stableford with an impressive 39 points at Alamos. Ned Lawton took the 2nd day at Salgados with 30 points. With only 7 holes played on the 3rd day at Alamos, Pete Smith did well to score 10 points on greens that were literally running with streams. Peter Jenkins won the 4th days play back at Salgados with 32 points. Overall winner of the Lauro Shield was Mark with 95 points. In 2nd place was Peter Jenkins with 83 and 3rd went to Keith Addams with 82. Winners of the NP competition each day were Mark, Peter Davies and JJ Hoadley with no one planting the ball on the green during Day 4. Winners of the ‘Hidden Partner’ Competition were Keith and Andy Wilson who predicted the ‘Lost Ball’ Competition with a guess of 147 against the actual of 146.
Prizes, unrelated to golf, were awarded to the following:
Largest number of people sat around a Valentines Dinner table = 16 and all men.
Most expensive charge for a buggy = 750 euro. (probably worked out at about 7.50 euro per yard traveled).
Most interesting use of Mark’s head = a battering ram to gain access to an apartment.
Someone who won’t be taking his driving license to Portugal again = John Malia.
Someone who will religiously check under his bed when Keith and Andy are in town = Pete Smith.
All in all an interesting break and it was great to see Gerry Bernstein take his 2 sons out for a curry on the last night. Thanks to Mark for making all the arrangements, to Brian Thompson for keeping the scores and to Tony for ignoring the nice policeman and always carrying his documents.
Photographs from the trip:
5 teams of 4 played in a Texas Scramble competition in April. Winning team was Frank Henry, Peter Smith, Chris Smith and Owen Flack with a team score of 3 under par. NP was won by Ned Lawton and Owen Flack took LD.
The 2010 Mashie was eventually played on Sunday 8th May. A wonderful sunny day and some great golf. Tony Smith won the tournament with 17 points over the 9 holes at Beadlow. Peter Jenkins took 2nd and Phil Cook 3rd. Peter also won LD & NP. Not a bad day’s work!
12 members enjoyed a golfing break in May at the Whitefields Golf Club near Rugby. The competition was played on the Sunday and Mark Hewitson won the stableford with 37 points. Chris Burrows was runner-up and Chris Smith took 3rd place. Peter Jenkins took nearest the pin and Keith Addams, longest drive. Photographs below.
On Thursday 21st July, we played Chalgrave Manor Golf Course with a 9 hole Stableford Competition. Winner was Alex McCulloch, Runner-up was Tony Smith and son Chris Smith came 3rd. Longest Drive was won by Adrian Burton and Geoff Banks took Nearest the Pin. Geoff also posted an SGL record by taking 7 off the tee on the 1st hole.