As is traditional, the winner of the previous year's event receives a purple shirt embroidered with the 'Ted Butler' emblem the word 'Winner' and the year of his victory. Last year's winner was John Williams, a member of Broadway Golf Club who has a holiday home in Castex. He received his shirt and was bullied into stripping off and donning the new shirt. We then had a photo call for all previous winners — only two were present, but along with new boy John they lined up with Musketeers Captain Rob Jones.
Then everyone was called to the restaurant for a superb buffet lunch — with more wine.
Then it was off for a siesta before returning to the Château for the gala dinner. Drinks and snacks were served on the terrace of the Château which was a first. Everyone agreed it would be good to use the chateau setting more often.
The new restaurant team of Lionel and Laurence and their helpers produced a superb meal and once again the volume rose to a crescendo. Phil introduced the two Captains, Rob Jones and Mike Vickers, who took it in turns to say a few words (well quite a lot actually) after the Expatria Trophy had been presented. The Trophy was a new aquisition this year — an antique silver dish on a wooden plinth. Unfortunately the plinth was dropped inside the first minute of its new life, but like many of us still functions despite its blemishes!
Each member of the winning team — the Grenadiers — was presented with a couple of bottles of prestige wines.
Then Chairman Phil announced the results of the Ted Butler International. Nearest the Pin prizes were won by John Williams, Douglas Livesey and Keith Ridding (but as he was not present the prize went to the next closest — Rob Jones). Nobody managed to keep their ball on the 4th green so the prize went to Miguel ofr chipping in for a birdie. The longest drive on the 7th fairway was from Reg Hole — each of the nearest pin winners and longest drive winner received a bottle of fine wine.
The honours for the Ted Butler International were as follows:
1st Reg Hole with 39 points
2nd Gareth Booth with 38 points
3rd Greg Conley with 36 points
The prizes were all silver wine holders, Greg's was an Art Deco example from the 1930s, Gareth's an ornate pierced wine holder from the 1920s and Reg's was a modern replica of a Victorian Magnum-sized Champagne cooler.
The full results are shown on the results page.
Thanks were given in abundance to the organisers, the caterers, the captains and all who took part. All agreed it had been an exceptional week of golf and camaraderie.