James Braid Golfing Society Captain's Log, Stardate June 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
James Braid Golfing Society Captain’s Log, StarDate June 2019, Scottish Highlands Prelude The long drive up from Surrey was eased by good weather and increasingly stunning scenery, as we passed through the Borders, the Central Plain and into the Highlands up the A9. Brora on arrival on the Sunday was bathed in beautiful sunshine and promised a good week. ‘Och, there’ll be a wee breeze and a soaking first’ was the caution of the lady in the Co-op – and she was right! Monday was ‘dreich’ as they say up here, but as we were on an errand-and-organisation day, that didn’t matter at all. No golf planned, so none missed. The Links Apartment at the Royal Marine was up to its usual high standard and we were soon comfortable. Supper with a few friends got the socialising off to a good start. Ah, the Highlands have a way of making you feel at home and relaxed! Tuesday at Tain GC This year, in response to requests, we added an informal get-together at Tain GC – not a Braid course, in fact an Old Tom Morris one, but we aren’t sniffy about that. It is a typical Scottish village course, not long but well laid-out and kept proudly in good condition. Plenty of evidence of the sort of natural design which Old Tom and Braid did so well, much loved by the likes of Peter Thomson, Tom Watson and other discerning judges. 15 members played in lovely conditions and got their aches and pains under control. I had the laconic Ross Kelly, the genial Sandy Farquharson and the loquacious John Rankin for company, so the conversation never lagged, not that I got a word in edgewise… The four girls set out together and the Harris family (more and more of them each year!) joined up with Roy Pickavance. More meet-ups with members in the evening and we were ready to go for the serious business of the tour. Wednesday at Fortrose and Rosemarkie GC Our annual match, which has now been running for several years, has grown in popularity and the numbers reflected that. We had 31 players, one of whom – wee Tommy Brown – was lent to the opposition, with some consequences (see below). Last year we secured a tie (6 points apiece), but this year 15 points were at stake. The F & R members and Secretary gave us their usual great welcome (anything to do with the bar tab running all day, paid by the JBGS?) and the sun shone in a clear blue sky. The match was a close affair. The JBGS had a secret weapon (so secret that we hadn’t met him yet and didn’t know his golfing CV. Anyway, young Craig Melding turned out to be an ex-international amateur for Wales, now a pro and having a go at the EuroPro Tour! He was round in 66, and that was a first point, against the usually lethal F & R Secretary Mike Macdonald). However, the cunning plan, to lend Tommy Brown to the opposition and thus secure an easy point for the Society, came unstuck when the wee chappy got a 3 at the last by driving into a bunker, then leaving it in, then holing out with his third shot! It won a point for the club and we lost overall 7-8. Once the floggings were over, we all enjoyed the friendship and company of the local members before subsiding into the coach to take us home to Brora. Members’ Forum On the Thursday morning, we repeated the innovation of last year, namely to invite members to a forum where views were exchanged about a number of matters relating to the Society – such as finances, events, merchandise, website and the programme for next year. 2020 is the 150th anniversary of James Braid’s birth and we are thinking of ways in which we can celebrate that. Indeed, we would be delighted to receive any suggestions/ideas for events, mementos, anything which might be worthwhile and fun. In short, the finances are sound and we have a bit in the bank for 2020 stuff. The website remains rather ancient and needs an upgrade (we do have a name of someone who might do this for us, and we will follow it up as soon as we can). We still have a problem of poor take-up for events in the south part of Britain. Perhaps we need more southern-based members, so if any of you know of someone who might make a good JBGS member, then please let us know. It was a useful session and we will write up our record of it soon. Thursday at Royal Dornoch GC In continued wonderful weather, 30 of us travelled down to Dornoch for our annual encounter. This match has also expanded greatly and we are indebted to the club – and the good offices of its Secretary Neil Hampton, a JBGS member – for accommodating all of us on the Championship course. My treat was to be partnered by young Craig (now handicapped at +4), against the Club Captain and Pro. It was a superb game, we were down early on, but recovered and when Craig rolled in a 25- footer for another birdie at the 18th, we edged it by 1 up! Again, he was round in 66 on the first time he had played Royal Dornoch. Maybe he should become our Society Professional? Overall, we lost the match 5-8, and the Friendship Trophy was duly handed over. But that is no shame against members on their own course. More importantly, the fellowship and fun was wonderful and shows the excellent relations between us. Apparently, the fixture with us is one of the club’s most popular of the year. Long may it continue! Royal Dornoch has a wonderful golf course but the members are not sitting on their laurels, with big projects (new 7th hole and new clubhouse) well on their way. All looks good for its future. Friday at Brora GC Our traditional stableford competition took place at Brora, once again in perfect weather. Some 36 golfers played their hearts out and there was some good scoring. Perhaps the announcement of a new trophy provided motivation. We contested for the first time the Peter Thomson Memorial Trophy – a silver and glass claret jug. Prizes were awarded at the dinner in the Royal Marine Hotel (44 members plus their guests), as follows: Captain’s Pink Balls (ladies’ prize) - Angela Grant Curate’s Egg (hidden prize, for play that is ‘good in parts’) - Bill Case (for every hole score from 2 to 7, including a 2 at the short 6th) Peter Thomson Memorial Trophy - 3rd was John Rankin with 37 pts, 2nd was Craig Melding with 38 pts (equal to a 64 gross!) and the winner was Michael Harris with 41 pts (the Society handicapper – ie me - has taken note of this misdemeanour). Well done to Mike and to all; there were many scores in the 30+ range. The Marco Polo award (travel) and the Groovy Uwe award (style over substance) were held in abeyance, for future awards. The drinks reception and dinner at the Royal Marine have always been a central part of this Founding Meeting and it is a rather special evening. At the reception, the Captain welcomed everyone (but especially Robert and Dawn Powell), reminded them that a year ago we had learned of the sad passing of Peter Thomson, then read out an extract from Malcolm Campbell’s tribute to Thommo (on our website), which summed up his love for Braid’s golf courses and for the legacy of the great golfer and man that he was. Proceeding to dinner, we were treated to a rendering of the Selkirk Grace (‘Some hae meat and canna eat…etc’) from Malcolm Harris, in his Brummie accent!!! Well done Malcolm, Robbie Burns eat your heart out! I think you should become our ‘Chaplain-in-Residence’. The Captain was able to welcome 8 new members and award them their shot glass and bagtag; our long-suffering non-golfing partners; plus a number of transatlantic travellers, but also Ross and Vanessa Kelly, our regular and redoubtable visitors from the Gold Coast in Australia. Great effort, guys! It was also special to welcome Neil Hampton and Fiona to dinner with us. After dinner, we were regaled with a couple of poems and some amusing repartee by Dr John Rankin, our Poet-in-Residence. Think about a mix of John Betjamin and Edward Lear…. Excellent stuff, John, you may very well be asked again and next time I will give you more than 3 days’ notice. Finally, our resident Finemaster Barrie Thomas took centre stage. Barrie took on this role from Lachlan Macintosh last year and this year he made it his very own. Having collected information all week from various informants, he was awash with potential. Disarmingly, he first of all announced a fine amnesty, by which those who may have been harbouring feelings of guilt for a while, were invited to contribute voluntarily, to avoid public humiliation and shame. It worked. The length of the list of fines was extraordinary and the sum collected was over £250. It completed a superb evening of food, drink and fun. To conclude the proceedings, I happily made a presentation of a bottle of Clynelish to someone who is absolutely indispensable to the smooth running of the Founding Meeting – namely my lovely wife Alison, our Admin Secretary. She was acclaimed widely for the wonderful job she has done for the Society.