LAGGERS 23    The Oxfordshire, May 2 - 4 2025

                                                       

                                                                                                                    

Congratulations to Jez who played an excellent back nine on the Sunday to overtake a fading Biggles and claim his second Laggers crown.

Hosted by Broughts (with help from AC Junior) at the excellent Oxfordshire the 23^rd Laggers lived up to previous editions with some mixed golf, amusing banter and fine revelry and was well enjoyed by all.

We’d met at Huntercombe on the Friday afternoon for a round of foursomes that despite some reservations turned out to be great fun.  Captain Jim and Bigs took the prize, remarkably given the tight nature of the Nettlebed course.  AC tried to keep the pace flowing by encouraging walking ahead on tee shots, which resulted in rather frequent “walks of shame” as partners had to return to play their provisional.

Friday evening was a fun affair in a private dining room, with Meado providing some excellent wines.  And this set us up well for a late Saturday tee time in nice weather but crucially with a decent breeze blowing across the exposed links-like course.

Defending champion Broughts led us off the first stylishly and his four including Rick, AC and Biggles played reasonably well, particularly the latter who shot a good 35 points in the windy conditions and gave himself an overnight 2 shot lead from Broughts.  AC also made the final group on 28 with Jez crucially sneaking in on 27 having been the best of a more ropey second fourball who struggled in the breezy conditions.  

After a quick pint in the snug bar we taxied into Thame where following a lively fines session at the Six Bells we ate in the excellent Thatch before returning to the Oxfordshire for a nightcap.  Heading for bed Broughts and “Richee” enjoyed some vigorous dancing having managed the obligatory crash of the wedding.  Meado failed to get in.

Sunday and another sociable tee time (I would note that I enjoy these as it gives us a chance to have a chat and indeed a practice!!) and even more breeze than the previous day.  Teeing off, to AC’s amusement, nobody in the first fourball managed to get within 20 yards of the 60 yard wide first fairway and this was to rather set the tone for this group as they all played somewhat jaded golf. 

Behind it was more exciting.  Biggles held his nerve on the front nine but was well pursued by Broughts who kept the pressure up to keep the gap to 2 points at the turn with Jez a further 4 points back but starting to close.  All to play for on the back nine!

And indeed as AC reported to the group ahead, there was real excitement as fading Broughts and Biggles tried to hold off the charging Jez who came with a wet sail up the back nine.  So quickly did he come in fact that he was solo leader on the 16^th tee and he extended his lead to four going onto the tee for the long par 5 17^th.  But a blob there meant he conceded two points to Broughts meaning that on the 18^th tee he led by only two from a chirpy reigning Champ.  Indeed in front of the well-informed gallery Broughts had a very makeable putt on 18 to at least force a play-off.  But in true Laggers’ style he left if comfortably short while Jez held his nerve over a knee-knocker to secure the win, with an impressive, in the circumstances, 36 points. 

So Jez took the win by a point, with Broughts second and Bigs two shots further back in third. AC was longest drive (narrowly – well 50 yards – from Amos) and nearest the pin (more narrowly from Nicky P) and was also the winner of the Pacman Trophy for Best Sunday Round Other Than The Winner. 

It was in summary a splendid weekend.  Well played Jeremy.  Well organised by Mr B, at a very good venue that I’m sure will feature again in future years.  Next year there was chat about going to France or Belgium and Meado left delighted.  Not by his golf, which was unusually wild, but by the fact that for the second time he left The Oxfordshire knowing that he was nailed on for the job of organising the following year.  I can’t wait. 

LAGGERS 22    Frilford Heath, May 3 - 5 2024

                                       

                                                                                                                     

LAGGERS 21    Burnham and Berrow, May 7 - 9 2023

                                       

                                                                

LAGGERS 20    PRINCES, APRIL 22 - 24 2022

         

 

 

 

 

 

LAGGERS 19    THE DALMAHOY, JUNE 11 - 13 2021

Broughts reigns supreme to notch his third trophy

 

 

Well, me managed to get it done in spite of numerous challenges.   Nicky P was delighted to return to the scene of his first kiss and the contrast of Gullane and Dalmahoy East seemed to be appreciated by all.  In the end, a worthy (if not slightly controversial) champion in Dr Nicholas Broughton after a two-hole play-off.

 

 

           

 

 

Mr Amos' comments :

 

Chaps

Great weekend.  Here are the stats.  

• Broughts’ winning total of 59 was the joint lowest ever (equalling Meado at Manor House)
• Actually however overall the scores weren’t that bad.  An average of 52.9 was in fact the 13^th of the 18 years we have records for.
• And that was despite us playing to our average lowest handicap ever of 17.7 v previous lowest of 19.0.
• And to further drive home the fact that we seem to be improving, 12 shots was the lowest ever spread from first to last.  The largest spread was at Woodhall Spa where of course Jez won but Meado got 26 points (yes from 2 rounds!) playing off 28.
• But then none of us have improved like Meado.  In the four years since Woodhall Spa he has twice won and twice finished second.  And his handicap has gone down 10 shots over that period! I assume the fact he hasn’t been in the office for 3.5 years is just a coincidence?  

Mitch – over to you.  Enjoy all

PS – The story about Jez’s Sunday at Formby unfortunately doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.  He actually got 9 points on the front nine.  Very disappointing.  Sorry about that.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAGGERS 18    BADGEMORE PARK, OCTOBER 25 - 26 2020

Masterful Mitch gets Monkey off Back 

 

                                                                                                                                

 

                            

  

                            

 

 

 

Not much of a write-up this year, as Mr Amos is either too busy or too angry with the state of his golf (easy copy and paste from last year).

 

Key points :

• Mitch excessive practice proves to be the clincher
• Excellent Friday evening organised by Broughts
• Covid concerns conquered by Laggers
• Bring on Edinburgh in just over 6 months!

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAGGERS 17    CELTIC MANOR, MAY 10 - MAY 12 2019

Meado conquers Celtic challengers to secure his third Laggers..

 

                                                                                         

                                                          

 

Not much of a write-up this year, as Mr Amos is either too busy or too angry with the state of his golf....  

Key points :

• Meado edges it ahead of the chasing Mr Pickstone
• Excellent Friday Round at Marriott St Pierre 

 

Fines for next year :   Folks arriving late for first tee at yellow Ball Challenge, Bailo for throwing his club after a poor tee-shot, Amos for not providing the write-up, anybody who used a golf buggy

 

 

 

 

 

LAGGERS 16    THE OXFORDSHIRE, MAY 11 - MAY 13 2018

 

Downing’s Greatest Sports Pundit Nails Prediction as Wild Thing Pac-Man “Thame-s” The Oxfordshire

 

 

 

Biggles added yet another string to his bow by correctly predicting that 2018 would be Bailo’s year, as the big man from Somerset overcame a bad back to win the 2018 Laggers with a record score.

Indeed records a plenty were blown away over a weekend that saw some excellent golf (and some less excellent golf) played in a variety of weather conditions from hot and sunny to persistent heavy rain.

The weekend had been brilliantly organised by last year’s champion, Mr Waller.  His peerless delegation skills had resulted in our top admin man Meado, currently under-occupied in Pyrford, picking The Oxfordshire golf resort just outside Thame as our venue.  And a very fine venue it was, although more of that later.

Six of the weekend party met up first, on Friday lunchtime at Huntercombe, as guests of Broughts, where Athers joined for what was nearly a Lagger’s debut in a round of foursomes.  This was clearly played fairly speedily, such that by the time your correspondent arrived at The Oxfordshire at 8pm, the entire weekend party were already ensconced in the bar and a lively fines session commenced.  We broke from that to one of the excellent private dining rooms that the facility enjoys, where the fines continued over some very decent food, our BYO wine and a fine bottle of port.  Most of the latter was consumed by the Funny Doctor.  So much of it in fact, that the port never made it as far as Biggles and myself.  However having seen the state Nick was in on Saturday, perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing.  He in fact had to excuse himself fairly early after dinner such was his state of dishevelment, but the rest of us cracked on with some lively chat in the bar until the wee hours.  Meado, of course, organised a silly putting competition, and equally predictably this resulted in him forgetting his putter the next morning and having to run back to his room from the first tee. It was ever thus.  

We had an early tee time on Saturday (as an aside – this was good as it allowed us to play a decent amount of golf AND finish at a sensible time).  But it meant that breakfast was rather rushed, and in truth not that great.  However, it was a nice bright morning as we gathered hangovers of varying hues and set off in the yellow ball challenge over the first 12 holes.  AC, Jez and Bigs led us off, and with Captain Creights in the van, he set a cracking pace.  A quick game is of course a good game.  However it isn’t necessarily a winning one, and so it proved as AC again ended up paying for lunch, with his team a thumping 22 shots off second place.  The four-ball of Jules, Bailo, Mitch and Amos were third group off and had to shoulder a 3 stroke penalty for the extra player.  But they were very confident of victory as they amassed a whopping 93 gross, 90 net points, 18 shots under par over 12 holes.  Now I don’t have the stats for the yellow ball in previous years, but am pretty sure that this had never been bettered in 36 previous attempts.  Except it had, remarkably, in the three ball ahead, of Broughts, Meado and Nicky P.  Despite being slower than a Friday evening on the M25, and despite displaying body language that suggested they would all have rather be somewhere else, indeed anywhere else, and despite two massive hangovers and Meado who was his usual Saturday morning shambles, they posted a magnificent 91.  Thus they earned themselves a free lunch and drinks.  Well two of them did. Phillips was so delicate that he had to take himself off for a little shut-eye in between rounds and was incapable of eating anything.  Still all three yellow balls made it round – another record – and we were well warmed up for the afternoon’s main event.  

