Introducing Ari Techner, Gordon Jones and Richard Pennell to Deal.
Thanks Mark. Deal was a definite highlight for me. Sad to hear you're injured - maybe we could get out again in the spring sometime. I didn't know you'd been playing with hickories either. Was the Deal pro involved? I know he has played in the British Golf Collectors Association match at Mitcham before.
Heathland tour fairly moribund but co-tourist had more important things to do this year. Congratulations to Richard Pennell on getting spliced – of course it means you’ll have more time for golf in future.
Thank you Tony. Didn't quite get enough golf in, its true, but you've not mentioned Rye, Pennard, Knole Park or the kicking I received round Walton Heath earlier in the year
. I think the key to playing more as a married man is to try and get my wife to cultivate the same understanding that your wife exhibits. Long way to go there, though.
Although I didn’t play that many courses this year it was great to play certain ones again, and get to know them a little more. Pennard went from 1 play to 4 this year, with the help of Mr Arble and the Club Professional. Similarly, repeat visits to Swinley, Sunningdale (New), Royal Wimbledon, Rye, and Walton Heath (Old) were more rewarding for having seen the courses before.
But the golf highlight for me was attending my first Open Championship, seeing Carnoustie from inside the ropes as a bunker raker, and in particular watching Robert Green make a charge at the leaderboard. After a wonderful round of golf, he missed from about 12 feet on the 18th for a record-equalling 63, and finished just 2 back of the play-off. Priceless.
GCA highlight: The thread that turned, unexpectedly, into a Jenny Agutter appreciation society.