Our trip to the Salisbury and Wilts GC to play Wiltshire Captains was our furthest away match that wasn’t included in a tour this year.  The 2 hour plus journey on the troublesome A303 became more of a challenge than normal when the Captain, who fortunately had arrived early, was informed that the tee times had been brought forward an hour earlier than expected. After some hastily made phone calls, the odd heavy right foot and some quick rearrangements, a quick lunch was eaten (by most – sorry Bob), tee times were met and the match was under way. Another match being played in glorious sunshine soon changed the mood in the camp and … [Read more...]

After the postponement of the usual curtain raiser to the season earlier in the year, 36 players descended on Libbaton GC to take part in the annual hard fought competitive match. The teams arrived to glorious sunshine and a well presented course which was a new experience for many of the gathering players. Teams had been drawn by Captain Jeff and Vice Captain Bob prior to the event and pairings were arranged to balance the number of strokes given as much as possible. After sitting down to a good lunch, the combatants moved off to the first tee where battle commenced led by the pairs of the Captain and the Vice and their partners. The … [Read more...]

Malcolm Jordain writes ... Our only ‘International match’, other than Cornwall. has always been at St Pierre. The match was originally instigated by the late Ron Pope (St Pierre) and Henry Paget (Teignmouth GC). St Pierre Captains have for many years played matches versus Stover & Teignmouth, hence the progression to this long standing fixture. Many friendships have been forged as a result of this match versus the Welsh Warriors, the likes of Eric Brown, Arnie Pidgeon, Peter Vaughan & the mighty George Lowe expressed their sadness as this was to be the last match against St. Pierre Captains. Next year and onwards the match will … [Read more...]

Jeff Laing writes ... Being well past the half way mark of our friendlies, our next trip into the unknown (for some) took us to Yelverton GC.  This is a superb moorland course which incorporates some of the old mining works that sprung up around Dartmoor and the leats that were the idea of Sir Frances Drake to fresh water to the city of Plymouth.  For members who have yet to play Yelverton, I can highly recommend it. After our usual lunch, both teams set off in glorious weather (for Dartmoor).  The course was in excellent condition and has recovered well from its problems incurred over the last couple of years with fairways in good … [Read more...]

Although it was a shame we had to wait for the longest day for it to arrive, summer greeted the team at Looe GC to face the “auld enemy”. With bright sunshine, clear blue skies and a friendly welcome in the clubhouse, confidence in retaining the Bob Webber Trophy was high. After a lunch of a plentiful supply of sandwiches and chips, the teams set off to the quirky 1st hole, a challenging par three guarded by well-placed bunkers and a tree in the line of play.  For those of you who have yet to play Looe, you will find an interesting and challenging venue with some great views towards Bodmin Moor and out to sea to St George’s Island. The … [Read more...]

With loins suitably girded following the previous day's defeat, the Devon team faced familiar faces at Teignmouth and, for the first time this season, came out on top by winning 4½ - 3½. More to follow ... … [Read more...]

A bright and breezy day greeted the players at Exminster and they were rewarded with stunning views over the Exe estuary. The course is one which rarely appears in the list of match venues and Mark Watkins, the Exminster captain, warned players to expect a challenge. A hiccup with the usual lunchtime sandwiches was quickly remedied with the provision of the golfer’s staple - a bacon bap. The match was played from the white tees which enabled the 9 holes to be played from different tees to form 18 holes. This did cause some confusion in one match with a player teeing off from the wrong tee!In the same match, the question was posed to an … [Read more...]

For those of us hardy enough, the unofficial tour started with a stop off on the way on the Tuesday at Broome Manor GC to hone skills prior to the main events on Wednesday and Thursday.  It was decided by the Captain to have a hidden pairs competition in the hope that he would be drawn out with a partner that could post a high enough score to drag him into the winners’ enclosure. Alas, it wasn’t to be with Brian Steer & Stuart Darke taking the cash. From there, the dash to our accommodation at Sidcot was on to get to the bar before our President and his tail gunner Malcolm had drunk the place dry.  The evening concluded with a sit … [Read more...]

After a 12 hour deluge of rain throughout Devon the night before the match, all players immediate thoughts turned to whether the match would go on.  After much phoning of club and players , the intrepid golfers made their way through flood water and the notorious lanes to Bigbury to be met by brighter skies and an open golf course.  The golfing gods were on our side. Ably started by our vice captain, and with some quick alterations to the start sheet due to some of the opposition needing to get away to catch the ferry to the IoW, battle commenced. Captain Jeff had selected a team with a few local members in the hope of … [Read more...]

The teams arrived at Staddon Heights Golf Club to be met with the winds from the Baltic. Although Spring had definitely not arrived in Devon, it was great to play with the threat of rain disappearing over the horizon. Suitably layered up the Captain partnered with Steve Whitehouse, the current captain at Staddon Heights, set off to play against the Captain and Vice of Worcestershire in what can only be described as a very friendly and joyful game of golf. With the exceptional play of Steve, we arrived back at the club house with, what was hoped, a marker for the rest of the Devon team to follow. It appears we had a mini-collapse after that … [Read more...]