Over lunch, Meado, fresh from a cheeky between round sauna, confidently informed us that the weather forecast had improved steadily over the course of the previous 24 hours and rain was no longer expected.  So, many of the group dispensed with long trousers and left their wet weather kit in the hotel to lighten the load.  Jez hit a good champion’s tee shot to lead us off and set off up the first with Meado and Bigs.  Behind were AC, Broughts and Mitch, and then the tail-gunners of Amos, Jules, Bail and the delicate doctor.  There was much concern in the first and last groups as to whether the booming bittern (AC) would disrupt concentration.  But in fairness he was very quiet.  This was partly because from about hole 4 onwards all sound was well and truly muffled as we were subjected to a steady deluge of spring rain. Really persistent and “wetting” rain in fact, that arrived with a significant drop in the temperature,  So significant that a number of the guys in the first two groups had to risk disqualification and leave the course at the 9^th to get wet weather kit to prevent hypothermia.  

But by this stage the shape of the competition was already starting to show.  Fastest out of the traps was Bailo who scored a wonderful 24 points.  But this only resulted in a 2 shot lead, as both Meade and Bigs were on 22, and Mitch was also under par.  The forgiving nature of the Oxfordshire course was allowing for good scoring, even in the rain.  Well it’s forgiving if you can avoid the remarkable number and massively sized bunkers.  I could not.  I found 14 of them in the first seven holes so was well and truly adrift in last, just the 14 points behind Paul after 9 holes and suffering repetitive strain injury from so much raking.                         

So Bailo led at the half way stage.  But golf is a game of two nines, and of course Pac’s traditional challenge has been consistency.  Not this year it seemed, as without a driver (left at home) and with a less expansive swing, courtesy of his bad back, he backed up the 24 on the front nine with 19 on the back, to post a record equalling 43 points.  That gave him a 7 shot over-night lead from Meade and Mitch who both scored creditable level par rounds in tricky conditions.  Jules lurked ominously a further shot back, and with AC and Broughts only one further still, it meant that 6 people were gathered within 9 shots to pounce should Pac wobble on the Sunday.  Out of realistic contention were Bigs, who had a minus 15 shot swing front nine to back – another Laggers record – posting 29 overall, with Nicky P on 26, Amos 25 and the 2017 Champion suffering from his 10 shot handicap cut, on 23.  

A relatively quick round (another attraction of the course) meant that we had a bit of time before the taxis into Thame, and we arrived there at 8pm for a fine session and reflection on the day in the James Figg pub before heading to the Thatch for some gastro-pub fine dining.  It was a really nice meal in a restaurant with a lively vibe.  AC entered into some diplomatic chat with the locals and we were attended to by three charming waitresses. They in turn recommended that we didn’t avail ourselves of Thame’s only nightclub, the Birdcage.  But that wasn’t going to stop Broughts or Jez, who whose blood was up, and on hearing the words night-club were off like rats up a drain-pipe, pursued gamely by Mitch and Bigs.  The rest of us shuffled back to the bar at the hotel for some typically drunken chat, little of which I can recall.  The night-clubbers returned rather rapidly, confessing that they should have listened to the bar staff but again it was 1am before we turned in.  

Sunday’s schedule afforded us a slight lie in, and a more leisurely breakfast.  This was still slightly ropey however, which never sets one up well for a round of golf.  (Note to next year’s organiser please).  But the weather was much brighter and we were all of course excited to see if a new name would be added to the Laggers roll of honour.  

We sent the four deemed out of contention off first.  Jez actually started well, with 22 points on the front nine, demonstrating that his new handicap is appropriate.  But he ran out of gas on the back nine to shoot a 34 and only limped past Amos for 9^th place on count back after the latter’s 32.  Nicky P, feeling slightly less jaded shot a reasonable 33 which could have been higher with a bit of luck, whilst Biggles duck hooked his way round the front nine but incredibly got 19 points.  He then drove beautifully on the back nine, but bizarrely only managed a further 18 although this was enough to raise him to 5^th overall.  He also won nearest the pin with a beauty on the 13^th.  

The middle group of AC, Broughts and Julian had the potential to be a danger to Pac if he faltered.  Broughts took up the baton and shot a 22 on the front nine, exerting some pressure on Somerset’s finest.  But AC and Jules couldn’t quite get it together and posted rounds of 33 and 30 respectively.  Jules did have some reward with the longest drive prize.  Broughties’ challenge faded slightly on the back nine as the exertions of the weekend caught up with him.  He did almost manage to kill Nicky P, Jez and Biggles with an approach shot on the 9^th to the apron where they were collecting their bags having just left the green, but by the 18^th he was chuntering loudly and his race was run.  3rd place and a cuddly toy for a prize were his only reward for a good 36 holes of golf and a total of 71 that would have won in every prior year bar one.     

So what of the first group.  Well, it wasn’t Mitch’s day and he shot 24.  A shot to six inches on the par three 2^nd for 5 points were his only points of the first five holes although that won him the Prosecco Moment Award.  Presumably it would have been Champagne Moment if it had gone in.  But Meado was hanging in there.  18 points on the front nine only matched Paul, but with Broughtie on a charge the pressure was still on.  But Pac effectively sealed the deal on holes 10-14.  12 points in 5 holes meant someone would have to something extraordinary down the stretch to wrest it from him.  And even then he would need to blow up to let them.  So just when it looked all over, Meado hits a purple patch.  8 points from holes 15, 16 and 17 against Paul’s 4, and suddenly the gap on the 18^th tee is now only 4 shots.  But the 18^th is stroke index 11 and Meado is off 28 so crucially he only gets one shot.  A par is not good enough even if Paul blobs.  Which he does, via an extra-cover special that can’t be found despite everyone trying (much to Meado’s disgust).  Meado has a put for par which he thinks will win it for him on countback; his score-keeping evidently being of similar standard to his meteorological predictions.  Of course he laggs it, and then collapsed to the turf as if shot.  But it was all academic anyway.  In fact, Paul had already won and got his name on the famous (and slightly tarnished – Jeremy!) trophy.  I suspect his 77 shot winning total will take some beating.  As no doubt will his handicap next year.  His 34 points on the Sunday was however a great effort under the pressure for which he should be lauded.  Meado put up a gallant show in defeat and his 39 was a great effort too.  How he will rue not accepting the 1 shot extra on his handicap that AC and I proposed on Friday!!                         

But I hope you agree it was a great weekend.  Thanks to Nicky P for putting up with another long drive, but it was I feel worth it.  I thought the venue was a triumph.  It was a nice course, with some really interesting holes (8^th, 17^th in particular).  But it wasn’t too hard, as some others we’ve tried have proved.  That meant at least one didn’t feel humiliated coming off the course, even in last place.  Our average aggregate was 65.4, some 3 points more than any other year, and 12 more than last year.  Meado alone got 49 points more than last year off the same handicap!!  That must be a record ever, let alone at the Laggers.  But more than that it was a nearly perfect set-up.  The breakfast and service in the spike bar apart, the hotel was great.  Both night’s meals were excellent and they are, I believe, a crucial part of the event.  Thame was a nice town, good pubs, shame about the night-club.  Thanks Meado for putting it all together – you did a great job.

So what to next year?  The chat on Saturday night when a Bail victory looked imminent was of concern.  Given Paul’s reputation for organisation could this have been the last Laggers ever!  He assured us not.  He claimed to have organised his own wedding.  Nobody was convinced.  But I for one am looking forward to a Bail sorted Laggers (presumably with some assistance from Mr Meade).  With his reputation as our resident bon viveur, I suspect it will be one to savour.  And probably one that we need to start saving for.  I’m off to find my piggy bank right now.  Roll on Laggers 2019. 

 

Updated stats :

 

 

 

 

LAGGERS 15    WOODHALL SPA, MAY 12 - MAY 14 2017 
 

"Waller first, the rest nowhere", as Jez poaches Licolnshire Laggers

Downing’s Teesside thoroughbred Jeremy Waller recorded a “flag to post” victory on Sunday as he made all the running to leave his rivals trailing at Woodhall Spa over the weekend. Setting a blistering pace over the early holes, Jez rapidly opened up a sizeable lead which he then comfortably maintained such that by the end of the first circuit he was already comfortably clear.  And despite idling over the final holes, allowing the field to reduce the deficit, he ultimately eased down over the line to record a handsome and well deserved first Laggers trophy.

The redoubtable pair of chasers Mitch and Pacman stayed on well over the marathon trip and required a photo to separate them – Mitch grabbing second by a nose.  Meanwhile AC, back racing near his original Market Rasen track was fourth and the york Shire-horse Pickstone a creditable fifth.  Harsh treatment from the handicapper following his victory last year put paid to the chances of Biggles, whilst Nicky P was hampered early in running (by a new set of silks several sizes too large), but rallied gamely for seventh.  Behind these came that perennially temperamental young colt, Broughton who, despite being heavily backed (by himself), got overanxious in the preliminaries, arrived at the start sweating profusely and consequently never got into the race.  And bringing up the rear were the pantomime horses, Amos and Meado, both of who should probably have been pulled up (or put down) before the second circuit but who, to their credit, did at least complete the course.

And what a course it was.  Magnificently organised by AC, the venue was a cracker with three great courses across the weekend.  Friday, the nine early birds met and played Woodhall’s championship Hotchkin course and came back into the clubhouse in high spirits to regale the late arriving Mr Amos with tall tales of it being the hardest course they’d ever played.  Actually they didn’t.  They ****ed off back to the hotel without checking whether he was in the bar as arranged and left him on his own for 45 minutes and then having to walk back the mile he’d previously just trudged.  Thanks boys - noted.  That indiscretion aside, we had the usual brisk fines session and then a slightly disappointing meal in the hotel before slipping out to the other pub in the village where Broughts enjoyed the music and Jeremy tried to dodge the Jaegermeisters. 

