Feck

Another short break, this time to Newcastle in Northern Ireland, to play at the mighty Royal County Down golf club, so long regarded as the best golf club in the World. A club of such standing is clearly going to be a magnificent and tough track to navigate around, so on day 1 we thought we should employ local caddies to help us through our journey.

What we, nor they, could count on, however, was the storm of a biblical proportion which dumped on us during Thursday afternoon. By the 8th tee we were all absolutely saturated having been battered by 30mph winds and driving rain. We retired to the bar much to the relief of said caddies who confessed they had never seen anything like it before.

Day 2 arrived with thankfully no rain, but still with 30mph winds, and that was still a bit too much for me so I retired to the bar after 9 holes and left my three chums to battle the elements for another two hours. With hindsight what I should have done was move to the forward tee's on the holes which played into the teeth of the gale, but my brian was a bit mashed by then and the plan never got executed. It is a learning experience for next time it is 'only a friendly'.

The two days were great, and if an opportunity does present itself to go again, I will certainly be up for it, but might start on the 10th hole next time!!

Gary Player was in the group ahead of us, he managed 18 holes and is in his 86th year, so there is hope for me yet!!