Play commenced from the first nine tees in a shotgun start with groups being organised in handicap order with the low handicappers going from the 9th tee to make sure we had a speedier game.
Scores were kept secret on arrival back at the clubhouse so that the results would be something of a surprise at the evening's closing Gala Dinner. In the meantime there were tales to be told, excuses made, beers to be tasted and then a buffet lunch.
In the evening around 60 sat down to a Gascon meal at Jean-Louis Darré's bull farm at Bars. Circular tables were arranged in the former stables and a most enjoyable meal ensued.
After the meal the results of the Expatria Challenge and the Ted Butler International were announced. Firstly the Expatria Challenge result: a drubbing for the Musketeers — 18 points to the Grenadiers, 11 points to the Musketeers. All the players for the Grenadiers received prizes of bottles of wine.
Then Captain Martyn Hayward presented the Expatria Trophy to Grenadiers Captain David Coles.
The Chairman then continued with some thanks to various individuals. Firstly, to an absentee, Angus Palmer, for all the groundwork and preparation that made the event such a success. He thanked the former President, Reg Cox, by saying:
"This whole event was started by our former President Reg Cox, and we owe him a debt of thanks for providing a tournament, an ambience, and a golfing format that has given so many so much enjoyment over many years. I know he is not here tonight, but he is a good friend of mine and I know he would appreciate being acknowledged for founding what has now become a quite auspicious event."
He then thanked the hard-working Musketeers committee — John Wilkinson for his liaison with the various golf clubs and restaurants. Clive Robinson and George Blenkarn for the financial side of things. Pete Giles for card preparation and handicapping. David Brock-Doyle for marker placements, early morning refreshments and floral tributes. He then thanked Lucy Hole for stepping into the breach (or breeches), when she agreed to join the men in a first in Musketeers history. She played off the men's tees and pretty much beat the Men at their own game. She was presented with a bouquet of flowers.
Then the Chairman thanked his long-suffering wife Ruth for hosting the Welcome Party and she, too, was presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of all the Musketeers and Grenadiers.
The results of the Ted Butler International were then revealed.
Firstly the spot prizes: Nearest Pin on 10th Martyn Hayward (2.54 metres) — a bottle of Champagne
The Longest Drive on 6th, James Gibb — a bottle of Champagne
Nearest the Pin on the 16th, David Coles (1.25 metres)
Nearest the Pin on the 2nd, Pete Giles (2.01 metres)
Nearest the pin in 2 shots on the 11th, Jean-René Vidaud (3.72 metres)
Nearest the Pin in 2 shots on the 6th, Dave Coombes
Nearest the Pin in 3 shots on 18th John Williams (4 metres)
Then in reverse order the Ted Butler results were announced:
8th on countback — Richard Gibson (35 points)
7th on countback — Martyn Hayward (35 points)
6th on countback, also with 35 points — Roger Barton
5th on countback, also 35 points — Fergus O'Neill
4th on countback, also 35 points — Chris Littlewood
3rd with 38 points — a claret jug with a good wine to put in it — Reg Hole
2nd with 39 points — a claret jug with an even better wine to put in it — James Gibb
and 1st, with 42 points, the winner received a handicap cut, a magnificent antique hand-crafted claret jug with a marvellous wine to enjoy from it. The winner was John Williams.
Martyn Hayward then presented an ode to the week in clever rhyming couplets and after a few more words of thanks the event was over for another year.
Diary date for 2015 — Sunday 30th August to Friday 4th September.