Matt Strong’s Bournemouth Stag Weekend

A tired heap of both golfers and non-golfers headed home on Sunday afternoon after a great few days in Bournemouth.  Last year, Simon led us down to the south coast last year playing Remedy Oak, Parkstone and Broadstone. Great town for a night out, great golf and only a couple of hours from SW London. Made sense to make Bournemouth the venue for Mattie Strong’s stag-do weekender.

Day 1: Remedy Oak Golf Club

14 golfers went down on Thursday to play Remedy Oak, I joined on Friday at Ferndown. More of Mattie’s non-golfing mates came down on Saturday afernoon to join him for beers watching the FA Cup final, whilst a number of us headed off to play Dorest GC. Before the full compliment was reached with Swindlers Dan Thompson, Ian Fowler and Neil Blackmore arriving for the night.

Remedy Oak is a top venue for a tour, and saw a strong start by old mate of Matties and former Swindler, Scott Roberts, but it was a certain Barry Bone who turned in another solid round to take the day with 34pts. Remedy Oak is a top course and nice to hear that popular local resident Harry Rednapp was around the 10th tee chatting with Phil and a a few of our lot. Top guy Harry, who we learnt was a member of both Remedy and Ferndown.

All booked into the nice Hilton in Bournemouth for the weekend, a curry was enjoyed that first evening by those down on Day1. As I turned up early on Friday for Ferndown I did hear that the curry did have a definite effect on, amongst others, Mr Gee-Love and Al Savs.

Day 2: Ferndown Golf Club

Ferndown was very special. Classic heathland course in amazing condition and excellent greens. A very warm welcome by the club and a top spot I’d really recommend it to all. (Aside from one frosty member in the clubhouse when we finished, but you always get one!) Weather of heavily overcast, with only a few drops, we played off the yellows and all enjoyed the course… if the golf somewhat ropey on occasion.

On the day I managed to sneak the overall win by a point with 35. Made slightly more enjoyable by when we won our team game of Richie and I vs Jim and Sean, seeing a long birdie putt drop from off the green on the very last hole. Great match on a great course… Sean, however, was to have his revenge at Dorset GC next day.

The ‘tour’ title was made up of those playing both Remedy Oak and Ferndown…. Scott Roberts took the overall two-day comp, well played Scott…. couple hard days for Phil who took the sh*t emoji bag tag.

Following the golf, Friday evening started quickly with a heap of beers as we went for a wander to scope out bars for Saturday’s main night out. Sunk a few at a nice sports bar, we then split up for food, half having a great Greek and rest of us getting soaked walking down for ‘stodge’ at Frankie N Bennys. Evening ended fairly late at the nice mexican bar near the hotel as a few g&t’s whiskeys and a cheeky mescal went down (whilst the conversation volume went up… for some (“Oooordaarrr ooordarrr”).

Day 3: Dorset GC / FA Cup / Stag Night

Eating quite late left quite a few (definitely me), with a heavy head on Saturday but at least it wasn’t too early a early start. Sea air was good to clear the head a bit as we grabbed breakfast down by the pier.

Having secured an FA Cup final ticket for Watford’s big day, Simon jumped on his motorbike and headed back up to Wembley for the game, before then heading back down again. Great effort Mr Bailey.

After lunch, Matt met his non-golfie mates together with Dan Ian and Neil, to watch the FA Cup in the Walkabout whilst wearing a special Watford tshirt complete with rooster socks as arranged by the best men. As most know, Matt is all Man City but played along with the shirt, and it was wholly more practical to wear that shirt than the bonkers Nemo/Super Hero/dresses worn by the heaps of stags out on the day.  Mattie in a big orange fish costume… it just wouldn’t have happened would it.

Meanwhile, rest of us headed over to Dorset Golf & Country Club for 18 holes to then get back to watch the end of the game. Unforunately, we were all very underwhelmed by the golf course. A friendly pro but the rude clubhouse staff really let the place down. Course not all that either, 27 holes but we were out on the short, tight 3rd nine and the first 9 of the main 18.  A tad confusing and whilst fairly tricky in places with some challenging holes, it really wasn’t much to talk about.

Still, we had a good game, Ritchie and I again taking on Sean and Brian. Another great game, this time my putt finished one roll short for a final birdie to half.  Needing an outright win, it was moot anyway as Sean slotted home for a par with a shot (after his ropey chip approach bounced off the top off of two greenside bunkers before rolling 15feet from the pin). Brian sculling a couple close on back9 and a chuntering Richie was a sight and sound to behold.

With Simon at Wembley for the game, Jaggsy organised the Swindle bet on the day. Boney won again continuing his good recent form.

Not hanging about, we left the golf club and went back into Bournemouth for a quick turnaround to meet up with Mattie and catch the end of the game.  Yep well done Citeh, right result for Mattie on his day.

With some changed already, rest of us grabbed food and quick showers to meet up at the big pier bar for more beers and food. Simon turned up after his very long round trip to Wembley and the evening rolled on and on into a big night.  

All had a cracking big night out and about in Bournemouth.  Few photos around from the night but obvs limited to sharing on the Whatsapp group – however one nice pic can be posted of some of the non-golfers who came down for the evening (and Mr Savs).

Great weekend, thanks to all the organisers and best of luck for the big day next month Mattie!

Big congrats to Matt on his upcoming big day over in Poland. Everyone had a great weekend celebrating with him.  Best men all chipped in and as Matt himself put up on whatsapp thanking everyone on Sunday, together with an extra wee note for Simon helping with golf and hotel organising on top of his Wembley round trip.

And for the result ‘fiends’ out there, below are Day1 and Day2 overall results, together with the Dorset GC scores.

And finally, Day4 for some

Sean, Barry, Yeti, Backdoor, Gee-Adams and myself squeezed one final round in to split the journey back. Six of us all very weary, Sean had regained the ability to speak after the red wine the night before and he had picked Alresford Golf Club to play, near Winchester almost bang on halfway home.

Nice little local members course, it was refreshingly relaxed and calm. Whilst not long, was more friendly and enjoyable than Dorest GC. Two stand out holes for me, their SI2 No11 par4 was a beast and a twisting par5 17th… which is probably the best hole I’ve played this year.   Similar to ours but certainly firmer than ours, the greens took some getting used to but all good fun. We had fivers on the cards and I nicked it from the always-on-form- Barry and Bri C.