After a long hiatus – since Trevose I think, the skipper held it together, just about, to finish on top rather than on the podium.
The 2023 Amy Austin should really have been taking place in Spanish sunshine, with the erstwhile Tour Director in attendance, but some boys were a bit worried about tightening their belts.
So Juice looks to have sorted an excellent UK alternative out, but is also being quite a princess about things
A long drive south for most of us to the gated compound of Remedy Oak, to a car park full of Porsche and range rovers. Finch and I were the latest to arrive, and were told by all that the clubhouse was luxurious and food excellent, and so it turned out to be. A very tidy bacon and egg ciabatta for £6.50, and a lovely lucky bag from the sponsor/venue
Due to some late withdrawals, we were five three balls. Pickle started the day with an epic whiff on the first, but wasn’t alone in finding the early driving challenging.
Remedy Oak is treelined, undulating with a lot of water features. Ideal for golfers of our standard. I personally had three looks at birdie in the first six holes, but only made one. And then it started to rain.
Like really rain.
The kind of rain that sees football matches called off.
Or the event grandee, after whose daughter the event is named, walk in.
But to the credit of the rest of the society, particularly our colonial members who arrived without waterproofs and/or umbrella, we all put in 18 holes.
The scoring wasn’t great, averaging 23 as a society against generous handicapping. Boyce hit a nice shot into 9 to take the Shark off Noz. Catto wrote in pen on the longest drive marker asking for pencil only, his 205 harder dogging to all of our shame (in pissing rain).
Many boys scored way worserer on the back nice, as did the Captain, but a couple more pars to go with some excellent early work saw me in presumed contention, in the rain, on 18. My drive was blocked out from all but a corner of the green, so I played the percentages and laid up to have a shot at the flag. My wedges had been dialled in all day, but the wet ground and winds meant it was a high tariff shot – I cleared the lake and plugged, by about three feet. Two putts and I was in for 33, a point ahead of COVID Catto and Juice who’d recovered from being unable to drive on the front nine.
The Amy is usually our best attended minor, good ranking points. Pete (thoughts and wishes mate) and Crybaby (should be ashamed) meant we weren’t quite at full strength – but still a good turnout and great attitude despite terrible weather for at least ten holes.
Our night in Bournemouth needs to be chronicled by the Jug winner, but here are notes…pizza with a fork, Tom and his hair, Pickle on the tequila rose and the slug and lettuce full of students young enough to be our kids. Oh and Donk and Finch heading to a tap room for an excellent pork pie with English mustard and relish whilst we charged the Beige Bus
Bring on the Jug
