Spain 2010

This years much anticipated trip to the south coast of Spain started with rumours of rain, snow, courses closed, and general doom and gloom! However the the reality couldn't have been further from the truth. Having arrived in Malaga airport we were greeted with blue sky's and a mild yet pleasant morning.

Having arrived at the hotel it seemed a room with a view was out the window! The general idea for the day would be chill out get something to eat, have a drink and be ready bright and early for Mondays golf. However i don't think anybody mentioned this to Stevie Birrell and roll on 6 hours Stevie was making long distance phone calls with some temporary tattoos and and an ice bucket on his head after going for a solo tour of Benalmadena!

To every ones surprise, sat at the breakfast table at 7.30 the next morning was a very sprightly yet confused looking birrell! Which leads us quite nicely to our first days golf. A 35 minute trip along the coast line to the hilly Cala Nova Resort with a new look format of singles and knockout cup to be contested. Well........ If the driving range was anything to go by, the course would have been world class. However six weeks of rain had taken its toll and yet having boasted some great individual holes, the course looked tired and never really lived up to its write up as a hidden gem. Scores were quite low and some of the favourites struggled. Ian won the day with 32 points closely followed by playing partner Andy Carmichael on 31. (full results will be posted on the history and results page) The knockout cup saw five of the eight games concluded on the 18th with Stevie Birrell, Ian Pugh, James Barwise, Martin Bell, Chris Hallam Andy Carmichael, Trevor Griffiths and ste Sutton all progressing to the quarter finals.

The draw for Day Two saw Ian drawn against Ste Sutton, Trevor vs Andy Carmichael, James vs Stevie Birrell and Chris Hallam vs Martin Bell. The Location.... Rio Real Country Club, a stunning parkland course in which the front nine plays out to the coast and then back in to a well guarded closing nine. Andy Carmichael seemed to relish the challenge. The narrow fairways and well guarded greens didn't seem a problem as he stepped up to the mark shooting 38 points in a round which would prove to be the highest of the week. He also fended of Trevor in the knock out cup. Trevor was never the same after he fell onto an electric fence on the 10th!!! Again close behind were Ian and this time James Barwise who booked his place in the semi finals with a second day score of 34 points which saw him forget an opening day twelve points and put him back on track. also through was Chris Hallam who made up the four for the semi Final draw.

Day Three saw the teams split into two divisions with Andy Carmichael, James and Ian heading the first division Whilst Leigh, Ted and Ste Bristow looked favorites for promotion from the second. Day three's venue was Santa Maria! A course which was lined with pine trees and riddled with well placed water hazards and pot bunkers. Having got over his electric shock in the previous round Trevor avoided manslaughter charges by the width of a small tree on the par 5 16th hole! His drive struck the tree at head height were another golfer was taking shelter!!
James Barwise headed the way at Santa Maria with a great round that would see him knock Chris out the cup and move him up to second place in league one behind Andy Carmichael who was subsequently knocked out the cup by Ian in a close fought affair. Leigh and Tony Southern were promoted from the second division whilst Trevor and David Bristow dropped out of the top flight. the boys were a player short as frank fell foul to a bad stomach.

Before the final days play Tony and Ian took time out for a short exhibition on the driving range!! (click play)

The final days play at El Chaperal would decide the winners of the subsequent leagues whilst the knockout cup would go home with either James Barwise or playing partner Ian Pugh. There would also be a prize for best four round total. Tony southern got off to a flyer with 20 points in 9 holes in a bid to push himself up league one. Ian Pugh was one behind with 19 on a course which sported the fastest greens on the costa del sol! Having not scored on the first two holes stevie Birrell then played the next 10 holes one under par in a bid to make a late push. But with James barwise failing to capitalise on a great start and Andy Carmichael Struggling to keep up his impressive form it paved the way for Ian Pugh to have another steady round and sneak up into first place. Having played consistently all week he held off James to win the knockout cup and also bagged the best four round total.