Match Venues: Harleyford \ The Drift \ Reading

A team of 7 Delta golfers accompanied by 3 wives made the trip, much overdue as last visit 2006.

Over the weekend the main body arrived, stragglers tracked & traced by regular emails & texts. Much admiration, as no one gave up, arriving from various parts of US, last two getting in Monday morning sadly minus clubs. Finally all checked in to Sin City apartments, Stab vests & plan of Hayes shopping mall issued, which is basically, Tesco expess, various 99p & pound shops, importantly a Mc Donald’s & supposedly traditional English pub the Old Crown, which the locals run a book on who will pass away next. Even the most corrupt Asian bookmaker would not give odds, when Bernie walked in. 

Sunday
Some evening hospitality at Alistair’s & Dave Burton’s local, The Hut, and the locals were somewhat shocked when Dave Stanek offered to buy a London Pride glass (most people just take). Landlord gave not only glass but also beer towel as well, Dave S suitably chuffed.   

Monday, Practice      Batchwood Hall GC, St Albans
Practice round at a new course for everyone, 15 participants, unfortunately Paul & John arrived too late to play, but made journey for support. Decision made to play off tombstones with stableford scores going in to hat for mystery triples. Turns out that Samuel Ryder, who was mayor St Albans at the time, made the course available to the 'common' man, while he played up the road at his private course. Very appropriate for our Ryder Cup style match and the common Brits in our team. Good day had by all, ups & downs as always Jeff Brister holing out from 30 feet only to miss tap in on next. Winners Steve Walsh (31)/Stan Knollman(31) & Tim Davis (26) total 88. Special mention for John De Rebello , who top scored on the day (33) but just drew the wrong partners. Staff looked after us well with plates of sandwiches. It was then back to base, with no fixed plans the touring party invaded the Whitehouse on Stockley Park, Paul happy to sample the fish & chips.

Tuesday, Match Day One.   Better ball pairs        Harleyford GC
With seven in Delta team Nigel Weldon guested. Standard British weather forecast sunshine & showers, course had some dressing on greens but not too harmful. Paul van Geuder had researched courses on net before leaving, thrown curved ball by staff that told him course was flat? First out Nigel Finch / Manjit Baines v John Orsolits / Steve Walsh, after shaky start from Nigel, 3 shots to lose ball on first, Manjit stood up to the plate. Later Nigel then dovetailed taking control of match after nine. As to be expected there was a fight back, BA only 1 up with two to play, fortunately won 17th to win 2&1.
Clive Jones /Surinder Kalsi up against Dave Stanek/Nigel Weldon, latter pair too strong, running out victors 3&1 much praise from US for Nigel’s help, little from BA.
Alistair/Stan then took on Bob/Sean these are two long-standing partnerships. Feature of this match Sean eagling stroke index 1, this proved too much for ever excitable Stan who never recovered. US winning this one 2&1
Last match saw a still recovering Richard / and club mascot Bernie take on Tim/Paul biggest win of the day. US 4&3
After day one, a familiar trend Delta 3 BA 1. It was then off to Windsor to meet up with travelling wives who had spent the day touring one of our Queens weekend retreats. After various personal tours 11 took up offer of traditional English meal, a curry in back street Indian restaurant. Much appreciated, everyone then met up in The Three Tuns by the castle.

Wednesday, Match Day Two.         Better ball pairs        The Drift GC
Authors plan backfires as all survive curry. Arrives at clubhouse to find big Steve tucking in to full English & Dave(G-Mac) making notes for his new blog of best British bacon butties. Course had also been top-dressed, weather forecast again sunshine & showers.
First match R Croxford/Rob Pavlov v John O/Tim almost over before started US winning 8&6. For once Richard accepted some of the blame (only some). The days score evened up by Captain Clive/ Dave Skiggs who surprisingly ran out easy winners 6&4 over Bob Wooster/ Steve Walsh. Our go to man Stan & Surinder lost to Dave & ever-steady Paul 3&2.
Last match I will leave to little Nigel to report:
Me n mahandicap v Bernie(guest) n Shauny boy at the Drift....Shauny boy pulled pretty much every drive into the trees with Bernie saying good shot every bloody time. Bernie out playing Shaun by halving at least 6 holes. Mahandicap splitting the fairway everytime with his 3wood (got boring in the end). me holing a putt on 15 to win the match  after being dormey 4s leaving Bernie and Mahandicap incredibly confused as to what just happened and why are we shaking hands already... idiots, keep up will ya! 4&3.
Upshot day halved, so score going into last day Delta 5 BA 3. 

Thursday. Match Day Three                      Singles          Reading GC
Weather fair, greens top-dressed, Captain Clive started by putting first bit of blue on board accounting for now tinnitus suffering Shaun (day spent with Bernie) 5&4. Then BA’s no1 Dave Skiggs took out Steve W 4&3, the plan of loading top order hit small blip when Mahandicap, possibly over confidant with his history with John O halved. Nigel F then came out best in a very sporting match with Bob 3&1 . Dave Stanek could not contend with the sight of Stan’s bright red trousers, also had to contend with errant driver. After a poor chip, wedge slammed into bag. Problem on next tee when grabbed drivers head, shaft remained in bag, benching it for rest of round. Big hitting Stan took advantage winning 3&2. Paul van Geuder then confirmed as Delta MVP 3-0 for week overcoming Manj Bains 2&1. Dave Burton, with end in sight of pressure of organisation relaxed, had comfortable win over Tim Davis 6&4. Somewhat shocked slowly it was realised BA had won 8 ½ to 6 ½. Fittingly with matches finishing at different parts of course no one knows who sunk winning putt. There was also a mystery pairs including all extras as 6 other BA golfers joined in on the day, Mark Mahomed & Roger Woof (70pts) first with John Orsolits & Nigel Weldon (66pts) second.   

Joined by Delta wives Judy, Tina & Chrissie with Debbie Croxford making the journey, it was off to Bulls Inn, Sonning for pre dinner drinks, then a stroll through the churchyard to The Great House for a gala dinner. Now smart casual the dress code, Stan never far from Mr Bean mode seemed to have misplaced his trousers, upshot had to wear red trousers & jacket for the evening. As the drink flowed with an excellent meal much fun was had by all. Then for speeches by captain Clive and well responded to by Sean & Bob who presented trophy. Then Stan’s missing trousers mysteriously turned up and got presented back to him. It was then that Stan ripped in to Delta team telling them to have good look at trophy as they won’t be seeing it again. It was pointed out they had had it since inception, so did have some idea what it looked like. He then decided to donate his Stan the man cap to Delta, who fair play made a graceful acceptance. Then came something no one present had seen before, Stan’s cap was passed round for tips for staff, after given asked if we could have cap back, was returned with some of tip still in it. After inspection found a Scottish pound, some Canadian dollars & Minnesota Viking car park token. All too soon it was time for goodbyes, much talk & looking forward to return in 2015, (not quarter past eight). Despite reservations, all had a comfortable time in Hayes, will await comments on trip advisor. Much thanks to Dave Burton for managing match, & major plus was the weather wguch stayed fine and got better each day.

Three lions on the shirt,
Trophy still gleaming,
After 17 years of hurt,
Never stopped the dreaming.
So finally BA wins trophy.
Solhiem team remembered for Charley, Ryder team for Poults & Rosie, What do we remember?  Stan’s red trousers.         

Regards Nigel