Ash's Network Days 2018
As far as possible monthly outings are planned and arranged by Ash to our partner Network clubs which are of course free to play. The format is usually a bacon roll and coffee, 18 holes and a one-course (late) lunch. Tee off times are dependent on each club’s slot availability, but are usually a bit later in the mornings – around 10 to 11. The cost of each day varies, but is kept low (£20 to £25) for the food and drink and some small money prizes. Handicap cuts are applied for these days on the same basis as those applied for the Swindle. Players must be present in order to receive their prizes.
Current table showing handicap cuts and number still to play
November Day Out - Farleigh Golf Club
On a lovely mid November day, 8 players made the trip to Farleigh Golf Club. With the M20 closed, the traffic on the Kent side of the M25 tailed back several miles making the journey a lot longer than anticipated. However, most made it in time except ex-taxi driver Doug Garvey who took several wrong turnings and got lost in the process. Doug finally arrived in the nick of time to make the tee off. I asked him why he didn't use the Sat Nav in his Kuga. He said "I don't know how to use it". I said kindly, I will show you how to use it when we are ready to go home". So, as we are leaving Farleigh, I get in his car and guess what? He doesn't have a Sat Nav fitted in his Kuga" - ha,ha".
The scores were pretty average with Greg 1st (see January) with 34 pts and Ash second with 33 pts.
Nearest to pin was Doug. No Sat Nav needed to find the green!!
Farleigh Golf Club is a very interesting course that had beautiful green fairways (opposite to Warley's current bare ones), nice greens, lovely clubhouse and staff. The food was excellent, as was the banter.
A very enjoyable day out was had by all. Ash
NB No winners in this 4 ball (+ web editor out of shot), but all 4 players had the par 4 hole surrounded!
On a lovely mid November day, 8 players made the trip to Farleigh Golf Club. With the M20 closed, the traffic on the Kent side of the M25 tailed back several miles making the journey a lot longer than anticipated. However, most made it in time except ex-taxi driver Doug Garvey who took several wrong turnings and got lost in the process. Doug finally arrived in the nick of time to make the tee off. I asked him why he didn't use the Sat Nav in his Kuga. He said "I don't know how to use it". I said kindly, I will show you how to use it when we are ready to go home". So, as we are leaving Farleigh, I get in his car and guess what? He doesn't have a Sat Nav fitted in his Kuga" - ha,ha".
The scores were pretty average with Greg 1st (see January) with 34 pts and Ash second with 33 pts.
Nearest to pin was Doug. No Sat Nav needed to find the green!!
Farleigh Golf Club is a very interesting course that had beautiful green fairways (opposite to Warley's current bare ones), nice greens, lovely clubhouse and staff. The food was excellent, as was the banter.
A very enjoyable day out was had by all. Ash
NB No winners in this 4 ball (+ web editor out of shot), but all 4 players had the par 4 hole surrounded!
October Day Out - Woodlands Manor Golf Club
Eight Seniors crossed the Bridge for some Kentish golf at a well liked course. They appeared to be getting ready for Brexit over there as when we arrived at WMGC we had to complete an entry permit form and have our Network Card, photos and all, copied for future reference. We wondered if after the allotted four hours a round we would be immediately repatriated! But it was all done in a very friendly way and for explained reasons. After the usual small English breakfast we managed to get an early start as two four balls.
The course is noted for its Eiger par 3. One par 3 is very up hill and one is very down hill. Peter and Bob took charge of a buggy and we were are pretty sure we saw them loading some climbing ropes, carabiners and quickdraws etc ready for the big assault.
When we played this course last year it had suffered some heavy damage from foxes and wild boar and was very wet. No wild boars this year (although Doug was having a rant about balls being struck at him by an unknown WP member!) and generally the course was in good condition. The greens were a little slow and quite difficult. But that didn’t stop the team of Burnham and Allen gracefully demolishing the aspirations of Ash and Hansen in one of the four balls.
Scores ranged from 22 (no names AP) to 38 with Bobby Doe making good use of the buggy to conserve energy for his golf shots to give him a win with 38 points (cut 2) and with Kim (I get no breaks!) Hansen somehow getting 37 points (cut 1) despite being on a losing match team! And to top that he also got the nearest the pin prize on the difficult 18th! Although that was after watching everyone else’s choice of club in playing the hole! Congratulations to those guys.
Lunch was off the menu (previously ordered) and was served up quickly and was of a good standard. Breakfast, golf, prizes, lunch and a drink all for £20. These are very relaxed, good value monthly days out and more seniors should join in!
