MusketeersGolfSociety

Musketeers Open – October 1st

10/2/2020

The weather forecast was not good. Rain was due from 4pm but we hoped to be finished in time for a 1.30 lunch.

Neither of those things happened.
The rain arrived early, the lunch arrived late.
However, the rain was not persistent and only lasted about half an hour.

Twenty seven players were booked in for a 9.00am shotgun start off six different tees. After a briefing and explanation of the local rules of the day battle commenced. Back at the clubhouse the players and many of their non-playing partners waited for lunch and the weather turned decidedly colder, so much so the assembly were soon garbed in blankets, fleeces and wooly hats.

Lunch finally arrived and it lived down to expectations — my main course was served at 3.30.

The prize giving and results were a much quicker affair. Nick Turner was awarded a special prize for achieving an impressive 3-under — that’s three balls under the water, for which he was given a family pack of Fisherman’s Friends.
Nearest the pin prizes went to John Goodwin and Alain Jardel who both took home magnums of red wine. John Fitzgerald hit the longest drive, so he too went off with a magnum.

We had a good number of low handicap golfers playing so it was decided to have Brut prizes as well as Stableford prizes. Dewar Stewart came in with the second best brut score and took home a pair of magnums while Dave Coombes came in with the best brut score (six over par) and won a case of wine.

In the Stableford competition Chris Barton, Douglas Livesey and Paul Mead came 6th, 5th and 4th respectively and each won bottles of wine. Third place went to Malcolm Harris (35 points) who won a magnum. Second place went to Lucy Hole (36 points) who took home two magnums and the winner and Musketeers Open Champion for 2020 with 38 points was Rob Jones. He was awarded the perpetual trophy — a claret jug filled with fine wine intended for immediate consumption. He also won a case of wine.

It was good to see so many players from other golf clubs — there were seven from Pallanne and 20 from other clubs, mainly Bagnères de Bigorre.

Rob Jones wins the Musketeers Open

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Inaugural Musketeers Open

9/14/2020

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Thanks to a history of events with perpetual trophies, the Musketeers have a rather splendid decanter to present to the winner of our inaugural Musketeers Open — a large decanter not dissimilar to the famous claret jug. However, the winner only keeps it for a year. However, there's good news and bad news . . . the good news is the decanter will be presented filled with splendid red wine. The bad news is the winner has to present it at next year's open filled with equally splendid red wine. You could call it a poisoned chalice, but it's all about the prestige of winning.

So, our first Musketeers Open is at Château de Pallanne on Thursday October 1st. There is a field of 27 players in a shotgun start, going off in groups of three. There will be two nearest the pin prizes, one long drive prize, plus a best brut prize and prizes for the top three Stableford scores. In typical Musketeers tradition there will be random prizes for all manner of other things.

The competition is followed by lunch and players' partners are invited to join us for lunch and the prizegiving.

Here's hoping for good weather and a great day's golf.

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Extraordinary General Meeting

9/13/2020

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On 13th August 2020 we held an EGM at which the entire committee stood down. One of the founder members, Phil Faiers, proposed a new format for the Musketeers. Principally the proposal was to hold just three competitions per year at three different courses. A vote was taken and the proposal accepted.

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March Skins

3/22/2019

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March 22nd and instead of the usual friendly Friday - it was decided that a challenge was needed to "Make things interesting".

Skins for 5 players was proposed by Chris Barton...and so the ribbing and competitive antics started;

1st Hole = Peter Giles
2nd hole, carried on through to the 14th (13 skins) - Steve Paterson
15 through to 18 - Steve Paterson

Great fun and we'll probably do it again.

Beautiful day, warm and sunny and the course really coming into good shape

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Annual Christmas Prize Giving @ La Vieille Etable Saint Medard

12/7/2018

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Photo's from the annual prize giving - apologies for delay in posting:

Results & Prizes for 2018 are as follows;

Annual Competition
Lowest Gross = Reg Hole (74 - One over par)
Player of the year = Chris Barton (184 points)
Matchplay = David Coles
Matchplay Plate (Runners up comp) = Chris Barton
Eclectic = David Combes (Gross 69 / NET 64.1)
Eclectic Runners up = Don Dawson, Steve Paterson, Jean Rene-Vidaud, Chris Barton, Reg Hole, Peter Guiles & Lucy Hole

Xmas Cross Country
Steve Paterson

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6th December - Cross Country

12/6/2018

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Adverse weather forecasts couldn't deter the 9 brave souls that arrived at Pallane on Thursday morning, facing the unique challenge of the Cross Country and fancy dress, this year the course was designed by our own very cunning Captain Peter Giles. The Cross Country is a wonderful challenge where we no longer stick to the conventional format of 1st Tee to 1st Green, it's an opportunity to challenge us all by designing our own course without limits., This years course was as follows;

All players handicaps were reduced to 50% and each player was also allocated a 'Joker' for double points on a hole of their choice. Some of us didn't get the memo (Or maybe mis-read it), as Chris Barton thought it was a Cross Dress competition and not Cross Country. Despite his excuses of bringing Santa into the 21st Century with his twist on an LGBT Santa - he later admitted that he 'liked the feel and warmth' of his new golf apparel.

