Aldwickbury Park Early Birds

The weather was somewhat different to what we have become use to over the last few months, we had some rain. The forecast was worse than the realty as it was mainly drizzle rather than the heavy rain forecast. The forecast did reduce the number of players but we still had 9 players, one dropping out early however. The golf was difficult as the conditions seem to change as we played, less run on the ball and greens were slower. After a few days of on and off rain the fairways even seemed a little greener. There was a hard fought battle for the win today with Martin Lythgoe starting with a fine 19 points but a few zero pointers on 11 and 12 set him back. Steve Reynolds was doing well until his last three holes only yielded three points. The contest was then between Paul and Roger Gibbs, Roger driving well today, always hitting the fairways. It came down to the last, Paul hit his second just off the back off the green, Roger hit a fine second but it trickled over the hump at the back and ...

AI-Content Roger escapes with the spoils It was billed as a fairly ordinary Saturday Swindle, but ordinary went out of the window somewhere around the first tee. Roger Small emerged as the winner with a fine 37 Stableford points, including 18 on the front nine. Jock Hunter was runner-up on 34, while Coenraad Fourie and Martin Deery both managed 33 and 32 respectively. The official scorecard tells only half the story. Roger’s round featured five pars and eleven double-bogeys-or-worse — a statistical combination that suggests he spent much of the afternoon alternately finding pars and finding himself. Enter Roger the Dodger The accompanying report put it rather better. Roger was apparently producing pars for four points even after some decidedly unpromising tee shots, with balls having to be found along the way. The running joke about The Beano and The Dandy eventually led to the perfect nickname: Roger the Dodger. The grand finale came on the 18th. After losing a ball and visiting two b...

Yet another dry and hot day on the golf course made playing difficult. Very tricky to hold the ball on the fairways especially on the 13th. No problems for Steve Brewerton though who scored a fine 37 points to take the win with Roger Gibbs hot on his heals with 36 points. Roger had a poor front nine with 15 points but came back in 21, what could have been. Some very fine nines with two people scoring 20 points on the front and Roger scoring 21 on the back. Richard won the front nine with 20 points but missed so many putts by an inch or so. Paul won the back nine with a measly 16 points as the other high scorers took first and second places,  Entertainment on the course from the second group that decided that the new hole plan on the 6th was the wrong way around and took it on themselves to up root it and swap it. Unfortunately they were caught unawares by Ed Wilkinson who decided to phone the ProShop to complain, subsequently the group where chastised by the course Marshall.  ...

Another hot day on the course both with the weather and the scoring, well at least for one person! As you can see from this overhead shot of the 4th Green the fairways are scorched but we are not alone all courses in the area are suffering the same fate. The following article from the Times shows more overhead shots from around the area. No let up insight over the next two weeks looking at the weather forecasts. Scorched golf courses across country as heatwave takes toll — in pictures So back to the golf, a depleted field this week with only eight players, the CBL took four of our players this week although Steve Reynolds had to pull out at the last moment due to injury. Hope you get better for the Autumn cup in a few weeks Steve. Well done to the bookers this week especially those that don't normally book but stood up and had a go. As we now have only sixteen player it is quite difficult to ensure we have enough each week so please put your name forward, it's not that difficul...

Another hot day on the golf course as the drought continues. Fairways are dry, brown with cracks,  greens are still green fortunately. Some very good scoring this week with Martin and Steve tying for first, Steve winning on countback for a change. Eight birdies which must be a record also each birdie was made on a different hole. Stories from the course From Roger Gibbs "I know it’s not swindle But Jason and I saw the greatest ever birdie on 18. The lead guitarist from ZZ Top was about 130 yards out. His shot flew the out of bounds posts and smashed into the buggy of the group in front in the car park. It bounced back, went through the rough, rolled onto the green, just missing the pin and leaving a 2 foot birdie putt. He nonchalantly holed it as if nothing had happened!!!!" The average gross score today was 94.00 and the average Stableford score was 31.50. Best gross of the day was from Steve Reynolds with 79. There were 0 Eagles or better today. There were 8 birdies to...

Excellent weather today, light wind, hot but not as hot as it has been. Course looking quite good considering the amount of heat we have had this week. Greens slow but they are probably being saved for the Club Championship next weekend, expect them to be much quicker. Today was more than golf but the farewell to three of the Swindle, Peter Williams moving to another club and Peter Laurence and Tony Froud moving to 5 day members. Peter Laurence has been with us since 2006 so twenty years, Tony Froud since 2010 so sixteen years and Peter Williams 2021 so only five years. They will all be missed as they all added something to the group. We will see Peter L and Tony around the course and no doubt occasionally grace us with their presence on our away weekends. Peter Williams is also welcome to join us as once a Early Birds always and Early Bird.  First and second was tight today with Martin Lythgoe taking the spoils with 36 points, well done Martin. A solid 35 gave Richard second. That...