Editor
September Day Out - Sheerness Golf Club
Originally there was 9 for Sheerness, but lack of Buggies and family illness reduced this number to just 7. As a consequence Sheerness cancelled the chicken curry and provided us with sandwiches and chips. Needless to say some were on the blower to their other halves "I will be having supper after all"
In the end we did have 2 four balls as a Sheerness member about to play on his own asked us if he can play with us. Very nice gentleman playing off 9 even bought his 4 ball a round of drinks.
The winner was Steve Abbott with 39, a very good score considering the windy conditions. Runner up was Martin Goode with a respectable 35 pts. No one could get on the difficult 17th for nearest to pin.
Ash
Originally there was 9 for Sheerness, but lack of Buggies and family illness reduced this number to just 7. As a consequence Sheerness cancelled the chicken curry and provided us with sandwiches and chips. Needless to say some were on the blower to their other halves "I will be having supper after all"
In the end we did have 2 four balls as a Sheerness member about to play on his own asked us if he can play with us. Very nice gentleman playing off 9 even bought his 4 ball a round of drinks.
The winner was Steve Abbott with 39, a very good score considering the windy conditions. Runner up was Martin Goode with a respectable 35 pts. No one could get on the difficult 17th for nearest to pin.
Ash
August Day Out - Sweetwoods Park GC
This month's outing arranged by Ash was to a lovely course that sits in both Kent and Sussex. 9 seniors twisted and turned their way through the Kent lanes to enjoy a spell of welcome, cooler weather, playing golf at a course that most agree is one of the best in the Network group that are within our normal travelling reach.
Usually we play these courses only once a year, but last year Ash was so impressed after we had played it that he returned to play it again the day afterwards. He used the excuse that he had left his phone there and playing it again had made the round trip to collect the phone worthwhile. The general view, however, was that he simply wanted to play it again to be first in the frame when we returned in 2018. All too no avail, as none other than your Flash Editor (cut 3) and your Fantasy Man (cut 1) took 1st and 2nd places, with scores of 42 and 39. Simon evened it up by taking the nearest the pin prize as well as 2nd overall.
I'm told the course is slightly longer than WP, but seems to play a bit shorter (or perhaps it was just the extra runs). Certainly some tricky shorter holes and some blind shots (but we are used to those). We had chosen a day when the greens had been heavily sanded, but they were in good condition and no one complained - and it meant that the course was fairly quiet.
Friendly place, food very good - food offer a bit ‘cheffy’ ie with frills (made up word I think).
All happy to return again.
Editor
This month's outing arranged by Ash was to a lovely course that sits in both Kent and Sussex. 9 seniors twisted and turned their way through the Kent lanes to enjoy a spell of welcome, cooler weather, playing golf at a course that most agree is one of the best in the Network group that are within our normal travelling reach.
Usually we play these courses only once a year, but last year Ash was so impressed after we had played it that he returned to play it again the day afterwards. He used the excuse that he had left his phone there and playing it again had made the round trip to collect the phone worthwhile. The general view, however, was that he simply wanted to play it again to be first in the frame when we returned in 2018. All too no avail, as none other than your Flash Editor (cut 3) and your Fantasy Man (cut 1) took 1st and 2nd places, with scores of 42 and 39. Simon evened it up by taking the nearest the pin prize as well as 2nd overall.
I'm told the course is slightly longer than WP, but seems to play a bit shorter (or perhaps it was just the extra runs). Certainly some tricky shorter holes and some blind shots (but we are used to those). We had chosen a day when the greens had been heavily sanded, but they were in good condition and no one complained - and it meant that the course was fairly quiet.
Friendly place, food very good - food offer a bit ‘cheffy’ ie with frills (made up word I think).
All happy to return again.
Editor
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July 2018 Day Out - Ballards Gore Golf Club
Only 7 Warley Seniors made it through the pre-extensive fitness examination with clearance to play in the searing heat at Ballards Gore on Friday 27th July.
They didn’t let anyone down, all 7 making it through the arduous 18 holes, with no faints, no obvious body damage, and, thanks to Ash’s foresight in arranging for strategic cold water drinking bottles at the half way stage, no complete dehydration. The course started unusually with a par 3 hole just to make everyone feel reasonably confident. But two very difficult Index 1 and 3, par 4 holes soon followed that. |
The mix of par 4s included both long and short holes, but the latter presented tough choices of club with blind shots, strategic obstacles of water, trees and bunkers, and large mounds and slopes making life difficult.
Friendly club with good food. The course is flat, some 4-500yrds longer than WP and with some really interesting holes that require some thought and carefully placed initial shots.
Ash won the nearest the pin. Dave Skinner just edged into 2nd place with 33 points and so received a cut of 1 (+1 from a previous win/place) and Doug (‘come through lads – the more the merrier’) Garvey, won with 34 points – so cut 2. Well done to those lads.
It was nice that Allan Appleby was able to join us (now being one of the most medically checked out and fittest Seniors we have) and managed the exposure to a full round of golf on a hot day really well.
