The Winner of the Andrew Bowl Rick Clark
President’s Day started, as always, with our ubiquitous Secretary Roy Smith first on the scene re-arranging the furniture to set up the reception desk. This year Roy was very kindly, and very gratefully, chauffeured by long time friend and past Captain Mike Badcock (Stover & DGCs). Thank you Michael from all of us, as we all know Roy’s a precious commodity and worthy of being looked after. On the day also present, from very early on, Chris Morton, Lew Easter and yours truly all happy to help, unfortunately not contributing to our scores, as results proved! Later in the day, another of our welcome volunteers arrived, Henry Paget having had his regular dialysis earlier in the morning, Henry has not enjoyed the best of health in recent times but is hopefully coping very well, it would seem.
With rain falling overnight it was no surprise that preferred lies ‘through the green’ was briefly considered but only ‘closely mown areas’ eventually agreed. As most golf courses bear witness to the winter weather providing difficulties for green keepers to ‘catch up’, Tavistock was not yet up to its optimum condition with several areas producing standing water. The greens not as pacy therefore as one would normally expect, nevertheless enjoyed I’m sure by all players. Some quite low scores provided evidence however that the tournament was played from the yellow tees, Tavistock without its teeth some might say. No detriment to those whom scored well on the day however, whatever length course it’s still a test of ability, well played to all winners.
So to the presentation and the AGM, with the last minutes of his Presidency ticking away Ted Rockey presented the winners and conducted the AGM prior to our venerable and respected John Burrow (Exeter 1989) being elected President for 2018, warmly welcomed and thank you Ted. Next on the agenda Ben Lynch (Exeter 2006) and Brian Rice (Libbaton 2007) were elected Captain and Vice Captain, we wish all three a good year ahead. One hiccough on the day unfortunately, the food, apparently the chef had left recently and with him one assumes his food records for the day. Roy spends an inordinate amount of time transcribing players food choices prior to the day all wasted! The restaurant staff performed a rescue mission on the day by way of asking players to reselect from an edited menu choice and, I believe, providing anew successfully.
Friendships and acquaintance renewed, stories of hardship on the golf course shanks and air shots revealed and relived, players headed home for comfort or celebration. All however looking forward to the next time we tee up together, with eternal hope and aspiration, that one day we will come to terms with this wonderful game that has given us all so much. Until the next time!
Malcolm Jordain
