We arrived at the Bicester Hotel and Golf venue on a cold but clear morning, well, almost all of us, Patrick falling victim to the closure on the M40. I think the Captain will be shaking his box in front of you when he sees you next, Patrick! It was good to see Glyn back for the day ahead of his hairdressing appointment, and also Ian, emerging from the Canadian winter, although probably warmer there than here on Sunday.
We duly consumed our complimentary hot coffee along with the not-so-hot bacon rolls, prepared for the inclement weather forecast and made our way to the first tee. Well. most of us did, but John and Neil became so absorbed with their practice on the range that, while normally one is looking down the fairway to see where those first drives of the day are heading, Alan and Peter were looking in all directions for the remainder of their group. So, group 3 became group 4 and vice versa. Meanwhile, group 5 ended up as a two because of Patrick's non-arrival.
We all awaited with interest to see how we would find the Bicester course, new to our calendar this year. A preview of their web site and some TripAdvisor reviews found descriptive terms used such as "challenging", "11 lakes", "lots of awkwardly placed bunkers", "emphasis on positional play", "undulating greens". Unusually, and in many cases, unfortunately, all proved true.
The chill, gusting wind kept the temperature down, and caused many shots to waiver from their intended line and length. The course was well-kept with close-mown fairways, but once you had negotiated the water and the sand, putting was another challenge. The fast, often firm, greens could take control of your ball so that you often ended up further from the hole than before you started!
Yours truly's performance for the day was typical of the first hole - a screaming drive right down the middle of the fairway followed by another screaming shot straight into the lake on the left! Having achieved the princely total of 8 points on the first nine, I then proceeded to halve that score on the back nine to equal my lowest-ever Stableford tally. Four shots in the same bunker on the 16th (and still not managing to get out) summed up my day. Playing partners Peter, Neil and John also had mixed fortunes on the course, and "it's certainly not my turn" was a statement heard frequently at the next tee.
It must be said that the Captain's choice of his Orifice was particularly crafty - the 14th proved a very difficult challenge with three lakes surrounding island fairways and green, and must have raked in a small fortune for his Charity!
Overall, despite the difficulties self-inflicted, a most enjoyable course and day.
Some other tales from the course . . . . . . . . . .
Craig: 13th - had a free drop off path behind the bridge, then hit the end of the wall of said bridge (only a 4" x 2" surface in view) to send the ball 100 yards back over his head. Also on the 9th, playing a provisional off of the tee, Craig hit way right to land on the garage roof of a large house, the ball ending up quite visible in the rear garden, but not retrieved!
Dennis: 2nd - beautiful approach shot to the green, only to find it was the 9th green having been wrongly directed there by his playing "partner"
Tony: 13th - having dropped his ball behind the ditch he found it in, proceeded to whack it into the brickwork on top of the bridge, it caromed off and flew straight at the tree Dennis was hiding behind, bounced off the tree and stopped a yard or so inside the out of bounds line. Fixed that with the next shot as it pinged off another tree to end up on the 11th fairway. Also on the 15th, Tony managed to land in three separate ponds with three consecutive shots! Meanwhile, despite a desperate search, Tony couldn't find his golf glove anywhere, the reason being it was stuck to the back of his jumper by the velcro. (Wonder how it got there!)
Results:
Twos: None achieved on the day
Nearest Pin (3rd): Not won
Nearest Pin (12th): The Captain
Singles Competition:
Preliminary Round: Gareth v Dennis - Dennis retired hurt, Gareth has offered to replay the match
1st Round: Martin beat Dave Crocker 4 & 3
Stableford:
Congratulations to Martin on his second successive win, this time on count back from Dave Williams. Martin is certainly setting the early pace in the Greenwood.
1st: 28pts Martin 2nd: 28pts Dave W 3rd: 27pts Ian
4th: 25pts Glyn 5th: 24pts Tony 6th: 24pts Gareth
7th: 19pts Dave C 8th: 18pts: The Captain 9th: 18pts: Peter
10th: 15pts Phil P 11th: 13pts Bob 12th: 13pts Rob
13th: 12pts Alan W 14th: 11pts John 15th 4pts Neil*
16th: 3pts Craig* 16th: 3pts Paul* Dennis retired hurt
* playing off "scratch"
COMPETITIONS
Please make every effort to play the initial matches now that the draws have been made. Matches should be completed by 8th June, but there are three fixtures before that date, so please get cracking. First name(s) drawn are responsible for the initiative.
NEXT FIXTURE: Saturday 5th April - Chipping Norton, arrive by 13:30 for 14:32 tee off. Cost £30.00 including "bits".
Cotswolds Club, Southcombe, Chipping Norton, OX7 5QH
Tel: 01608 642383
Directions:
Take the A361 from Banbury until you reach the A44/A3400 roundabout just before Chipping Norton. From other directions, aim for the main roundabout intersection of the three roads A44, A3400, A361. From the A361, turn left along the A44 for a short distance until the next junction (Southcombe), and turn right at the traffic lights into London Road. You will find the golf club almost immediately on your left.