An early start, with a reasonable breakfast and we were off to course number two, Seacroft a linksy gem on the outskirts of Skegness.  Confusion over the postcode nearly cost us Biggles and AC, but we were all mustering in the car-park when a blue Toyota SUV drove in with a trailer and a golf buggy on the back.  Your correspondent was momentarily beside himself thinking Meado had driven his own buggy up from Surrey for the event, anticipating a fine session like no other.  But alas no, it was just a local arriving for his Saturday round.  After that excitement the yellow ball competition turned history on its head as AC won and so avoided paying for lunch for only the second time in 15 years.  Partnered by the two doctors they comfortably beat the three of Amos, Biggles and Jez, who edged out Jules, Bailo, Meade and Mitch on countback for second place.

Back to Woodhall Spa - rather fast as it happened for those of us in Bailo’s new four door family saloon, we were comfortably in time for the first round of the competition proper on the second, but lovely Bracken course.  Biggles seriously disappointed with his Champions drive, failing miserably to repeat his Formby airshot, although he betrayed considerably nerves by rushing off to tee-off whilst the rest of us were still mustering.  The handicapper, in addition to penalising last year’s champ had also been harsh on Broughts and Amos in cutting them from last year (I don’t’ recall it but we must have played well) but was more generous with Jez after his troubles over the previous 2 years.  And Jez immediately put those shots to work, recording an impressive 25 points on the front nine.  He was already 6 clear from Bigs at that point and 10 ahead of AC and Pickstone in joint third.  And he hardly let up on the back nine, striking the ball really well and banking a further 18 points to post a Laggers record 43 points for the first round.  His nearest challenger over-night was AC, 9 back after a battling round where he creditably scored better than he probably played and then Bailo, Bigs and Jules a further point back with Mitch the last with any realistic chance of victory although he was 14 shots off the pace.  But for Nicky P, Amos, Broughts and Meado, the competition was already over and all they had to look forward to was 18 holes on “the toughest course we’ve ever played” having comfortably demonstrated form that would have seen them troubled by the dilapidated crazy golf course we’d spied earlier on Skegness promenade.  

Thirty six holes and 90 minutes of driving meant it was nearly 8.30pm by the time the final four ball finished which limited time for pre-dinner beers before a curry in the India Village Curry House.  Actually it was considerably better than village and we enjoyed a nice meal, if rather subdued by the day’s exertions.  That continued in the bar back at the hotel, where Biggles in particular struggled to keep his eyes open and we turned in, admittedly past midnight, after a relatively quiet Laggers Saturday night.  

Consequently breakfast on the Sunday was a more lively affair than normal as AC strutted around, seemingly confident the Hotchkin’s course’s severity would allow him to close the gap.  That confidence was doubtless exacerbated by the steady rain that continued to fall until we got to the course.  But sun shines on the righteous and it did on us, with the clouds breaking as we strode onto the tee and setting us up for a lovely day.  In a break from tradition, because Jez had to rush off early, the leaders went out first, with AC and Bailo partnering the leader.  But Jeremy snuffed out any real chance of an upset on the front nine as 18 points essentially sealed the deal.  Indeed he had actually extended his 27 hole lead, as only Mitch outscored him on the front nine on the way to a Sunday best of 34 points and overall second from Pacman (30) on countback.  Despite a rather tired 7 points on the back nine, Jez won comfortably by 5 clear shots and a deserved victory with some solid golf over testing courses.  Of those who didn’t make the podium, only Nicky P beat 30, with the others nothing much to write home about.  AC won longest drive and Biggles nearest the pin, but for some of us the highlight of the round was watching a Spitfire and a Hurricane performing aerial acrobatics over the 17^th.  Very poignant at a location with such WW2 history.

So another great tour at a top venue.  Statistically it wasn’t actually the toughest course we’ve played (St Pierre, then the Manor House), but it was plenty tough enough.  And it was all brilliantly organised by AC who I recall did a huge amount of research to settle on Woodhall.  Thanks Creights, it was well worth it.  And thanks also to Broughts for the lovely new shirts, even if mine gave me sore nipples and some of the others looked rather voluminous.  Perhaps they’ll shrink.  Crikey, I hope not. 

So to next year and where to?  In true Eurovision tradition the winner has typically organised the following year, so if you want to Jeremy it’s yours.  Though to be honest I’m sure a couple of us would be happy to do it if you don’t.  But ahead of that I submit for debate the following questions:

• Shall we seek a shorter travel next year after two long hauls in 2016 and 2017? (Personally I’m not fussed)

•  Did Nicky P really order a large? – surely not

•  Do we really need to play a full 18 for the yellow ball? (I vote no – 9 holes on a cheaper course would be fine for what is in essence a warm up)

• How can Meado go from winning in 2015 to, well, definitely not winning in 2017?

• Should we deliberately seek finer dining and a larger night out? (I vote yes)

•  Will Broughts, Amos and Nicky P ever regain the glory years of the noughties? – not if we don’t practice

I’m sure there are others that you can think of.  If so please add them on Whatsapp and we can debate (and let you know by post AC)

Thanks all for a great tour, and well done Jez.  Stats attached for upload onto the website Mitch (read Meado - his best golfing contribution to the weekend) if you can.

Regards to everyone’s families

Richard

LAGGERS 14    FORMBY, MAY 6 - MAY 8 2016 (with Royal Birkdale on the Friday)

 

The 2016 running of the Laggers turned out to be one of the finest ever as our return trip to the North West Golf Coast brought a well deserved second win for Biggles.

The event was brilliantly organised by Broughts, flush from the success of his Lord’s charity dinner in the Long Room the night before.  A round at Birkdale, one on Formby Ladies and two on Formby Mens.  Those of us who are less regular golfers may have been fretting somewhat over the challenges ahead on some of Sefton’s finest links, but in the end the weather gods smiled on us and conditions were relatively benign. 

Only nine of us met at Friday lunchtime in the wonderful Royal Birkdale clubhouse as we were not blessed by the attendance of the reigning champ (Meado) who chose to keep his golfing powder dry for later in the weekend. Despite grumbling from others, Jules intimidated your correspondent into raising his handicap by 5 shots from last year, and in general everyone was raised a bit, apart from the Champ who wasn’t present to defend himself.   Tony and Simon again hosted us, with the latter leading a very rapid three ball round until the 14^th when he demonstrated some pre-marital commitment and rushed off to baby-sit.  He’ll learn.  Birkdale was magnificent, eclipsed only by Jez’s new troos.  He had bought them from the pro-shop prior to the round, thus allowing the Pro to retire early to the Algarve where he has bought a six bed villa with the proceeds.  That being said, they clearly weren’t the Wrong Trousers, as the Laggers’ own Wallace proceeded not only to be on the winning team,  but contributed a net albatross along the way, a fact which he mentioned once or twice as the weekend progressed.    With the leading match reduced to a two ball by the 15^th, the two four balls behind battled for the honours, with Broughts, Biggles, Jez and AC winning narrowly – pity there weren’t any prizes eh, AC!

A 3.30pm tee time meant we were tight for time when we came off the 18^th so were unfortunately unable to join in with the pre-dinner drinks for the ladies dinner that was just meeting in the club-house as we left.  This was clearly an opportunity missed, and I for one will hope that Brought’s planning is a little more forward thinking should we return.  Anyway we scooted off to the Formby Dormy House where Meado had arrived and Broughts had deigned to stay with us this time.  The room draw had been done earlier and Jules, having been drawn with Biggles, opted for a single room – perhaps not having to put up with Jules’ snoring would be the crucial factor in Biggles’ campaign – only time would tell?  Then it was on to the Freshfield were we had a quick fine session and met up with Tony who joined us for dinner.  The food was excellent.  I had a world class Steak and Ale Pie, or so I thought until it re-appeared at 4.20am the next morning.  But before that we had nipped back to the snooker room where we had a number of games of killer pool.  Biggles won these (I guess but can’t remember) although I do recall that AC was knocked out early each time so took instead to wandering round the club-house looking at the honours boards and pointing out Gordon’s name every time he could find it – which to be fair was lots. 

Everyone appeared bright-eyed and bushy tailed the next morning at breakfast reflecting what was a relatively easy Friday evening.  An excellent breakfast (with proper black pudding) was punctuated by Meado descending into behaviour that was extraordinary, even by his habitually mercurial standards.  Over the course of the next hour he forgot the trophy (left on the breakfast table) and then forgot his shoes (had to run back to the room thus meaning he was late on the first tee).  Once he found the tee, where he was of course due to drive off first, he then realised he had forgotten his balls and forgotten his tees.  He was frankly a shambles and it was no surprise when he drove the yellow ball into the heather off the first where finding it required Jules’ legendary eagle eyes (is he actually an Action Man? – He has the hair and probably the grippy hands).  To cap it all then Meado realised that he really had forgotten his pitching wedge.  This sent him into a state of apoplexy from which it took him about four holes to recover.  Once recovered, he did though contribute well to a decent total that he, Jules and Amos posted – keeping both of their yellow balls in the process.  Behind, Mitch, playing with Jez and AC, lost their first one on the 4^th (presumably via a tee shot from his well polished big iron) but they then kept hold of their second one, although not scoring well enough to prevent AC paying for the lunch for the 14^th year on the trot.  Bringing up the rear, the four ball of Broughts, Nicky P, Bigs and PAC cleverly organised their yellow ball rota so PAC had it for the short iron par three rather than for one of his booming drives.  On the specific tee, Broughts confidently told him that at least he couldn’t lose it there.  He was wrong.  He could.  And he did.  But no matter, as they kept the second one and won by 4 points.  Along the way we all maintained a good pace of play, intimidated by AC’s threat that Dorcas was on the course with her Saturday coven who would boil us alive if we held them up.  We didn’t hold her up, but we did see her as we were going round.  And in the process we realised that we had been doing AC a dis-service all these years in describing him as the loudest person on a golf course in the entire world.  It turns out he isn’t even the loudest in his own family.   

