Last week saw the culmination on Season 16 of the Virgin Atlantic frequent flyer golf society competitions. The finale is traditionally a Ryder Cup style competition between Europe and the Rest of the World. each team has 12 players and you qualify by submitting your qualifying scores for the year, together with any match play results and the best people in various divisions are selected to represent their team.
Europe is usually comprised of people from the United Kingdom, and Rest of the World is usually from the USA and South Africa although people from the Caribbean have qualified for the team previously. After last years trip to Las Vegas, Virgin Atlantic were keen for the final to be in the UK and to publicise their Manchester hub. Consequently the North West golf coast was selected as the venue with Southport & Ainsdale and Royal Birkdale the host courses.
The warm up event was held at Ghetto Golf in Liverpool which is a crazy golf course in the old Cains brewery. the first hole is played in a caravan and then various holes celebrate the art of brewing. The Rest of the World triumphed after a captains play-off to set the tone for the week,
Day one at S & A was a foursomes competition which Europe won 4-2, then the team decamped to Royal Birkdale for fourball contests which were won 3.5 to 2.5 by Europe. Although i did not make the team myself, I was fortunate to have a guest invitation and played the course before the contestants, my second visit of the year. Dinner that night was in the Art House, one of Liverpools best restaurants and after a good sleep, the teams contested 12 singles matches again at S & A. There were some mighty battles throughout the day before Europe triumphed by 14-10 and retained the Pedlar Trophy.
The final dinner was in Fazenda, an Argentine steak house again in Liverpool, and after due celebration the teams adjourned to The Cavern Club for a bit of Liverpudlian Beatles music.
So a tremendous four days of golf and high jinks and here's hoping that Virgin Atlantic appreciate the brand value this golf society has, and renews for season 17. I for one will be trying my hardest to qualify for it.
Showing posts with label Ryder Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ryder Cup. Show all posts
Monday, 14 October 2019
Monday, 3 October 2016
Blind golf
Last week Wallasey hosted the Ryder Cup for blind golfers from Scotland, England and Wales. The former competed against a combined England and Wales side.
On the proceeding day Wallasey members had the chance to play with and against the blind golfers and to see at first hand how they and their guides maneuvered around the course. There are three categories of blind golf, b1, b2 and b3. The b1 golfers are totally blind and rely 100% on their guide to set them up. They then swing and usually hit the ball pretty well. B2 and b3 category golfers have some vision albeit peripheral or tunnel. They still need help lining up but do have awareness of where the ball is.
I then spent two days spotting balls for these golfers, and met one of the b1 golfers called Barry. Barry was on the books of Coventry City when, in 1976, the team went to an optician to be tested for contact lenses which were becoming popular. That was the first time Barry became aware he was going blind. He still played football for Oxford United but eventually his blindness overtook him and he took up golf.
The golfers I met were all tremendous people who have faced a challenge full on and bettered themselves at their chosen sport. No pun intended but if they could see what they have achieved they would be very proud. Well done Wallasey for playing their part in the event. The Sweaties won 17-7 overall after bossing the first two days.
On the proceeding day Wallasey members had the chance to play with and against the blind golfers and to see at first hand how they and their guides maneuvered around the course. There are three categories of blind golf, b1, b2 and b3. The b1 golfers are totally blind and rely 100% on their guide to set them up. They then swing and usually hit the ball pretty well. B2 and b3 category golfers have some vision albeit peripheral or tunnel. They still need help lining up but do have awareness of where the ball is.
I then spent two days spotting balls for these golfers, and met one of the b1 golfers called Barry. Barry was on the books of Coventry City when, in 1976, the team went to an optician to be tested for contact lenses which were becoming popular. That was the first time Barry became aware he was going blind. He still played football for Oxford United but eventually his blindness overtook him and he took up golf.
The golfers I met were all tremendous people who have faced a challenge full on and bettered themselves at their chosen sport. No pun intended but if they could see what they have achieved they would be very proud. Well done Wallasey for playing their part in the event. The Sweaties won 17-7 overall after bossing the first two days.
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Welsh rarebit
I am not sure what overcame me last weekend, but on Thursday evening I found myself in Newport, Gwent, as part of a golf party. I guess the need for a few rounds overcame the lifelong aversion to Wales and all things Welsh, family members and long term friends excluded.
So there we were, twelve of us, staying at the Celtic Manor resort, preparing to contest the Dai Pedro golf championship on the greens of the Montgomerie and Roman Road courses, before sliding back into England to finish the contest at the Players Club near Bristol.
Things started off fairly sensibly the first evening, with a few gallons of Brains SA and a nosh in a Beefeater restaurant, followed by a trip into the centre of Newport to visit a Lloyds Bar. This one used to be the Queens Hotel and was probably a magnificent place in its day. On a Thursday night in Newport, it was virtually empty , and a fairly soulless place. Still there was golf in the morning so the hangover damage was limited.
Friday dawned bright and clear so we wandered onto the first tee wanting to see just what the courses had to offer. It soon became apparent that the drainage systems were just not up to the job of clearing the amount of water which had fallen recently, and that was strange, as Celtic Manor commands a position high on the hills overlooking the town. Sadly that had an effect on the day, and the scoring was high as a result. Still there was always the night in Cardiff to look forward to!!!
Cardiff has re-invented itself recently with pedestrian areas, restaurants and new plush bars, and this did seem to attract a fine selection of ladies out onto the street. There were very few fights, with limited ,but spectacular, examples of projectile vomiting remain the stand out memories, it put the Welsh lads to shame.
After more golf on Saturday, we donned our fancy dress attire to hit the town in. This year it was Pub Signs' and followed on from our previous attempts at famous Englishmen, and countries of the World. My effort as The Kings Arms was not very well received so I was forced to be a duplicate of the Blue Blazer, a famous drinking establishment in Edinburgh. Given Newport is the most common place name in the British Isles, I was disappointed nobody went as the Red lion, the most popular pub name.
The evening was highlighted by the twelve of us taking over a gourmet curry house and turning it into a typical Saturday night East End tandoori. The clientele and owners all took it in good spirits and a boozy time was had by all.
Now back to Celtic Manor. It was the venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup, which people may remember ran over into the Monday due to the terrible weather on Sunday. UK and Ireland triumphed there as they did recently at Medina in Illinois. It was played on the 2010 course which we did not play this year as it was considerably more expensive and lay at the bottom of the valley.
Celtic Manor has aspirations to be the Turnberry of Wales but from our experience, it has little hope of being able to emulate that venue. The courses are well laid out although very similar to those found in Portugal and Spain. The weather is a major inhibitor and the surrounding area does not offer too much of a distraction. Still, you need to try these places to find out whether they are worth a repeat visit. It is really a glorified municipal pay and play, so I won't be putting this one on my returns list.
Oh, yes, I came third and The Count and I won the pairs competition, the third year running he has won, each time with a different partner, and it went down to the last putt on the last green on the last day.
So there we were, twelve of us, staying at the Celtic Manor resort, preparing to contest the Dai Pedro golf championship on the greens of the Montgomerie and Roman Road courses, before sliding back into England to finish the contest at the Players Club near Bristol.
Things started off fairly sensibly the first evening, with a few gallons of Brains SA and a nosh in a Beefeater restaurant, followed by a trip into the centre of Newport to visit a Lloyds Bar. This one used to be the Queens Hotel and was probably a magnificent place in its day. On a Thursday night in Newport, it was virtually empty , and a fairly soulless place. Still there was golf in the morning so the hangover damage was limited.
Friday dawned bright and clear so we wandered onto the first tee wanting to see just what the courses had to offer. It soon became apparent that the drainage systems were just not up to the job of clearing the amount of water which had fallen recently, and that was strange, as Celtic Manor commands a position high on the hills overlooking the town. Sadly that had an effect on the day, and the scoring was high as a result. Still there was always the night in Cardiff to look forward to!!!
Cardiff has re-invented itself recently with pedestrian areas, restaurants and new plush bars, and this did seem to attract a fine selection of ladies out onto the street. There were very few fights, with limited ,but spectacular, examples of projectile vomiting remain the stand out memories, it put the Welsh lads to shame.
