28 May, Refos

Played with Walter and Tony.  Took Draw driver and it went better most of the time.  Just made costly mistakes with the rough as it is, so a few blobs and 25 total.  Nice day after grey start.

27 May, Seniors vs Bourn

Lovely day. Played with Mike Harrison against Jed and Roger. Giving latter 11 shots, too many.  Went ahead early on but then didn't play well enough.  Jed driving very well, me not, often cutting the shots.  Lost 3 and 2.

21 May, Newmarket Open

Played with Tony, Andy and Pete G.  Good first half, bit of a struggle on second.

May 19, Match vs St Ives

Played with Arthur vs Nick Stork and Vice Captain Stuart.

Between us we were very steady, Arthur getting more straight pars but me finishing well with a few single putts.  Started late because Nick was delayed by half an hour.  Soon caught up and then it was very slow as the ones ahead lost more than two hole.

Ended up winning 3 and 2.

16 May, Under 70s vs Over 70s

Played with Dave Booker against Dave Rowell and Robin Tinston.  My golf much better, getting the drives away.  Just thinking grip, posture, not hitting from the top.  Had to make all the running and got to 2 up after 10 but then they played in from there in net par to win 2 and 1.  Rain just getting heavier so walked the last hole.

16 May, Seniors vs South Beds

Played with Sam Wallace.  Lost first three and seemingly the 4th until I realised the opponent had had 6 not 5 as claimed.  Then I had 5 pars in a row to get to 1 up, from where we went further ahead to finish 3 and 2.

May 12. Seniors Pairs vs Welwyn

Played with Alan Evans and struggled still apart from a few good holes.  Alan played well mostly but we were a hole down to the 17th, where my par levelled it.  Couldn't find my drive on 18 despite being only just off the fairway on right.  Alan messed up too so the natch was lost.

May 8, Penina Again

Back out, this time intending to use buggies but able to start earlier than scheduled, when no buggies were available.  Good move to be that bit earlier and reasonably quick.  Ate at the buffet in the breakfast room, this time more traditional food.

May 8, Penina

Early start and no one ahead so round in 3.75 hours. Golf a bit better but still lacking confidence and trying things to stop slicing, none really working.

May 7, San Lorenzo

Back to near Faro for this one.  The drive to the course seemed to go on and on once we were close, as there were other courses we weren't aware of.  Spoke to starter and he said we could get off straight away.  Very fine course with some unusual holes and a few lakes.  Still not hitting drives well but some good holes.  Cracking drive by Martin at the last, getting as far as possible on the dry route. Some Irish lads behind managed to get over the lake on the direct route, but a perilous route.  Rain started as we were almost finished, then it poured so really pleased to have been able to start early.

Ate at Alvor in a torrential storm.  Only ones there and we watched the huge rollers crashing in and the wind lashing the restaurant.  The power kept going off until they realised it was the outside lights that were responsible.  Had grouper fish, delicious.

May 6, Penina

Still grey weather but still okay for shorts.  Not too slow.  Went to Dona Barca in the evening, usual good fish and Vinho Verde.

5 May, Faldo Course, Portugal

Arrived to grey weather, about 15 deg.  Had to have buggies, just as well as the round still took a bit under 6 hours.

Not driving well still, but got two birdie twos in an otherwise pretty poor round.  Found the course a bit too artificial and American style.

Martin feeling unwell with headache in evening, so Tony, Trev and I had the oriental buffet in the breakfast room.

Crameri Cup, round 1

Played Nick and Don from Moor Park.

Contributed a bit but Tony was the strong man.  We got to 4 down with six to go, and Don had an outrageous chip in from under the far bush on 15. So three down, three to go.  Then it began to pour.  I won 16, Tony won 17 with a 5, and arrived on 18 with Tony about 15 feet away to Nick's 8 or so.  Tony got the birdie and Nick missed.  Up the first, with Tony hitting a cracking third into the wind.  His par won the game.

1 May, Bracken

Out in the last group because of being third overall.  Started with 4 putts and really struggled with drives as the round went on.  Pretty miserable 24 points, highlight being a good par on the 8th.  May give this trip a miss next year.

30 April, Hotchkin

Another tough round, just 10 out and finding several bunkers.  Rallied to finish with 17 including a great par on the last, pin high in 2.

29 April - Hotchkin

Drove up with Andy.  Usual tough course, out in 16, back in 11, strong wind.

3 May - Crameri Cup vs Moor Park

First round match against Nick and Don, both powerful hitters.

Lost the first and second to pars and struggled to hold on as they played very solidly.  Won the ninth with a 7 as the wind took its toll.  Three down after 11, 4 after 12.  Then I won 13 and Tony 14.  Tony looking favourite on 15 with Nick out of it and Don almost in the bush beside the green.  Outrageous hack out from him, straight in.  So three down, three to go.  Then the rain started.  Won 16 with 3, with Tony still having a birdie putt.  Then Tony fluffed his second on 17 as I hit two good ones.  Huge shot from Tony to the back of the green, while mine went over. Tony won it with a 5.  Back to one down.  Good drives from us on 18 but my second left short.  Nick in to about 10 feet and Tony about twice that.  Crucial putt from him, straight in.

Back up the first in foul conditions, Don really complaining.  Nick missed right for 3, I was short but Tony hit a glorious rescue club from about 130 yards into the wind.  Two putts for an unlikely win!

1 May - Bracken

Less cold but golf no better.  Played with Ted, John and Terry in the last four, as the group with lowest scores.

Started with 4 putts then hit some good drives but finding the approach shots difficult.  14 out and beginning to feel ok but then a bad back nine of 10 only, getting ragged. 

30 April. - Hotchkin 2

With Clive, Woody and Brian.  Again lots of sand and two blobs on 5 and 6, for just 10 out.  Cutting my drives still and finding the targets so difficult.  Rallied on the back nine with 17, finishing last four in one over.

29 April. - Hotchkin 1

Annual trip with Keith Cridland's group. Gary, Barry, Keith, Ted, Andy, Clive, John G, Woody, Dave Crossley, and two newcomers, Terry and Brian.

Strong wind and cold, making the course difficult as ever. Kept scoring on the front nine for 16 but every hole a battle and several bunkers on the way.  Then had blobs on the short 13th and next hole, struggling to 11 back.  Two great shots on 18 to pin high.

25 April - Home vs Ely

Played with Mike Thrower again, taking on Ian? and John Gray.  Ahead early on and building on the lead to win 4 and 3.  Dry for most of round.