Unfortunately we couldn’t organise the Captain’s Weekend for its usual spot and so it looked like there would be no meeting in June. So a call to The Westerham from the car on the way to work to discover the cost and a chat with JR booked a maximum of 24 slots at a price that I heard wrong in the car which didn’t put off the 19 that went over the bridge to play and 1 who still travelled 90 minutes to get there.
When you recommend a course there is always the thought that it wont be good, the food wont be liked or the course might have had work recently undertaken that makes you look a fool but it was the end of June so what could go wrong… Well your guests have an urgent task to complete and you’re left scratching around to fill the places – but thankfully you manage to fill them at short notice and all is well again on that front.
Upon arrival I find other members liking the clubhouse vista – which as the picture shows is spectacular – and keen to get out onto the course. The morning rain of Essex has become the sunny afternoon in the garden of England and it all looks pretty special.
And so it proved to be with great scoring and a number of those present gushing compliments about the quality of the course and how much they had enjoyed it. Not only that VC Zish was keen to keep it on the roster for next season so those of you who couldn’t make it have the chance to come along next year to take a look and enjoy the forgiveness the course had whilst offering a good test of golf in the rolling hills of spectacular views.
Not only that the high handicappers got cut having played splendidly which is what they wanted and some of the lower handicappers got shots back which is what they wanted as well…. Dave Burt was a popular first place with 41 points, Richard Browning an expected second with 40 points and Alan Smith a creditable third with 38 points.
I’m delighted that everyone had a great time and enjoyed a course that I have had the pleasure to play a couple of times before and that nobody complained about the meal though to be honest I owe an apology to Zish and Taleb for not making sure their food had been taken care of properly.
In 2023 prices have gone up for both the food and golf offering. This like Maldon was a 1 course meal of pie and chips which was fine for me and made the cost of £62 very reasonable as I knew the quality of the course. For me the day is about the golf – playing a course of equal or better quality to my home course, meeting up with my fellow GOATS and having some fun. The meal is an important part but more for the camaraderie than the food. If we have to make choices my vote goes in favour of the golf course and a lesser meal but it may be a discussion that is needed to gain the memberships view for future events.
GOATS 