Boat of Garten XLVIII

The assembled team on the 1st tee at Spey Valley:

Jas putts from just off the 2nd green:

and he watches as Jack finishes off at the 5th hole:

Most of us had a couple of Bombay Sapphires - except Nigel, who has gone native for Ramadam - tantamount to cheating we all thought, not drinking alcohol on the Boat of Garten outing. Dick gave him the prize ball for Sunday's win:

Jas looks delighted to get the ball for nearest the pin:

and so does Syd:

likewise Harry:

On Monday morning at Boat of Garten, the three at the back of the field were first off. Two thirds of them were all present and correct:

Eventually the 3rd member of their group was ready to play:

The middle-for-diddle fourball stood to attention:

and the contenders - leaders after Sunday:

Sometimes, even the mighty fall - Harry's prodigious driving ability came a bit of a cropper at the 8th hole - this is his 2nd shot - note colour of tee markers:

Harry and Malcolm watch Jack play his 2nd at the 14th:

Finally, Syd receives the trophy from Dick:

and, of course, in accordance with tradition, Syd stood his hand back at the Boat Inn, Aboyne, where I was delighted to see 2 of the local Deeside Brewery beers on - with one of them being Nechtan, which was originally brewed specially for my 60th birthday. It was initially created only as a birthday treat trial brew, but Rob, the brewer, thought it was so successful that he said he wanted to sell it commercially under his own label of Nechtan. It's meant to be a representation of an American style IPA - try it if you ever see it around the local pubs. Here I am enjoying a pint: