Saturday 27 June
Warwickshire Golf & Country Club
The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club
Leek Wootton
Warwick
Warwickshire
CV35 7QT
Defending Champion - Curt (Individual) Pedro (Team)
Tee times from 8am
Refreshments Breakfast provided from 7.30am Lunch at 1.15pm (ish)
Cost £60 (includes all day buggy action)
Format Team event, Morning Pairs Mutliball Scrable & Afternoon Individual Stapleforth
Longest Drive
Nearest the pin
Share Your Thoughts/Insults on the Forum
Prize structure
Winner – 24
Runner-up – 12
Longest Drive – 5
Nearest the Pin – 5
Winning Team - 4
Team event winners to be awarded 10 RPs
Get Your Wagers on at PedroPower - Prices Available
Entrants: Pres, Cooperman, Simon, Pedro, Ron, Idiot, Bacon, Noz, TD, Curt, Ads, Aust
From the Sponsor:
in my personal opinion is the second most important event on the Tour and is therefore a must for all Members - Due to careful planning perfected over the last two years and incorporating feedback from the Members it includes an overly complex concept and scoring system, (which few of you will understand, but thoroughly enjoy), it incorporates a Ryder Cup style team competition, (including an 18 hole Mutliball Scramble and an 18 hole singles competition and Stapleforth Major), it will almost certainly be the wettest weekend of the year and coupled with the 36 hole format it is the "endurance event" in the annual calendar - Basically it is superb day out.
The President's will again take place at it's spiritual home - The Warwickshire - and after lengthy negotiations I have managed to secure the same (excellent value for money) deal as last year, but I suggest when we vote for the lunch menu we avoid the "cat food and tinned tomato pie" option….
7.30 am (SHARP) - Coffee and bacon rolls on arrival and the "Ryder Cup" Team Selection Process
8.36 am - 18 holes of Championship Golf on the Earls Course : "The morning 18" - The famous "Mutliball Scramble " (Incorporating a pairs handicap differential mechanic)
1.15pm approx - Lunch - but not "cat food and tinned tomato pies"
2.20pm - 18 holes of Championship Golf on the Kings Course : The combined individual WHVRPs Major and Singles event for the Ryder cup event ( Full Stapleforth )
7.30(ish) pm - Prize giving
9.00pm Home, changed, out, Sauce [Venue TBC]
c.12.00pm - Potential use of the Milmore "sock trick", as utilised by S Howelly last year
The 36 hole green fees, buggies all day, "breakfast" and lunch costs a mere £60 per person - Which, to reiterate, includes: 36 holes of Championship golf, "breakfast" and lunch - Bargain.
We really need sixteen (or twenty) competitors for this to work properly so please respond promptly - although I am sure that you have already got this in your diaries so it is only a matter of a confirmatory email to me to book your place.
Coops, Onions, Pal "O", Ron, Begley boy, Pearcie - It would be good to see you.
A resounding first time win for the President's team - here's the sheet used on the day, with "Versus" spelled correctly!
Scroll down to see how much of a contribution the President himself made to the result.
Some on course reportage from the web donkey, for once not in the first group at an event and able to capture some action shots!
Driving off for the morning mutliball
Fastest swing in the world captured on camera…
Bacon 'shinning it' into the cabbage
A classic powerdraw - magic in motion
Society Low Man draws it right into the middle
The President Drives his team to victory by contributing no points at all….
A nice lunch at the Warwickshire
Newsworthy stuff
Time for some loitering before the afternoon challenge begins
Anyone want to buy a hat?
Afternoon Singles
Ads on the way to a good score - nicely through with the legs there Adam…
Bacon gets off to a better start on his way to third
'Angry' Coops gets ready to lather his way to 2nd
Noz is on his way to 40 and a well deserved slashing of his handicap
On a lighter note….
TD gets his legs out, but fails to trouble the scorers very much
and finally, it Aint Half Hot Ron
The 2009 President's Classic prompted more pre-match banter than usual - mainly due to some sharkly activities by two of the entrants. One of them even had the cheek to try and offset his guilt by playing the 'charity' card as if there had been no problems.
The full details of the shark incident will be added here once they have concluded.
Here are some snippets of the conversation, which when added together, probably numbered over 100 emails.
Dougal Invents a New Cocktail
My understanding is that a "Port in a Storm" is made up of:
1/4 cup port (20 year old, Tawny)
2 tablespoons pineapple juice
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 fresh mint sprig
I hope the Coach Horse has mint….
Dougal Changes his Cocktail Recipe
Port in a Storm
* Cocktail Variety: Fruity
* Cocktail Strength: Strong
* Cocktail Size: Long
* Glass Type: Red Wine Glass
* Garnish: Mint
* Method: Stir and Pour
* Ingredients: Large Port (20 year old, Tawny), 15 ml Cognac, Orange Zest, Ice Cubes
Because we can forgo the Mint, Orange Zest and Ice cubes, if required.
Dougal Contemplates Fate/Serendipity/Inevitability
This week has been the hottest week so far this year, next week will be hotter and Wimbledon is currently on schedule - However as I sit at my desk, with about 18 hours before the Presidents kicks off, my panoramic views of the greater Birmingham sky line are getting darker by the second and guess what….. Here comes the rain again, Falling on my head like a memory…
Noz in Work Shocker
During the great sharking storm of 2009, calls were heard for the intervention of the Player's Representative, to which the response was measured, but possibly out of line with the masses of members who preferred to vote shark:
"Unfortunately and unusually I have been busy for a couple of days now and am likely to be for a little while, I have had to temporarily suspend my personal policy of “replying to all” to every email I receive.
