The rain was so torrential at 2am on Tuesday morning that it woke me up.
By first light, when I set off, it had abated to an intermittent drizzle. As I wound my way towards the very southern tip of Staffordshire, the lanes were waterlogged and I suspect many of the West Midlands golf courses were also.
But not Enville. This oasis of free-draining heathland is terrifically resilient and provides its members with year-round golf on two splendid courses.
Although the day remained unsettled, there was only a 45 minute period at 12.45 when brollies were really necessary. The greens were slower than we have become used to recently. However they were very true and firmly struck, confident putts found the cup. The approaches were immaculate and the overall condition of the course was a credit to the green staff. If I lived in this part of the world I cannot think of a better place to play my golf.
The quality of the course produced the highest scoring day of the year.
A recent return to form by Dean Pointon’s team saw them secure second place at Wollaton with 90 but an improvement this week to 96 was only good enough for 4th place with 3rd going to Charlie Spear’s team better back six.
101 should have secured a win for Chris Hoobs’ team. However the guys from Sickleholme Golf Club in North East Derbyshire has a serious red-letter day. They are Teetours regulars and I have known them personally for over twenty years. Two of them are past captains of the club and all four are gentlemen (notwithstanding the support for Sheffield United).
That is it for 2022. It has been a very welcome return to normality. I have thoroughly enjoyed running all the events. We have only had a couple of minor unpleasant situations which will hopefully not be repeated as the perpetrators are not welcome.
I look forward to seeing you in 2023 and I will publish the first tranch of events next week.
