For the first event of the 2018 -19 season it was great to return to Edgbaston, the scene of the very first Teetours fixture on October 13th 2015. Even more rewarding, it was good to see Richard Aldridge who played in that first event.
As I drove into Birmingham on Tuesday morning, I heard on the news that the number of registered clowns in England has dropped to 150 as their popularity diminishes. Which made me think that if the remaining 150 get lonely, they can always meet up with the other 650 unregistered clowns in the House of Commons.
Uttoxeter golf club was well represented as Alan McPeake brought a most jovial band of members including Dave Clarke - known to his pals as Armani, which is a tongue-in-cheek appraisal of his dress sense; in fact his lack of sartorial elegance has landed him the job as a male model for Gardeners World.
It was good to see an attractive contingent of Teetours Totty with Claire Arnold and Anna Hope returning to enjoy their golf.
Husband and wife team Sue and Dave Smart played well and were only one point off the leading pack, despite having a detour down a wrong hole as they got a bit disorientated on their first visit to the club. To avoid a domestic when a couple get lost, I think it unwise to ask who was in charge of map reading?! Sue also had a 2 so there was no problem with her navigating on the greens.
The international flavour of the day was well represented by the charming Angel Rodriguez, a native of Castile, the birthplace of Castillian Spanish - proudly regarded by Angel as the true language of the country; he has little time for Catalonians from the Barcelona region and listening to reminded me of being in Cardiff for a Wales v England rugby match.
In the spring of 2017, on his way to the spring Teetours event at Edgbaston, Steve Smith was crossing the road to meet his lift when he became the victim of a hit and run. Steve was hospitalised and badly injured and it has taken him this long to return to fitness; so it was really good to see him back on the course and clearly enjoying a return to form - well done!
If you blindfolded someone and put them in the clubhouse at Edgbaston for the first time, I bet the last place they would guess they were is in the middle of Birmingham. The place is a beautiful haven of tranquility in the centre of the country’s second biggest city. I am delighted that Peter Fawcus and his team continue to develop and nurture the club and the course - they are doing a good job and it is always a pleasure to come.
Longest Drive and a two, was taken by young, 1 handicapper Jake Kelly who certainly knows where his bread is buttered as he asked for a bottle of white wine to take home for his mum.
Dave Lamb was nearest the pin on 5 and Ian Knowles was nearest on 14.
Off the yellow tees with the course still running well the scores were always going to be good at the top; but I cannot remember the top five teams having to be separated on count back! All five pairs had 43 points. Top slot went to two Uttoxeter raiders; Robin Upton off 14 and young Mike Smith off 4.
Well done everyone - I hope you enjoyed it as much as me.
