2008 Spring Weekend -
Deauville: 11th-14th April
This peaceful scene at dawn on Friday April 11th evaporated with the fog as the Hotel du Golf Barrière in Deauville awaited our intrepid tourists. Soon after everyone arrived for the first round at Amirauté, hail as thick as snow descended on the course, followed - eventually - by a fantastic rainbow, captured here by Gerry Young just before his shot at the pot of gold.
Taking up the challenge after Clare Cull's overall triumph last year, new attendee Gill Nichols set a terrific pace with 32 points for the initial competition
in blustery conditions with additional hazards of horizontal showers and vast expanses of strategically placed lakes. Bryan Reid (31) and Mike Davis (30) held on for the men. Peter, Clare, Gill, and Mike show their delight at completing the final hole. Honourable Mention must go to Vice Captain Peter Breakell who played the entire weekend with a broken wrist.
At St Julien on Saturday, the club generously allowed a busy corporate event of enthusiastic - if inexperienced - young golfers on the course ahead of us. They enjoyed their game, lingering for up to 6 hours over the 18 holes. By 8.45 pm our 3- and 4-balls reached the 13th green and, as darkness threatened the last groups, the competition was decided over a shortened course. 2006 Champion Peter Barford managed to play all 18 for 38, with 27 on the first 13. A four-way tie for second on 26 with Rona Barford, Dave Tulloch and Bryan allowed Gill to maintain her overall lead by 1 point. Five players were now within 3 points of each other and six clear of the rest of the field.
Sunday was a free day. For some, a day of rest and sightseeing. The rough and bunkers near the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches on Omaha Beach offered a contrast to the ones on the courses. 
Others couldn't get enough golf and took the opportunity to play in a putting competition. A violent hailstorm (again) covered the green after which Mike Davis and Rick Jones tried to get round but were washed away. The gala dinner that evening made up for the lack of golf.
Monday dawned with low cloud and rain. Mike Houghton and The Daves were treated to another hailstorm as they played the first holes. Their smiles finally came out with the sun by the time they got to the 18th.
The hopes of at least one contender dissolved with the hailstones. Terry Wall managed 3 points after 5 holes, struggling to a final 26 to come 5th overall on 81. Better performances came from Bryan with 27 to come 4th (84), Dave Tulloch 30 for 3rd (85), Gill 28 for 2nd (86) and Ladies' Champion, but 
the honours went to Peter Barford again with a fine 33 and 3 clear on 89. Here Peter and Rona celebrate at the last with Libby and Myles Coleman.
The BigHead Trophy went to Dave Tulloch for a number of offences. Given the volume of comments from Dave it
would be difficult for him to avoid nomination after four days!
Dave McCormick collected €100 for the charity two's sweep and gave out a parsimonious €10 each to the four winners (Peter Barford, Terry Wall, Dave Tulloch and Myles Coleman) leaving €60 for Rowan's Hospice.
Finally, the inspiring thought of Terry not organising the next Spring Weekend meant that his team of Peter, Gill, Mike Davis and Val Jones (who was clearly pleased) won the team prize for the President's against the Treasurer's, Secretary's and Chairman's teams. 
...So if his team won, why is Terry so glum? Is it because of the rain? the hail? the 6-hour round? the 26? Is it because he won't be organising future trips? Click the photo to find out...
And then there's the big smiles on these three. Val has won the team tournament, but what about Ian Scougall and Rick Jones? And why does Val call the flagstick a "pole"?
The sun taunted us with a final wink on the ferry journey home.
| Photo Gallery - the best of the rest | |
 |
Hail? Yes, that's our hotel. |
 |
Home at last. Gerry Young, Bryan Reid, and Terry Wall finally make it in. |
 |
A good time was had by all. Especially new members Noel and Kate Sutton-Smith, and old members Roger and Shelley Harrington. |
| Gala Dinner | |
 |
Wendy and Mike Houghton, Shelley and Roger Harrington, Gill Nichols, and Bryan Reid's hair. |
 |
Hazel Reid, Mike Davis, Bryan Reid, Dave and Sue Tulloch |
 |
Rick and Val Jones, Kate and Noel Sutton-Smith, Maggie Scougall, Rona and Peter Barford, Ian Scougall |
 |
Clare Cull, Myles and Libby Coleman, Alison and Gerry Young, Rita Wall |
|
Clare Cull, Peter Breakell, Margaret and Dave McCormick |
| Prizegiving | |
 |
Alison Young and Rita Wall get ready. Then the lights dimmed... |
 |
Rita Rewards Bryan Reid for 2nd at Amirauté and 4th overall |
 |
Rita rewards Dave Tulloch for 3rd overall |
 |
Rita rewards Mike Davis for 6th |
 |
Rita rewards Myles Coleman for 7th |
 |
Rita rewards Rick Jones for 8th |
 |
Rita gives Terry one for... (do we want to know?)
|
 |
Then Terry gives one to Rona Barford for 9th |
 |
And Mike Houghton gets his own for 2nd at Deauville New and 10th overall |
This was our fourth consecutive year at Deauville. As always, it offered an opportunity to enjoy good food, wine, chat, shopping and, of course, golf. The rest of the year will seem easy by comparison!
Our thanks to Wendy Houghton, Gerry Young, and Terry Wall for photographs and commentary.
If you got this far without clicking on any of the photos, go back and start again to see enlargements. And one or two other things.