Touring with the Pro!
Seven members and our Pro embarked on the Club's first golf tour organised by Mark Peddar.
Tony Smith, John & Ghinda Sharples, Huw & Hilary Thomas, Angela Norton and Jean Walton boarded the early morning flight to Faro. An hour trip across the border into Southern Spain finally arriving at the El Romido Golf Resort in Huelva.
"The 4 day trip was made possible by the initiative and organisational skills of new Pro, Mark Peddar and that’s before we take into account his teaching prowess.
An advance party made their way to Gatwick on Saturday 18th January and were joined at a very unearthly hour on the Sunday morning by Mark and Tony Smith, both of whose good ladies had volunteered to drive them there.
Using the ‘Spain TGC’ Whats App group, we managed to group together after negotiating oversize bag drops for golf clubs, passports and security, apart from Angela who got rather stuck in duty free!
The flight to Faro was relatively uneventful and at Faro our transfer bus was ready and waiting once we had again claimed our bags. The journey to the hotel, across the border into Spain took just over the hour and we descended on the Hotel where check in was straightforward, rooms were comfortable and well appointed included TV where channels included choice of preparation for Trump’s inauguration or the Australian Open tennis.
After lunch in the hotel bar, we were left to explore; Tony took himself to the putting green, John and Ghinda walked the first 9 holes of the South Course and the Thomas’ tested the gym.
Early on we established the Piano bar as the place for apperitifs and on the Sunday evening, Mark treated us to bottles of Cava – no, don’t call it Prosecco, before finding our set table in the restaurant; a round table for the 8 of us.
Food was a buffet of at least 3 courses with hot and cold starters and salads, a wide range of meat, fish and vegetarian main courses, cheese course and desserts plus ice cream – favoured by one of our number.
Monday breakfast found most people sporting shorts but unfortunately they hadn’t looked out of the windows. However, we all then ventured to the golf club some 200 metres away. Here the ladies were attracted by the clothing display while Mark was beavering away sorting range slots and tee times. Sadly the weather got worse and worse and we sat in the café watching the rain cascading off the roof and the fairways and greens becoming waterlogged – similar to Tenterden in recent weeks.
Sadly the club staff had no option but to close the course; issuing a ‘review at 2pm then review at 3pm before calling all play off for the day. At this point it must have been panic stations for Mark, but he kept calm on the outside and was in fact rearranging the lost tee times for the Thursday which originally had been golf free.
That evening after drinks and dinner a game was called for and here Hilary took charge, extracting pens and paper from reception and great fun was had by all but we will keep stum about the details!
With the forecast predicting more rain the next day, we were pleased to see it better expectations and we all enjoyed a good session on the driving range, chipping area and practice putting green. After this we had coffee before our tee times but again as we sat in the clubhouse café the rain started and got steadily heavier. At this point I wimped out and as the other brave souls set off to tackle the North Course; Ghinda, off games with broken wrist and I retired to the hotel getting soaked on the walk back, to watch the Alcaraz, Djokovic match: one being happier than the other with the result. Part way through we did notice that the rain had stopped and we met the players coming off the 18th green or was it 18th bunker Tony?
The weather was brighter again on Wednesday so we tackled the south course from 1pm – nearer the hotel and a little flatter than the North course. I played my first 9 holes since last April after hip operation and rehab and saved my best shot a little hybrid for putting from off the green and into the hole for when the second group were behind and watching! At all times Mark was supportive, pushed my and Angela’s trolleys in turn and gave us good advice which on the back nines he switched to the chaps and Hilary – who probably hits as far as them.
The final day brought some necessary planning to leave our rooms, play golf and change; here the Sharples opened up their ‘Inn’ for late check out and showers at what is understood to be a very reasonable rate!
Sadly the end had come too soon as the day had brought beautiful sunshine even trying out the sun loungers round the pool for a short while.
Thanks to Mark’s organisation our transfer bus arrived on time and deposited us at Faro airport where he plied us with the Portuguese speciality custard tarts – Pasteis de Nata: apparently available in Lidl direct from Lisbon!
By this time Mark was looking a little more relaxed as the tour had been a great success despite the weather trying its best to scupper best laid plans. I think I speak for us all in wanting to thank him for everything he did to make this a very enjoyable break from the January cold and ensuring that the group gelled well. Mark’s video I think will have caught us all unaware and as well as causing amusement will show us subtly that we need some more coaching!
