Summer Tour

Twelve of us descended on Northumbria from all corners of the UK for the 16th Summer Tour, which by recent consensus, seems to have found almost a semi-permanent home at Slaley Hall - it was our 5th trip there in all, with 4 of these in the last 5 years.

The location seems to suit a number of the participants' travel plans, as only 3 of us actually travelled from Banchory on Saturday morning, with the rest opting to combine the ST with trips to see other friends and relatives who live south of Aberdeen.

The weather was very kind to us and it was, for most of us, another weekend in shorts. After last year's event, when we played the tougher Hunting course twice and the more open Priestman once, those present then voted to reverse things this year. In superb wall-to-wall sunshine conditions last year, the average scores were 24/25 round the Hunting, with only 3 rounds out of 18 played over 30 points, whilst the overall average round the Priestman exceeded 29 points, with 3 rounds (out of 9) over 30 points and one over 40 points (me!).

We therefore fully expected scores to be better this year. To be fair, it was a little windy on Saturday, but otherwise conditions were good. The Hunting again averaged 25 points, but the average round the "easier" Priestman was just 25/26 this year. There were 5 scores in the 30's on Saturday, but only one - the winner - on Monday.

The Priestman's fairways are pretty generous, but, if you do stray, the rough was impossible - you were lucky to find your ball, let alone be able to play it. The other factor, of course, is that we're all a year older. There were 5 rounds this year when less than 20 points were scored.

All of the above - plus some post lunch suggestions made yesterday - will no doubt be considered when it comes to deciding next year's venue and format over the coming autumn/winter months.

Let's start the photographs with our winner:

Yes - it was Rob's first ST win - and only his second "Major" - and he did it in style, with 2 rounds of 35 points round the Priestman and a tidy enough 26 points round the Hunting, to give him a winning total of 96 points - a massive 11 ahead of Malcolm and Harry, with the latter just missing 2nd place on countback on his ST debut. Malcolm made a very good fist of almost winning his 4th event in a row, after Blairgowrie, Edzell & Balmoral.

We had the usual daily team prizes plus matchplay - OAP's v Youngsters - with the latter winning handsomely, despite our individual winner's best efforts.

Rob should have received the trophy but some idiot forgot to bring it, so the presentation will be done in Banchory some time - possibly on a Quaich evening - always assuming the engraving has been done by then, of course.

As usual, there was plenty of sport for us to watch after meals - World Cup on Saturday and Wimbledon on Sunday. Despite being well under OAP age, some folk can't last the pace, however:

  Note that the glass is still perpendicular - how does he do that?

Others take relief on the course:

Naturally, there has to be a team photograph:

Gordon Moir, Harry Salter, Malcolm Grigor, Archie Cook, Peter Street, Rob Pollard, John Taylor, Kenneth (I forgot my trousers) Gray, Keith Gray, John McWhinnie, Ian Stewart & Jas Bhagrath

The above was taken early on Sunday morning, whilst those that follow were taken on Saturday afternoon:

Team 1 - me, Rob, Malcolm & John McW

Team 2 - Kenneth, Jas, Archie & Keith

Team 3 - Gordon, John T (hidden), Peter & Harry

It was good to see a few new faces as well - John McW and Harry were making their ST debuts, and it was Gordon's first trip for over a decade. Gordon also rediscovered his swing over the weekend, winning the longest drive on the last day.

Good fun - looking forward to next year.