AWOL and in mufty!

There has been a fair bit of activity on the course this weekend despite weather only an optimist could describe as variable. The Friday evening competition played over nine holes to a Stableford format even had an increase in entrants. This was ideal preparation for Kym White as he warmed up for the B Team trip to Elfordleigh on the following day, and he earned first place plus a handicap reduction with 20 points. His total was one point better than Nick Bater and Martin Geddis respectively, who were separated by a countback. Martin French may not have made the prize list but, despite having to rush straight from work and play by torchlight, he was the only other player to register a minimum of the regulation 18 points. l Kym White took 24 players down the A38 to Elfordleigh as the weather moved ominously from variable to diabolical. He had been organising this fixture for weeks, and his plans included a carbon sensitive coach for group transport, new team shirts, as well as £14 in his pocket for team refreshments after the expected victory. Heavy and consistent rain unfortunately caused the match to slither to a halt, and in the event the 12 matches managed to play a maximum of a dozen holes before heading for the warm and well-stocked clubhouse. White Minor did give me some further information about nearest the pins, ducks and swimming pools etc, but it is best to draw a veil over the rest. I am not sure why the two teams wanted to celebrate the occasion but apparently they did, and most of the Sidmouth contingent didn't return until after 11pm. However, there was one interesting development I ought to report, concerning David Bater, aka Prince Harry due to the remarkable resemblance. Apparently the trip home had included a stop at a local pub in Lee Mill where there was live entertainment, and it seems there was a misunderstanding when mention was made of David's nickname. Consequently the evening was punctuated by a number of excited locals taking mobile phone photographs of David, and to cap it all the band played the National Anthem in recognition of the celebrity in their midst. All in all the B team apparently made the best of the appaling weather and, although the first match out provided a 5 and 3 win for Kym White and Phil Beer, all of the rest were declared drawn. The team captain did say: "Although the weather was horrendous the after match entertainment was fantastic, and I would also like to thank Chris Denning, Malcolm Willoughby and the Anchor Inn for sponsoring the B team this year.