After more golf on Saturday, we donned our fancy dress attire to hit the town in. This year it was Pub Signs' and followed on from our previous attempts at famous Englishmen, and countries of the World. My effort as The Kings Arms was not very well received so I was forced to be a duplicate of the Blue Blazer, a famous drinking establishment in Edinburgh. Given Newport is the most common place name in the British Isles, I was disappointed nobody went as the Red lion, the most popular pub name.
The evening was highlighted by the twelve of us taking over a gourmet curry house and turning it into a typical Saturday night East End tandoori. The clientele and owners all took it in good spirits and a boozy time was had by all.
Now back to Celtic Manor. It was the venue of the 2010 Ryder Cup, which people may remember ran over into the Monday due to the terrible weather on Sunday. UK and Ireland triumphed there as they did recently at Medina in Illinois. It was played on the 2010 course which we did not play this year as it was considerably more expensive and lay at the bottom of the valley.
Celtic Manor has aspirations to be the Turnberry of Wales but from our experience, it has little hope of being able to emulate that venue. The courses are well laid out although very similar to those found in Portugal and Spain. The weather is a major inhibitor and the surrounding area does not offer too much of a distraction. Still, you need to try these places to find out whether they are worth a repeat visit. It is really a glorified municipal pay and play, so I won't be putting this one on my returns list.
Oh, yes, I came third and The Count and I won the pairs competition, the third year running he has won, each time with a different partner, and it went down to the last putt on the last green on the last day.
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Jersey Royals
I was in Jersey at the end of last week for a friends 50th birthday. He had arranged a team of ten Londoners to play a team from the Island over two days for the Wyder Cup, a statement on our expanding waistlines I suspect.
The rounds were played over Le Moye and The Meiolles courses in jersey, under beautiful blue skies. The first day was a triumph for the London team as we held a 11.5-3.5 lead. We were followed round the course for a few holes by Ian Woosnam, the ex-Ryder Cup captain, but he quickly disappeared further up the course after on of our higher handicap golfers hit his buggy with a wayward approach shot!
After a dinner and prizes in the clubhouse we were entertained by one of the home side players who was a bit of a magician and showed us a few of his party pieces. As an aside, I went out with a magician once, when I drove her home she would put her hand on my knee and I would turn into a layby!!!
Day two saw Jersey fight back, as they pulled in a few different players in a battle to close the gap. It worked, but not quite well enough, as they beat us 9-6 but the Wyder Cup became the property of the London team.
El Tel, the birthday boy, had a great two days, and had it been my 50th i would have looked back fondly at the event. I hope he does two.
The boys returned to London Saturday morning so I took advantage and flew SWMBO down for a long weekend. The weather continued to be fine, so we saw most of the island, including the Durrell zoo which has the brief for breeding endangered species, and the beaches of the North coast. We saw sea swimming races, wind sailing and para surfing, together with the traditional sand sculptures for which St Helier, the capital, is famous. All in all a good run ashore, and a continuation of our island focused 2008.
The rounds were played over Le Moye and The Meiolles courses in jersey, under beautiful blue skies. The first day was a triumph for the London team as we held a 11.5-3.5 lead. We were followed round the course for a few holes by Ian Woosnam, the ex-Ryder Cup captain, but he quickly disappeared further up the course after on of our higher handicap golfers hit his buggy with a wayward approach shot!
After a dinner and prizes in the clubhouse we were entertained by one of the home side players who was a bit of a magician and showed us a few of his party pieces. As an aside, I went out with a magician once, when I drove her home she would put her hand on my knee and I would turn into a layby!!!
Day two saw Jersey fight back, as they pulled in a few different players in a battle to close the gap. It worked, but not quite well enough, as they beat us 9-6 but the Wyder Cup became the property of the London team.
El Tel, the birthday boy, had a great two days, and had it been my 50th i would have looked back fondly at the event. I hope he does two.
The boys returned to London Saturday morning so I took advantage and flew SWMBO down for a long weekend. The weather continued to be fine, so we saw most of the island, including the Durrell zoo which has the brief for breeding endangered species, and the beaches of the North coast. We saw sea swimming races, wind sailing and para surfing, together with the traditional sand sculptures for which St Helier, the capital, is famous. All in all a good run ashore, and a continuation of our island focused 2008.
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