So after the warm-up, it was on to the main event, via a nice lunch and a little kip for most.  There was a slight panic on the first tee – at least from me – when it looked like we were going to have to play off the whites.  My innovation of a side-bet on the length of the Champ’s drive off the first proved less popular than I’d hoped, although for posterity it was 172 yards and AC won.  I repeat AC won.  Meado was still rueing his missing P wedge and indeed his trolley, which Jules had refused to bring when collecting Rick’s kit at a rendezvous with Ines in a layby on the A3 – yes really!  But he opened his defence with a solid 18 points on the front nine before fading somewhat to a 31, posted after a scoring disagreement with Nicky P who marked his card.  The Good Doctor pitched in with a mellow 30 (including a birdie on the 18^th), although both were trumped by the Other Doctor who posted a club-house leading 33.  In the middle, a quality trio of Jules, AC and Biggles engaged in a battle royale that saw the first mentioned shoot 32 whilst the latter two joined Broughts in leading on 33.  Solid scoring on a tricky course.  Behind them however, it was rather like the London Marathon.  Several holes back, came the fun runners – Amos, Bail, Jez and Mitch.  Thoroughly enjoying ourselves, we were however participating in different sporting event to the “elite” ahead (I can sense Meado preening as he reads that).  Jez and PAC took on the role of the pantomime horse, both coming in with 23 points.  I – dressed as a rhino – managed to scrape together 27, and it took the phlegmatic Mr Mitch to extract himself from the melee surrounding him, with a strong sprint finish up the Mall of the final four holes to post 30 and ensure a place in the middle group on Sunday. 

With that the die was cast on the Sunday groupings and we headed off in our finest on the train to Birkdale for an evening of entertainment.  The four ball were 30 mins behind the others in getting to the pub, so joined the fines session half way through, which Jez, when you think about how the evening progressed, was really quite lucky wasn’t it?  Meado tells me that the ladies in the Park Inn were “interesting”.  Not enough for me to remember, but the following dinner in Bellagio, or Villagio or something similar was great.  Bailo chose the wine.  That seemed a good decision when we tasted it, a bad one when we paid for it but then a good one in the morning when we woke to recover from it.  The chat round the table was lively and the food was excellent.  The meanest man in Pyrford grumbled at the size of tip I left.  But he’d have grumbled even more if he’d realised we forgot to get them to take off the deposit that Broughtie had paid.  From the restaurant we ambled back to a local semi al-fresco bar that Broughts had been recommended.  We had a round of beers with tequila chasers, and having enjoyed that had a second round of chasers.  At this point the ever professional Mr Pickstone found his unique “off-switch” and sloped off to the taxi queue for an early night, leaving the rest of us to get increasingly loud and increasingly well oiled.  At some point I recall realising that Jez in particular was absolutely flying although by this stage even the normally taciturn Nicky P was turning up the volume.  A couple of rounds after Julian had left an advanced party of snooker aficionados headed back to the Dormy house, where Meado infuriated Amos and AC by insisting they replayed misses over and over thus ensuring he and Nicky P won without actually potting ball.  At some point the hard drinkers (notably including Biggles) also returned, but by this stage they were too far gone to even get the cover off the other snooker table so retired for a peaceful night’s sleep.  Well some of them did.  It transpired that Jez and Broughts were up for part of the night regretting their 5^th or 6^th tequilas.  But such is the tradition of moving Saturday at the Laggers.

We woke to another beautiful Formby morning.  Bailo and I were comfortably first into breakfast, feeling less than sprightly but at least OK.  The others straggled in behind.  Apart from Jeremy whose constitution was not receptive to solids at this stage so was a complete no-show.  Over breakfast we reflected on what had been an excellent evening.  Good food, a great atmosphere and, as they say in these parts, a lorra lorra laffs.  After a couple of relatively quiet and subdued Laggers, this was a blast back in time and was great fun for it.  

On then to the golf, and with the top 7 separated by only 3 points it promised to be an exciting final round.  The fun runners – now reduced to three with Mitch’s promotion to the middle group, were first off.  It was quite a surreal experience.  Jez was utterly silent for the first six holes, somehow managing to rustle up 4 points along the way.  From there he came back to life a little and ended up with a creditable in the circumstances 20 points.  Creditable because neither Pac nor I expected to be playing in anything other than a two ball at 9.45am.  Pac was his usual wayward self.  Actually he was even more wayward than usual with his 3 wood causing all sorts of problems which meant that he didn’t see a fairway until the eighth, no the eleventh, no the thirteenth, actually I think it was the fourteenth hole.  Along the way he also managed to take ten shots getting out of a greenside bunker which must be a Laggers record.  How he ended up with 23 points I’m not sure, although it was thanks in part to a strong finish.  I scraped together a slightly improved 29, which would result in me ending in 6^th place, but the main achievement was that we whistled round in about 3 and a half hours, so were able to go for a shower before the contenders arrived.  In came the middle three, having had a fairly mixed time of it themselves.  Meado had a 25 and therefore lost out on countback to myself and Nicky P whose 26 meant we all tied on 56.  Only Mitch improved on his Saturday score, posting a solid 32 that would actually place him third.  For up front, the pressure (or the tequila) was also starting to tell.  By the turn, Biggles had opened up a two shot lead from AC, with Broughts one back and Jules one more.  So down the stretch and all to play for.  But the pressure of the organiser’s curse fell on Broughts and he faded weakly for a 26 and fifth place.  Perennial second AC fared little better and actually ended up 4^th with a 29.  So it was left to Jules to challenge Biggles.  Jules’s early night was helping his stamina and he stayed on strongly with 17 on the back nine for 31 and second place.  But of course pressure was an irrelevance for Downing’s greatest sportsman.  He scored an excellent 19 points on the back nine, 36 for the round and so won in the end by  a comfortable 6 shots.   Apparently he bought himself a nice Formby top with his winnings.  Jules won not only 2^nd but also nearest the pin and longest drive.  Or he would have done had I not recalled his over aggressive handicap negotiation from Friday and decided he could only win one prize – revenge as they say is a dish best served cold.  So I gave those prizes to Meado (second longest drive – well done sir) and myself (second nearest pin and holed for the birdie so clearly worth a sleeve of Pro V1s) and we departed Formby to do battle with the M6 and reflect on a fabulous weekend.  Jez reflected very well and summarised it beautifully in a hilarious email that follows this epistle.  But for myself there were multiple lessons to learn as follows:

1. Pac needs a new 3 wood and some lessons.
2. Nicky P’s toy cupboard seems rather unvisited recently.  Maybe we can restock it at his forthcoming 50^th
3. I shouldn’t be left in charge of restaurant bills
4. Pickstone is actually an eleven handicapper.  Perhaps 6 at The Manor House was a tad harsh.
5. Mitch – see Pacman above - although one day Mitch is going to get it together for 16 holes and make a 2 shot a hole handicap look very silly
6. Meade is improving steadily.  He was 16 shots better than last time we were at Formby.  He is however a few clubs short of a full set, well at least a pitching wedge
7. AC has very talented in-laws
8. Broughts has very well connected in-laws who are very generous hosts (and are probably very talented as well!)
9. Biggles is not only Downing’s greatest sportsman, but given how well he played on Sunday he seems to be Downing’s greatest drinker as well

But most importantly:

10. Jez needs a smaller glass and a larger handicap

Finally (if you are still with me) many thanks Broughts for organising it.  It was a top weekend in what is a great venue.  And, provided Formby’s members vote to let women join, I’m sure it will remain on the Laggers rota for many years to come.  

Mr Moss

PS – The night before we went up I had the following conversation with Broughts:

Broughts “Are you looking forward to it?”

Me “Yes I am.  I’m particularly looking forward to Birkdale on Saturday night”

Broughts “That’s typical of you.  Anybody else would say they were looking forward to playing Birkdale on the Friday afternoon.  You’re looking forward to going out and carousing!”

I was chastened at the time.  But, on reflection, I think I was correct.

Jez’s email:

Gentlemen,

A splendid weekend only slightly marred by a small minority of our contingent who still think it is acceptable to behave like a Downing student of 30 years ago. I would like to place myself firmly in that category before anyone else does.

After a challenging journey down the M6 on Sunday, I returned home a feeling a little wiser and a lot older.

A number of lessons had been hard learned on and off the course.

1. It’s natural for enthusiasm levels to dip a little on the final day. You can guarantee they will dip a little faster if they pass the contents of your stomach on the way up.
2. To echo a sentiment in one of the other emails, golf and zambuca are a match made in hell, unless you are Downing’s Finest Ever Sportsman, and although I heard that term cast in my direction a few times over the weekend, it always seemed to be when I was standing next to Biggles. For us lesser mortals, it’s unlikely to improve your game.
3. The Hamlet advert was correct - bunkers are for cigars, not golf balls. Particularly when the golf course itself is situated amongst sand dunes in the first place. I intend to tackle this demon head-on next year though. I hope a few of you will join me in taking up cigar smoking.
4. Always listen to advice on the course. Even when it’s from Mr Amos (or “ Mr Moss” as he has been dubbed in the national press – and congratulations on the new role, by the way). When he says hit the ball backwards out of the bunker, it’s still good advice, even if you hit the ball first without any sand, and it’s still good advice even if the ball lands 100 yards away, and bounces off a rubbish bin into the heather.
5. A net albatross (I can already mentally hear Jules tutting at me bringing this up yet again, and to be fair reflecting back on the weekend there were a number of things that I wish I hadn’t brought up so repetitively), on an Open Championship course on the first day is not necessarily a good omen for the rest of the weekend – the golfing gods will seek their revenge at some stage.
6. A new pair of trousers will definitely improve  your golf, but the effects are likely to be short lived, and no matter how much you invest in the trousers, unlikely to extend beyond lunchtime on the second day. So in order to try and get your money’s worth, make sure they look equally good on and off the course.
7. Thinning a pitch shot is because you hit the ball too high up (I wikipedia’d this after I got home). It is not , as I had thought, because you are hitting the ball too low down. This explains a lot. But it may still leave a number of shots in my short game, hopefully in the double rather than triple figures, unexplained.
8. Winning the wooden spoon is not something to be ashamed of. Many past winners have suffered this misfortune in other years due to inclement weather conditions, unfair handicapping [please insert excuses as appropriate]. Winning the wooden spoon twice in consecutive years probably is though. Action needs to be taken. I am already planning in my head a number of wedge and bunker lessons before next year.

