O.C.G.S. Meeting at Royal North Devon G.C. – 10^th September 2017
 
Our visits to England’s oldest golf course (founded in 1864) are always eagerly anticipated.  Officially designated a links course, R.N.D. offers additional features, more akin to moorland, plus some elevated greens and tees.  Add in walkers, holidaymakers, cars, and a few sheep and ponies, to the natural hazards of sea grass, bramble thickets, drainage ditches, an army of bunkers, some incredibly steep, few would argue with its categorisation by Golf World “as one of the Top 100 Courses in the World that a golfer must play.”  All this in a 180 degree spectacular panorama covering Westward Ho!, Bideford Bay, the Taw Torridge Estuary, Instow and Appledore to the East.  This delightful vista is fully viewed from the RND Clubhouse lounge where the O.C.s met for a pre-match coffee, and bacon bap.  On a personal basis I was especially pleased to be back at RND, having missed our 2015 visit, due to a motor breakdown en route.  This year I was kindly offered a lift in O.C. Secretary Doug Lodge’s Range Rover, and enjoyed good company and a stress free journey by an Advanced Motorist Instructor.
 
The first three ball group set off a few minutes after mid-day, just as mist and light drizzle obscured the view mentioned above, with a bracing breeze off the sea.  Holes 1 to 3 are a pleasant warm up (provided you stay on the fairway) before the first signature hole, the 4^th, with its 12 foot high by 150 feet wide sleeper wall and bunker set around 200 yards, directly between the tee and the pin.  The temptation is to try a blast over the wall, while a less challenging approach is a safer drive to the right but which adds around 75 yards distance to the green.
 
By this stage the wind had escalated almost to storm force, typically the Nearest the Pin in 3, on the Par 5 – 9^th became void since not even our star golfers made the green in 3.  Any hook or fade was exacerbated by a factor of three, as the wind punished anything less than a perfect shot.
 
The daunting 10^th hole, never becomes easier.  A fairway, fully hidden by 80/100 yards of sea grass and brambles which invariably claim a lost ball takes a sharp left turn to approach the green.  The 11^th with similar vegetation is equally challenging.  A gradual meandering return follows towards the clubhouse over fairly open terrain which gave little shelter from the wind.  A consolation is that the sandy soil drains an infinite amount of water, so conditions are always firm under foot.  I enjoyed the company of my playing partners, Clyde Paris, who had an excellent front nine, and Peter Huckle, getting back to form, who presence mitigated the meteorlogical challenges.
 
The post match sumptuous meal in the clubhouse, handsomely satisfied appetites stimulated by the testing conditions.  The choice of homemade Steak and Ale Pie, Chicken Breast and Parma Ham, or Salmon fillet was excellent.
 
In his customary address Dave Tooze thanked everyone who had travelled down to Royal North Devon, to make such an enjoyable and typically O.C.G.S. day.  A special welcome was extended to Verity Thomas, Linda Tucker and Louise Hibberd who had accompanied their husbands for a weekend break, in the area.  They had taken time to visit one of the Quentin Williams pubs, the Seagate in Appledore following the recommendation in the report of the O.C.s trip to Highclere Castle and the Carnarvon Arms.  Paul Winterbottom went a stage further, actually staying in the Seagate for two nights.  All spoke most highly of the establishment and the service.  (Who says advertising doesn’t pay!)
 
We were delighted to welcome two further very special guests.  Former O.C. President, and O.C.G.S. stalwart Tony Clark have driven from Exeter to join us.  Tony has been bravely battling with illness over the last 3 to 4 years, and it was really good to see him coming back to his old sparkling self again.
 
Our second guest was Liz, wife of the late Jim Eveleigh, a legend in the O.C.R.F.C folklore, who has also played for Bristol.  Jim, as his brother Peter, was also an accomplished artist, and well known throughout the West Country.  Liz had travelled from Barnstaple on the invitation of Pat and Sam Bowery, and we were delighted to hear that she had thoroughly enjoyed his evening, particularly linking with Jim’s contemporaries Mike Brown, and Mike Humphries.
 
Dave extended further thanks to Pat and Sam Bowrey for their liaison with their home club, and the welcome received.  Also Bob Jennings and Steve Tucker for their customary set up and running the day, and Doug Lodge our intrepid photographer.
 
The Prize Winners were:
 
Clyde Paris      - Highest Score Front 9      



Nearest the Pin (5^th Hole) Mike Humphries



Mike Brown   - Highest Score Back 9 

      

Over 70s Prize      Mike Humphries

Pat Bowrey    - 1^st overall 35 points



Sam Bowrey   - 2^nd overall 29 points


 
The Evening concluded with a relaxing nightcap with Pat and Sam, and a brief tour of the club’s incredible collection of memorabilia and artefacts.
 
Golfers attending (in addition to prize winners above) were:
 
Ian Crombie                                       Andy Thomas
Richard Hibberd                               Dave Tooze
Alistair & Peter Huckle                   Steve Tucker
Bob Jennings                                     Keith Watts
Doug Lodge                                       Peter Winterbottom
 
Forthcoming events mentioned –
 
O.C.s Annual Dinner – Saturday, 14^th October 2017
Carlyon Bay – Weekend of 20^th April 2018 (Steve Tucker will issue details shortly)
 
 
 
Dave Tooze