Aldwickbury Park Early Birds

Thanks to Richard for entering five of our swindle into the Fox Hunter Cup scheduled for two weeks time even though the entry had closed. Although it's good to have Richard on the inside so to speak, we should try and enter in a timely manner. Our website with availability normally shows upcoming club events so there is really no excuse. Thanks also to me for organizing the 2025 Autumn Cup, sixteen of us are off to Wokefield Park. Welcome to Dan Smith, his first day with the Swindle, only managed to play nine holes as apparently Watford were playing Luton which was more fun than playing golf with us. Not sure the 3-0 to Luton was fun though. One score down and only two to go before Dan can start competing for prizes. The new bunkers are progressing well, some even with sand in. I presume it will be a while before we get to test them as the grass around them needs time to settle in. They do look fabulous though. Anyway onto the golf. The day started wet and stayed like that for the

It was good to be back on our home course after visiting Donnington Valley last weekend, I will never complain about the slopes on ours again. The greens were in excellent condition today, unfortunately the ropes have been put up to protect the approaches and it is a long walk from your trolly when you end up short of the green. The weather was fairly kind to us today with a few showers towards the end. A small field of only 9 players with no outrageous scores. The course was fairly empty today and we had a leisurely four hour round. An excellent score from Steve Reynolds today to take first place, not the bridesmaid on this occasion. Martin Lythgoe asked for a picture of the colourful bruise he inflicted on me last Monday, he said it was for his wife. I (Paul), thought I was playing well today after a reasonable front nine but 1 point from the first four holes on the back put paid to any hope of winning anything. A special shout out to Andy for his par on the 11 his first of the year,

Designed by Freepik After a good breakfast and a night’s sleep, some slept more than others, we arrived back at the golf course. Today the groups were in reverse order with the leaders going out last, except that is for the first group which comprised of three player that needed to get away early, two needed to catch flights and one for a family meal in London. The weather looking good on the forecasts. The leaders from the first day and going out last were Peter Williams, Steve Brewerton, Paul Gardner and Steve Reynolds. Would the winner come from this group or would they collapse under the pressure? The first to break was Steve Reynolds, well not Steve but his seven iron which he managed to wrap around a tree on the 2nd. Not a good start for Steve. On the 5th hole Paul “Blofeld” Gardner hit a shot to the green went to put his club in his bag and was hit in his side by a ball coming from the 6th. This the first of two assassination attempts to stop him gaining Swindle domination, this

The final away weekend of the year for the Aldwickbury Park Earl Birds swindle, fifteen golfers arrived at Donnington Valley golf club, fortunately nobody put Donnington Park into their Satnav and ended up at a race circuit in the east midlands. Some arrived early in the hope that they could get a breakfast at the club only to find there was minimal hot food available with a bacon bap taking 15 minutes to arrive. Not the best and we should have gone to McDonalds or Greggs on the way down like some others. In the club house Peter was given the nearest the pin and longest drive markers in exchange for his bank card which was held until the markers where returned. Apparently they get stolen! The course looked splendid, little did we know what was to come. Paul "Blofeld" Gardner had updated last year's spreadsheets to support score recording, however James highlighted a small issue with the handicaps which necessitated as last minute update before we started. James was the fi

Whilst the long shadow of Brian’s Volvo slowly left the golf club, for his final Early Birds Saturday Swindle, Paul Blofeld Gardner, stroked his snow white cat in his secret holiday hideaway, plotting his next move in Early Bird domination, determined to stop, once and for all, the spurious and continuous diatribe regarding rules and handicaps. Soon all the voices will be silent!!! Meanwhile in leafy Hertfordshire, we all set off with optimism and hope, on a beautiful and particularly Autumn morning. I did manage to miss my group, brain freeze and no reflection on the company of the two Martins and Jock, but fortunately due to JJ’s withdrawal I was able to join Richard Steve R and Coenraad and I’m sure you are all pleased I did! At this point I would like to thank Danny Maud on You Tube for my current good form. Particular sympathy to Richard, who entered the Medal, only to lose his ball on the first after his second shot, it quite simply disappeared and also to Coenraad, who showed

After a week of multiple polls and much discussion we got down to a great day of golf. Course conditions were excellent. Very lush fairways and the greens being a bit slower than normal. I played with two of the Peter's today, Peter Creighton and Peter Williams, both played an excellent game of golf. Thought I could compete with them but after a lost ball on the 10th, in the hedge on the 12th and one in the water on the 18th and I ended up with a very poor back nine.  All the golf Peter Creighton is playing has certainly helped his game, very positive on all of his shots and a solid round from Peter Williams. One more Saturday game with Brian present and then it will be the Autumn Cup away day. The average gross score today was 93.92 points and the average Stableford score was a very respectable 32.85. Best gross of the day was from Peter Williams with 80. There were 0 Eagles or better today. There were 7 birdies today. Jason Landau with 2 on holes 10 and 17. Peter Creighton w