Finally, a very well deserved thank you to Broughts for a superbly organised weekend, and congrats to Biggles for some exemplary golf. The bar has been set very high (as I believe has the bar bill).

Jez 

FORMBY, MAY 4 - MAY 6 2012 (with Royal Birkdale on the Friday)

 

Pickstone Cleans Up On Golf Coast


                                                                      
 
 

A rejuvenated Laggers weekend for the 10^th anniversary saw debutant Jules Pickstone sweep the board in all the weekend’s competitions.  After a slightly lacklustre 2011 weekend (except of course for Biggles’ well received victory via the rake of destiny), some new features appeared for 2012 and added greatly to the occasion.  First up we had a new organiser in Broughts, who did a marvellous job arranging a full-on 48 hours of entertainment in the wonderful North West from 1.30 on Friday afternoon right through to Sunday lunchtime.  Then we had the introduction of a proper round on the Friday, with 8 of us braving the terrors of Royal Birkdale, thanks in no small measure to Tony and Simon Price.  Saturday morning saw us tackle a full 18 for the first time in the yellow ball challenge, and then of course we had the ninth man; the prodigal Yorkshire man, Mr Pickstone, now safely returned from his oriental adventures and retired to the Garden of England.  This of course meant a change in the logistics, with the normal 2 fourballs replaced by three 3 balls, which if nothing else added immensely to the speed of play. 

So we gathered on Friday in the magnificent Birkdale clubhouse in eager anticipation.  The email banter in the run-up had made it clear how much more excited people were about a slightly longer weekend in top surroundings.  There was some debate about the rules for the Friday, with greensomes for the four ball being ruled out as too complicated and instead Tony’s suggestion was adopted of stableford best two scoring with 6 extra points for the 2 three balls.  I won’t go into all the details of the round, but Tony, AC and Nicky P led us off, playing solidly and quickly.  Simon, Amos and Biggles were next and similarly scored reasonably but nothing special.  The winners were the four ball of Broughts, Jules, Mitch and Pac, although I can’t recall the scores.  Highlights included the weather, which started off wet, cleared up for 15 holes and then dumped on us as we finished the last couple; the course – which was exceptional; and for the two three balls the tee shot on the 18^th where we went off the Championship tee head on into a reasonably stiff breeze for 180 yards of carry over the clag.  Great stuff. 

Having met Meade in the bar – he having finished his practice on the Formby Hall par 3, we headed off back to Formby to check in and get suited and booted for the second instalment of Brought’s entertainment package, a night out in the flesh pots of Liverpool.  Now not all of us were looking forward to it, but Broughts had been insistent, so we got on our glad rags and met in the bar before catching the train into Liverpool.  And what a selection of glad rags they were.  There was Broughts nicely attired in some snappy threads (I think that phrase may have been banned post the 70s), Jules who decided to continue wearing his golf attire, and Meado and Mitch who chose their golf waterproof and an oversized fleece accordingly.  No matter, the train was caught and we headed to Rigby’s, a famous Liverpool hostelry for a fine session.  Amos demonstrated his local knowledge by leading the party 180 degrees in the wrong direction from the station, for which of course he was heavily fined.  In fact we had a rapid, lively open fine session before heading to San Carlo, one of Liverpool’s most fashionable eating spots.  In truth the level of stillettos and fake tan was slightly disappointing, but the food was pretty good as was the banter.  Afterwards, Broughts, Amos and Meade (with golf waterproof) headed to a very quiet Palmsugar bar in Liverpool One for a drink, whilst the rest rushed back for snooker in the Dormy House.  Once re-united we had a couple of frames of speed snooker, easily won by Amos’s team thanks to his technique of quietly slipping previously potted reds back onto the other table when the oppo weren’t watching.

So up early-ish on Saturday with less than clear heads, but much anticipation.  Breakfast was good (black pudding) and then out onto Formby Ladies for the yellow ball challenge over 18 holes.  Bigs, Jules and Meado were the first team, and Biggles led us off by driving the yellow ball nicely onto the fairway.  That it was the fairway of Formby men’s course didn’t really seem to matter that much.  Although it nearly did, as he narrowly avoided being hit by a tee shot from that course heading onto the Ladies.  Meado birdied the first – a buzz went round the course – and so we were up and running.  The second three of Mitch, Broughts and Nicky P were extremely slow and soon lost ground on those up front.  That was until they lost the yellow ball on the 7^th and with it any chance of winning, despite subsequently playing very well.  Indeed Mitch set a Laggers record with 47 points (including a blob!).  In the end they were only just pipped for second place by the final team of AC, Amos and Pac, who like the first three managed to keep the yellow ball all the way round, although their scoring was not as good as the leading three who therefore won lunch and drinks.  All agreed that Formby Ladies was a lovely course.  Not long, but with some really tricky and beautiful holes.

So onto the Laggers proper played over 36 magnificent links holes of Formby Golf Club.  Over the years there have been some interesting tee shots by the former champion leading us off the first.  But if we play for another 30 years I doubt we will laugh as hard as we did this year.  For Biggles, having gone through his usual pre-shot routine including a very deliberate practise swing, proceeded to play another one after seemingly having addressed the ball.  He connected with his third swing, after which playing partner Broughts could contain himself no more.  “Was that an air shot?” he enquired, which received no reply, just a sheepish grin from Bigs before the rest of us fell about.  Priceless stuff that we will no doubt celebrate for years.

Having calmed down, the round proceeded more serenely.  Bigs set about defending his title pretty well with a solid opening 9.  Broughts threw his toys on the second hole.  Pac took four holes to trouble the scorers.  At the turn, AC shared the lead with the improving Broughts.  On the back nine it was Jules, Mitch and Pac who got it together, and in the end all nine of us were separated by only 8 points.  Jules (31) led by 1 from a chasing pack headed by AC, Mitch and Broughts.  Broughts it was who lost out on count back and so ended up in the middle group on Sunday with Meado, and the defending champion, who himself was only 3 shots off the lead.  The first group would be led by Pac, who had followed up a shocking front nine with a good back, and Nicky P and Amos, who shared the Lanterne Rouge after weak opening 23s. 

Before then however there was of course Saturday night’s entertainment to enjoy.  This started off at the Freshfield for another fine session (less good, but enlivened briefly by Jules reminding Meado of one of their college bets) before a quick taxi to an Indian above a Poundland in Formby Village.  We were joined by Simon for an enjoyable curry, interrupted briefly by Amos’s cramp, and then headed off to the Gallery for a couple of beers and a brief sing-a-long with the keyboard player.  I say brief because as soon as we started singing she packed up.  Not sure if the two events were in any way related.  Then it was back to the Dormy house for a little more snooker.

Sunday we woke feeling quite stiff after the exertions of Saturday.  The famously athletic AC had already admitted defeat and gone for the trolley option on the previous day, and if I’m honest I was wishing I had joined him.  Some of the golf betrayed a certain tiredness, particularly in the first group where we managed 30 points between us on the front nine.  But others hid their fatigue well, most particularly Jules who started with 19 points.  On course rumours (put about by AC) were that he was 6 or 7 clear.  But in actual fact he was only 2 clear at the turn, as in the middle group Broughts was also playing tidily.  Down the stretch, and Pac (18) and Bigs (17) both finished strongly.  Broughts plugged on and ended up with 33, or was it 34, or perhaps 35. He and marker Mitch took about ten minutes to work it out.  It turned out to be 34 after a crucial missed shorty on the 18^th.  Meanwhile in the final group, Pickstone was finding that the legendary Laggers pressure was starting to tell.  A succession of single pointers saw him trickle back towards the field.  And when he too missed a short one on 18 there was an air of uncertainty as he walked off the final green.  Not it has to be said from AC who was convinced that Jules must have won by a distance.  But he hadn’t.  He had sneaked it by one from Broughts who danced a memorable jig of frustration when he found out.  Almost as memorable as the one he had done the previous night when missing a 6 incher on the 16^th (have you forgotten that one Broughts – by such small margins…..) 

So in the end Jules was victorious.  And well deserved, as he had played consistently good golf over all the 6 rounds he played over the four days.  Broughts had coped brilliantly with the stresses of organising it all to come an impressive second, and Bigs defended admirably.  It should be remembered that he only finished 7 shots off the lead after 36 holes despite having his handicap cut 5 shots from the previous year.  Creights came 4^th, and will doubtless be looking to reclaim his traditional 2^nd place next year.  Pac showed flashes of brilliance as ever, but mixed it with some truly wild stuff, also as ever.  Mitch over the weekend mixed the sublime with the ridiculous, whilst Nicky P never really got going although he did pip the irrepressible Mr Meade for 7^th.  And I just managed to sneak the most golf played prize, or would have done if Mr Phillips had remembered when buying the prizes – last time I ask him. 

Meado never did get to wear his waterproof on the course as the weather on both days was lovely, as of course it always is on the right side of the Pennines. So all in all it was another fabulous weekend.  Thanks Broughts for arranging it all and please pass our thanks onto Tony and Simon for hosting us at Birkdale.  Please put the same weekend in the diary for next year (3-5 May 2013).  And we’ll meet again then, possibly in Northern Ireland, let me know your thoughts. 



Results since the beginning, all those years ago at Farthingstone.....

2011 - Sorry Bigs, never got around to updating the website!!



                                  THE BELFRY,    April 30 - May  2010    

Admirable Creighton tames the Belfry to take first title 
                                                    



The eighth gathering of the Laggers took place last weekend in the leafy Warwickshire countryside at the "Spiritual Home of the Ryder Cup".  And at such an iconic venue it was fitting that the best golfer present finally triumphed at the eighth time of asking after one of the closest contests yet.

