After the mess of rain and howling wind on Wednesday, Thursday turned out to be a fantastic Autumn day at the extremely nice Swinley Golf Club near Ascot. Usual SN faces were out for the Surrey Chamber of Commerce’s November fixture – Backdoor was out suffering with his dodgy back, but myself, Mr Adams, Yeti, Phil, Jim and Sid Bailey all up for a top days golf at Swinley.
A “proper members club”, Swinley a superb course with unforgiving heather, with many false fronted or raised greens, and some healthy run-offs. Topped off with a special clubhouse full of character. The advance email from the club leads with “Members have the priority across the course at all times”… ha.
Clubhouse at Swinley (photos taken today)
Course still very wet, greens were in great nick if fairly slow given the rain yesterday and were – as you’d expect – a bit inconsistent as they dried out during the day. Not a long course even from the whites, but it is tricky and quickly eats shots up. Needs good position off the tee (not near any wirey heather obviously) and the greens look great. When it is dry, their unforgiving, fast greens will probably make it a very long day.
Our threeball of Brian, Graham and myself were out just before the others, thankfully playing off the whites today. I was steady across both nines, Brian and Graham chipping in with solid scores. Brian and I came back in 19, Graham in 16 and we felt we were in with a shout for the team game. Brian’s birdie on the last for 4pts sealed it for us as it turns out.
View from the clubhouse, overlooking the 18th green, with the first fairway from an elevated tee on the left
After Graham’s haul at Camberley last month, Surrey National took some more wine home today. In the final shake up I nicked the overall win with 37pts, and Brian, Graham and I scooping more wine for the team win.
Great day’s golf and a great turnout of society members. Very Nice of Swinley to offer extra tee times in the afternoon to us all. However after the impressive dinner of starter/carvery/afters/afters/afters/cheese-board, I don’t think anyone could pick up a club, let alone play another 9.
Woking is the last fixture in December, then we start again with Hankley Common in January. Anyone fancy a golf day let one of us know, or visit the Surrey Chamber of Commerce golf society page and you’ll see it is a cracking rota of courses you may not otherwise play. 2019 rota has been agreed, and will be published soon.
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