Edzell photos

Gary's match report followed by a few of my photos: "Wow - what a day, sunshine all the way, clear blue skies and a course in tip top condition, so much so that I could not put on such slick greens unlike the first cut, semi rough type we have been used to back home. Only downside was playing behind the ladies - despite us being a fourball, we were waiting on most holes all the way round. It was quite farcical at the eleventh when we watched what look like an excerpt from the Whacky Races, when they were whizzing around all over the place back and forth in their buggies. One lady was in the sand bunker on the left, 200 yards plus from the green and waited for it to clear before playing her shot! The other, who was about 110, three/four putted every hole and marked her ball each time even from what looked like 6 inches - give me strength!! Perhaps for next year, the organiser should check when the ladies medal is played. Unfortunately our organiser, Malcolm "Nice Guy" Grigor had to pull out due to Susan being unwell. I received a text last night saying she is back home - we wish her the very best. I, Gary "No more Mr. Nice Guy" Grant offered to take over the reins with my Genghis Khan organisational skills. There were three simples rules: 1) No complaining. 2) Keep up with the players in front. 3) Have fun. Unfortunately, there were a number of transgressions to rule number one, hence I handed out four yellow cards! You know who you are and will be in danger of receiving a second yellow card, leading ultimately to a red card, at the Ballater outing. Moving on to the golf itself. Four teams set out to play, a leading four ball followed by three, three balls, with the usual best individual stableford scores for 1st, 2nd and 3rd; the best average team score, plus the proverbial nearest the pins and longest drive. Ian "I love my Ping 425g driver more than my wife" Dring, Harry " I am leaving Scotland if it gets independence" Salter and I exchanged the longest drives throughout the opening holes, with Ian Dring pipping us at the 11th; he pulled the rabbit out of the hat when it mattered most. Steve " The Ringer" Fulford, who claimed to have been playing crap recently, was picking up points like there was no tomorrow at every hole and won the best individual stableford with 42 points and heads back to Englandshire with his "pouch" full of golf balls. The 19 handicapper showed his fellow teams mates how to do it. Raymond "Nice quiet guy" Orr, was second with 37 points and I managed to tuck in at third with 36 points. Nearest the pins were initially at the 6th and 14th holes, however we had to substitute the former with the 17th as no one hit the green. Harry won both, however he did state that out of the two holes played, "I only played one good golf shot!" Teams and scores: TEAM 1 Gary, Steve, Harry, Ian Dring. - Average 36. TEAM 2 Nigel, Rob, Dick. - Average 31.3 TEAM 3 Jas, Gordon Raymond. - Average 33 TEAM 4 Jack, Ian Stewart Keith. - Average 32.5 Personally, for me it was a great day out and the four of us in team 1, had a great laugh recalling various scenes from Monty Pythons Life of Brian, which thought were still relevant even today! They don't make them like whot the used to. Catering was good, barman on balance found to be a bit grumpy, however he was very pleased and all smiles when I went to pay the bill!"