Our latest golf society outing took us to Woodside Golf Course, nestled in the scenic shadow of the UK’s largest radio telescope, Jodrell Bank, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only does this 9-hole parkland course offer the surreal backdrop of one of Britain’s great scientific marvels, but it also boasts a well-earned reputation for staying dry, even when the rest of the region is underwater. So, with that in mind, we set off for the Past Captains Crystal Event with optimism and rain jackets securely left in the car.
11 Players, 12 Golfers: Do the Math
We started the day with 11 players and by the time we finished, we somehow had 12. It’s like a magic trick gone slightly wrong and an extra player appeared. Did the radio telescope teleport an extra golfer from a distant galaxy or perhaps the society needs to provide training for the starter. Read on.
A Morning Full of Promise and Unexpected Obstacles
The morning began dry but brisk, with the kind of chill that wakes up your senses but makes you question if you should’ve added an extra layer. The sky was clearing up nicely though, hinting at a bright day ahead. However, Woodside wasn’t done surprising us. In a first for me (and most likely for everyone else), a horse casually wandered across the fairway! It seems Woodside offers not just challenging greens but the occasional wildlife hazard too. Now, we can all check “yield to horse” off our golf bucket lists.
The Mysterious Lone Golfer
Halfway through the round, we noticed a lone golfer gaining on us from behind. With our group, being a three-ball, we invited this wandering golfer to join us. His name was Alex, and it turned out we may have unintentionally recruited another bandit into the mix. Alex played almost too well, making us question whether he came for a friendly round or to give us all a masterclass.
The Resident Bandit’s Tale of Two Halves
Our society’s resident bandit started with guns blazing, bagging a birdie on the first hole, followed by three pars and four net pars. However, as is often the case in golf, all good things must come to a shanking end. While the back nine is the same course, it seemed to transform into a parallel universe of duffed chips and missed putts. We’ll just leave it at that—some things are better left unsaid.
An Adapted Format for a Missing Hole
Since the 18th hole was out of play, the format for the day was Stroke Play. That didn’t seem to faze our trusty Secretary, Ian Morris, who carded an impressive 69 to take the win. Joe Wilcox, finishing with the same score, just missed out on top honors on countback. It was a finish so tight, the horse on the fairway seemed like just a minor hiccup in the day’s mane event!
The Elusive 2nd Green
Ah, the 2nd hole! A great opportunity to shine with the “Nearest the Pin” challenge—or at least that was the theory. Most of us struggled so much that we had to call a mulligan and try again on a different hole on the back nine. For those of you wondering, the “Twos Pot” remains unclaimed and will roll over to the final event. So, there’s still a chance to claim a bit of glory (and cash) at the year’s end!
Wrapping Up in the Clubhouse
After the game, we all gathered in the clubhouse to swap war stories, compare egos, and toast to a day well spent. Alex, our unexpected 12th player, joined us for some post-game camaraderie, cementing his spot not just as an on-course bandit, but as a potential new member. That’s right—our mysterious twelfth player is likely joining us for the final event, and we’re genuinely looking forward to having him. He might be the key to bolstering our ranks (or at least increasing our odds of the society hitting a nearest the pin green!).
Until Next Time…
In the end, it was a brilliant mixture of competitiveness, camaraderie, and the kind of light-hearted frustration that only golf can provide. We had horses crossing fairways, mysterious golfers joining our ranks, and some classic back-nine meltdowns—pretty much everything you could hope for in a society golf outing.
With the “Twos Pot” still up for grabs and the final event looming, we’re already looking forward to the next challenge. Just remember to count your players before and after, and if you see a lone golfer lurking in the distance… invite them along. Who knows, you might just find your newest society bandit!