The Falcons flew off in trepidation and excitement of playing some untried courses with a return to an old haunt in Hawkstone Park as our base, a forecast of dry weather to start with and a risk of rain for Wednesday andThursday.
We were a little early in the year compared to where we normally aim to be, with the temperature down and the wind up!
On arrival for practice, we edged our way up a steep and windy single track lane to Llanymynech, the reputed erstwhile home of Ian Woosnam and a course mainly in Wales with 3 holes in England -in the words of Rupert Brooke perhaps:some corner of a foreign field that is forever Wales!
Mr Toffee was not impressed with the 1970s style clubhouse, and Scarlett O’Hara usurped the Captain’s Chair without settling the required account of drinks all round!
The course however far exceeded Mr Toffee’s Mickey Mouse expectations (which is more than could be said of the lost lady ramblers from Hertfordshire!) with spectacular views rewarding the effort of climbing the 11th fairway!
The responsibility given to the Captain to lead the way by A roads to HQ at HP (as you can see, I am trying not to mix up my Ps and Qs!) was then scuppered by Butch having to return to the changing rooms for his shoes.
Having lost pole position by a few minutes and not wanting to be last back, or risk life and limb catching up, your Captain and Butch settled into rally cross mode, racing through the B roads, light controlled road works and railway crossings to reach HQ first with time to check in and greet the team on their eventual arrival.
The bemusement on Dai the Dart’s face was worth the effort!
Day 1 of the Championship took us to Oswestry GC, a hidden gem with a brand new clubhouse opened by Ian Woosnam in 2009 (full of IW memorabilia) and a manicured course over 6000 yards to match!
In perfect conditions, your Captain took a firm lead, reducing his handicap to 7, while Scarlett O’Hara made the best endeavour to raise his to 16 (but watch this space).
Dai the Dart was clearly experimenting, taking a driver from the tee but struggling from the sand.
Perhaps one day he will be persuaded to try a full back swing, but not on this tour!
On a suggestion from Mr Toffee the handicap adjustments once made were retained for the rest of the tour.
The tour including dinner each night at HQ at HP, when the menu was short on choice, but the choices extremely good on quality.
The accommodation was a little tired but I suppose adequate for the boys, particularly as we were booked into single rooms.
WiFi was available, but only after an initial half hour session to log in with a temporary password - How very last century!
Sadly Mr Toffee had to return to Cardiff for a funeral after Day 1, but was back in readiness for Day 3! - A round trip of over 200 miles which at least cured his stricken right hand and gaining him an average score which sadly turned out to be his best of the tour!
Day 2 took us to the HP Hawkstone Course (reputedly the home course of Sandy Lyle), poorly rated last time out, but on this occasion much more enjoyable and clearly better looked after than before.
Honours this time went to our debutant, Dave Shuttleworth, reducing his handicap to 8, with another low score for Scarlett taking him up to 17 (keep watching).
With only limited interest following the recent Bluebirds scores making relegation a matter of time only, dinner finished in time to watch Liverpool go 3-0 up against Crystal Palace only to end up 3-3 by the end.
By this time we had been joined by other residents who had perhaps spent more time in the bar than on the course, seeking to know the “real” score rather than the one showing on the live game amongst other things.
Day 3 and the HP Championship Course at HQ.
Playing long and soft in a stern swirling breeze, the course came out on top with the best score going to Scarlett (still keep watching!) reducing him to 16 and a struggling Mr Toffee gaining a shot to 18.
The course did not impress this time, perhaps affected by the saturation by water and wind, and may be missed next time round.
The rain, however, stayed away apart from one or two short misty showers barely causing the umbrellas to come out.
Day 4 and the date with destiny at Shrewsbury GC went awry from early doors as the rain arrived, clearly intending to stay, and the greens were waterlogged without closing the course.
To make matters worse, one of the members had been tasked the day before with removing a tree that had fallen in the storms, only to cut through and disconnect the water supply in the process.
The secretary was persuaded to get us a deal with Ludlow, known to drain well and there being no racing on in spite of Ludlow being one of those 4 courses without the letters R, A, C or E in its name!
Onwards we flew to a golf course within a race course, flat (but hurdles on the racecourse mind!) and a good test of golf.
Scarlett came through with 35 points (see!), the best of all on tour taking him from last place to 2nd place in one fell swoop!
In conclusion, a good time had been enjoyed by all, or at least so they said!
The tired appearance of HQ at HP was a disappointment along with the condition of the Championship course, but all other courses far exceeded expectations such that the Falcons shall return, although on any return it was agreed we should aim to play the same courses (maybe dropping HP Championship but giving Shrewsbury another chance) and base ourselves closer to Shrewsbury.
Modesty forbids me to say more of the results (which are available elsewhere), so (keeping to the Rupert Brooke theme): dulce et decorum est pro falci subbuteo vici.
Discussions took place on next year’s venue and rough proposals will be sent through shortly.
Captain
8 May 2014
| Winner of 2014 Tour-- Hawkstone Park-David Evans ------------------2nd ---Neil O`Hara |
| 3rd Place -- David Shuttleworth --------------------------------------- 4th place -- David Williams |
| 5th -- Nick Perry ---------------------------------------------------------6th -- David Maddox |
| Brirdie Prize -- David Shuttleworth ---------------------------------Adrian`s Hole -- David Shuttleworth |
