Kington - October 22
The heights of golf
October saw 27 members of the Kilgetty Golf Society travel the 90 odd miles to Kington in Herefordshire renowned for its association with Mike Oldfield of Tubular Bells fame, and also of its golf club which would you believe is the highest in England. It provides a great test of golf and wonderful views of the Welsh countryside and Herefordshire including Hergest Ridge, after which Oldfield’s second album was named.
Day 1 dawned with bright blue skies and although clouds arrived later they were never threating. The absence of any meaningful wind allowed the golfers to thoroughly enjoy both the course and the gobsmacking views. Day 2 included much sunshine, albeit the wind picked up to make the challenge even harder but never impossible.
Teams of friends set out on the first day swapping tales and reminiscences since they last saw one another. Scores ranged from very good to fairly bad. Team scores ranged from 72 to 103 (all 3 balls), with Barry Nippy Neale, John Magneto Richards, and Steve Gizmo Jones comprising the best team. Nippy with 37 points won the individual honours but only beating Magneto on a better back 9. In third place with 36 was Alan Sooth Sayers. A full house for Tenby Golf club! Well the course was like an inland links. Rob Hartle Poole won Nearest the Pin, and Sooth the Longest Drive. The only Two’s were by Gizmo (9th hole) and Nippy (12th). Derek Archie Campbell with an excellent 36 points won the 28+ handicap prize. Paul Goodvalue Marsden acquired the less than valuable Wooden Spoon! Other notable performances came from Edward The Confessor Morris and Graham Basildon Bond with 35, Steve Biddy Baxter 34, John Merlot Viner 33, Kelvin Curtains Boughey and newcomer Jeff Captain Morgan with 31.
After a rest in the scenic clubhouse we departed to the hotel for drinks and an excellent meal. The next morning, suitably refreshed (or not in the case of some), up the hill we went again to recommence battle on top of the world, or so it seemed. Not many improved on their first day score due either to the wind, or the other sort of wind, or indeed from just being winded. The pot of gold was the Tour champion prize. Who would win it? This time teams went out in score order with the lowest Stableford scores from the first day going out first, until the last group out were the Pros with the best scores.
Each team were given a name eg the Strugglers, the Crusties, the Boozers, the Rising Stars etc. Scores ranged this time from 58 to 94. Obviously the previous day and night had had an effect on performances. Lo and behold the best team was appropriately named the Bandits, who were Biddy, Merlot, and Captain. With only their exception, each successive team scored more than the previous one amply demonstrating how big a bandit band they were! And chief Bandit was Merlot who with 35 points won the Tour Champion prize. I jest of course, he justifiably mastered the course better than anyone else, albeit he only beat Sooth Sayers by a hairsbreadth. In third with 31 was Captain Morgan.
Nippy came Nearest the Pin, Merlot had the Longest Drive, Jane Flo Richards had the Wooden Spoon, and Archie won the 28+ handicap prize for the second time. Interestingly, two Twos were scored by the same two players from the first day, but on different holes. Gizmo on the 3rd and Nippy on the par 4 18th! Well done to them.
Commiserations to other non-prize winners Dave Camper Crowley, Tom Tiger Woods, Nigel Scissors Taylor, Jack Zabaglione Zeraschi, Steve Banbury Cross, Bob Dixie Forrest Alan Jeffers Jeffrey, Wynne Andy Capp Richards, Roger Analyst Handcock, John Hamster Hammond, Mike Slippery Skidmore, Wayne Chopsy Connett, and John Flutter Williams. However, all managed to leave the venue with a raffle prize. Chopsy coming out of the hat first for the major prize of a TV which he is going to put in his bathroom. Perish the thought.
Thanks go to the staff at both the Burton Hotel and the Kington Golf Club for helping to make this event such a special one. The KGS committee have now retired after 12 years in post, and the 20 year old Society’s future is unclear. New blood is required and anyone interested in putting their name forward to assist in the organisation of future fixtures can contact www.kilgettygolf.co.uk for further information.
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