Day two and just over an hour to the Gloucester venue, the very testing Players Club, water some long carries and many challenging holes, a very good test of golf. Gloucester Captains' always seem to be able to field a strong team and today certainly the case. There were one or two close matches but most were decisive results in favour of our hosts. The course most certainly rewards familiarity, several holes rather difficult to select appropriate lines. I believe there were a number of comments as to the suitability of such a demanding course, personally, I enjoyed the course however my failing memory, having played there 5 or 6 years ago, … [Read more...]

The final tour of 2021 is a relatively new one, in existence for only a few years, and now in the preferred order, Worcester first day returning to Gloucester on the second day and therefore closer to home! Our travelling athletes usually drive to the Premier Inn base a day early, in order to bond and acclimatise to local ales and wines. On this occasion just seven of us gathered just outside of Worcester and seven miles from the following day's venue. We last played Droitwich GC ten years prior, personally I remembered very little of the course, in some parts the course is very undulating and my buggy, shared with the Captain, a welcome … [Read more...]

Returning to Stover GC again, after hosting President's Day earlier this year, for literally this evergreen match, green also the chosen hue for our visitors blazers and ties. The dining room at dinner resembling a palette of luxuriant foliage, with the odd bloom punctuating the verdant landscape ! As ever a number of friendly faces from within our visitors team, previously experienced on the golf course, were very welcome to a golf course in pristine condition. The staff as always, friendly and efficient, both in house led by David and Paul and in the Pro Shop led by Andy Fox. The match was not without incident, even before the first … [Read more...]

The season rolls onward and, after the scenic coastal views from Ilfracombe GC, behold Staddon Heights GC perched aloft Plymouth Sound and Drake Island. The panoramic views from most fairways are impressive and interesting with an active marine interest for much of the time spent gazing from the golf course. The urban sprawl of Plymouth city does nothing to detract from the fascination of activity within the Sound, including a rarity these days with a Royal Navy frigate returning home, from a much reduced fleet nowadays. Our neighbours from Cornwall always bring with them a competitive but enjoyable 'edge', present in most sports between … [Read more...]

Alan Beach - Matt Richardson - Joe Morgan - Graham Heaman Our annual match, much anticipated by those of us ready to welcome valued friends and familiar faces from the splendid St Pierre, also an international fixture! Ilfracombe GC the venue as always affording a warm and generous welcome to all, led by affable Dean Richardson and his excellent in-house staff. Dean, resident steward, bar and catering franchise holder, has given impeccable service and quality catering of high standard for fifteen years. Witnessed by way of Phil Webb, a regular supporter of DGCs and Ilfracombe Gc, who confirms the marvellous support Dean receives from … [Read more...]

Weymouth Golf Club Collecting my partner for the day, and good friend Lew Easter, we left Dartmouth at 9.15 expecting a journey of about two hours to a course most of our Devon team mates had never played, Weymouth Golf Club! As it was it took two and a quarter hours, with substantial traffic along the A35. Arriving at the club it looked to be a lush parkland course and an impressive clubhouse overlooking the practice putting green and alongside the first tee. The traffic took its toll on a few of our travellers arriving with little time to spare. We were warmly welcomed by our hosts with a mug of coffee, followed by some … [Read more...]

Woodbury GC. July 6th Glenn Page -Paul Hayburn - Gareth Evans - Graham Heaman The day started with players arriving at Woodbury GC having one eye on the lowerering skies looking filled with imminent rain! Fortunately, that rain did materialise but although in relative proximity, not whilst our visitors were engaging us in battle on the golf course. Despite very heavy rain, the previous evening, the course was in very good order albeit with the odd few areas a trifle wet. Greens in excellent condition with good pace, all things considered, and putted well. Our annual adversaries arrived with a player short, the result of 'track and … [Read more...]

Day two and a little further north, Ludlow GC our next venue and apparently within the Ludlow racecourse! Upon arrival we were greeted with a racecourse and substantial grandstand and sure enough within the race track a golf course. I am still trying to find words to describe the course itself. Probably a heathland course in some ways, with gorse and bracken in places but unlike anything I have ever played. Partners met and play commenced a little early, to help our chauffeurs depart when matches were decided and a rolling meal eaten immediately after finishing. Once again the Devon boys strove to improve on the previous day's result, … [Read more...]

Captains Graham Heaman and Amrit Singh with partners Steve Spicer & Roger Thomas The Shropshire Tour is yet another step toward a return to a form of normal. Our band of athletes, now a tradition, headed to the Premier Inn base near Hereford the previous day to the first match on Wednesday at Burghill Valley GC. Thereupon wining, dining and bonding commenced at the nearby Beefeater restaurant and pub. Not unusually much wine and ale consumption proved not to have been affected by Covid. Next morning, rested and refreshed, our players emerged to a fine morning and an appetite for golf. Burghill Valley GC, only 8 minutes from our … [Read more...]

Our new Captain's first match and a return, almost, to a new season that will hopefully be completed in the manner in which we used to play. Graham Heaman led us back to the familiar welcome from Dainton Park, always enthusiastic and enjoyable. Our opponents from Warwickshire were unfortunately three men short, in a "one off" situation, Bob Fletcher brought along his wife to bring their number up to fourteen. Brian Waggett & Glen Page, two gentlemen, did the honourable thing and lost this match, intentionally of course!! The other matches however were keenly contested and that on a course that the Warwickshire team had not played … [Read more...]