Hopefully August (assuming we have one) will see a few more of us taking part – although it did feel very exclusive today! Editor
Friendly club with good food. The course is flat, some 4-500yrds longer than WP and with some really interesting holes that require some thought and carefully placed initial shots.
Ash won the nearest the pin. Dave Skinner just edged into 2nd place with 33 points and so received a cut of 1 (+1 from a previous win/place) and Doug (‘come through lads – the more the merrier’) Garvey, won with 34 points – so cut 2. Well done to those lads.
It was nice that Allan Appleby was able to join us (now being one of the most medically checked out and fittest Seniors we have) and managed the exposure to a full round of golf on a hot day really well.
Hopefully August (assuming we have one) will see a few more of us taking part – although it did feel very exclusive today! Editor
June 2018 Day Out - Pinner Hill Golf Club
10 players played at the pictureqe hills of Pinner on a gorgeous summers day. Whilst the weather, course, food and drink was top class, unfortunately the golf wasn't. Only one person Simon Hughes managed a decent score of 39pts and walked away as the winner. Sharpey came 2nd with 33pts with a better back bb9 than Chris Vander and Robbo won nearest to pin.
Ash
10 players played at the pictureqe hills of Pinner on a gorgeous summers day. Whilst the weather, course, food and drink was top class, unfortunately the golf wasn't. Only one person Simon Hughes managed a decent score of 39pts and walked away as the winner. Sharpey came 2nd with 33pts with a better back bb9 than Chris Vander and Robbo won nearest to pin.
Ash
May 2018 Day Out - Fynn Valley
Report on the Fynn Valley Outing
10 players made the 75 min trip to Fynn Valley, but for one particular person it took longer due to an accident on the A12 so he had to have a cold bacon roll! The course was in a quiet location, North of Ipswich. Lots of building work going on; obviously going to cater for large golfing groups. (Kim. possible venue for your captain's away trip). The course was good, the staff were great, as was the food and drink. The highlights for the golf was a win for Winesey with 36pts, and Runner up Bobby Doe with 34pts. Greg got a Eagle on the 16th and Robbo won nearest to pin. Wines said. " We must come here annually". I wonder why?
Ash
10 players made the 75 min trip to Fynn Valley, but for one particular person it took longer due to an accident on the A12 so he had to have a cold bacon roll! The course was in a quiet location, North of Ipswich. Lots of building work going on; obviously going to cater for large golfing groups. (Kim. possible venue for your captain's away trip). The course was good, the staff were great, as was the food and drink. The highlights for the golf was a win for Winesey with 36pts, and Runner up Bobby Doe with 34pts. Greg got a Eagle on the 16th and Robbo won nearest to pin. Wines said. " We must come here annually". I wonder why?
Ash
April 2018 Day Out - Woolston Manor
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Report on the Woolston Manor Outing
8 players made the journey to get some practice in before the Seniors match later in the year - well that's what Ash suggested. One of us did a tour of the local golf retail park located in the area before finally arriving at the course. We were very hospitably received by the WM staff, who readily made changes to the day's menu - think they must have known what a hard day we were going to have! Extremely long rough (made you long for the kindness of Warley!) and greens that were, to say the least, not in the best of condition. A course with lots of bunkers and quite a bit of water. On top of that a day of almost every seasonal weather you can have thrown at us along the way - hope this doesn't sound uninspiring! But we got in the clubhouse (having just had another load of rain fall on us) a surprisingly cheerful lot and the food proved to be very good. Some of our scores were little low as you might imagine, but as you would have guessed from the photo opposite Robot Robson still managed to get his 34 points - off 6 - for a win. Greg, the winner of our last outing in Jan got 2nd Place with 32 points. Very well played to those two guys in tough conditions. Gordon just pipped Ash for the nearest the pin. Fynn Valley GC next. Editor |
January 2018 Day Out - Maylands Golf Club
Report on the Maylands Mud outing
16 players made the short trip to Maylands. The course was open but so were the Somme battlefields! A good walk spoiled by mud and water! But one player had the battle plan with a winning score of 40!! The winning honours went to Greg Burnham - notably the winner on the last outing at Woodlands Manor, runner up to the ever steady Seniors Captain Graham and 3rd to Dave Skinner. Well done Greg, a well deserved win with that score.
Editor
16 players made the short trip to Maylands. The course was open but so were the Somme battlefields! A good walk spoiled by mud and water! But one player had the battle plan with a winning score of 40!! The winning honours went to Greg Burnham - notably the winner on the last outing at Woodlands Manor, runner up to the ever steady Seniors Captain Graham and 3rd to Dave Skinner. Well done Greg, a well deserved win with that score.
Editor