I have however already spoken with the accused today and assured him of my full support, I have not spoken with Coops, but understand that he may also require it and will get it.
It seems to me only sensible that if the opportunity presents itself, that you play the course before a major, last year I played the Warwickshire in the weeks leading up to the 2nd most important tournament of the tour, incidentally I believe I also had my worst round of that year there.
I am a B and urge the members who haven’t yet voted to do the same.
That said, Ron may want to provide a bottle of port for excluding other members of the GS from his round on Tuesday."
Coops Tries to Bribe Members and Distance Himself from the Shark Focus On Ron
In a blatant attempt at misdirection and creeping, Mr Cooper, also suspected and accused of sharking, took it upon himself to atone for his sins by offering 'insider' info prior to the Presidents:
"Taking detailed notes on the condition of the fairways, pin positions, pace of the greens and sampling beverages in the 19th. All valuable and important information that could be passed on to fellow society members that may wish to retract their initial vote."
This was followed by a very pointed piece of bumlickery in the direction of the Captain, knowing his weakness for a drop of stout. Unfortunately, the Captain seemed to have missed this snivelling tactic and agreed that information about Murphys was important.
Spike Participated Throughout
The most 'romantic' member of the society contributed throughout the debate with his usual level of bons mot witticisms and general gibberish. He seemed particularly keen on asking 'Boogal' how busy he was, when evidently not so busy himself as to not be responding to society chatter.
Ron/Rob/Noz Confused by the Independent Operations of PedroPower
Despite being clearly stated on this website in the terms and conditions, a number of senior members displayed a disheartening level of understanding of how the turf accountancy process of the GS operates.
The President, once he returned from a Posh-O day out, stepped in to correct the perceptions…..
"However, if anyone else wishes to offer their turf accountancy services and set up a rival book for the WHVGS, offering more competitive rates then feel free - PedroPower does not have an exclusivity arrangement. "HarryHills", "WilliamSpittles", "BrownBrokes" etc.. etc…"
Rob Was An Idiot
Or an Eejit it would appear.
That is all
Examples of Idiocy
(Rob put all his eggs in one basket by pleading with the President to not be on the Captains team for the Team Event at the Presidents)
(He also had a bet - on himself - rejected for being in contravention of the bookmakers rules)
From Noz
The early start was clearly too much for some, myself and Adam arrived outside Austs at 7.10am, as planned, to hear shouts from inside the house of “where are my trousers” and bizarrely “where are my boxer shorts”. He must only own one pair. It took a little while to find the elusive pair of boxer shorts and we eventually got away at 7.25am. Not too bad really. Following a reasoned debate we decided that the M40 would be the most appropriate route and I for one think that it was a correct decision.
We arrived around 7.45am and tucked into a tasty bacon sandwich and a nice cup of tea. Everyone arrived in plenty of time to arrange the two captains to pick the teams for the mornings Texas Scramble. Pedro was captaining his first team as club captain although he had stepped in for his less dedicated and less reliable predecessor. The team break down was inter esting, with Pedros team containing a number of the lower handicappers, whilst Dougals team was made up of the mid range handicappers.
I didn't see much of the other 2 groups play in the morning, but I must mention Robs awesome performance in the morning, ably assisted by Ads, particularly impressive considering he was on the back of a big job and only a couple of hours sleep. Well Done Idiot. A word of caution to the rest of the society – after Adam airshotted on the 17th he chose to immediately attempt his third shot rather than pick his ball up and move to the better positioned ball that Rob had already hit effectively costing a shot. Be more careful next time, particularly if you are slaughtering the opposition (myself and the Pres) as they are likely to clutch at any straw offered to save half a point.
The Captains team raced into a 6 ½ - 2 ½ lead by the end of the morning, but with plenty of points up for grabs in the afternoon there was still all to play for. Lunch was certainly an improvement on last years cat food and tinned tomatoes, a tasty ham and eggs with chips. The afternoon groups were randomly selected and everyone was ready to go.
Again I can only comment on the performances of my20group which consisted of myself vs Arran and Simon (for the Pres) vs Gregs (for the Captain). Arran absolutely played out of his skin, and used every bit of extra knowledge that he had gained from his round on the course 4 days earlier and managed to come in after the front 9 with 15 points, the same as me. Well Done Arran. Gregs managed only 6 points on the front 9 and Simon easily took the points.
To the back 9, where Dougals drive on the tenth was enough for him to keep hold of his big dog title. Gregs pulled some shots back and managed to put some pressure on Simon although it was ultimately not good enough to take any points and Simon came away 3 points to none. Myself and Ron were neck and neck until the long par 3where my 2 extra shots were a huge advantage when I parred the hole. A gross birdie on the 16th put it out of reach for a 2 ½ – ½ win. The 17th was the nearest the pin hole, which I won with a PW knocked to within 6ft.
As the last group came in the team scores were close, but Aust sank his 3 foot putt to beat Rob 2-1 and seal the Pres's first ever victory in this event. Special mentions also go to Bacon for a creditable round of 35, Well Done Bacon, and Coops for his round of 38. Well Done Coops.
Thanks go to the Pres for organising another successful event at the Warwickshire for a bargain price again. I am sure that even the most revolutionary of members are grateful for the tireless efforts of both the Pres and the rest of the board in running a successful society.
