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.

MS

No probs, will take a camera for the day.

Markus

Have sent you an email, unfortunately, it's gone back to the MAM server (used the reply option by mistake). I'll speak to ian on Monday and try to have it forwarded, if you don't receive it, please let me know.

All

Don't forget to start sending the cheques, about 5 SEO shares at this rate!!

Regards

PTH

No, I never received your email, Peter, sorry?

4 hours is perfectly adequate for Texas Scramble. Can groups start from 1st and 10th? Mix of 4s and 3s can work. 4s - 1/10th combined handicap; all have to take 3 drives; person whose shot is taken does not play next shot except for putting. That evens up 3s who take 4 drives each; 1/8th of combined handicap; all three play each shot.

Most will probably start early to beat traffic so why not start earlier, say 9 or 9.30. If we know draw in advance then anyone late can join team on course to get into swing of things. I will stay with son in Cambridge - I expect many can take advantage of friends/enemies by inviting themselves, promising a really good Rioja! Happy to put a bottle of Rioja on the nearest the pin knowing that I normally win it - proviso is that the hole is 175yds plus or minus 5 yards! Won't put it in the hole though, because I will probably shatter it!

Eric

Eric & PTH

The Texas scramble will only be over 9 holes and imho should take a lot less than 4 hours and we should all start on the same hole i.e. 1st or 10th if possible.
10am is best for me as I am travelling from darkest Oxfordshire and it will take about 2hrs. I will go with the general consensus in the end. 175yds nearest the pin is for girls!!

Paul

Paul, I think Eric was meaning 4 hours in lieu of an 18 hole warm up round? Agree that we should all start from the same tee. There will almost certainly be a few who arrive late especially those travelling from some distance away. Whatever happens I think we'll all agree on a social amiable morning with the Main Event in the afternoon!

Pete, hope I'm not too late to register my interest, Need to check my schedule & get the day off. Have just started playing again, no certifcate but usually 100-110, 1st round a few weeks ago was 110, last week 105 and played much better . Hope its good enough!! Let me know if I'm not too late and I will let you know if 26th June doesn't clash with my work.

Andy

No probs will add your anme to the list. See previous thread for details and costs and of course where to send the cheque!! Please note the date is 27 not 26 June.

Regards

PTH

OK with the real gaffer (the missus) especially as I gave her some profits from my sharedealing the other week!! Just got to check at work that 27th is OK.
Andy

Paul: 175 yards for girls; have you told that to Laura Davies? Anyway, there is always the longest drive. Mind, you have to hit it on the fairway so propose we have the narrowest fairway on the course: 300 yds times 5 degrees error is 15 yards and should be in the rough, I say. Marcus will be the man to beat: just taken early, early, retirement and seems to be playing golf full-time. One of that genre had a gross 72 this morning, off 9, and won both the scratch and handicap cups! Must make sure his handicap certificate is bang up-to-date!

Eric

Eric: Dog leg with water should give us a chance against Marcus, oh and rain!!. Laura a lovely girl watched her play a number of times, likes her pint. One of the boy's really.
Don't forget the pressure is on Marcus and his new handicap. With rule 19, playing as often as a pro, the courtesy round too many clubs in his bag, etc should put him off scratch in my books.


Paul

You build me up far too much guys. In fact over the past 12 months I've played probably less than 50% c.t. 2003. I guarantee there will be a lot lower handicappers than myself on the Day. I rate PTH as clear favourite on home soil with the regular partaker (Eric) closing up the Leaderboard. Anyway society days/away days are usually a great ensemble with a lot of laughs - just hope the weather's good on the day.......

MA - Still off scratch in my books. My money is also on PTH and the outsider Eric.

Personally, I think the way I am playing at the moment you are all mad. Longcliffe is quite a tight course and fairly long, so whoever plays with accuracy and good course managment will likley be the winner. However there is still time to improve!!

Regards

PTH

Come on then guys, own up, how low are the handicaps - markus?

Seriously, even if you gave me full handicap in the Stab, I think we're all fighting for the 3rd place medal and nearest-the-pin. But even with the latter, we still have Eric's trusty 7-wood to compete with!

25 (3/4 Stab = 19) + 2 courtesy shots for physical injuries and playing on the best (and longest, toughest and tightest!!!) course in the whole of Leicestershire.

A tight course should benefit accuracy not necessary the low handicappers or long hitters. Definitely PTH for the cup with Eric second. I recon Fundy is a single figure handicap!!

PTH - Well done for organising the day

I think we should provide handicap certs along with payment to PTH. He can then post when all the funds are in after any deadline is made? Otherwise some might be detered from entering. What are we doing about allowances for those without official R&A handicaps: 28 (21) or 24 (18) perhaps?

Can I suggest 24 (18). One shot per hole is more than enough.

I agree, Paul. This should also be the cap even for those certified 25-28.

Suggestion to M-AM... Why not promote this in a similar way to The Traders' Day, in London? I think this would help PTH to get his cheques in early not to mention entice a bigger starting line-up? All good freebie publicity for M-AM!