Balmoral XX

We had missed our annual trip to Balmoral last year but it was great to be back again last night for our 20th outing on a fine evening. Malcolm was a late(ish) withdrawal but Nigel stepped in to take his place. The bus from Allan & Black met us in the car park at the golf club and we loaded up our clubs, drinks and food in the trailer and set off up Deeside in a very nice, comfortable and spacious bus, arriving in good time, with Gary Coutts arriving at the front gate just a few minutes later to take us in to the Balmoral estate and up to the clubhouse where the usual two other Balmoral members - Duncan Stewart and Brian Lees - were waiting to greet us. Just time for a team photo before the first group teed off:

Note Rob's anti-tick legwear. The course was looking great - just the usual slightly sticky Balmoral greens to get used to - Duncan had done a great job preparing it. We had our mandatory beer break after 9 holes and swapped stories. Ian D had got off to a great start, scoring 21 points, with Brian Lees trailing by 2. It was a different story on the back nine with Dick coming through to win with a total of 37 points - the same as Ian and Brian - but after 2 countbacks Dick was declared winner:

The full scores and prizewinners were:

Due to Covid-19 rules we weren't able to eat and drink as a group of 12 in the clubhouse, but Gary had arranged for some canvas to be erected just in front of the clubhouse for our post-match festivities, which included Les' bottle of Glendronach to go with the copious supplies of beer and wine that Hugh and Ian had shopped for:

It's such a beautiful setting and the evening sunset was just beginning to show off its colours:

There was a little controversy on the way back when Les independently persuaded Jane, our driver, to head over the bridge at Potarch and take the south road back via Feughside so that he could get dropped off at the Feugh bridge. What a great evening.