Jeff Laing writes …
With only 3 matches to go before my captain’s day, having collected my passenger, we took the relatively short journey to our next away venue at Weston-super-Mare GC to be welcomed by our hosts, Somerset Captains. As always familiar faces, together with some very welcome new players in our hosts’ team, soon got together for our lunch of sandwiches and chips. Following lunch play got under way, once we had absorbed the views of what must be one of the flattest courses in the UK.
As predicted by the home captain, the greens were of good pace and with the MacKenzie greens offering acceleration with a downhill putt, a deft touch was required on some chips and putts. Whilst unwelcome in some quarters ,the lack of rainfall meant that the greens were quite firm and a running shot often secured more success than a direct pitch. One of the quirks of the course is the need to cross through the now defunct caravan site to play two of the holes. However, this required negotiating the fortress-like locked gates to allow access. Armed with the padlock number, your captain proceeded to spend a good five minutes trying to free Malcolm and the buggy from the confines of the first half of the course. Luckily a neighbour from a nearby house knew the magic trick so we were able to proceed and catch up with our opposition.
Games finished, showered and refreshed, we enjoyed a beautiful evening with strong sunshine enhancing the views from the comfort of the clubhouse. An excellent Somerset pork dinner provided the perfect end of day. Our hosts, wishing us a safe journey home, completed the final act of the day presenting Devon with the winner’s trophy after a hard fought match all round.
