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Details of the Badgers Golf Day held at Darenth Valley in April 2011, won by John Barnes. |
Badgering in 2011 got off to a flying start at that perenial Badgers favourite, Darenth Valley Golf Club. With a record breaking 38 Badgers and guests in attendance, this was our best ever showing so well done to all who attended and their guests. Although the skies had clouded by the time we took the winners photos, most of the round was played in splendid spring sunshine. Thanks go to our sponsor Mark Smith and the two Johns at Commercial Stone for the weather, the generous support and for leaving Lord Smudge behind for the day, cheers boys! Darenth Valley has traditionally been one of our highest scoring courses, but this year a combination of lusher fairways/less run-on and unfortunately diseased greens that were more pock marked than a teenage acne sufferers face made conditions tougher than normal. Despite this, a high standard of golf managed to still be played. Well, by most of us at least..... First award of the day was to Badger stalwart Dick Watts who received his Badgers Badge for winning at Woldingham in 2008, this being his first Badgering appearance since we started awarding the badges at 2010's AGM. Badger Badges - Dick Watts reveives his badge for winning at Woldingham in 2008
Winning Team was won by Phil Tweddle, John Barnes, Keith Ives and his guest Frank Fleming, this making it the fifth Badgers Day on a trot that young Keith has picked up a winners bottle of wine - so if you're paired with Keith, consider yourself lucky! Not sure his misses feels the same though......Winning Guest was John Thorpe which must have gone some way to making up for having to spend the day in the company of his host, John Pye. Could have been worse though, it could have been Chris.....
Winning Team - Phil Tweddle, John Barnes, Keith Ives, Frank Fleming (not present in photo)
Winning Guest - John Thorpe
Nearest The Pin was one by founder member and Financial Badger Richard Gent with Longest Drive being won by Chris Pye who'd laid down a marker at the first by almost driving the green (must have dosed up on the Haribou). Unlike Steve Hook, who did his usual 'Darenth Opening Shot' and drove the railway line (perhaps he needs some Haribou?). Great fun for us watching, but not so great for the old lady on the 12.23 to London Bridge..... Nearest The Pin - Richard Gent
Longest Drive - Chris 'Haribou' Pye
Although the Badgers have never awarded a last place prize at a golf day, the trophys for Darenth came complete with a turd prize for (lack of) endevours and when we realised that certain Badgers had been beaten by Tony Mills who's only been playing for 6 months but still scored 21 points, we felt obliged to 'dish the dirt'! So step forward Paul Ives with a measly 19 points off 28!! It could so nearly have ended up being Dave Bullock who only beat Paul by 2 points and lost to Millsy on countback, but we did promise not to mention this here. Winning the 'Badgers Turd' would have capped a perfect day for Big Dave who was completely enamoured with his being placed in the last team and playing in a three ball against four balls. Not that he complained much.... The Badgers Turd for Last Place - Paul Ives
Third Place was won by Peter Gallagher, a previous winner at Darenth, with Second Place being won by Chris Pye. Just think how good he'll be when he grows up and starts shaving. Overall Winner for the first time was John Barnes, stepping out of the considerable shadow cast by Lord Smudge (he plays rugby you know) and winning the very trophy His Lordship has yet to win. Far be it from us to point out that both John Barnes and John Birdseye have now won the Badgers Trophy and Smudge is the only person from Commercial Stone who hasn't. No, we certainly won't be bringing the subject up. Much. Well, except at every opportunity and with irritating frequency. Third Place - Peter Gallagher
Second Place - Chris 'Junior' Pye
First Place - John 'Can't See Your Name On This Trophy Mark' Barnes
Post-round, Dave Bullock and Dick Watts discuss the merits of playing best two scores when in a three ball playing against four balls.....
All in all, a great days Badgering!!!
Results from Darenth 2011
Attendees at Darenth Valley; Team 1 - Gary Lang, Chris Knapp, Mike Stone, Andy Bawn
Team 2 - Chris Jones, John Birdseye, Paul Ives, John Thorpe
Team 3 - Tim Holt, Derek Slatford, Eugenio Caruso, Steve Hook
Team 4 - Frank Fleming, Phil Tweddle, Keith Ives, John Barnes
Team 5 - Peter Gallagher, Paul Wilson, Harry Cutts, Malcolm Doyle
Team 6 - Richard Maggs, Chris Pye, Sam Clarke, Steve Eades. Sam Clarke didn't need a club, he obviously felt what he had in his pocket was sufficient. After seeing his scorecard, it clearly wasn't. The other three certainly weren't smiling like that by the end of the round.
Team 7 - John Pye, Andrew Measom, Dave Guildford, Mark Fossey
Team 8 - Tony Mills, Frank Kingham, Alec Vallintine, Colin Johnson
Team 9 - Dick Watts, Richard Gent, John Merralls
Team 10 - Marco Franchi, Dave Bullock, Jamie Lewis
Marco asked if we could stop putting 'that photo' of him on the website. What, this one Marco? Well, it was cold.......
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