So, despite the laughter, a competition had to be played and facing the cold, breezy and damp conditions the results of the day were;

1st = Steve Paterson 19
2nd = Chris Barton 19
3rd = David Coombes 16

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30th November - Eclectic (Final Round)

11/30/2018

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Despite the fact that heavy rains and wind were forecast, 3 gritty, determined (Some would say mad) players arrived to an empty Pallane car park and battled out the final round to look for improvements. The fairways were sodden, worm casts littered the once green fairways and a very cool breeze ensured that the course would play it's longest today. However the rains did not come and at times the sun encouraged us to remove our wooly hats and waterproofs - so a pleasurable mornings golf was gifted to us.

So what about the results? Why are the not posted?

Well, 3 factors have to be considered;
1) The final round scores reflect any recent handicap changes - and their have been many!!
2) The last 2 rounds have been kept a secret, so 'ALL' of the improvements have not been shown - and there are several!
3) The results are never announced until our Gala Dinner

...Existing members will already know that we keep the last 2 results Eclectic secret, individuals should already know their own scores and the only man in the 'know' is the one collecting the cards and maintaining the spreadsheets (Juste moi)..

We shall very much look forward to announcing the winner on the 7th December during our Gala Dinner lunch..

Watch this space.....

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Phils Birthday Bash - Mulliford

11/23/2018

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The last week of November, an early morning mist followed by a welcoming warm sunny day... Clearly the sun shines on our Phil Faiers who celebrated his 70th Birthday Bash by organising a Mulliford (Mulligan / Stableford) A pretty impressive turnout of 16 players arrived ready to compete for what we knew would be a fun day with great prizes (We all love our wine!)

Whilst the Stableford format is one we are all used to, Phil introduced a twist - Players were allocated Mulligans based upon their handicap and left to themselves to decide the strategy of when or where to use them... Nearest the Pin prizes were in place for the 2nd, 4th, 10th & 16th, a Longest Drive on the 1st and a random Shortest Drive was introduced as well.

The highlight for this writer was watching Rob Jones strategically knock a 3 wood, ,220 yards onto the front of the green on the 13th!! Smart play as he knew if he didn't carry the ditch, he still had his Mulliford to take... Mind you, he also won the Shortest Drive with a lowly 5m (On the Hypotenuse) tee shot!!

Lunch followed at O Rabastens in Tillac, where our lovely partners joined us for yet again another delicious meal. Below you can see some of the ladies trying to decide from the tempting menu, whilst others enjoyed yet another social gathering of the Musketeers.

Happy Birthday & Congratulations to Phil.. A great day, great prizes and of course - yet another great speech

Chris Barton 41
Peter Giles 36
Steve Paterson 35 - Nearest Pin
Jeppe Bech
David Coombes Nearest the Pin
Lucy Hole Nearest the Pin
Clive Robinson
Rob Jones Shortest Drive (5m on the Hypotenuse)
Reg Hole Longest Drive
Alain Jardell
Don Dawson
Ian Edwards
Phil Faiers
John Wilkinson
Pam Edwards
Gerard Bouchet Nearest Pin

Artwork c/o Noud Janssen

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Water-l'eau cup retained by the Musketeers

10/19/2018

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On Friday 19th October both the Musketeers and Pallane fielded their pick of players for the annual 'Water-l'eau' cup.

The Musketeers have a strong record in winning this competition and this year Pallane were keen to win the trophy back. Their captain even sent a rallying email to his side, encouraging the membership to come together and put up some strong opposition... I believe I even read the words 'Kick the Musketeers A***'... lol

Anyway, sadly and despite valiant performances by all Pallane golfers - they were unable to win the cup and it proudly stays in the Musketeers possession.

Lunch at Racine followed, as did much cheer with good wine and great friendships.

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Autumn Cup brings 20 challengers

9/21/2018

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Friday 21st September and the Musketeers achieved a good turnout of 20 players for one of our last majors of the year. Fresh faced and energy levels recovered from some of us having a rest from the Ted Butler, we found ourselves having a shotgun start to ensure we were all finished and ready for lunch by 2pm at Tillac.

Little did we expect that the cooler weather would bring out the most impressive performance of the year by Reg Hole, a superb 42 points (The most this year - Shooting a gross 74 in the process)

1st Place = Reg Hole (42 points)
2nd Place = David Coombes (38 points)
3rd Place = Steve Paterson (35 points) - Prize awarded to Joe Lyons due to "1 prize per person rule"

Longest Drive (11th) = Lucy Hole
Nearest The Pin (4th) = Steve Paterson

Following the golf, the Musketeers enjoyed yet another delicious lunch at Rabastens in Tillac.