Thought I might add a lighter moment to the trials and tribulations of the Stock Market in general and have arranged a Golf Challenge, fully supported by Money AM to be held in the heart of the Midlands at Leicestershire's renown golf club at Longcliffe.

Date: Monday 27th June

Practise round tee off 9.30am
Lunch 1.45pm (Sandwichs and soup or chips (cost 4 included in the entrance fee)
Competition round, tee off 2.30pm
Dinner & Prize Giving 7.30pm


PRIZES:

All entrants will get 3 months worth of Shares Magazine sent to their home every week.

Winner will get the MoneyAM Annual Golf Challenge Cup to keep for one year plus 1 years worth of MoneyAM Level 2 service worth 550+.

Second and Third will get a medal to keep, plus 6 months level 2 worth 225+.

Additionally, closest to the pin and longest drive.


Longcliffe Golf Club
Snell's Nook Lane,
Nanpantan,
Loughborough, LE11 3YA

http://www.longcliffegolf.co.uk/the_course.htm

The big day is now but tomorrow. Here is the starting line up:

Morning: Tee off 9.30

Team 1

PTH
Tallsiii
Paul Jacobs

Team 2

Ken Kennison
Paul 1812
Predateur
MG

Team 3

Stuart Lane
Eric Robson
Markus
Canary 9

(Eric will be a wild card for Team 1)

Format will be, maximum handicap of 24 for each player, stableford, best two scores for each hole to count. Thought about the 'orange ball' idea, which we can discuss tomorrow morning, but personally, would rather keep it simple.

Afternoon: Tee off 2.30

Group 1

PJ
Stuart Lane
Predateur

Group 2

Eric Robson
Paul 1812
Tallsiii

Group 3

Bob Colby
MG
Canary 9

Group 4

PTH
Markus
Ken Kennison

Format: Maximum Handicap 24, Stableford. Nearest the pin, holes 5 & 15, longest drive, hole 17. As stated previoulsy there will be a 5 fee to enter the nearest pin and longest drives to purchase some balls, plus a few bottles of wine donated by moi and Eric.

Remember to bring jacket and tie for the evening. If wearing tailored shorts, white socks must be worn.

Also no headbutting, gouging or biting and may the best man (me!) win.

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. I will be at the clubhouse by about 0815, so suggest everyone else gets there not long after so we can have a chat over a cup of coffee. Eric, will find out today if any food will be available on arrival.

You won't be saying that when I lift the Jug up at dinner, Eric! Whoops, I mean the #2 place Medal (behind PTH)! No, but seriously - just an opportunist, that's all, and I really couldn't make the Traders' Day which was a shame.

Marcus, how many lessons have you booked with the pro at Longcliffe? I think pre-comp. playing at Longcliffe constitutes insider trading and you should be penalised 2 shots. That should will move me up to third place behind Eric and PTH.

Marcus has now played Longcliffe 5 times and is such a good reader of the greens knows the course better than I!!

pth 2 shots per round that will put marcus off scratch

Sounds fair to me Paul!!

LOL

looks like my new pings will be ready for next friday so i can get a practice round in the weekend before.

i agree paul all home players get cut 2 shots the 75%

how would you guys feel about playing yellow ball on the practice round, you might call it something else. Basically if we play 3 balls in the morning each group gets a yellow ball which is rotated through the group to accumalate the team score, it's quite fun and you get to play as a team as well as individually. thoughts please??

We call it a Texas scramble. You could have yellow ball or each player in a team of 3 must have 6 drives (chosen ofter the drive) or only 2 scores per hole etc what does pth think?

Guys

Need to speak to the Pro to make sure he is happy with a Texas Scramble, although can't think why he shouldn't be. Agree with Paul, each player must have six drives if a 3 ball and four drives if a four ball. However, must not forget that the morning is just a bit of fun!

Oh, and by the way, can't say I agree with this 'home player' business. You turn up and take your chances!!

Anybody playing with new Pings is automatically off scratch!!


pth

There is some serious over-exaggerating going on here, guys. I have only played Longcliffe the once with PTH but don't forget we're having a "fun" round a.m. which will acquaint us all with the course. After today's Midweek Medal on home soil when I lost 3 balls, dropping 8 shots over the closing 5 holes (86-11=75), I may be up to 12 for the M-AM Event, at this rate!!

Looks like I will not be fit enough to play. I've been out a few times last month and I am struggling to play nine holes without any adverse effects. So 18 looks out of the question at the moment. Hopefully before the season is over my legs will be in better shape and I can enjoy a full round again. Maybe next time.

Scrip

Shame you won't be able to make, hope you will be fitter for the enxt one. Anyidea if Cunningham will still be taking part?

Markus

Yeah, yeah, stop telling porkies, you 'sheepshaggers' just can't tell it straight!!

Oh, forgot to mention, my handicap is down to 18 from 19, think I said something inappropriate to the Handicap Secretary's Wife!!

pth

I think Cunningham is on holiday at the moment. Should be back soon I think.

pth did you say she was sleeping with a bandit. rule 19 you should be off 16 by the 27th. minus 2 more for home advantage = 14.

marcus How are the lessons going with the pro at Longcliffe?

Eric is quiet he must be at pings getting his new 7 and 9 woods

Probelm is not only the time it takes to play gold but been drafted onto the club committee (a rescue act) and its taking prioirty over share trading - lieing low anyway until SEO and ASC recover their future and former glories respectively.

Yellow ball is good fun for a team game: play it in turn and double the Stableford on that hole. Ten extra points if you bring it back at the end, but, of course, if you lose it you can't double the tally; best 2 from 3 to count. Expect that Texas Scramble is quicker by at least half an hour. Are we getting in 18 holes in the morning or just nine? If 18 suggest Texas Scramble but if 9 or 12 could play Yellow Ball as its a better learning experience. A variant on yellow ball is red ball/ yellow ball where both balls rotate and red is trebled. But that would be getting complicated like listening to pth on trading methods! Happy to invent a new CFD playing method if you would like me to!

Eric

18 Holes in the morning chaps, so will probably go for a Texas Scramble.

Paul, you are absolutely right with 14... 75% of 18 = 14!!

Very happy with myself this morning. Shot my first ever Eagle. Par 5, on the green in two and a 25ft putt to polish it off. Unfortunately not at Longcliffe though.!!

pth

PTH

you can now set your sights on a hole in one/first albatross now :-)

ps - you have mail

Fundy,

certainly an albatross would be nice, although the lack of an eagle for four years has sometimes felt like an albatross around my neck!!

Replied to your email.

pth

just booked myself on a trip to Turnberry on the 29th and 30th June so should be a good week for golf with the MAM Open on the 27th. My new pings will take a hammering over that week, Lets hope i get on with them straight away!!!

News in - Geoff langham of Deal4Free can no longer make it - twas a choice between sydney or loncliffe and guess what he chose :)

i'll try and replace him!!!

Paul:1812, FYI I DEFINITELY *NEED* lessonSSS, for sure. But have only played Longcliffe the once with Peter (PTH). The return match was at my home course, last week. OK? Looking forward to the battle on 27 June p.m. in any event.

markus aka the Shark

sounds like you're getting a bit tetchy over this practise round business!! I can't think who started this rumour that Longcliffe is your 'second' course! LoL