On tournament days like this a great deal of preparatory work is required, the only detail that cannot be planned or induced, weather. Arriving at Churston at 7am to be greeted by our Professional Harry Mayers and Manager Matt Gill we were encouraged by blue skies and a good forecast. Shortly afterwards my two good friends Lew Easter and Chris Morton, arrived,, Chris arriving back in the UK at 1am from Greece. Setting up the inevitable laptop these days, Harry had offered to set the competition using intelligent golf to allow the competition as a qualifier, this I accepted with both hands. It prevented me from having to write over 100 cards, receiving each player’s handicap index and computing his course playing handicap plus, updated on the day with the push of a button.
I cannot speak too highly of the rest of the staff on the day, efficient, helpful and done with humour and enthusiasm. Not playing and able to see the course on the day was tempered with the many positive comments to me and our little band of helpers. Thank you Kelvin Millar and your staff for providing the course in good order so early in the year, despite prior vandalism at the far reaches of the course with regard to no rakes in some bunkers which had been stolen and used to light a fire in the nearby woods, The course was set up to ‘easy whites’ which proved to be quite acceptable to some players scoring 36 points or more.
Subsequent to end of play locals returned for the presentation, AGM and dinner, I am very grateful to our sponsor Graham Ruth and on this occasion my good young friend Dan Hendiksen, now based at Churston and operating his successful media business, for contributions to the prize table, thank you both. The presentation culminated in Mike “Penners” Penlington winning the Andrew Bowl, for the second time, with a very good 39 points. On to the AGM and an attempt to approach dear old Bill Savage’s 10 minute norm dismally failed. Speeches addressed, elections confirmed, members welcomed in Lew Easter, President, Philip Webb Vice-Captain and our Captain Graham Heaman nobly carrying the mantle onward until Captain’s Day at the Warren on 15th September.
Malcolm Jordain
