For the first time ever my trip to a society Sunday started on Saturday. Mark Campbell hosted seven of us at his place in Conwy (thanks again Mark) and maybe it was this great preparation that led to some good golf. A few pints in the pub, a lovely meal out in Llandudno and a room avoiding Kirky and Paul Foode’s snoring! What more could you ask for? Maybe avoiding a second time watching Newcastle concede in the 95th minute on Match of the Day would’ve been nice but you can’t have it all.

I sadly missed Col’s win the month before (not that I would have seen it if I’d been there anyway, ask Father Christmas for a new abacus Col) but it was a joy to watch the great man tee off in the winner’s hat going out first with captain Lee. A scene not to be missed by anybody. Unless you are his youngest son who decided he’d rather fly to Tenerife that day and miss his Dad’s big moment. Then the long wait until my tee time in the final group. A trip to the putting green, the pro shop, back to the putting green, even a hit in the net (a first for me) and then back to the first tee just in time to see the first group reach the second hole. Time killing attempts were all in vain. I admitted defeat and ate my chocolate for the round before we even teed off.

All that said, there must be something in this warmup stuff. I started par, birdie, birdie and then had eight feet for birdie on the fourth. I duly missed the putt and came back down to earth but it certainly set me up for a good score. Dan Foode and I were level pegging most of the round but once we turned into the wind on the back nine a few blobs cost Foodey his chance at the win. Maybe he had taken his foot off the gas after winning in his matchplay (I won’t mention the score Rob) or maybe it was the two hours sleep he kept claiming he had from sharing a room with his Dad. I’ll let the Foode’s debate that between them.

It was a glorious December day and regardless of the level of play I don’t think we can ask for more than that at this time of year. Blue sky and a clear day’s golf on a lovely course. I walked in to the clubhouse greeted by a few congratulations so I thought I probably had a chance with my score but Mike Bower greeting me with ‘well that’s you out of Tenerife’ confirmed it for me. We’ll see about that one Mike.

Thanks again to captain Lee for another great presentation. It is quickly becoming a great feature of his captaincy. See you all at Leasowe (in the usual hurricane and hailstone I assume).

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Josh Hadden

For full schedule see; Prestatyn

Long Drive – Andy Davies

NP – Frank McGlynn

NP2 – Mark Campbell

2’s – Mark Campbell

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

I arrived at Berrington knowing there was lots of trees and water on the course and that a number of my normal rivals for the spoon were missing – I wasn’t hopeful. Having had a quality bacon barm and a cappuccino I headed for the first tee.

My group consisted of the old and the new: me and my winning Ryder cup fourball partner Phil, along with new member Rob and returning member young Michael. I managed to avoid the water off the first tee and was happy to get a 5. When the same thing happened on the second and third l realised something was wrong – the ball was going where l aimed it . I took the decision to use this to my advantage and started aiming where l wanted the ball to go. This strategy worked up to the SI 1 7th when the real Colin Davies returned!! I decided that l could play a 150 yard 6 iron over 40ft trees to a green l couldn’t see – blob !!

We continued with me and Phil watching Michael and Rob hitting 7 irons further than our drives while I told them I really am crap and don’t know what is going on. Phil has seen me play so just asked for a drug test. We completed the round and l was told l had scored 40 points and was runner up to a proper golfer Dan. I was happy with this and the 2 shot cut. The next day l was told that VAR was involved and I had scored 41 and won and was now going to get my second 6 shot cut. I said I was more than happy with second and a 2 shot cut but this was not allowed.

Before the round began it was pointed out that I had attended more monthly events since 2016 than anyone. The moral of the story is that if you attend most of the events for 8 years and never win anything you end up with such an embarrassingly high handicap that you have a chance!!

Cheers and see you all in god’s own country in December when I will be, once again, chasing the spoon.

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Colin Davies

For full schedule see; Berrington Hall

Long Drive – Rob Hodgson

NP – Dan Witterick

NP2 – Mark Murray

2’s – Dan Witterick, Simon Davies, Mike Bower, Lee Hardy

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

For the opening fixture of our 2024-25 season, we headed off to Nelson Golf Club located at the top of the Eiger! After the dousing at Mottram Hall in September and getting over the altitude sickness on the journey to Nelson GC, it was great to see the sun in a blue sky with only a gentle breeze greeting us. As we welcomed in our returning Captain Lee, after his last stint was ravaged by Covid, our new skipper decided he would introduce some visual aids to assist with our Prize holes this season.

Armed with new tee markers for the prize holes and new green & fairway markers, I had the honour of taking the first drive (in mandatory new head gear) as the winner of the previous event. Playing alongside Dave Hadden and a rejuvenated Frank McGlynn, we all hit good drives down the first, and then Messer Hadden Snr and McGlynn drove off down the fairway in their buggy leaving me to walk off alone like a Billy No Mates!

As we worked our way over the front the nine Dave and I hit a mix of good, mediocre and bad golf shots whilst Frank was playing like a demon on the first 7 holes racking up a sizeable points tally. As we continued onto the back nine Frank hit a bit of a wobble and developed the bunker yips on a couple of holes, which probably spoilt what would have been a fine round. Dave did his usual of hitting some erratic tee shots but then some remarkable second shots but didn’t seem to be able to find any luck on the greens. Personally, I saved my best until last. After hitting the trees (and nearly Andy D) down the left off the 18th tee, I had a 160yrd 6 iron into the green which I struck well and managed to win me the NP2 prize for the day!

