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.

Definitely need a story time - I have a good religious one (tinged with sex) courtesy of johngtudor which I'm happy to share. May be there until teh early hours! Are there place to kipp in the clubhouse, peter?

Eric

Eric

Sure we can find somewhere, behind the bar?? There is a Friendly Hotel but a mile away, if anyone wants to stay overnight.

Have a sneaky suspicion I might be getting cut again after the Pro's day on Saturday. Started with 3 birdies in the first five holes, but completely lost the plot on the last four and finished with a net 73. So close, but so far from that elusive first competition win! Perhaps the Challenge Day might be 'the one'?

pth

bump!

pth


The last time I shot a net 73 medal round was in 1993 when I was playing off 15. Even if I shot a net 72, I wud be giving the 5HCp players four shots, which is ridiculous.

It appears to have turned into a 36 hole comp day. I am not fit enough to play more than 18 holes so will drop out of the morning round and just play in the afternoon comp.

Bob

Bob

The morning round is just for practise and fun, so feel free to join in for nine holes or so if you would prefer. I'm trying to avoid taking this too seriously and I hope everyone else feels the same way. The main thrust is to get like minded people together in a convivial atmosphere and enjoy ourselves. If the higher handicap players feel that they are being disavantaged by using a 75% handicap format, I am quite happy to allow full handicaps up to a maximum of 24. The course is playing very difficult at the moment and I don't want people to go away having not had a great day out.

pth

Hi, Bob.

I think Peter plans the morning round to be a Texas Scramble which will mean we all put a few quid in a pot and the winning team (from est. 3 or 4 teams) wins. Will be more of a laugh and gives everyone the chance to familiarise themselves with the course and each other which is what the Day is really all about, I think? The pm round (18 holes) is THE Main Event.

Understand your sentiments which may be shared by others travelling from afar, I don't know? The only other way to speed things up would be to have an am Foursomes comp perhaps pairing lowest handicap with highest, etc. That would half the no. of shots played but may not suit everyone.

Despite several p***-taking posts, above, I have only played Longcliffe the once but it is well worth the effort. Certainly one of the better courses I have played!

The pings have been delivered but im not sure that i'll be in competition mode come the 27th, in fact i'll probably be more embarrassing than competitive!! they are nice though

Markus

its supposed to be a fun day - Foursomes is NEVER fun!!!!!!

Stop making excuses, PJ, and just turn up! I've heard similar verbal d******h a few years ago and the guy in question turned in with 37 points to win a society day by 3 shots!

Fundy
Played Foursomes medal over the weekend. The only thing worse is mixed gruesomes ;)

With regard to the evening meal, I hesitate to say that we have a choice of about six dishes for the main course. Unfortunately, from that choice we can only chooese one for everybody. Rather than put it to the vote and end by with six choices and no further on, I suggest we plump for the Home made Steak & Ale Pie. Any strong objections let me know. A vegetarian dish is also available if required. You do, of course, get a choice of a starter or pud to go with the main meal.

Should anyone want to stay in a hotel overnight, there is a 'Quality Hotel' about one mile away. Link below.



http://www.aboutbritain.com/hotels/hotel4606.asp

pth

Eh up, Pete, whatever happened to our democracy with 5/6 voting for 75% handicaps? Well OK you are the Organiser so guess you call the shots here. By the way we have 2 more qualifying comps to play at my Club before the big day so Markusantonius may well be playing off 12 at this rate? It also IMO makes PTH a clear out 'n out #uno favourite for the Jug now and I'm sure Eric will have a beaming smile on his face when he learns of the new format - now it's a whole new ball game!!

Agree wholeheartedly with your "like minded..." philosophy, Pete. But I think the change will make it EVEN MORE competitive than before - but hey, why not? After all golf is the "ultimate personal challenge" as one only has oneself to blame!!

Markus

The way the course is playing, lower handicappers will probably have an advantage, just by being able to keep the ball straight. I would much prefer that all enjoy themselves on the day and I do think that the less skilled golfers will need all the shots they can get. Just to take away my home advantage I will play off 14 on the day. Can't say fairer than that!

pth

But you'll be cut to 13 after your next Longcliffe comp this weekend! Seriously, Pete, jesting aside - I think it should be the same for all of us and if you've selected full h'caps then so be it, no problemo. You'll have all the stress of making sure the day runs smoothly and organising everything - no small task in itself.

Already looking forward to the banter plus the steak & ale pie afterwards!

pth who said low handicapers can keep the ball straight!!!! What is the rough looking like?

Seriously, I second marcus and if the decision is full h'cap then we all play off full.

Steak & Ale Pie OK for me. Any chips?

Paul

Indeed, Paul........ One FORE all and........ all FORE one!!!!

Just to let you know guys that I will be paying all cheques into my account on Monday 20 June and the full payment to LCGC probably the same day. Unfortunately, no refunds after that day, with the exception of Fundy, whom I already know about. Any other late payments or entrants, please get them off to AM ASAP.

Many thanks

pth.

Such a slow day on the markets, off to get some practise in!

Is Fundy chickening out? No wonder after he's heard about the full handicap amendment!!!!

Markus

fell through the floorboards at the house im renovating a few weeks back and knackered my knee again!!! currently undergoing extensive physio in a race to be fit for the big day - though pretty certain that 36 holes is a no-no already and 18 holes looking dubious - if only the course had buggies!

No buggies would definately rule me out even if I get the all clear tomorrow.