Another successful day at Cobtree Manor saw a new name on the trophy. But the auspices of the day could hardly get off to a worse start. As I turned on BBC as silly o’clock to listen to the weather forecast, those dreaded words ‘’Weather Warning’’ seemed to echo round my kitchen. Severe storms, thunder and lightning, very very frightening Plans for shorts and summer gear quickly amended, I made my way with to Cobtree with some trepidation. The usual suspects – plus, a few newbies – began to gather for bacon sarnies, casting worried glances into the skies outside.
What was there to fear. The day was the hottest of the year, a few unthreatening clouds in the sky. Saint Michael Fish, Patron Saint of weather Forecasters had once again been a tad off the mark. And so, the thirty odd souls hacked, thrashed and squealed round Cobtree. Well, some of us did, There were a few who seemed to know what they were doing, thus Steve Wilson and James Clemmence won the a.m. and p.m. longest drives. Domini Carslaw won the morning Nearest The Pin, his ball about nine inches, or a typical Andy Priseman try, from the pin. Andrew Carslaw won the afternoon nearest the pin with a shot variously described as a Sally Gunnell, a wounded snipe and a controlled shank by his playing partners. But as a very wise man once said ‘’ No pictures on the score card, old chap’’.

In third place, overall, on countback was Mike Davis. Second Andy Carslaw, although Steve Beale had also come second but, rather like Marlon Brando in 1973 refusing his Oscar, the Godfather of Vigo Golf, also refused his award. The winner of this years Vigo Open was guest John ‘’Juan Pablo’’ Merryfield, a guest. His handicap will come under intense scrutiny when he returns to defend his title next year, of that you can be assured. The Tombstone went to Luke Henderson for reasons unconnected to the game of golf as we know it (which left a few people breathing sighs of relief.

Once again a splendid day, organised by Steve Beale, to whom the rest of us offer our gratitude. (Althgough it did relieve my bag of some weight as I inexorably worked through my cache of golf balls)