From our correspondents (PR and NT):
“Our annual outing under strokeplay rules is always a nerve racking experience as the Bashers prepare themselves for the Medal Vase, a Claret jug by another name. Despite being a very elegant trophy I had to collect it from Stuart’s log store as he was away for the day. I was not sure if this was where he was obliged to keep it for the year or if it was just a safe place for the pick up. Probably the former.
We arrived in time for an early lunch to settle the nerves, and relaxed on the newly fitted out Badgemore terrace in sunshine, to fathom out the rules of the day. Firstly, despite being strokeplay, we were limited to Par plus three on each hole. This gave a theoretical maximum for the course of 54 over par. At our skill levels this was enormously reassuring. Secondly we deducted handicaps from the gross, and divided by the number in each group to come up with a net number for each player and also for each group for each half and for the whole. Nick provided the necessary accounting skills for this demanding and complex algorithm.
As the short-lived shower dispersed we set off with Peter, Nick, and John H in a group of 3, and Mike S, Mike W, Rob, and Robert M following on as a 4.
The course was in magnificent condition, the greens in perfect order, and the parkland landscape looking really stunning in what proved to be perfect weather for a late summer outing.
Scores could hardly have been closer, with Rob the overall winner on 77 net, followed by Nick 78, Robert 79, John 80, Michael W 80, Peter 83, and Mike S 84. (The correlation with the players’ ages is a bit spooky). So Rob took the trophy back home, where he has a suitable log store to keep it in for the year.
(Editor’s note: Very well done RobA!)
The team scores were even closer, with
Peter, John, Nick: front 41.3, back 39.0, overall 80.3
Rob, Robert, and the two Mikes: front 39.6, back 40.4, overall 80.0
So the foursome won the front and overall, and the threesome won the back nine.
The LD, NP, NP2 were all won by members of the foursome, with Rob getting one, and Robert M the other two.
Finally, and of additional note, was Robert M’s impressive feat of number memory while we were on the terrace enjoying post match refreshments. While negotiating our way through the similarly complex processes required to activate our County Card phone apps he instantly memorised his 10 digit England Golf membership number and then repeated it from memory & correctly at least twice. Up there with the fabled feats of Chan Canasta…
Finally, now that the BBO card has gone digital we should prepare ourselves in advance before trying to deploy it at another course. The cost of living crisis has obliged courses to abandon their leisurely attitude to offering the guest rate. It proved too much for our techno competency on this occasion. Even at the visitor rate it was a great day out in perfect surroundings. We should return soon.
