The annual Captain’s Away Trip this year whisked us off to the sunny shores of Vera, Almería, where excellent golf, glorious weather, and a heroic amount of questionable decision-making combined to deliver another trip for the ages.
From the moment we arrived, the weather was outrageously good: wall-to-wall sunshine, warm temperatures, and barely a cloud bold enough to interrupt proceedings. Check-in was slightly chaotic, but that was rapidly forgiven once drinks appeared at the outdoor bar. The only thing hotter than the Spanish sun was the competition on the fairways… at least according to those generously marking their own cards.
Over the course of the trip, we played three excellent and very different courses:
Valle del Este
A superb opening venue with fairly decent greens and a layout that asked awkward questions of every part of the game. Some adapted quickly to the pace of the greens; others were still blaming invisible slopes by the 18th. Commercial it may be, and the buggy wait tested patience early on, but once we got going it proved a cracking start that was enjoyed by all.
Scores (1st – 5th): Gavin Parke (37 pts), Mike Stott (35 pts), Kenny Cunningham (35 pts), Guy Wade- Palmer (34 pts), Drew Niblock (32 pts)
Nearest the pins: John Osborne (2nd), Lee Eastman (6th), Steve Harding (12th), Mark Pope (14th)
Best guest(s): Nick Shaw / Shaun Locke / Marlene Gonzalez(a gnats hair between them all on)
“McBride Bottle”: Matt Newman (we share spare his blushes)
Aguilón Golf
Widely regarded as the toughest examination of the trip, Aguilón served up dramatic scenery, elevated tees, and enough bunkers to make several players consider early retirement. It was a magnificent course, but not one for the faint-hearted. Even so, morale somehow remained intact, helped in no small part by the halfway refreshments and the comforting knowledge that everyone else was suffering too.
Scores (1st – 5th): Phil de Lacy (34 pts), Jack Webster (30 pts), Richard Whitely (30 pts), John Batterby (30 pts), Mark Pope (29 pts)
Nearest the pins: Matt Newman (3rd), Gavin Parke (8th), Matt Newman (12th), Marlene Gonzalez (14th), Dave Blinston (18th)
Best guest: Marlene Gonzalez
“McBride Bottle”: Dave “JD” Rowe
Desert Springs
The final round took place at the spectacular Desert Springs, where the desert-style layout made everyone feel as though they had been transported to Arizona rather than Andalucía. By this point, swings had loosened, handicaps had improved with suspicious speed, and selective memory loss regarding scorecards was in full and glorious effect. Given that the greens had only recently been hollow tined, they were understandably not quite in peak condition.
Scores (1st – 5th): Kevin Whiting (46 pts), Kenny Cunningham (45 pts), Issy Wiggins Turner (39 pts), Mick Pryke (38 pts), Alan Bryce (38 pts)
Nearest the pins: Nick Shaw (2nd), Lee Eastman (8th), Marlene Gonzalez (12th), Drew Niblock (14th), Guy Wade Palmer (17th)
Best guest: Jimmy Dickie
“McBride Bottle”: Steve Harding
The Non-Golfing Activities
While the golfers hacked, plotted, and occasionally triumphed around the courses, the partners and wives launched their own fiercely competitive campaign involving shopping, sightseeing, cocktails, and the unforgettable accidental discovery of Vera’s famous nudist beach.
Eyewitness reports suggest this discovery resulted in:
- a great deal of laughter,
- some hurried exits… followed by a few slightly less hurried returns,
- and at least one member of the party refusing to make eye contact for the rest of the afternoon.
Mercifully, no photographic evidence has surfaced… or at least none that anyone is willing to admit to possessing.
The shopping expeditions, meanwhile, were a roaring success, with local businesses in Vera enjoying a very healthy economic stimulus over the course of the week.
Evenings & Entertainment
Each evening brought a fine combination of buffet feasting, lively conversation, and drinks in quantities that appeared to improve golfing ability retrospectively. As the bar tabs grew, so too did driving distances, miracle recoveries, and the number of putts that definitely should have dropped.
Special mention should go to:
- Best Trip Character: The Captain, Mick Pryke, and his mountain climbing skills getting to his ball at Desert Springs (pictured below)
- Latest to Bed: Dave “JD” Rowe
- Earliest to the Bar: The Secretary, Sandra – her excuse “I have work to do”
- Most Creative Excuse for Bad Golf: Dave “JD” Rowe
- The Most Coordinated Trip: John Osborne, Alan Bryce & John Batterby
Final Thoughts
Congratulations to Kevin Whiting, who took the Captain’s Away Trip Trophy with his overall aggregate score. Having overcome some health issues, it was wonderful to see him back and able to play three consecutive days golf.
All in all, the trip was a cracking success: great golf, excellent company, plenty of laughter, and just enough chaos to ensure it will be talked about for a very long time.
A huge thank you goes to everyone involved in organising the tour, but especially to Michaela Schmidt at Golf Hotspots (www.golf–hotspots.com), who arranged the trip from start to finish, coordinating rooms, tee times, and ensuring everything ran smoothly throughout the weekend. She was ably assisted by Society Secretary Sandra Dibble and Vice-Captain Paul Lambert.
Thanks also to everyone who attended and contributed to the fantastic atmosphere, laughter, and camaraderie that made the trip such a success. Most importantly, the trip once again proved that while scores fade, stories from a Captain’s Away Trip only get better with age… especially after a couple of drinks.
Main photo pictured L-R: Steve Harding, John Batterby, Lee Eastman, Matt Newman, Marlene Gonzalez, Kevin Whiting, Kenny Cunningham, Phil de Lacy, Jimmy Dickie, Jack Webster, Dave Rowe, Mick Pryke (Captain) and Issy Wiggins Turner.
Until next year… when the handicaps will no doubt have improved even further.
