The 2023 season for the Follies continued on 19th May with fifteen “golfers” assembling at Oundle Golf Club for this year’s second outing. Having driven through very wet roads following an earlier downpour, the expectation of needing wet-weather gear was high – but it seems the gods were smiling. We were treated to an afternoon of perfect golfing weather.

On arrival, the bacon rolls and tea/coffee were well received. Advice for the day given from the clubhouse, was to stay out of the rough (like we have a choice in the matter). They explained that due to staff shortages, strangely coupled with a lawn mower shortage, it was a little longer than usual in places.

It would appear the cleaning/maintenance team might have been shorthanded too. When Geoff asked if he could use the showers afterwards, the response from a member of staff was “I wouldn’t, they probably haven’t been used in the last three months”.

These staff shortages became more apparent after the round, when we discovered the clubhouse was locked up and everyone had gone home. As a result, we were unable to hold the usual post-round discussions and prize-giving rituals, and therefore notable events from the day are rather limited.

On the first tee, a warm welcome was extended to Richard Cheng on his first post-Covid outing with us, with someone commenting that Richard usually played wearing a sombrero??

As the afternoon progressed, the third group arrived at the 6th tee and somehow found themselves directly behind the first group (Dave W, Geoff and Trevor), – with no sign of the second group. It transpired that the second group hadn’t vanished into thin air as was first suspected, but Dave W, Geoff and Trevor had earlier played the 8th instead of the 6th, and had doubled back to hopefully put things right.

Trevor was particularly concerned to hear that there could potentially be some sort of penalty for playing holes out of sequence, as he had chipped in on the 8th with his third shot, giving him a magnificent 5 points! This would undoubtedly have been a topic for discussion afterwards, had the clubhouse been open.

Nearest the pin was on the 13th, and a loud cheer was heard coming from the final group. Looking back from the next tee, the previous group could see no ball visible on the green. Could there have been a hole-in-one? Not quite. Sean had hit the flag-stick from the tee (hence the cheer), but alas the ball then scampered off the green, leaving Dave W to claim the nearest the pin victory.

Where possible, prizes were given out in the car park, to those that remained:

1st place went to Paul Flanders with a very impressive 42 points

In 2nd place was Colin Humphries with 37 points (prize to be given at next meeting)

In 3rd place was Darren Pears with 35 points (beating Dave Ballard on count-back)

Nearest the pin was Dave West (prize to be given at next meeting)

Onto the next outing – Friday 30th June at Elton Furze where the President’s Cup is also at stake.

Davids West & Ballard won the Elton Furze Winter League.