We met rather later than normal on the Friday evening, with Amos diverting to pick up Meado from Birmingham International station and several getting stuck in some nasty Friday traffic.  Even Nicky P, who usually likes to sneak in a cheaky practice on the Friday afternoon had been delayed by work, so there was a rather belated but lively fines session at which AC was rather put out to find that the two "free room upgrades" that we had been given had been allocated to previous winners of the Trophy.  We then headed off to dinner where, despite the presence of a lamb balti with all the trimmings, the general consensus was that the standard was a little below par, although Broughts did provide a fine choice of wine, a cheeky little red that went by the name of Riddle.

After dinner we retired for a further fines session, the selection of the pairings for Saturday and of course the all important handicap negotiation.  Reigning champion Meado agreed to a cut from 34 to 28, and Mitch (2nd the previous year) likewise agreed to come down to 32.  Bailo and Bigs were both given an extra shot to 19 and 23 respectively and the rest remained as last year, with AC refusing the offer of an additional shot, a decision he was to come to rue on the 17th tee on Sunday. 

With that all sorted we plucked up the courage to explore Friday night at the notorious Bell-Air nightclub.  Truth be told, I'm not sure our hearts were really in it, and although AC shuffled round the dance floor for 5 minutes to see what was what, the rest of us stayed resolutely with our beer, admiring one fine example of upholstery (well actually it was two) but very little else.  After about half an hour we sloped off to bed, at which point AC twigged the room upgrade wind-up.

Saturday broke early, with an 8.30 appointment to get a bus to the first tee on the Derby course.  Curtains were twitched nervously as the forecast had promised rain and wind, but actually we were pleasantly surprised to wake to blue skies and very little breeze - perfect conditions for "going low".  Breakfast was a veritable feast, with black pudding, fried bread and baked beans (thanks Meado) and we waddled onto the first tee of the Derby course at 9.00am for the Yellow Ball Challenge.  Meado, Mitch, Amos and Broughts lead the way and were quietly confident when the second group handed the Yellow Ball to Bailo on the first tee.  With Out of Bounds beckoning down the right hand side - what were they thinking of!!  But Pacman, in a manner that was to characterise his weekend controlled a power fade round the dog-leg into the middle of the fairway, from where he made par and set the second group off well.  However of course, it couldn't last, and despite both group's getting their yellow balls round the first group triumphed by a controversial 4 points or 1 depending on how the handicaps for the 9th hole were calculated.  But whichever way it meant that AC continued to buy lunch for what he claimed to be the 7th out of the 8 years. 

In hindsight the Derby course wasn't that great; although it served as a good warm up and with Biggles hitting a putt backwards - surely a Laggers first - it provided a strong early contender for Champagne moment.  The only tricky part of the course was seemingly the 8th green, where under the watchful eye of the Marshall we managed to hit at least 24 putts, two thirds of which were from under 3 feet.

We had a decent break between rounds, long enough for a pleasant lunch and for Amos to change into his bright red lucky trousers, for which he took much stick.  The break also served to notch up the nerves somewhat, with the consequence that we were all woeful on the first hole of the PGA Course that was to serve as the first half of the Laggers Challenge.  In fact between all 8 of us we only managed 6 points on a hole that was stroke index 17.  A far from auspicious start.  Nicky P answered the question as to how many holes it would be before we saw the first toy.  In fact it should have been how many shots, 2, a new Laggers record.  Pac set off at a blistering pace on the front 9, scoring 22 points and he led by 2 from Amos with AC a further 2 points back having par-ed 6 holes in a row, again surely a Lagggers record.  The new lighter version of Bailo also proved to be more conservative with his club selection, keeping the driver in the bag until the 14th, where the cry of "fore right" started almost before he hit the ball.  The course itself turned out to be a perfect venue, even if the pace of play was a little slow, and by the end of the round, Captain Sensible Bail led jointly with Amos on 36 points with AC one shot back and Broughts one behind him.  Thus the final four for the following day were the closest grouped ever.  Meado and Mitch came in on 26 and 28 points respectively, with Biggles and Nicky P bringing up the rear on 20.  Praise must be given at this point to the Toy-meister who having scored only 2 points in the first four holes put his toys quietly away, without having to be asked, and played nicely for the rest of the round, despite neither his form nor luck improving.

Having failed to upgrade our eating option to the French restaurant, we settled in the bar for a good fines session before hitting the buffet again with the same unsatisfying result as the previous evening.  During the fines session, Mitch provided the top quote of the weekend when announcing about 5 seconds after we spied a nocturnal flying mammal "so there really are bats in the Belfry" - far, far too sharp.  Relatively little wine was drunk at the meal, so we went back to the bar for a couple of rounds of vodka Red Bulls, for reasons that I cannot quite recall, but seemingly the idea was that we would be a bit livelier in the night club than the previous evening.  Well, not only were we a little bit livelier, but the place itself was considerably buzzier, and this time, led by the Vodka Red Bull brothers Broughts and Downing's Greatest Dancer Biggles we enjoyed a fine boogie, mostly adjacent to a pair of trousers almost as stylish as Amos' lucky red pair.  The two Captains (Sensible and Schneck) sloped off early, but the rest of us strutted our funky stuff into the wee small hours - well about 1am until we headed back to the bar for a nightcap and a monologue on the type of wedding dress Meado would or wouldn't let any future brides of his wear.

Sunday started nervously again, as the weather forecast was dreadful, and Meado realised that not only had he not brought any waterproofs, he had forgotten his umbrella.  So he was mighty relieved to wake to a cloudy but dry day, albeit with a fairly strong wind.  After breakfast, most of the boys toddled off the the range to try and iron out Saturday's faults.  And after the usual faffing around on the first tee with photos and much carry on, the first group launched what was quite possibly the worst collection of drives ever witnessed at the mighty Brabazon course.  Only Biggles hit anything approaching a decent ball, with Mitch in particular unleashing a swing so quick that it would have defeated even the highest definition camera.  Still they were away, and it is fair to say that they had started as they meant to go on, with Mitch's 12 points (8th overall) equalling his own record for low scoring, Meado (7th) doing only marginally better on 15, and Nicky P (6th) only improving slightly on his Saturday score to record 23.  Biggles however produced what was really the round of the weekend to accumulate a hugely impressive 33 points in very tricky windy conditions and allowed him to sneak into 4th place overall.

The final group started marginally better, although after promising first holes, Broughts and Amos struggled badly on the front nine, leaving Bailo and AC fighting it out up front.  At the turn, Pac led by 1 from AC, with Amos 4 more back and Broughts lying a further 3 back.  Unbeknownst to us, Broughts had evidently picked up Nicky P's sack of toys form the previous day (well some of them) and spread them liberally around the front nine, served with a fine line in loud profanities that kept the group ahead amused.  Half way down the ninth he announced that he wanted to go home and would rather have hot pins piercing his eyeballs than continue playing!  However fortunately for us all he resisted the temptation to head to the car and joined us for more pain on the back 9.

The leading four's back nine was delayed whilst AC got himself a coffee to warm up and then we tackled the famous Brabazon tenth hole.  To his great credit given that at this point he was leading the tournament, Bailo took off his Sensible cloak and got the driver out to try and emulate Ballesteros and Botham and drive the green.  And he got mighty close; only being let down because his trademark driver fade for once didn't kick in, and he thus landed on the bridge and thence the water.  AC took the sensible route with his first ball and then played a "provisional" which got even closer than Paul's, bouncing on the green before hopping into the brook.  However his par with his first ball took him into a 2 shot lead with eight to play and things were suddenly looking up for the Hyde Heath Hacker. 

But Pac got them back at the 11th with a solid par and we strode to the 12th with them neck and neck.  From there the tension started to tell on the leading pair and Amos staged a minor recovery that got him after 15 to within 2 of Pac and 1 of AC.  Broughts continued to play like an angry bear wearing oven gloves although to be fair he had marginally cheered up by this point.  So to the 16th, and despite both Pac and AC driving superbly, neither could manage their net par, which allowed Amos to level with Pac with Creights one ahead.  

And then to the 17th tee, a 530 yard par 5, stroke index......yes 10.  How AC at this point was ruing his decision to turn down the extra shot.  So much so that he pushed his drive into the trees on the right hand side.  Amos went even further right before Bailo hit a beauty out to the left hand side of the fairway.  Advantage Pacman.  Both AC and Amos were forced to hack out as far up the fairway as possible, Amos with his third, having left his second in the trees, and then Bailo blocked one out right to leave a difficult angle in.  Amos found the bunker on the left with his fourth, but then AC hit the shot of the round, his 3rd, a pure 3 wood that landed on the front and worked its way up pin high about ten feet to the right.  A real birdie opportunity and seemingly a certain two pointer.  Paul then got caught up round the green and ended with a 7 for one point.  So with Amos facing a 4 footer for a point, AC had a 10 footer to open up a crucial three shot lead with one to play.  But we are not called the Laggers for nothing and he left his birdie putt woefully short.  But he rallied and holed the second one well and made his par.  Amos then faced a four footer to stay within 2 shots of the lead, but wilted weakly, pulling his effort well wide.  

And so to the Brabazon's signature hole.  The par four 18th.  The hole of so much history; of Ballesteros, and McGinley, and of course of Christy O'Connor Jnr's two iron.  AC had the honour, two up on Pac and 3 on Amos.  But he tugged his three wood into the trees on the left before the pond.  Pac then hit one safely onto the fairway, although so safe that he had not given himself a shot in and would be required to lay up.  Amos, needing a miracle at this point tried to cut the corner with a majestic high drive, but instead clubbed a low squirter into the trees.  Fortunately for him however the ball came to rest on the bank of the lake from where he was able to scuttle a low 7 iron under the trees onto the fairway, close enough to the second part of the lake to have a shot in.  After much searching, AC had to declare his ball lost, and having already put his provisional into the lake was now forced to watch as those two masters of pressure golf, Amos and Bail went hunting for the points needed to catch him.  He could at least have looked worried!!

