Feeling no pain
After an excellent dinner at Donnington Grove
L - R: Roger Thomas, Robin Carpenter, Bryan White, Keith Eldred, Eric Wood, Penny Ward, Derek Messling, John Herbert, Nigel French, Alan Green, John Boyd, Mike Harley, Tim Nutt, Leslie Thompson
Report of HAGS/PWDGS-UK outing to Donnington Grove
13/14 August 2008
The outing to Donnington Grove Country Club on 13/14 August has come and gone, and was, I believe, a success, despite the last-minute disruption to the arrangements caused by an earlier competition overrunning because of bad weather in the morning. The turn-out was good (14 golfers + one non-golfer for dinner), with participation from PWDGS regular Keith Eldred and prodigal HAG Tim Nutt.
For the record, the results were as follows:
Day 1 Texas Scramble at Donnington Valley
Winners: Team 3 77 gross; 69 nett
(French, Harley, Messling, Nutt)
Runners-up: Team 2 77 gross; 70 nett
(Eldred, Carpernter, Green)
Nearest pin (9) : Harley
Nearest pin (16) : No winner
Day 2 Individual Stableford at Donnington Grove
Winner : Boyd 31 points
Runner-up : Thompson 29 points
Nearest pin (7) : Eldred
Nearest pin (15) : No winner
As can be seen from the winning scores in the individual stableford competition, even in near perfect weather conditions, the Donnington Grove course was tough and played long. Nonetheless all agreed that it was an excellent course and in very good condition, offering some great views of the surrounding countryside and Donnington Castle from various vantage points. There were, however, some long walks between holes and some tough climbs, making the use of buggies a good idea for many of us.
The accommodation and other facilities at the Donnington Grove hotel were, generally, up to the HAGS' exacting standards, albeit the central heating was a little eccentric. The food, both dinner and breakfast, was first class. The wine with dinner was kindly provided by the hotel, as recompense for the disruption to our arrangements.
Given that we did not need to pay for wine and in order to keep members' contributions to prizes down to £5, a sum of £40 towards the cost of the prizes was drawn from the generous contribution from the Hong Kong HAGS. That leaves £92.25 in the "slush fund" for next year.
As discussed, arrangements for next year will be put in hand in due course on the same basis as this year ie:
- Date: 1st or 2nd week in August
- Location: South of the M4 or maybe a bit further north if a suitable venue is found
- Golf course with on-site accommodation - possibly a slightly less demanding course being preferred
- Standard of accommodation: Preferably 4* hotel or equivalent (or better if price is right)
- Golf: Texas scramble on Day 1 and Individual stableford (main comp) of Day 2
- Prizes: To be provided by organiser, subject to small (c £5) contribution from members attending
We shall, I am sure, be delighted to welcome PWDGS members to participate in next year's outing, whether or not it is officially a joint event again.