The weather forecasts for our annual Spring trip to The Hertfordshire did not bode well but nevertheless, LEGS members grabbed their passports and ventured North of the Thames...
As I travelled Northwards round the M25, approaching the Dartford tunnel I started scrambling for change wondering why there were no signs informing what the toll would be… it then dawned on me as I passed the foundations of the old toll booths that it had gone online years ago...
When I logged on the evening back home to pay the charge I realised A) I already had an account, B) it had logged my crossings and paid the charge automatically, topping up the account up whenever it drops below £10, C) the last time I went through the tunnel was exactly a year ago for the same golfing event an venue and D) I probably wouldn’t be using it again until we played at the Hertfordshire again in 2017.
The weather in the end was glorious and the traffic being light and having arrived an hour before the scheduled breakfast time I was confident that I’d at least beat Mark at being served he full English breakfast. I should’ve known better… sure enough as soon as the waitress appeared with a brace of hot laden plates, she must have caught the heavy scent of gluttonous desperation emanating from the saliva of said Mr Bignall and promptly gave the first laden plate to him. By the time she placed the second plate alongside, his plate was already half empty – his oral vacuuming only temporary delayed to offload his tomatoes onto Brendan’s plate…
Onto the golf - and when our groups eventually went to the first tee, the course was found to be very busy. Our Noon tee-off slipped by at least 20 minutes and further queues had to be endeared on the next 3 or 4 tees. There were mumbled complaints about the slow speed of play – especially when we saw the group in front of us were about as long and straight as Stevie Wonder would be on a bad day…
Nigel Halliwell clearly anticipated a challenging round, dressed as Dr Livingstone in his khaki shirt and trousers – all set for some ‘off fairway’ exploring ahead… Nigel’s fashion sense however was tame compared to some…
Brendan couldn’t decide which colour t-shirt to wear so decided to wear one with every colour. We couldn't decide whether he was being sponsored by the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior ship or was demonstrating his support of the LGBT movement. Not to be outdone, Mark decided to get dressed in the dark and sported a bright lime green fluorescent compression layer under a dark green and white t-shirt…
Needless to say, as the one who had to go round with these two masters of fashion, my day was not going to be good…
The course was a challenge but honours went to Matt Hooper for winning the front 9 with an excellent 21 points; Mark Bignell winning the back 9 with 17 points and John 'Helm' Capstick winning overall with 35 points. Three of the NTPs were shared between Mark, John and Spencer Williams with the fourth NTP being carried over.
Full results:-
As the sun gradually fell in the sky, presentations were made by Captain Donald and accompanied by warm hugs of congratulations for the winners from Gretchen. The air was heavy with tales of near-misses, long putts and unlucky so-near shots – all shared with exaggerated hand animations and eyes rolling skywards.
It had been a good day amongst golfing friends...
Peter McBride