Doak, Dinner, Hickories, Heaven and Honourable Company (some new additions)

[Darren_Kilfara]

Tony (et al.) - I thought I was going to be out of town on business next week, but at short notice my trip has been cancelled, and I'd love to hook up with everyone at TRC and then for dinner. Can you let me know if a slot is still available (particularly for dinner)?

By the way, if anyone is around and fancies a game at Dunbar on Sunday afternoon, let me know - I can probably organise something at fairly short notice.

Cheers,
Darren

[Philip Gawith]

Tony, many thanks for all your organisational work which made this a really fun trip.

For those of you who weren't there, hickories with Alfie at Musselburgh was memorable; we had a good test around North Berwick on a beautiful day with a wee breezy; Tom Doak and team showed us around The Renaissance Club, next door to Muirfield which was fascinating (has some great looking holes); we had a festive dinner at Ducks in Aberlady - and then some of us played 36 at Muirfield the next day. We were fortunate to get the HCEG on a calm day, with the rough pretty modest by their standards - it remains a wonderful place to spend a day playing, and very, very few clubhouses are its equal.

Alas, some of us had to return to keyboards and work - the other lucky chappies are busy making their way round St Andrews still....

As ever, it was fun to meet some fresh GCA faces, including first ever female. Well done Shane - and hats off to her and Matthew for coming all the way from Beijing.

[Alfie]

Philip, Tony and all the hickory group,

Thanks to all of you (especially Tony for putting his silky head on the block re - proposing a game with the hickories) and for allowing me a fun day out too !

Full credit to Shane for her commendable transition to sticks and Andrew for playing the entire 9 holes....the wrong way round  

Philip said - "Alas, some of us had to return to keyboards and work - the other lucky chappies are busy making their way round St Andrews still.."

Alas, one of us had to return to mortar boards and work - but I was still glad to help out with some exceptional Scottish weather for your trip. (with a little help from the "Big Man" upstairs ?)

Alfie.

[James Bennett]

Yes Alfie, the weather was exceptional.  All the special wet weather gear purchased was in vain.  All that was needed was a wind breaker, and some pockets for your hands between shots.  Aye, Scotland is far more pleasant for weather than London.  Well, East Lothian and Fife anyway.

James B

[Andrew Mitchell]

What a great trip!  We certainly packed a lot in to our two days in East Lothian.

My thanks go to Bill McBride or the original suggestion; Tony Muldoon for bringing everything together; Alfie Ward for providing us with the hickories (including a set for those of us who stand on the other side of the ball!); Tom Doak for giving up his time to show off his work at The Renaissance Club.

It was good to meet up with old friends and make new ones - I look forward eagerly to the next GCA get together!