Club Trip 2005

I am delighted to report on a highly successful trip to Myrtle Beach.  It was certainly a long day getting there but I am sure that all are agreed that the effort was worth it. 

The course selection was done by the travel agent on our behalf given our lack of knowledge of the locations, and he worked it very cleverly.  Following the first day’s game at Arcadian Shores GC we all agreed that if this was the level of quality of the courses we would be very happy.  As it turned out the quality got better as the week went on with a good variety of courses.  For the record the others were Possum Trot, Indian Wells, Diamond Back and Panthers Run (not the sorts of names that we are used to over here).  Of these the best conditions were to be found at Indian Wells, whereas, in my opinion the most interesting layout was at Diamond Back (named after the Rattle Snakes that frequent the rough) although this course subject us to long carries over areas one would not tread, which some of us found tough going. 

Within our itinerary was a “free day”, and of course, the more enthusiastic gofers amongst us, or those without partners at any rate, took the opportunity to play an additional round.  Rod Clay took us to a Heather Glen, a “3-nines layout”, which combined the best quality and the most interesting layout of the week, and was certainly worth the higher cost of the green-fee.  However it had no heather and no glens.

Aprés-golf entertainment was mainly eating and drinking, (well what do you expect?).  Comment-worthy were an evening of ten-pin bowling, a Japanese restaurant where each table was entertained by its own speciality chef who cooked the food with his own brand of flourish, and a Chinese “all-you-can-eat” for $10.  To some of us the most memorable evening was the final night bender that Jonesey organised to kibosh his chief opposition.  When will we ever learn?

The man with the best head won, ie Dave Jones, and will be presented with the Tourist Putter trophy at the AGM.  Other prizes awarded were for the Top Team, (Tom Smith, Dave Jones, Bob Reid and Ken Robinson) and the Eclectic competition won by Tom Smith.  Prizes were reasonably distributed with everyone taking away something, even if only a nearest the pin prize, bar one tourist, and he won the Free Day.

As Tour organiser, it was very satisfactory that all the arrangements worked, and that all the participants played their part by being at the right places at the right time with the right bits of paper, so thank you to you all.

The Results from each day and the team competition are available by selecting the buttons at the top or bottom of the page.  I believe the scoring system was 20 points for 1st, 19 for 2nd etc, but if you more information check with George Friedman.