Other memories were a major come back by Mark Dawson to halve the match having been 4 down, having to wait until the 18th to finally see John Cairns' opponent play a less than perfect short game so John could win and listening to Dick Little explain to one of the few Goswick supporters how the course used to look years ago.
This year's Brass Monkeys Summer trip was to Musselburgh Golf Course, a good venue as it's:
There were two important prizes at stake: the best score for the two rounds, won by Peter Sanderson, and 8th place, giving the responsibility to organise next year's trip, won by Robert Renner (8th, not 1st, to make sure there was no malpractice).
Helpfully, it remained dry virtually all day despite a forecast of rain all day, proving that I can attend a golf event without bad weather.
This time he brought a new toy, a K-9 like instrument that accurately measures the smoothness of the greens. 
Of course, occasions like this usually involve a lot of people watching a few actually doing the work.
The 18th green came in for particular attention - after the readings were taken it was cut for a second time, readings taken, then given a treatment of vibrating rollers and re-read and then brushed and re-cut with readings taken. The second cut made little difference; the rollers made it smoother and faster; brushing and re-cutting made it slower.
The written report will give the details of the findings - in summary, the findings were that different greens were consistent and OK but the weather had prevented the density of the grass being as good as it should be at this time of year; the planned maintenance schedule is dealing with this and other issues (like thinning out the rough).
Yes, it was an important day at the golf club, Invitation Day. We had a full day of tee bookings and when, as the rain fell harder and we discussed mid-morning whether or not to play I was impressed that no-one had pulled out so far. But the weather did remind me of summer holidays at Bamburgh when I was a kid: looking up at the sky and saying isn’t it clearing up over there? And then continuing to say it, incorrectly, pretty much all day. 
And that is what I kept on saying while we waited to go out (fortunately, my fellow 1.40 tee time players decided not to play so we went off at 3.00, fortunately because it was clearing up and we actually had three holes at the end without much rain). Four groups decided not to play: eighty six did; not everyone finished but 172 people started. That says a lot about our members and guests (I’m not sure what, but a lot). And there were some good scores, with three teams, including two who played in the worst of the weather, getting 41 points.
I hope everyone who took part will look back on it as an enjoyable experience, one of those that are better looking back on: I know my guest, who had driven up from Kent, will not forget golf in the North East.
Can you blame a captain for the weather? Not really. But it didn’t stop people trying. “Jonah Woodman” Trevor called me on the lovely summer’s evening on Friday as the Junior team was (just) beaten in the league knock out by Linden Hall. Hmmm.
What a difference a week makes: last week we lost a close but disappointing league match against Dunstanburgh, this week we won (5-0) the first round of the knock-out against them. 
It could have been home advantage; it could have been the M&S shrimp sweets Keith fed our team. It could even have been ability. Whatever the reason we're through to the second round which also happens to be the quarter final.
There's always next year.
The rain on its way..
Seahouses seem to pick Captains who are good at golf*, and Chris Taylor played beautifully, complemented by Dave Watson; John Cairns and I admitted defeat on the 14th. As did the next group out, Keith Whitfield and Michael Robson who might have had a chance if they'd had full handicap difference: otherwise Scott and Gary just played too well (lambs to the slaughter acording to Michael). All the other groups had close games going down to the 18th, so we had to wait in the bar for the last group (who'd had to start late) to struggle down in the rain to find out the result. And could you pick a better last group then Derek Haggerstone & Ian Coulthard v Rob Ritchie and Steve Wharmby? They halved their game, not quite good enough for us to halve the match: we lost 3.5 - 4.5.
The salver we won last year was unfortunately stolen in the burglary earlier in the year so we re-presented to Seahouses the valuable china plate Scott prepared last year. And then listened to Rob explain some of the finer points of womankind followed by Derek reintroducing us to Luigi. And then? Back to the bar.
* As did Bamburgh Ladies: Nicky Rose shot a 70 on Saturday, a new ladies course record.
As always we had decent support but unusually so did the opposition: Dunstanburgh also tend to have a lot of spectators. I usually watch the last couple of matches because most people watch the first ones: it seems unfair to leave them without support. (I’m not sure I could keep up with Peter and Mark anyway). Peter Hinson was in the last group this time and it was a very exciting one to watch attracting a bit of a crowd towards the end. It could have gone either way and he was just a bit unlucky (apart from when John, his opponent, was strafed by an RAF helicopter as he putted on the 12th) especially with is lie on the 18th.
A drab start turned into a perfect summer evening; the course looked excellent. I have always liked the 13th but was told by the Dunstanburgh members I spoke to that it wasn’t popular as it wasn’t a “proper” golf hole. That’s maybe why I like it.
Next Wednesday sees us play Dunstanburgh at home, but in the first round of the league knock-out. This link gives the results after 5 rounds of the league.
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