I would like to add my personal thanks to everyone for helping me with my bags and generally helping me as I am slowly returning to full mobility and I will be the first to sign up again for next year please."
Jean Walton
"The 4 day trip was made possible by the initiative and organisational skills of new Pro, Mark Peddar and that’s before we take into account his teaching prowess.
An advance party made their way to Gatwick on Saturday 18th January and were joined at a very unearthly hour on the Sunday morning by Mark and Tony Smith, both of whose good ladies had volunteered to drive them there.
Using the ‘Spain TGC’ Whats App group, we managed to group together after negotiating oversize bag drops for golf clubs, passports and security, apart from Angela who got rather stuck in duty free!
The flight to Faro was relatively uneventful and at Faro our transfer bus was ready and waiting once we had again claimed our bags. The journey to the hotel, across the border into Spain took just over the hour and we descended on the Hotel where check in was straightforward, rooms were comfortable and well appointed included TV where channels included choice of preparation for Trump’s inauguration or the Australian Open tennis.
After lunch in the hotel bar, we were left to explore; Tony took himself to the putting green, John and Ghinda walked the first 9 holes of the South Course and the Thomas’ tested the gym.
Early on we established the Piano bar as the place for apperitifs and on the Sunday evening, Mark treated us to bottles of Cava – no, don’t call it Prosecco, before finding our set table in the restaurant; a round table for the 8 of us.
Food was a buffet of at least 3 courses with hot and cold starters and salads, a wide range of meat, fish and vegetarian main courses, cheese course and desserts plus ice cream – favoured by one of our number.
Monday breakfast found most people sporting shorts but unfortunately they hadn’t looked out of the windows. However, we all then ventured to the golf club some 200 metres away. Here the ladies were attracted by the clothing display while Mark was beavering away sorting range slots and tee times. Sadly the weather got worse and worse and we sat in the café watching the rain cascading off the roof and the fairways and greens becoming waterlogged – similar to Tenterden in recent weeks.
Sadly the club staff had no option but to close the course; issuing a ‘review at 2pm then review at 3pm before calling all play off for the day. At this point it must have been panic stations for Mark, but he kept calm on the outside and was in fact rearranging the lost tee times for the Thursday which originally had been golf free.
That evening after drinks and dinner a game was called for and here Hilary took charge, extracting pens and paper from reception and great fun was had by all but we will keep stum about the details!
With the forecast predicting more rain the next day, we were pleased to see it better expectations and we all enjoyed a good session on the driving range, chipping area and practice putting green. After this we had coffee before our tee times but again as we sat in the clubhouse café the rain started and got steadily heavier. At this point I wimped out and as the other brave souls set off to tackle the North Course; Ghinda, off games with broken wrist and I retired to the hotel getting soaked on the walk back, to watch the Alcaraz, Djokovic match: one being happier than the other with the result. Part way through we did notice that the rain had stopped and we met the players coming off the 18th green or was it 18th bunker Tony?
The weather was brighter again on Wednesday so we tackled the south course from 1pm – nearer the hotel and a little flatter than the North course. I played my first 9 holes since last April after hip operation and rehab and saved my best shot a little hybrid for putting from off the green and into the hole for when the second group were behind and watching! At all times Mark was supportive, pushed my and Angela’s trolleys in turn and gave us good advice which on the back nines he switched to the chaps and Hilary – who probably hits as far as them.
The final day brought some necessary planning to leave our rooms, play golf and change; here the Sharples opened up their ‘Inn’ for late check out and showers at what is understood to be a very reasonable rate!
Sadly the end had come too soon as the day had brought beautiful sunshine even trying out the sun loungers round the pool for a short while.
Thanks to Mark’s organisation our transfer bus arrived on time and deposited us at Faro airport where he plied us with the Portuguese speciality custard tarts – Pasteis de Nata: apparently available in Lidl direct from Lisbon!
By this time Mark was looking a little more relaxed as the tour had been a great success despite the weather trying its best to scupper best laid plans. I think I speak for us all in wanting to thank him for everything he did to make this a very enjoyable break from the January cold and ensuring that the group gelled well. Mark’s video I think will have caught us all unaware and as well as causing amusement will show us subtly that we need some more coaching!
I would like to add my personal thanks to everyone for helping me with my bags and generally helping me as I am slowly returning to full mobility and I will be the first to sign up again for next year please."
Jean Walton