Yes - hard to believe it's Q14 already - just 9 weeks left now (and I'm on holiday for 3 of them). It was a really strange evening last night. With the Club championship in full swing, the tee was fully booked up to 6:30 pm, so it was going to be a late one for most of us - although at least we could play the much talked about friendly fourballs. Some of the retirees chose not to wait this long, however, and decided to play amongst themselves, teeing off in the early afternoon. It transpired that they caught some heavy showers and curtailed their rounds - Jack went in to the clubhouse before the Quaichers teed off to check the scores from these Early Birds and came out with a big grin on his face saying "it's all to play for - they didn't finish!"
The 8 of us who did play ball in a bag fourballs did get some showers too, but it was coming straight down and it was never quite wet enough for that to be a real reason to quit - certainly not if we had been playing a medal, or, heaven forbid, the club championship. However, the warm, still, damp air was ideal territory for that scourge of Scotland - the midge. It was, as usual, worst at the 12th tee where they seemed to be swarming everywhere. That - plus the fact that nobody was playing particularly well, and it was getting late and some dark clouds seemed to be approaching - brought my playing partners to the swift conclusion that we should walk in. I did protest and said I wanted to carry on, but it wasn't really from the heart, and, in the end, Ken P, Ian Sh, Steve and I trooped in. It was only 9 pm.
The fourball behind us didn't notice we had walked in and they carried on playing - wondering where we had got to. They got round to the Doo'cot and, as luck would have it, another shower came on and this time it was a little heavier, so Hugh, Ian McR and Ken B trooped off, with a disconsolate Jack trudging forlornly behind them, miffed that he had nobody to play on with.
Thus it transpired that nobody completed 18 holes - and I think it should go down in history as the first ever Quaich that was "midged off"! So, it's time to resurrect that old category:
Yes - step forward Messrs Gray, Gray, Cook, Bhagrath, Taylor, Corbett, Sharp, Page, Fulford, Black, Riches, McRae, Simpson - and, yes, Stewart - you all earned your BGB's yesterday!
We fully expected to find a list of scores from the Early Birds in the bar, together with some kitty monies, but there were none, so, what could have been the biggest Quaich attendance of the season, turned out to be only 8 and here are the scores:
- Simpson, Jack 31
- McRae, Ian 27
- Riches, Hugh 23
- Page, Ken 21
- Stewart, Ian 20
- Black, Ken 20
- Sharp, Ian 17
- Fulford, Steve 11
The lower four only played 11/12 holes, whilst the top four played 16. So it ended up with the same Hero and Zero as last week, although Steve will be a little miffed, as we had discussed awarding a joint DoD to the Early Birds who each apparently scored zero!
It fell on me to award the prize ball to Jack:
When discussing Jack's victory, the words "hollow" and "Pyrrhic" were being bandied about - and it is certainly the lowest winning score this season - and possibly ever.
Obviously, no change in the leader board with all contenders recording a dropping score only. Next week, the course is closed all afternoon prior to the next round of the club championship, but I notice Rob (who's away just now) has booked 3 times from 18:37 for another ball in the bag treat - let's hope for better things this time. Please let Rob know if you want a game next week (I'd like to play, Rob).
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