Who was it that said “Bill it and they’ll come?” Well, we billed it and they came. They came
in their hundreds, or more precisely, in their 1.03 hundreds. They flew in from
Munich and The Balearic Islands. They drove in from Enfield and a myriad other
locales. They cycled in from the south side of Sutton and they walked in from
the other side of the Gaunt’s 2nd tee box, but they were all driven by that same irresistible impulse; to play in
The John O’Gaunt Ladies and Seniors
Annual Texas Scramble.
By 0800 hrs. the
ambience in the rapidly filling clubhouse foyer was magnetic. Multiple hands
were shook, multiple cheeks were kissed and even multiple verses of Donald O’
Connor’s ‘Good mornin’, Good mornin’ were
sung to the odd listener (but only if very odd). All this was happening as coin
of the realm cascaded into two rapidly filling antique biscuit tins, of the
much sought after ‘All Butter Scottish Shortbread’ variety (well, this is John
O’Gaunt after all). In response to said cascade, which continued through 10 am,
long ribbons of raffle tickets, in an attractive shade of pink, were dispensed
by Marie Bayes, and in a pulsating shade of green, by Paul Marshall. Both
dispensers were discharging their third annual ‘front of house’ duties for this
very busy event and no one would have guessed from their smilingly delivered and
highly amusing repartee, that they’d clocked on at 0700 hrs. that morning.
Then it was 0900 hrs; time to swap the attractions of the
foyer for the challenges of the tee box.
It was Tuesday, a little overcast but free of Monday’s fog and
Wednesday’s rain. Pat Smith started the ball flying, off the first, with his
usual long drive down the middle. Pauline Aubigne knocked it onto the green and
Val Cooper sunk a 20 footer to start the day with a birdie. William Skelding left the green softly
singing ‘Thank Heaven For Little Girls’. They’re a musical lot these John
O’Gaunt people aren’t they?
At that same 0900hrs, off the 10th, Jim Kerr drove just right of the green. Steve
Collins followed with an enormously friendly drive to the same position and they
both watched Doreen Kee chip on and Sylvia Tansley finish the hole with the
four that make many of us happy, if we have to start on that hole.
Five hours later (the Seniors do tend to prolong the game
when they are playing with attractive ladies) it was all over bar the telling
of tall stories about putts that went in and then came out and the good natured
but cynical sympathy that they provoke in the listeners.
Captains Christine Darts and Richard Coventry gave
congratulations and impressive prizes to:
Themselves i.e. Sue Colledge, Richard Coventry, Chris Darts
and Jim Peacock as the team with the best front 9 score.
To Alan Fowler, Hillary Pearmain, Fred Williams and Rosemary
Williams (just good golfers) as the team with the best back 9 score.
To Graham Court, Colin Fox, Sue Bassindale, and Diane Hall,
as the team with the third best overall score.
To Brian Bullen, Joan Cocksedge, John Thoday and Eileen Menezes as the team
with the second best overall score and
The coveted first prize of the day was presented to the well
deserved winning team of Terri Brown, Pauline Gauge, John McPherson and George
Turner, who came in with an enviable net 61.3 points.
So, The Ladies and Seniors 2015 Texas Scramble has now
become a memory, a warm and treasured memory but, a memory nevertheless. However, entries for
the 2016 Anniversary Event are filling up fast so, if you are quick, then, as
Vera never tired of telling us . . . . . We’ll Meet Again.
 |
1st Place:
Theresa Brown, Pauline Gauge, John McPherson, George Turner |
 |
2nd Place:
Brian Bullen, Joan Cocksedge, Eileen Menezes, John Thoday |
 |
3rd Place:
Sue Bassindale, Graham Court, Colin Fox, Diane Hall |
 |
Front Nine:
Susan Colledge, Richard Coventry, Christine Darts, James Peacock |
 |
Back Nine:
Alan Fowler, Hilary Pearmain, Fred Williams, Rosemary Williams |
