Wallingford Comrades Club Golf Tour – Worcestershire 2022
6th June 2022 – Day One
This year’s tour started off differently from previous years – no mini busses – but that wasn’t going to deter the 21 players, we used our own vehicles and to do our bit for the environment, we buddied up for the tour to Warwickshire.
This is how our tour began, we started off at –Fulford Heath Golf Course – with a superb 5 star Full English breakfast, enjoyed by all, too big for some.
A team event was the order of the day, a Texas Scramble, teams of 3, all teed off, better ball, 1st hole was good for nearly all the teams, birdies galore and even an eagle, this was the start of a good day’s golf.
The course was in immaculate condition, which was made better by glorious weather.
About 4 hours later we all got together for a post-game drink and prize presentation, scores were all very close and this is how it finished:
1st Jim Mills / Eddie Forsythe / Paul Ingrem – Gross Score 73, net 63.4, winning on countback
2nd Ian Knight / Gary Kent / Neil Tolley – Gross Score 74, net 63.4, losing on countback
3rd Andy Malone / Ian Gordon / Charlie Hughes – Gross Score 74, net 63.9
Back to the hotel for food, drink and banter.
7th June 2022 – Day Two
The hotel rooms were comfortable and the breakfast was good!
Day 2’s golf was at a completely different course not just by name but by difficulty – Kings Norton Golf Club – only 10 minutes’ drive away, on arrival a stunning old manor house fronted the club house and amenities.
The round was played as an individual stableford, off full handicap, today we were playing for the “THE COMRADES GOLF TOUR”, This cup was donated by the late Tony Holder after he won on the first tour, the course was long, some serious elevation and the golfers nightmare “WATER”, but we all got round and again headed to the club house to either drown the sorrows or celebrate the win.
Cards started to come in and the scores reflected the above, lowest stableford score was 14, highest was 33, 4 players waited with baited breath as the cards were checked, then re-checked, someone was going to win, but on count back.
1st Andy Malone – 33 points winning countback on the final 3 holes
2nd Jim Mills – 33 points 2nd on countback over the final 3 holes
3rd David Slade – 33 points winning countback over the final 6 holes
4th Ian Knight – 33 points losing countback over the final 6 holes
8th June 2022 – Day Three
Breakfast was eaten, bags packed and cars loaded.
Short drive to the third and final course of the week, – Bromsgrove Golf Club – we were finishing off with a team event “THE WALTZ 1,2,3” format, playing for “THE COMRADES MEMORIAL CUP”.
Players were tired, but it didn’t deter, smiley faces and an eagerness to play a different course for the third time this week, a little walk took us to the 1st tee of the day and it showed how much walking we were about to do up and down hills.
Course was narrow in places, and full of dog leg fairways, but as always it was awesome to play a course we may never play again.
The weather changed on the Wednesday, we were hit by 2 very heavy and very cold showers, items were damp but not our spirits, all 21 players, 7 teams finished the full 18 holes.
The day, the week was finished off with a 2 course meal at the course, upping the energy levels for an hour and half drive home.
Post-game, cards were handed in and points calculated, winner of this competition were
1st – Gary Kent, Peter Smith, Andy Malone – total score 77 points
2nd– Jim Mills, Pete Jones, Charlie Hughes – total 73 points
3rd – Anthony I’Anson, Ian Gordon, Neil Tolley – total 69 points
This 3 day tour would not have been possible if not for Gerald Whell, who puts it all together, finding accommodation for 21 players and 3 brilliant different courses to play.
So a big thank you to Gerald, another thank you goes to Paul Ingrem for checking the cards and giving the winners speeches and prizes.
ROLL ON 2023