Birchwood 2006 was attended by 25 Badgers, and 24 even managed to finish the course!  On a dark, brooding day (and this was just Smithys mood after a row with the wife) the wind was blowing harder than a hooker on a stag night and we experienced, in the words of the Crowded House song, four seasons in one day.  For the uninitiated, Crowded House were a highly successful Australian band in the 90's, not just somewhere Sharpie's decided to turn up.  That boy sit's down anywhere, he's sat down next to you...

Despite the weather, the standard of golf was high with one of the tightest finishes we've enjoyed since that girl behind the bike sheds at secondary school.  Special mention must go to Phil Tweddle who managed to finish the round despite a dodgy back which got decidedly dodgier on the 17th - true Badger behaviour!  This type of spirit exemplifies the Badgers, unlike that lightweight Mark Smith who experienced another bad dose of Lizitis (has he ever recovered from the bout at Woldingham?) and walked off after 9 holes with a mighty 3 points.  Yes folks, you read correctly; 3 points.  Good job Birchwood make us wear soft spikes, if he was wearing metals he might have caused some serious damage to his bottom lip as he trudged off.

Whilst there was some serious scoring at the business end of the scoreboard, down at the bottom end there were some Badgers searching hard for that key golfing element; i.e. hitting the ball.  John Pye started off proceedings as he finished (on a mighty 20 points) by slicing his tee shot on the first straight into the hedge bordering the tee box and having to take a drop and a third before he'd even got past the ladies.  Not to be outdone, Mike 'Topper' Healy took the advice of his fellow Badger to keep it low and out of the wind a bit too literally by keeping it barely above the grass all day.  Still, at least he got it past the reds on the first and, unlike Smithy, both Mike and John battled through to finish. Must be because they don't play rugby you know.....

On to the prizes!  Making a first visit to the winners rostrum, Chris Knapp won the prize for the Longest Drive with a monstrous clout on the 13th (lucky for him!) making full use of the groundstaffs interesting fairway cutting and keeping it on the short stuff.  Next up, and for his first visit of the day, Steve Sharp won Nearest the Pin at the 4th playing into a wind that felt like it doubled the length of the hole (similar to his drinking which has doubled the length of his belt).  Congratulations to you both (Chris and Steve, not Steve and his belt!). 

 Chris Knapp receives Longest Drive

 

Steve Sharp receives Nearest the Pin

 

Team prize was won by Steve Sharp, Peter Gallagher and Andy Bawn with a best two scores combined total of 76.  Birchwood has always been good to the more rotund members of the Badgers (remember Jarvis in 2004 and Sharp/Brewer/Bullock in 2005?), and Sharpie returned once again to the rostrum to collect the prizes but fear not, ever since Big Dave Jarvis achieved a clean sweep at Birchwood back in 2004,  we've had the rostrum specially reinforced so it should be able to take the weight OK.

Steve Sharp receives the Winning Team prizes on behalf of his team mates Peter Gallagher and Andy Bawn

 

Sharpie decided to put the rostrum through it's paces again with another visit, this time to collect Third Prize, won with 35 points on countback (beating Alec Vallintine into fourth) and only missing out on Second Place on countback to Peter Jupp, again with 35 points.  Bob James rounded off the evening by collecting First Place with a magnificent 36 points on his yearly Badgers outing (must be something to do with wanting to avoid Christmas shopping with the wife).

 

Bugger me it's Sharpie again! Steve picks up Third Place

 

Simon Tuson presents himself with Second Place and accepts on behalf of Peter Jupp. That's multi-tasking for you!

 

Bob 'Santa' James (he only comes once a year too) receives First Place

 

Results from Birchwood, 25th November;

 1st Bob James, 36 points off 11, new handicap 9

2nd Peter Jupp, 35 points off 23, new handicap 22

3rd Steve Sharp, 35 points off 8, new handicap 7

4th Alec Vallintine, 35 points off 20, new handicap 19

5th Eugenio Caruso, 34 points off 26, handicap remains 26

6th Pat Judd, 34 points off 7, handicap remains 7

7th Andy Bawn, 34 points off 28, handicap remains 28

8th Steve Brewer, 32 points off 23, handicap remains 23

9th Chris Knapp, 31 points off 24, handicap remains 24

10th Mike Stone, 31 points off 24, handicap remains 24

11th Simon Tuson, 31 points off 20, handicap remains 20

12th Nigel Smith, 28 points off 25, new handicap 26

13th Richard Maggs, 28 points off 22, new handicap 23

14th Harry Cutts, 26 points off 26, new handicap 27

15th John Deely, 26 points off 24, new handicap 25

16th Peter Gallagher, 25 points off 18, new handicap 19

17th Dave Guildford, 24 points off 27, new handicap 28

18th Phil Tweddle, 24 points off 10, new handicap 12

19th Richard Gent, 23 points off 27, new handicap 28

20th Dick Watts, 21 points off 28, handicap remains 28

21st Tim Holt, 23 points off 28, handicap remains on 28

22nd Steve Hook, 22 points off 25, new handicap 27

23rd John Pye, 20 points off 18, new handicap 20

24th Mike Healy, 20 points off 28, handicap remains on 28

25th Mark Smith, retired with a dose of Lizitis and did not finish, 2 shot penalty, new handicap 16 (Note to committee - contact Liz next time to ask if Markie can come out to play with the boys.....)

Thanks to all those Badgers who attended and thanks to our sponsors Cable-Com - cheers Tim!

 

Attendees at Birchwood;

 Team 1 - Steve Sharp, Andy Bawn, Peter Gallagher 1st Place - 78 Points

 

Team 2 - Nigel Smith, Mark 'soon have the smile wiped off his face' Smith, Richard Maggs, Pat Judd 6th Place - 71 Points

 

Team 3 - Mike Stone, Phil Tweddle, Eugenio Caruso, Harry Cutts 2nd Place - 75 Points

 

Team 4 - Peter Jupp, Tim 'Sponsor' Holt, Simon 'Captains Smile' Tuson 5th Place - 72 Points

 

Team 5 - John Pye, Bob James, Mike Healy, Steve Hook 3rd Place - 74 Points

 

 

Team 6 - Dick Watts, John 'Defending Champion' Deely, Steve Brewer, Richard Gent 4th Place - 73 Points

 

 

Team 7 - Chris Knapp, Alec Vallintine, Dave Guildford 7th Place - 70 Points

 

 

'The Skies Over Birchwood; A Photographic Study 2006' Nope, can't remember why this picture was taken either (answers on a postcard please!) but it shows what a crap day's weather it was. Or perhaps this was just Mark Smith's wife's general mood that day......