Monday, 30 January 2012

2012 logo'd golf balls

From http://bsvgolf.blogspot.com/

They've arrived!:



Who'll be the first to win one? It's usually the first daily winner at the Desert Classic, but this year we're not going to Turkey until 19th April, so the first prize ball will instead be awarded at the first night of the 2012 Quaich - Wednesday 28th March.

Thursday, 5 January 2012

HNY + 2012 golf breaks

From http://bsvgolf.blogspot.com/

Yes, it's a Happy New Year to all my regular readers - and welcome to the 2012 blog.

I wouldn't like anyone to get the impression that we're desperate for numbers on some of our outings - we're not - but I think it's only fair that everyone is aware of what's going on and gets an equal opportunity to participate in any of the events they fancy.

My last blog posting pre-Christmas listed the dates and locations of all the main events in 2012, and I've also since posted details of this year's slightly later Desert Classic in Turkey. For those that have never been away with the group, the gentlest introduction, given that it's only one night away, is the Grantown/Boat of Garten trip on Sunday/Monday 13th/14th May, 2012. This is being organised by last September's winner, Malcolm Grigor, and if you'd like to join us, or would like further details, contact Malcolm at malcolmgrigor@gmail.com


One other relatively short trip we do is the Summer Tour, and this year we're visiting a part of the country we've never golfed in before - Dumfries and Galloway. We drive down there on Saturday 7th July and play the Classic Southerness (http://www.southernessgolfclub.com/homepage.html) course in the afternoon.

We stay 2 nights at the Cairndale Hotel (http://www.cairndalehotel.co.uk/) and play Dumfries & County (http://www.thecounty.org.uk/) on Sunday and Powfoot (http://www.powfootgolfclub.com/) on Monday morning, then drive home. Our Southern former colleagues - John Davies, Bob Cooper and John Taylor - are all heading North and will be joining us on this trip. Let me know asap if you would like to join us too.

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

All downhill from here

From http://bsvgolf.blogspot.com/

The shortest day today means we're on our way now to the next golf season - just 97 days until the Summer Quaich starts again - whoopee! Here's the dates for your diary in 2012:


From To Event/Outing Location Days to finish
06-Nov-11 25-Mar-12 Winter Grand Prix Banchory 94
20-Apr-12 26-Apr-12 Desert Classic Turkey 126
13-May-12 14-May-12 Boat of Garten Grantown/B.o.G. 144
tbc tbc Blairgowrie Blairgowrie
22-Jun-12 22-Jun-12 Midsummer tbc 183
25-Jun-12 25-Jun-12 Balmoral Balmoral 186
07-Jul-12 09-Jul-12 Summer Tour Dumfries & Galloway 200
28-Mar-12 29-Aug-12 Summer Quaich Banchory 251
31-Aug-12 31-Aug-12 Terry's Memorial Aboyne 253
02-Sep-12 03-Sep-12 Boat of Garten Grantown/B.o.G. 256
03-Oct-12 09-Oct-12 Iberian Cup Mallorca 292

Sunday, 18 December 2011

Xmas Party night

From http://bsvgolf.blogspot.com/

Our annual get-together was held at the golf club's Xmas Party last night. We had 2 tables:




But what on earth is Dick doing with this After Eight on his forehead?:


The answer is in this short video clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrfdb4V3mzA&feature=autoplay&list=UUBDeleoM99bWx2-P6rMydgA&lf=plcp&playnext=1

Sunday, 6 November 2011

IC XIII photo stories (2)

From http://bsvgolf.blogspot.com/

Tuesday took us back to Las Americas, which was looking in great condition. After our round we had lunch at what we now regard as "our" table on the terrace. The waiters there are long-serving and we recognised a few of them from our last IC trip here in 2006. We asked one of them to take a team photo - he agreed, grabbed the camera and thrust it into Archie's hand, asking him to stand up, then he took Archie's seat!:


We were back at our hotel in good time and a few of us went for a swim/sleep/sunbathe whilst others played bridge, after which there was a gathering on the roof terrace for G & T's and to admire the wonderful sunsets over La Gomera:


Archie organised dinner at a local Thai restaurant, after which several of us returned once more to Temple Bar, scene of the famous "property developers on the run" comment made from the stage as 4 of us entered the bar, dressed in jackets at the Desert Classic in 2009. That quip was made by Liam, who, with his partner Mike, has been appearing there nightly for 9 years now:


Liam's quick wit and easy manner with the customers made Temple Bar a regular late night spot for most.