Pacman went first, laying up his second, although perhaps some 30 yards more safely than he would have chosen, and then Amos, needing to get up and down from 170 yards to tie, hit a "persuader" into the semi-rough, just short of the green on the right.  So Pac was left about 160 yards from the centre of the green, but with significant elevation and the pin near the back of the 60 yard green.  Confidently he took out his 6 iron.  AC couldn't watch.  Neither could the "crowd", as they were too busy uncharitably laughing at the fact that Broughts had just put both his lay up and then his shot across into the lake to finish a desparate round.  Pac began his slow steady take-away. He exploded into the shot.  But regrettably for him he exploded into the ground some way behind the ball, which trickled wretchedly towards the lake, at least having the decency to pull up before the edge.  His fourth found the rough to the left of the green and then dejected he three puttted for a 7.  Meanwhile Amos failed comfortably with his potential tieing chip, but managed to two putt for a 6 and one point which saw him pip the unfortunate Pac for second place.  It was a great shame for Paul, as he played magnificently throughout the 36 hols and really only lost it on the final 5 holes where he could only manage 3 points in total.

But the winner, and deservedly so, was AC.  His key was consistency.  He used the same ball for 35 holes until losing it on the 36th tee shot.  And he won off a single figure handicap that offers little room for error.  He was clearly chuffed to receive the trophy from Meado and left the Belfry for an open top bus ride round and ticker-tape reception on the streets of Hyde Heath.

So overall, a good year, if perhaps not a truly great one.  I was personally slightly disappointed by the Belfry accommodation and catering.  And whilst the two main courses were great, I'm not sure that the two course format was as good as in previous years.  Perhaps we should have an asterix next to the winner's name on the trophy to reflect the fact that the competition wasn't played under normal rules - what do you think?    

But thanks all for coming.  It would be far less fun if you didn't.  Special thanks to Broughts for getting the Augusta shirt.  And I promise to recommend a date for next year soon (second weekend in May perhaps) and to see if we can go to Castle Coombe.  

Regards and well done to our champion and to each any everyone of you.  Top touring.  And don't forget the Diggers & Ditchers - not Broughts obviously - SUNDAY 26 September.

By the way can you all (except Broughts) please transfer me £74 to the same account details as before.  Many thanks.

Regards

Richard             

PS For history, Broughts amassed 14 points on the Sunday, and ended up 5th.

 



                                   OLD THORNS, HAMPSHIRE    May 1 - May 3 2009      
 

                                   
                                                                        



When they come to write the sporting history of 2009 it will be a story of remarkable triumphs in unlikely circumstances.  A 100-1 outsider winning the National; Jensen Button and Brawn GP winning 3 of the first four F1 races; Liverpool overhauling Manchester United at the death to take their first league title for 19 years (well I can still dream can't I!).  But for eight lucky Laggers there will be one memory to surpass all others; the victory of Richard Craig Meade over 36 holes at Old Thorns Golf Course.

For six years, the soundtrack to Laggers golf has been punctuated by the sound of the Meade swing.  Silence......swish.....thwack.......aaaaah  has rung out time and time again.  But this year all that changed.  Silence......swish......thwack......."great shot Meado" was the backdrop to a great couple of days in the Hampshire sunshine.

Let's be honest, the omens for Meado were not ideal.  In the previous 6 years, his best finish was fourth and that was last year at Forest of Arden when (and I must say I had forgotten this) he had played off 36!!  And Old Thorns was by all accounts a tough course with a lot of water and where straight hitting was a major advantage, a fact confirmed by Rick, Pacman and Nicky P after their cheeky nine holes on Friday evening.

But despite this, the eight of us met in high spirits on Friday night, none more so than Broughts who got stuck into a very poor pint of Boddingtons, followed rapidly with a Guiness and soon led the usual debate with some acerbic comments.  Things got particularly punchy when the starters arrived for what turned out to be an excellent meal.  The six prawn starters were claimed by the others leaving Broughts with the terrine.  "Who ordered the terrine and is now trying to claim the prawns because they look nice?" he demanded.  Rosie our delightful waitress in the MCC tie was despatched to get the menu on which we had previously written our choices.  Lo and behold it was of course Broughts himself that had ordered the terrine and he paid handsomely for his error in a lively fines session that resulted in much red wine being consumed.  Much later this was to prove his undoing with AC finding his pre-bedtime ablutions rudely and loudly interrupted.  But before then we had a cracking evening with a long and exciting betting session and then Phillips sloped off early as Meade and Mitchell retired to their single rooms.  A reception mix-up having resulted in them being allocated different rooms.

Saturday broke with some very thick heads, but after a goodish breakfast (no black pudding or fried bread), we teed off for the Yellow Ball Challenge.  The warm weather had brought out a number of pairs of shorts, including Broughtie, who insisted on pairing them with long dark blue socks.  These he twinned with a dark blue knee brace, the top of which disappeared under his shorts leg, thus giving the impression from distance that he was playing with a prosthetic leg.  Not perhaps the foppish look he was attempting.  "Shouldn't be allowed on the course with legs like that" was the verdict of the golf pro. 

The previous night's draw had pitted Mitch, Meado, Bigs and Broughts against AC, Pac, Amos and Nicky P.  Both groups started well, but it was all over for the latter on the third when they never found a huge Bailo drive that did not look from the tee to be in too much trouble.  So the earlier group won, meaning that yet again AC was on the losing side.  The magnificent prize for this achievement, greatly appreciated by the one legged one, was a taxi ride into Liphook (of which more later) as Meado had already negotiated lunch in our package.

After a relatively rapid lunch we gathered for the first round of the main event.  The handicap committee (Amos and AC) had been fairly generous on the previous evening, giving extra shots to Pac, Biggles and (so we thought) Meade, although AC turned down the offer of an additional shot.  So there was an air of confidence amongst many of the party as Broughts, the previous champion, hit the first drive.  He was joined in the first round by Meado, Pac and Amos, and it was the former who set off at a blistering pace, with 6 net birdies, one net eagle and no blobs in a Laggers record 24 point front nine (oh and he missed two 2 foot puts in achieving that!).  At the turn he held an 8 shot lead from AC, with the others generally struggling with the tightness of the fairways.  During this nine Amos had the champagne moment of the day when his tee shot at the short fourth cannoned off the fence in front of the tee box and landed back on the third green.

At the turn, the main thought on the minds of the leading group, including himself, was at what point Meado would implode and come back to the pack.  But he didn't, he just kept steadily compiling a further 17 points on the difficult back nine to finish on 41 points (with no blobs!) and extend his lead.  This proved to be 11 shots overnight from Amos who had hit a rather mediocre 30, with Biggles on 28 and Broughts on 26 making up the top four.  Mitch on 25 led the rest, with Nicky P holing a put on the 18th to go in one better than AC on 23, the latter having followed up his 16 on the front nine with 6 on the back.  Pac brought up the rear overnight following an evenly scored 20, having lost a similar number of balls in the process.

A quick change for dinner was followed by a brisk walk down the drive to the Deer Hut, a very fine pub with a nice line in Courage Best and a healthy supply of pork scratchings which were consumed despite some debate as to whether they might lead to Swine 'Flu.  A good fines session ensued before the aforementioned taxi ride into Liphook and a meal at what turned out to be a fantastic Nepalese curry house, washed down with some excellent local (to Kathmandu) Nepal Ice lager.  Back at the hotel we had a couple of quiet ones before bed which was in the new bordello styled rooms in which we were the first visitors. 

Sunday's breakfast started in controversial circumstances as Amos was accused by Broughts and AC of cheating following the previous day's Champagne moment (note 1), and threatened with disqualification; a vicious and unwarranted slur from which his day never truly recovered.  Meado paced nervously round the hotel, gallantly doing the room bill admin to take his mind off the challenge to come.  Slightly less clement weather had encouraged Broughts into long trousers, although he topped this off with a lovely pristine white body armour top, emblazoned, of course, with the Royal Birkdale crest.  The front four set off at a good pace, but of them only Mitch showed any signs of pressurising Meado as he opened with a strong 17 points.  Nicky P continued his frustrating form, but did manage to repeat Amos' champagne moment of the previous day, not once but twice, with both tee shots returning to the tee box thus meaning that he did actually play a genuine three from the tee!  

But behind, things were getting exciting.  Meado, having not blobbed at all on Saturday managed to do it four times in the first seven holes, and could only muster 7 points in total, and with Amos getting 16 on the front nine, his lead was cut to two at the turn.  Things were not looking great for the Rabobank maestro as his sweet ball striking over the previous day had deserted him for a succession of scuffs and shanks.  But cometh the hour cometh the man, and from the tenth he clicked back into gear.  A net par and then a gross par gave him six points on holes ten and eleven as the Amos challenge capitulated with just one point on the first four holes coming home.  Only Mitch up front could post a genuine challenge from that point, but Meado clicked back into gear with a total of 19 points on the back nine, snuffing out any chance of being caught.  His tee-shot on the short 16th really sealed it, as he found the heart of the tricky green and two putted for a champion's par.  Nicky P just edged him for nearest the pin on that hole and AC won the longest drive with a monster on the 17th.  

Mitch came in with a creditable 34 points to bag second place and the best Sunday round, with Amos 3rd.  AC edged Broughts on countback closely followed by Bigs.  The Millfield boys filled seventh and eight, with Nicky P 3 shots clear of Pac who did have the consolation of winning the betting competition. 

But congratulations to Meado, a true champion (I didn't expect to be writing that) who showed serious bottle by turning it round on the back nine.  And thanks also for organising the event  It was an excellent venue and proved a popular choice despite Nicky P's long journey.  It has definitely earned its place on the Laggers rota and will be great once all its building work is done.  Next year I will try to book the Welcombe and we agreed to go for the Mayday weekend again - put it in the diaries now.  And please also if you haven't already put in the Diggers and Ditchers 26 September.  Competition for places will be high, particularly as I would suspect that our Champion will make himself available for selection again.

