Pershore Golf Society

Torquay -Tour Report 2022

 

Here we are back on Tour with a full compliment of 32 but with the notable exception of our organiser, not liking the look of the forecast deciding to go to a wedding instead.
 

Having left a bit earlier due to anticipated Glasto traffic, we sailed down and arrived in ample time to enjoy a bacon bap, a catch up and the normal banter, before setting off.
 

CHURSTON, our first stop, along which the Paignton and Dartmouth steam railway runs, with trains passing by at regular intervals whistle blowing, luckily not when Notso was at the top of his backswing.
 

Long opening par-3 with only Moggy hitting and staying on the green and Keyo chipping in for birdie from 50 yards. However, across the road was when the fun started.
 

The burnt fairways meant the ball was running a long way, not always in the right direction and with Vladimir Roberts putting us under a bombardment, on more than one occasion, it was not going to be dull.
 

The best incident of the day however, was not golf related. The Redge had bought supplies with him expecting a long round and about the 6th hole he was attacked by squirrels, firstly taking his banana, and then returning for his nut bar.
 

With our group of Bish, Keyo and McD being second to last out, it was around the 13th that the rain arrived, not Skeg rain but enough to soak you through to your under crackers and gain the sympathy of those already in the clubhouse, enjoying a pint.
 

• 1st – Skeg champ – 40

• 2nd – Skipper – 37

• 3rd – Squirrel feeder - 36

 

DARTMOUTH, a few fat heads arrived at this hotel course, yours truly included and I blame that for my performance. Luckily, I had the support of my playing partners, Matt S, Meady and Moggy. Parring the first was a false dawn as I then proceeded to accumulate a further 13 on the next 17 holes, with a mighty 5 on the back 9.
 

Some of the distances between green and tee were taxing to say the least and those walking didn’t need water, but oxygen.
 

Playing the 6th we saw 3 buggies coming up the path behind us, which was not our group as they were still climbing Everest from the green before. “It’s rubbish collectors” says Meady, not quite, it was a bride and groom having photos taken at various parts of the course.
 

The marriage was nearly over before the reception, when Redge, fed up being told he’s slow, was about to take his shot at the bride’s buggy, luckily Nev stopped him.

JV got this one wrong as it stayed dry, and the results were:
 

• 1st – KT - 34

• 2nd –  Simon T - 33

• 3rd –  Brooker - 33

 

THURLSTONE, arriving eventually, having gone via Dartmouth to pick up Cuth’s shoes, we were greeted by a sun and a fresh breeze, but at least we made it which was more than Pricey.
 

Future son-in-law Josh had car trouble and Pricey used his connections to get the car back to Worcester, which meant he had to be there when the recovery truck arrived. He then went and added Torquay’s Wetherspoons to his collection. 
 

My Dartmouth debacle had secured me a place in the first group along with Nev, Chris R and Jerry, surely not another disaster was about to unfold?
 

Stepping onto the first Roadblock, who was also having a torrid time, scuffed his drive short of the retaining wall by the access road, he did however recover well and scored. I managed to get it a bit further and put it in the ditch. I then proceeded to hit the wall with my next, which shot off into the undergrowth.  Two shots, two balls, twenty-two people laughing, no points!
 

Jerry, not to be outdone, launched one OB into the car park, luckily not causing any damage. Nev then showed how it should be done and hit a beauty towards the green.
 

In a later group Marsh Snr was up to his old tricks driving the green while the group were putting out. Early progress was slow due to the footpaths near the course and many walkers who were oblivious, but overall, we got round in a reasonable time.
 

The Redge nearly took us out on one tee when his ball landed amongst us and disappeared into the thistles, luckily no damage was done. Chris was the only one in our group who had played here before, but even he got confused and sent Nev towards the wrong flag on one occasion.
 

Jerry had learnt from my Dartmouth experience and was having a nightmare, carving balls in most directions, except the right one and accumulated a mighty 11 points, which is about the same number of balls he lost. Chris on the other hand was born again and stood on the 18th tee with 35 points. Taking a 5-wood for safety, he just clipped the ball and moved it all of 5 yards, fortunately for him the ladies’ tee was behind us on this hole.
 

Meady came in with a impressive 39 points to win the day and was leading right up until the last group who all came in with over 30 points and saved us from too much Mead crowing!
 

• 1st – Terry - 39

• 2nd –  KT - 36

• 3rd –  Simon T - 35
   

A close-run thing but eventually Robin prevailed to win back-to-back tour championships by 2 points. Well done, Robin.