Sunday 7th March 2010 – Captains’ Drive-In Day
I shortened my Sunday sleep-in in honour of to-day’s importance – the Captains’ Drive-In. And also to honour my bladder’s incessant reminders that I was teeing off in the Competition at 12.20 and nervous anticipation was crucial to same.
It was supremely sunny but when I let the dogs out my ears froze and my nose ran so I reckoned it were coldish. Double t-shirt and jumper combo it was to be then.
The Competition for the day (and the two preceeding days) was a 14-Hole 4-Ball Classic Stapleford (please re-arrange mentally to make actual sense if necessary – I am an L-Plater…) and The Buddy and I were down with a couple whom I did not know at all. Yikes.
I felt the buzz in the air upon arrival at the Clubhouse – many, many golfers dressed up and ready to go. As 12 noon approached a tension accumulated as we gathered in anticipation of THE ARRIVAL. The tones of the pipes drifted through the air as we turned as one towards the carpark. And there he was – Herbie in Blue!! And, even better, he had our two Honourable Captains on board in all their glory ready to drive the new golfing year into action.
Cheers were heard, photos were taken, hats were put on ‘cos ‘twas a fraction nippy…
It was my first ever Captains’ Drive-In and I did get to see the tree-planting ceremony (Alan Titchmarsh & Charlie Dimmock beware) but, due to our tee time of 12.20 I have yet to witness the actual drive-in. I heard it was great though.
The Yikes couple, with whom I had been previously unacquainted, were fantastic – easy-going, patient and tolerant (of me) with a delightful tendency to cheer all the good shots - the Husband’s operatic “Good Ball B” shall warm my cockles forever – and to ignore all the bad. One L-Plater in golf Heaven here. The weather remained beautifully sunny with a kidney-rattling Easterly breeze. Hat went on, hat came off, hat went on, hat came off again.
My 1st Captains’ Drive-In performance was varied – a nice 4 on the Par 3 3rd for 3 points (woo-hoo). My ball in the ditch on the right of the 8th (boo-hoo). My two new team mates EACH had get-the-ball-out-of-the-ditch-thingies (woo-hoo). My putting was a tad over positive on the 10th (The Buddy quote “good thing the hole got in the way of that shot”) BUT my 1 point was the only score on that hole – I prevented a scratch so I did. (woo-hoo-hoo).
The Presentation that night was lovely – not least as my team garnered an award – and not just an ordinary prize – a “Special Prize”. God, I love golf.
Well rewarded for bringing up the rear when
Golfing @ Garryhinch…