SENIORS AWAY TRIP AUG 2025 @ FOREST PINES

2025 Seniors Captain – Paul Coates

 

 

Although small in numbers, the Seniors away trip to Forest Pines was undoubtedly a BIG success. The course combo proved a challenge to all, particularly Tuesday when the wind blew.  Phil Hunt’s trolley did not hold up well to the high winds, Tuesday it ran away, toppling into a deep bunker and Wednesday a branch fell on it and broke his integrated satnav device. Thankfully, Phil came out of it unscathed. The handicap slope, at least, gave us lots of shots to help with scoring round tricky courses.

 

The prize table Wednesday evening was a delight with a prize for everyone….a lovely gesture by Captain Coates.

 

6 Teams played in three balls, best two to count.

 

Third place went to Joan Hickman, Alan Kinch and Janet Roberts Coming in with 76 points

 

Second place went to Keith Duff, Marilyn Marriott and George Clayton-Jones with 77 points, and the winners…

 

Stephanie Crook, Brian Ross-Jones and Michael Marriott with 81 points

 

 

Poet extraordinaire…..Chris Harrison-Smith penned an amusing poem to conclude the day and our enjoyable time away…..it says it all…

 

… Captain  Coats … 

 

I’d like to say a word to    … Captain Coats,

Cause he’s the one that got our votes,

In fact some call him two coats Coats,

Undercoat or top coat - whatever floats your boats.

 

Coats is caring and considerate to all,

Nothing it seems is trouble for Paul,

Arranging matches, and who to call,

Seniors away - and we’re having a Ball !

 

Who plays with who, then there’s scores to do,

His flippin quiz - I hadn’t a clue!

Getting prizes, and a few surprises,

And the aftershave that he advises!

 

The winning teams - so it seems,

Lots of laughs, and smiley beams,

Brian and George are tops once more,

Most lost balls, and on the green once more.

 

So thank you Paul - you are the man,

These couple of days have gone to plan,

The weather, the golf and this hotel,

All your arrangements have gone well.

 

So one coat or two - our Captain’s a star,

We’ll join him later - in the bar,

In the meantime, let’s raise a cheer,

Cause Burghley Park golfers are loud and clear -

 

  … Hip - Hip - Hooray… 

SENIORS AWAY MATCH AGAINST St NEOTS - 31st July 2025 Result L 2 - 6

 Driving down to St Neots through some pretty heavy rain made me think it was going to be a tough day at the office but apart from a shower at the beginning of our round the weather was very good and by the end of the round the conditions were excellent .

 

it was my first to St Neots and I was made very welcome by the extremely affable Mick Mitchell their Seniors Captain. Equally affable was his partner Adrian Dack and it transpired the Adrian I shared mutual friends that we had both made in our time in Asia in the 1980s and 90s. Perhaps this was a deliberate ploy by Mick and Adrian and  I should’ve spent more time concentrating on Golf than chatting. Mick Marriott and I were soundly beaten five and three although we didn’t play that poorly it was just that Adrian hit some tremendously good shots to the Green and Mick was quite outstanding with his chipping and subsequent single putting. Well played to those two.

 

A good win from Phil Hunt and Michael Wright which included Phil winning nearest the pin on the very tricky eighth hole much to the chagrin of our pin supremo Peter Hickman, who had previously hit a really good shot. Also a good win from David Shales and Kevin de Trafford. David has had three matches this week and has played well in all three. This included a Pairs Match on Tuesday. Kevin fresh for his win against Middleton Hall once more played below his handicap and as I said yesterday he is a dangerous player on his day, especially if he doesn’t drive straight. 

 

St Neots ran out comfortable winners 6 points to 2 our only close defeat was Richard and Peter H in the final match . Michael Whitlock was Nearest The Pin for the Home Team and the outstanding performance was a run of 10 holes where Martin Forster was 2 over par wresting the initiative from Stephen and Mark, who had been 2 Up, finishing 4 down with 2 to play.

 

We had had a 3 Tee start the eight matches all finished within a relatively short time of each other which enabled us to dine together. I have to say gammon is not my favourite choice of food but it was very tasty as was the spotted dick which I certainly would never choose, too many inedible school puddings. There was very animated conversation on all four tables during dinner which was testament to how well the players had got on with each other. Captain Mick made reference to the camaraderie on show. It was a most enjoyable day despite the result.

 

Finally, a very very big thank you to Michael McCarthy who stepped in after recent injury to play for us. All playing squads need people like Michael a very steady player one with a great sense of humour and a very wide knowledge of rugby as the chat on  our table showed.

 

We now have a rest for a couple of weeks until we play at Toft on the 20th of August . In between we have the Seniors Away trip at Forest Pines Golf Club next week.

 

Please signup for The Parsonage Bowl on the 18th. 

Paul

SENIORS MATCH AT HOME AGAINST MIDDLETON HALL - 30th July 2025 Result L 2 - 6

 It is never nice to come second in a two horse race and whilst losing to Middleton Hall is no new experience it was disappointing, but then again there is a rugby team in the southern hemisphere who has been more disappointed in the past few weeks.

Middleton Hall golf course is tricky, and therefore the handicaps that their players bring with them to their away matches, makes them very competitive. So it was at Burghley this week.

Very close defeats for George and Mike and Peter and David and David and Clive all losing on the 18th were difficult to take and there was obvious disappointment. The two halved matches with myself and David Shales where David played exceptionally well throughout the 18, and where Richard and Bill gained their half in the third match were very pleasing. However, the one win for Burghley for Mick Marriott and Kevin de Trafford by six and five was quite exceptional. Mick is a very steady player at all times and Kevin dare I say is enigmatic for on his day he is potentially unbeatable. Very well done to those two for a great result. Nearest the pin for Middleton Hall was Paul Gosling, awarded to him despite the fact that he bizarrely failed to sign the sheet, and for Burghley Park to David Court once more.

The course played very well recent rain has meant that the fairways have recovered very quickly and there’s plenty of grass around. The greens are in very good condition. Thank you to Malc and his team. 

Catering as usual was of a high standard and I think it’s safe to say a higher standard than we see at nearly all other courses. Thank you to Sam and his team.

On to St Neots tomorrow

Paul