Having to leave immediately after finishing the round, I was only aware late that evening that I had won the day, beating Andy in a countback. Surprised to also learn that Dave H had managed to land the Wooden Spoon with a score of 21 points. I think a new high bar had been set for the Spoon which I believe had Simon looking a bit nervous in the Clubhouse?

Congratulations to Josh for winning the 2023-24 Matchplay title over Dan Whit – a real Clash of the Titans event between two consistently good scorers.

Whilst it was a bit of a Trek getting there, I think all who attended agreed it was a great course with some stunning vistas and one definitely worth a repeat visit.

Thanks to Dave and Frank for a really entertaining day and really enjoyable company. Hope to see everyone at the annual Awards Dinner at Formby Golf Club on 1st November.

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Paul Foode

For full schedule see; Nelson Golf Club

Long Drive – Andy Davies

NP – Josh Hadden

NP2 – Paul Foode

2’s – Steve Clarke

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Paul Foode

For full schedule see; Mottram Hall – Captains Day

Long Drive – Matt Naylor

NP – Lee Hardy

NP2 – Josh Hadden

2’s – N.A.

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Josh Hadden

For full schedule see; Forest of Arden – FFGS Cup

Long Drive – Josh Hadden

NP – Dan Foode

NP2 – Andy Davies

2’s – N.A.

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Lee Hardy

For full schedule see; Vale Royal Abbey Golf Club

Long Drive – Josh Hadden

NP – Andy Davies

NP2 -Barry Dreaves

2’s – Evan Bale

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Martyn Wilson

For full schedule see; Chorlton-cum-Hardy Golf Club

Long Drive – Zach Jones

NP – Josh Hadden

NP2 -Lee Hardy

2’s – Colin Davies, Dave Whitaker

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

My thanks to the 2 Steve’s and Colin for witnessing a round of golf from a previous life from me. My real thanks goes to Jim Payne for a lesson two days prior. £30 well spent when you take into account my £20 winnings. Thought Manchester golf club was really nice and hope we go back there soon

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Mark Campbell

For full schedule see; Manchester Golf Club

Long Drive – Lee Hardy

NP – John Nelson

NP2 -Andy Davies

2’s – Andy Hanson, John Nelson

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event

And so, we made our long-awaited return to Leasowe Golf Club, the scene of absolute weather carnage on our last visit. Pleasing to say that for our return the weather was a lot more akin to that we would expect to play golf in and was probably our first dry outing in approx. 8months! The sun was shining, the temperatures were the right side of 20 degrees and there was plenty of FFGS flesh on display, even Josh Hadden was seen gracing a pair of shorts.

Arriving at the car park I decided that it would be safer to park as far away from the 1st fairway as possible, especially knowing that Martyn Wilson was in attendance and how he is partial to driving his first tee shot into a car park.

Bacon butties downed and scorecards distributed, we assembled on the first tee to watch our Captain take the honour. However, our Skipper had decided to go on yet another sunshine holiday and had delegated the honour of leading us out to his vice, Lee, who did so majestically by smashing his tee shot long and straight. Our group of Clarky, Steve Stuart, Mark Murray and I went out third with three of us hitting acceptable drives whilst Clarky knobbed one into the thick grass about 50yrds off the tee. As we navigated our way around the front 9 it became apparent that the key to success on this course was to be straight as anything not on the fairway or first cut was testing. The rough was exactly as it said on the tin with the slightly longer grass proving difficult to get out of. The greens were in good condition and a little slow, something that tends to suit my game!

And so to the back 9 and the prize holes, starting with the nearest the pin par 3. Our group expertly managed to not put a single ball on the green with two going long, one left and one short, never mind there was always the NP2 to go for. Alas, yet again none of our group managed to hit the target in two after a range of curious (and wayward) tee shots. Surely the tricky longest drive would see one of our group get their name on the card. A straight par 4 with two bunkers in the centre of the fairway, which brought much complaining from Dan Foode – big hitter with no finesse- stating it wasn’t fair! After much debate we decided that Clarky had managed to be the only one of our group to hit the fairway, and surprising was the first name on the card. We did suspect that it wouldn’t last long as the big guns followed us through……and it didn’t.

Having completed our round we went up to the gallery to watch the rest of FFGS display a range of par 3 wizardry on the 18th. Simon Davies managed to top the ball about 80yrds down the fairway and expectations were high that Colin would hit next and out-drive Simon. A decent contact, a straight and true ball flight which landed on the upslope halfway up the fairway and finished about 3yrds behind Simon’s ball. Next came the Matchplay’s with Dave and Martyn tied on the 18th tee, both with makeable par putts. Martyn duly sunk his, whilst Dave saw his do a 360 round the cup and return almost to the spot it started its journey from, Dave losing Martin one down. Next to the tee came a dejected looking Mike Bower, which would suggest it was game over already for Mike ………..and it was, having been well beaten by Dan Witterick. Well done to both Martin and Dan.

All in all a very enjoyable day on the Wirral, which could only have been bettered had Dan Foode collected the wooden spoon – which he tried his best to by finishing with a measly 21points, only one point ahead of the spoon.

Thanks and congrats to our winner, Paul Foode

For full schedule see; Leasowe Golf Club

Long Drive – Martyn Wilson

NP – Steve Davies

NP2 -Andy Davies

2’s – Steve Davies, Paul Foode

For current League and Helix standings see Current Season.

See you all at the next event