Ever wondered what happens at Musketeer Committee meetings? Play the video to find out!

After coffee and croissants and a briefing on the rules of the day, plus an explanation of all the different spot prizes on offer, there was the traditional handing over of the winner's purple shirt to the previous year's victor. So Martyn Hayward bared his chest and donned his 2013 winners shirt, then there was a group photo taken in front of the château.

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.

Pau Artiguelouve is a relatively new golf course on the western side of Pau. It was here that the second round of the Expatria Challenge was to be played and once again the weather was perfect.

It was a perfect day. Sunshine, a light breeze, a golf course in great condition and two well-matched sides playing matchplay golf. The format was Chapman's — which for the uninitiated is a format where each of the two team players plays a tee shot, then play each other's ball, then choose the better of the two playing alternately until they hole out.

As is traditional, the first round of our three-day Ryder Cup-style competition was played at Château de Pallanne. There were seven matches and we virtually had the course to ourselves. We gathered around the clubhouse enjoying some well-earned beer before being called to lunch where all 28 players sat down to some excellent Spanish and Gascon fare accompanied by plenty of chilled rosé.


After the meal, Captain Martyn Hayward announced the results with the Musketeers winning 4.5 points to the Away side's 2.5 points. So all to play for at the next round, a 4-ball better ball match at Pau Artiguelouve.

It should be noted that history was made this day as one of the Musketeers team dropped out and the home side were one player short, so Reg Hole's wife Lucy volunteered not only to play for the Musketeers, but to play off the men's tees. A hearty chorus of approval from all the gathered Musketeers welcomed her to our team. History was also made when the results were announced, as she was not only the first  woman golfer to play for the Musketeers, she was also the first woman winner with a 3 and 1 victory despite being partnered by Phil Faiers.

Lunch ended at 4.30pm and a team of volunteers went to Phil and Ruth's house to dismantle the marquee followed by some chilled beers and the draw for the Tuesday matches.

Sunday August 31st turned out to be one of the nicest days of our 2014 summer. Which was lucky really as we had our Expatria Welcome Party at Phil and Ruth's house near Sainte-Dode that evening and those that know the place will realise that being on the top of a hill is not the ideal location for a large marquee. But the weather was kind, there was no breeze, so the Musketeers' brand new marquee was not threatened by storm or strong wind. In fact it was so hot that we took the ends and front down to keep people cool.

About 50 sat down to a wonderful curry dinner, provided by outside caterers. Much wine and beer was consumed. The Home and Away Captains handed out the team shirts and the pairings for the Monday matchplay at Pallanne was drawn.