And finally I attach the stats some photos that demonstrate that Rick has become a better golfer than a photographer.  Over to you Mitch if you want to do the web-site.

Regards all, great fun

Amos                

Note 1   Rule 28 Ball Unplayable

The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course unless in a water hazard. 

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:

• play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played or:
• drop behind keeping the hole and the unplayable spot in line or

                                   FOREST OF ARDEN May 2 - May 4 2008
 

Yet another fantastic Laggers weekend in 2008, lacking only the sparkling weather of previous years (athough it wasn't that bad) and the company of Pacman who was sorely missed.

Still the Magnificent 7 met on Friday night at the Forest of Arden and after a brief discussion on how the yellow ball should be played we retired to the dining room for a flashback to school dinners as we endured a poor buffet washed down by lashings of a Colombard Chardonnay that Meado ("do you mind if I order the wine tonight") chose.  Fortunately this turned out to be the low point of the weekend, as the culinary experience improved markedly from there with a particularly fine early breakfast on Saturday setting us up for the 28 holes of golf we were due to play. 

The yellow ball competition saw AC, Nicky P and Biggles take on Meade, Mitchell, Amos and Broughton over the first ten holes of the Aylesford course.  This turned out to be a close affair whose outcome was only decided once Amos succeeded at the fifth attempt in adding his team's score up correctly.  For the record, both teams got the yellow ball round, although in the case of the four, this was only after Meado leapt a stream into a bluebell wood to recover an errant Mitchell tee-shot.   The fourball triumphed by 72 to 69, so AC had to buy lunch again.

After a lunch watching Man Utd v West Ham, the competition proper got underway.  Meado sought inspiration from Ines ("we're about to tee-off on the competition" - "oh you poor darling") and was in the first group with Biggles and Amos.  The feature of this round was the arguments that ensued on most holes over whose honour it was ("can't be me, I got a blob" - "yes but we all got blobs, and yours was a better blob than mine and Meado's!").  Between the three of us we managed 17 blobs and three pars, so final scores of 20, 21 and 26 were no surprise.  Behind us the fourball had a slightly better time of it.  Mitch got off to a flyer with 20 points on the front nine, ten more than Nicky P who claimed not to have thrown his toys, a fact disputed vigorously by the other three.  But the funny doctor responded well on the back nine recording an excellent 21 points to dispute the overnight lead with Mitch.  Broughts was one shot back in third and Amos and AC having tied on 26 points and being inseperable on count-back, tossed a coin, with Amos winning and thus preventing the pairings for Sunday being the same as Saturday's.

Saturday evening was excellent.  We started with a brief fines session before moving on with some trepidation to the buffet.  But it was much better this time and was enjoyed by all.  We even managed to find some better wines, before retiring back to the bar to discuss - well, the usual!! over a couple more beers.  Bigs fell asleep at one point so we did the only fair thing by moving to a different table and leaving him on his own.

Spirits were high on Sunday morning, thanks in part to the better choice of wine.  Meado led us off and the three ball were away and running with no-one in front of them for at least two holes.  Scoring was better than on Saturday, with AC pushing his way into contention with a pugnacious 17 on the front nine.  Both Meado and Bigs improved through their rounds, with Bigs eventually scoring a creditable 30 points and Meado an impressive 33, particularly after his trials of Saturday. 

In the four ball, Broughts set off like a train, chipping in for a birdie on the first and then following that with a solid par on the second and in the process opened up a two shot lead on the chasing Nicky P.  Amos couldn't get into contention whilst Mitch suffered a hangover from his fine start on Saturday and managed only 6 point over the first nine holes  - some 14 less than on the previous day.  

At the turn Broughts held a six shot lead over Nicky P and 11 shots over AC, but was, it has to be said, somewhat tense.  The ever-cool Mancunian then proceeded to play a succession of nervous shots, shanks onto adjacent fairways and scuffs to just in front of ponds and bunkers.  But Nicky P was also having a back nine shocker, although was just managing to slowly close the gap, whilst the spectre of AC looking perky two holes ahead weighed heavily on Brought's mind. 

On the par 4 sixteenth tee, the lead was down to four over Nicky P, and Broughts hit a short and nervy drive and had to lay up quite a long way back from the pond that guards the green.  Phillips hit a spanker off the tee, right into the middle of the fairway, just 150 yards from the front of the green.  Broughts stalked off to help Mitch look for his ball, his fingers frantically tugging through his trademark floppy fringe.  He paused despondent, to watch Nicky P hit a crisp seven iron to the heart of the green.  Only he didn't.  Phillip's scuffed it and it flew into the pond.  Instantly the worries of the world lifted from Brought's shoulders and he sensed victory.

But no sooner had he tamed that demon than he remembered AC and the unknown threat up front.  All the way up the par 5 17th you could see the concern etched on his forehead.  After three shots of dubious quality he still lay 100 yards from the flag.  "A pitch and two putts should do it" he announced to nobody in particular.  He then lined up and hit a career shank, 75 yards long, 45 degrees right, straight into the lake to the side of the green.  He stood there, ashen faced.  He'd scored 8 points on the back nine to this stage and was faced with the 200 yard carry over water at the signature hole to finish.  Had he handed victory to AC?  Totting up the likely scores he realised that he probably needed at least a point at the 18th to win.  A daunting prospect.

With the three ball all watching eagerly from the far bank he took his four iron that he had used the previous day to get into the front bunker.  He settled himself, took aim and launched an arrow straight shot at the pin.  But did it have the legs?  The tail wind was not as strong as the previous day and he'd only just made it then.  But his strike was better on the Sunday, a shot of a true champion and it landed on the front edge of the green.  He then proceeded to hole his second putt for an excellent final par.

As it turned out he needn't have worried.  AC had blown up on the last couple of holes and Broughts actually won by 8 shots with Creights beating Nicky P into third on a countback.  But it was fun watching him through those final holes as he tried ever so hard to beat himself.

Biggles won the nearest the pin (Broughts' effort being disallowed on the one prize rule) and Amos the longest drive.  Mitch won champagne moment for playing a perfect bunker shot that popped out, hit a metal hoop in front and bounced straight back into the bunker from whence it had just appeared.  And Meado won a bag tag for moaning that he never wins a prize (as well as having the best Sunday round bar Broughts').

So overall it was a great success and very well done Broughts, you were a worthy and noble winner.  The venue was great.  The accommodation barring the Friday night food was superb and the golf course terrific.  Meado's spread betting (won by AC) worked really well.  The stats say the course wasn't quite as hard as St Pierre, but it was plenty hard enough for me.  See attached spreadsheet for all the scores.  We agreed that the May bank holiday weekend worked well, so put it in your diaries now (Pac please note!) and we agreed that we might go to Arras or Le Touquet next year if the logistics and cost work out. 

                                    St PIERRE CHEPSTOW   April 21 - 23  2006

                                                                      


To summarise the Laggers 2006, played in decent weather, on dodgy greens but a very nice course (probably the truest test of golf that we have faced!) at St Pierre in Chepstow.

Yellow ball won by Bail, Meade, Mitchell and Biggles - comfortably - under the new format of yellow x2 plus best for first four holes, yellow x2 plus best two for next four and  then yellow only playing alternative shots up the ninth.

Prizes were as follows

First                                                              Amos
Second and nearest pin and longest drive         AC
Third                                                              Broughts
Champagne moment (and most golf)                Mitch
Most toys                                                      Nicky P

Broughts beat Nicky P in a putting competition to decide who went into the last fourball on the Sunday. We agreed that in the event of a tie in the main competition in future it will be decided on countback

We also agreed to try and go to Forest of Arden next year and I will send an email in next month or so with suggested dates. 

I am also going to send a Diggers and Ditchers email in the next couple of weeks to try and fix a date for that.

 





                                              WELCOMBE GOLF COURSE 2004  


Eagle Lands in for Broughton - Non-Griffins to the fore as sun shines on Laggers
 

A dramatic climax to the 2004 Laggers Cup culminated with Nick Broughton chipping in from 50 yards for an eagle and a three point victory at a sun-bathed Welcombe Golf Course in Stratford-upon-Avon last weekend.  Arrow straight three wood and five iron shots at the last had left the former male model in the perfect position defending a one point lead after 35 holes.  Despite protesting that "I don't like these little shots" he then banished his demons to sink a Larry Mize like chip and avoid the torment of the final green that had proved so costly to him as he finished runner-up last year.

With fellow ex-boaties Amos and Biggles finishing in second and fourth place respectively, it was a disappointing weekend for the plethora of ex-Blues and football stars competing who crumbled when Broughton turned up the heat on the back nine on Sunday.  At the turn, overnight leader AC maintained his two shot lead from Amos and the already improving Broughton but the lead changed hands several times over the next few holes as those three broke away from Pacman who was struggling to keep his ball on the adjacent fairways let alone the one he was supposed to be aiming for.

In the first fourball, each player improved on his first round score, which was fortunate, as the Saturday scores were nothing to write home about.  Meado took the honours with 32 points (tied second best round of weekend), pressed closely by Biggles and Phillips (30) and the hugely improved Mitch with 23.

In the final four, things had appeared to swing the way of Amos on the 13th to 15th, as first AC with a thinned bunker shot on 13 and a lost drive on 15 and Broughtie with a double hit in the bunker on 14 fell back to give him a 2 point lead after 15.  After scrambling to hold that on 16 after a run of poor shots Amos then fell apart on the 17th.  Indeed it was here more than the 18th that Broughtie earned his victory, as he followed a perfect drive over the water with a beautiful approach shot straight at the pin to set up a 12 foot birdie chance.  Despite missing the put, the approach shot forced serious errors from both Amos and AC, and although AC managed to scramble 2 points with a wonderful chip from under a tree, Broughton's net birdie gave him a one point advantage that he never looked like conceding on the 18th.

Inconsistency was the theme for the weekend

Amos

Previous years
Amos won!