The Captain with the Bowering Salver winner Steve Willcocks
Traditionally the half-term break is celebrated by way of Captain’s Day, the finale this year at Bigbury GC where Roger Monson was Captain in 1999. Arriving at the golf club at 7.30am with Chris Morton yours truly and of course as ever our stalwart and invaluable Secretary Roy Smith. Closely followed by Henry Paget completing the Admin team. Already there of course the Captain plus the club’s golf Director Nigel Blenkarne, incidentally Nigel was still present until way past 9pm the conclusion of events, a marvellous role model to all Secretary/Managers. Also good to have Chris Morton back after his hip revision 12 months ago, still not yet playing but hopefully getting nearer to that day!
Elsewhere in the County all was not well apparently, evidenced by phone calls asking if the Competition was still on. Torbay, North Devon et al had been experiencing torrential rain, thunder and lightning and localised flooding! Bigbury, although not calm had none of this, lowering skies and a stiff breeze the only meteorological opponents. Indeed the stiff breeze was a positive benefit on some of the more difficult holes, best illustrated by the 9th and 11th both uphill but downwind. Upon reaching the 12th a welcome sight to behold an oasis and a refuge, albeit temporarily from three putts and provisional balls, the well known St Austell Breweries and their beer wagon dispensing soft drinks for those who wished to preserve a good card or alcohol, for those requiring a little pain relief, I can particularly recommend “Proper Job” an excellent bottled beer. Roger was able to provide the Brewery with £150 sponsorship for their charity plus any contributions from members on the day.
Alongside the beer tent was the star of the day, the marquee, a brilliant example of modern temporary accommodation light and airy beautifully dressed and decorated with large polythene windows providing views of the golf course. The appearance was more fitting of a summer wedding or fete and very appropriate for our event because of the limits set by the modest clubhouse areas, although joined to the main building providing ease of use and convenience, very successful ! The course was playing well with greens running true and in good condition, a tribute to our unseen providers the greenstaff, always at Bigbury a plethora of inland views easy on the eye and no white noises! Cards completed, showered and changed into a swathe of green jackets our diners took their places in the marquee for presentations and a welcome from Bigbury Captain Harry Kerswell. This was followed by a very good meal, from very limited facilities in the tiny kitchen, and concluding speeches from the Captain thanking all concerned for making this a memorable day for him and in response from Hamish Marshall who expressed to all how much he had enjoyed the day and his membership of DGCs, since 2006 when he was Captain of Padbrook Park.
And so to the Winter break until many of us will resurface at Colin Maw’s Day in March of next year at Saunton, good golfing !
Malcolm Jordain