Wednesday morning took us to beautiful Abama, where Dick was on duty and bought the prizes, posing with them for the camera:


The dates were abundant on the palm trees at the start:


Here's Dan and Syd waiting (again!) in their "Grupo Stewart" buggy:


Back at the hotel, we gathered again for sundowners:


Who are these shadowy characters? Perhaps I should put the flash on?:


Keith was i/c catering and took us to a slightly out of the way little steak restaurant, frequented by locals. The meat was terrific, and was served in huge helpings - especially the shoulder of lamb, which no mere mortal could have finished.

As already reported, Jas did the business at Las Americas on Thursday and we presented him with the trophy on the rooftop:


Traditionally, I get a shirt from the guys for organising the event, and here it is:


Thanks, guys - great trip.

Saturday, 5 November 2011

IC XIII photo stories

From http://bsvgolf.blogspot.com/

If you've never played at Costa Adeje, a warning - watch out for the terraces on the fairways - particularly if you're driving a buggy:


We had dinner that evening at the hotel's Las Rocas restaurant and afterwards, most of the rest of us - at least those who could still stay vertical - retired to the lounge where there was a Polynesian Evening advertised. Unfortunately, we were too late, but there was a two piece band playing, and it didn't take Dan long to get in the mood and get up on stage and dance with the singer:


On Sunday, it was off to Golf del Sur. Archie was playing at the first par 3 and thinned his tee shot - straight into, and through, the large cacti just in front of the tee. We never did find his ball, but it definitely went through the first large succulent cactus:


Monday dawned and the sun shone brightly as we made our way down to the port at Los Christianos to catch the ferry to La Gomera. Although Ian had not joined us on the first day - preferring instead to watch the Chelsea - Arsenal match - he did come along every other day, walking the courses and acting as unpaid ball-spotter. Here he is with Dick, basking in the sun as the ferry docks:


Tecina was, as usual, beautiful, and we got wonderful views of volcanic Mount Teide on the main island from virtually every hole. Syd was more concerned, however, with minimising his stats. He pushed his tee shot right at one of the par 3's and it went out of bounds in to the deepest of undergrowths. We drove up and he spotted his ball about 15 feet in and decided he could avoid a lost ball stat by fighting through the branches, aided and abetted by his playing partner:

Yes - Syd is in there somewhere!
The next hole brought about the clincher for the Wee Cup.Three of us teed off, followed by Syd, who pushed his drive right into a row of palm trees. I watched it carefully and said to Ken that it had gone into the 3rd palm along in the row, pointing to to it as I pushed my foot down on the accelerator on the buggy. We moved forward and a few seconds later Ken said "stop!". Perhaps a couple of days of Iberian Cup excesses slowed my reactions, but I didn't respond quickly enough and carried on, and then Ken's pleas became more urgent and I suddenly realised what he was on about as I heard a crunching sound underneath the buggy.

As the buggy lurched left then right, and up on to three wheels, I had a decision to make - stop, or carry on. I chose the latter option, bringing more crunching noises. Eventually the buggy came to a level spot and we stopped to survey the damage. What a mess - it was a not insubstantial tee marker I had driven over, destroying it in the process. Here's me picking up the pieces:


Not a word was said to the staff - my/our only thought was to get off the island as soon as possible, before they discovered the damage.

It had been a long day in the hot sun and some of our group struggled to keep their eyes open on the bus back to the ferry:


The drive back to San Sebastian afforded some wonderful views of the port and the big island and Mount Tiede beyond:


Dinner that evening was at a nice little Italian, organised by Malcolm. So that was day 3 - the halfway point - over. More to follow.