Christmas Round Up 2013
Firstly, I would like to welcome our new cowboy Graham Jackett, a keen marathon runner so don’t let him get behind you on the course. Hope you all had a good winter and another great trip was enjoyed in Spain. I got myself off to sunny Florida, where you can’t go wrong for guaranteed weather and very competitive green fees on great golf courses. Also, Disney magic, like a big kid with Mickey and Minnie mouse. It was great fun!
Sadly not long after I got home my mum became ill and died in March, thank you for all your kind messages. She was one of life’s characters, my best friend. Any of you will know what it feels like when you have lost someone you really love. There was no one prouder of my achievements in golf than my mum and she always took a great interest in Carla’s Cowboys. I managed to pass my PGA Advanced diploma and now have Advanced Professional status. I went to the graduation at Birmingham University in April. This was for mum!
The first competition of the year was at Frodsham, which was moved back to April as we had snow! Julie won with 34 points on a card play off from her better half, John. Then also off to play Sale in April, which was a lovely day. I played with Trixie Dixie and Julie and there was some good steady play. Dixie was driving like a demon! Julie was passing on some accurate yardages with her new GPS watch, couldn’t go wrong except put the ball in the hole! J.C was showing off with his new Motocaddy, boy did he look the part! “I wish the swing would match it” he chuckled. The winner on the day was Jesse James with 38 points.
May took us to hilly Houghwood and Bob commented that it was the best bacon butty he had had so far. The course was in lovely condition and the rain kept off. I played with Bagpipe John who had a very steady round, hitting all the par 3’s in regulation! His Scottish wheels only fell off for a couple of holes but he managed to settle himself down and single putt the last 4 holes. ‘Look at that,’ he remarked. Bronco brooks was our other playing partner, just not quite on his lovely roll today. I sneaked in for the 2’s so that was nice and Cool John O’Connell won with 37 points, which was a close call as he dropped his cigarette machine halfway round but J.C. found it and saved the day for him.
In June the cowboys headed off to Woolton golf club, which is a very nice parkland course and well kept. I was on holiday down in West Sussex, lovely part of the world and not a spot of rain. Our sympathy goes out to J.C as he lost his mum and couldn’t make it on the day. The winner was Bronco Brooks with 34 points. Around this time we had another new cowboy join us, Dave Stephens. Welcome Dave. Fast talking Bill introduced him so I will leave that with you!
Dr. David had a charity heart foundation day at Pryors Hayes in July and Brooky, Julie and John were in the team and they came third so well done to them!
We had a great spell of summer then, up in the high 70’s most days but unfortunately we had rain at Runcorn, end of July. The course was immaculate though. I played with Doc Dave and J.C. Doc Dave had some tree trouble and was getting a little frustrated after bragging he’d been playing so well and beat a 16 handicapper at Royal Liverpool golf club! If you know Runcorn you don’t have to be far off line to be in trouble!
We are all into these wrist GPS’s not sure we all know what’s going on with them though. J.C has one that talks to him because he can’t see it, he told me the yardage on one hole, “you have 203 yards to the centre of the green”. “Ok” I said, just about to take my backswing, “hold on” he cries, “that’s the time! I think everybody’s satellites are linking up with every body else!” We had a great day and a fantastic meal, “the best so far” George bellowed out. I’m not joking there was more meat on that chicken than there was on George! The winner of the day was Fast Talkin Bill with 34 points. He was chuffed to bits!
August shooting ground was Aldersey green, always a tricky one for some reason. Never many good shootin’ scores there. The winner was Slinghookin Steve with 33 points. J.C tried to turn up for the day but got lost and gave up. Lots of cowboys on holiday for this one, including me. Had a great time in Normandy, France and empty golf courses, a golfers dream!
Beautiful Indian summer day for the John Biss Trophy, he ordered it again!
Every body was a little nervous on the first tee as I chose to film their swings to show at the 19th, some cringed and some were quite chuffed.
It was a great day, I played with Maverick Mal, Gee Up George and Cool John O’Connell. Mal was very impressed with George’s colour coordination of the day, yellow and orange! George cried disappointedly that he has an orange towel for his golf bag but he’d forgotten it today. I’m not sure whether that upset him so much he started chucking his clubs on the 11th or the frustration of his bad shots! Could have been both! In fact, on the same hole Mal asked me if you could tap down the lie around the ball with your foot! What’s going on? We had lots of prizes and nearly everybody won something which was great but the winner of the John Biss Trophy was Bronco Brooks. A worthy winner indeed!
October, the last one of the year, for the cowboys, at Bidston Golf Club which none of us found easy in any way. We all had a few detours I ended up at Wirral ladies golf club and the Tennis club! Linda and Bob followed Steve and still got lost as they were following the wrong car! Eventually we all got there safely after staring at the rain, which hammered down all morning and by the time we teed off it was dry with just a bit of a gale! It was blowing that hard on the 1st hole that many a cowboy visited the car park, the bullets were firing! Ping! Ping! Nervously we checked our cars on the way out. I played with Linda and Jesse James, blind leading the blind. Which green are we playing to? We lost our trust following Steve, Julie and Bag pipe John as they walked off down a path because they couldn’t find the 2nd tee. There was a great deal of looking for balls too as the leaves were white! Sundance Stephens said he couldn’t believe how many balls he had lost on a course with no rough! He still managed to win though with 28 points, after hitting the portakabin on the 1st hole in the car park! Nothing like a good start eh!
The Player of the year is Bronco Brooks, who has shown his consistency throughout the season. It was a close win by 2 points. Well done and I’m sure you will all agree that David has done a great job organising all the games on a Wednesday for you. Also, thanks to Steve for organising the society day competitions once a month. This keeps our little society together, enjoying great fun and good company.
Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas and new year and good golfing for 2014.
Very Best Wishes
Love Carla
