Monday December 11th
3-Ball Scrambled-Hassle
A present from Sir Clive to show why many of can't hit a ball.
A present from Sir Clive to show why many of can't hit a ball.
Ok, Large may have been an exaggeration, but ex-Captain Roger, Captain Barrie, Bryan and real Captain George were amongst the many...
...that opted not to play as the course was technically closed with waterlogged greens...
..and there was no sunshine.
..and there was no sunshine.
Shame on George, raised in Northern Norway, near the Arctic Circle and a proud Scot, "It's flipping Freezing", he said as the Merc sped away.
Bryan just hugged the Radiator...
Bryan just hugged the Radiator...
Come 09:00 they declared the Top 9 Open ( on Temps) and were perhaps swayed by the fact we offered to Carry,
Even stranger was David Taylor who got out his buggy and just went around on his own, as did Dickie Hall an hour or so later. We passed David on the 1st as he was in the hedge ball-hunting.
Even stranger was David Taylor who got out his buggy and just went around on his own, as did Dickie Hall an hour or so later. We passed David on the 1st as he was in the hedge ball-hunting.
So that left just 6 of us as the Draw was made.
Roger Davis, Mike Hone & Nobby were drawn against Brian Hodder, Billy Hilson and John Pearce.
3-Ball Scramble, No Drives, No Handicaps, 3 Clubs plus Putter & carrying.
Billy was dismayed when he discovered we were off scratch as on paper we were the inferior Team.
Brian started on first, into the Hedge, JKP hit the Shed and Billy was down the middle. His 2nd was never seen again but luckily we had one on the Fairway and made a bogey 6.
So it continued with Par 3 on 2nd as JKP forgot we were on Temps and smashed a Driver right down the middle, but the wind kept it a perfect length.
Although it was only just Freezing, the really biting North Wind dropped it another 10 Degrees with the Wind Chill.
Bogeyed 3rd, but a 20 foot putt from Brian Birdies 4th. Par on 5th and the same on 6th. It didn't look like a Par, but Billy's 3rd was heading for the main green and hit the pin (en-passant) on the Temp and stopped.
Par on 16th, then disaster loomed on 17th. Billy was near 16th Green and Brian hit tree on right and was lost. Luckily JKP was down the middle. Billy looked away in disgust as JKP hit a 49 Yard Putt, which ran & ran until it was on the Temp Green..which was sunk for another Birdie.
Our Luck held again on 18th. Bill scuffed Drive. Brian was never found so we had to play the Pearce-Ball from in the trees. Pearce hit tree and went nowhere, Billy's was even worse, so it came down to this..
Brian was having a bad attack of the shakes and could barely hold the club, but steadied himself just 1 last time, typical of the 1963 Course Record-Holder, and hit a low ball that rose above the bunkers and turned back right towards the green, Billy nearly made the Birdie but settled for Par.
By now Billy was half dead and had no feelings in his hands. He claimed it was worse than his days as a junior jockey when they had to exercise the Horses at 05:30 in the snow. When they got back to the stables, he had to grate carrots for them and the horses became quite fond of scraped-knuckle & carrot mash !
It took 20 Minutes for Bill to emerge from the Locker Room as he just couldn't undo his buttons with his frozen hands.
Fair play to Brian for carrying and sticking it out. His Trousers kept falling down by his ankles and despite 2 pairs of gloves, he was suffering.
Talking to the other Team, who were expected to win easily off scratch, every time we had good luck, they had the reverse and nothing fell for them. Roger only carried 2 clubs and no-putter, so it was always a challenge. Nobby was cosy as he had his Party Dress on under his clothing for Tonight's Staff Party.
Result was Billy's Team 36 and Roger's Team around 39 .
Winners took the £2 Prize Money.
All CST Staff are having a Meal at the Windwhistle Pub ( So CST Chef's have Night Off) and then back to CST for a Party. Well done to all of them for looking after us all Year.
It took 20 Minutes for Bill to emerge from the Locker Room as he just couldn't undo his buttons with his frozen hands.
Fair play to Brian for carrying and sticking it out. His Trousers kept falling down by his ankles and despite 2 pairs of gloves, he was suffering.
Talking to the other Team, who were expected to win easily off scratch, every time we had good luck, they had the reverse and nothing fell for them. Roger only carried 2 clubs and no-putter, so it was always a challenge. Nobby was cosy as he had his Party Dress on under his clothing for Tonight's Staff Party.
Result was Billy's Team 36 and Roger's Team around 39 .
Winners took the £2 Prize Money.
All CST Staff are having a Meal at the Windwhistle Pub ( So CST Chef's have Night Off) and then back to CST for a Party. Well done to all of them for looking after us all Year.
