6am, McDonald's car park and rendezvous time with Shep and the bus. Rather appropriate really "The Lord's my shepherd, I shall not walk......." but Shep will be the first one to tell me he doesn't spell his name like that. He probably won't be the first one to tell me I'm misquoting the 23 Psalm. I think it's Old Trafford rather than quiet waters that he is led to, but there are always the pastures green for him.
Time to take the register.
Bakewell Andy /
Duce Nigel /
Exton Bill /
Morris Graham /
Pickett Chris /
Pickett Mick /
Sheppard Keith /
Ward Jason /
Montmorency Absent
Our destination is the Ashbury Hotel, Fowley Cross, near Okehampton Devon. EX20 4NA. According to the sat nav, from Boston this will take 5 hours 2 minutes without stopping and is a total distance of 287 miles. I reckon with a fair wind and clear waters we should make it by 1pm.
At first sight there's no chance of fitting another four sets of clubs, four cases and four people on board. However we eventually squeeze in quite cosily.
Here we are on the Stamford to Corby road. I think the lorry in front of us is also heading to Okehampton.
Why do the naughty boys always occupy the back seat?
Second stop, the famous Gloucester services. Why famous, you ask, well firstly for the architecture. The whole complex virtually disappears into the landscape, despite the glaring signage on the tarmac. Inside it's bright, clean and airy. Very different from the usual motorway offering. Secondly it is home to one of the best farm shops in the UK, making it the only services in the UK that people go out of their way to visit.
Third brief stop at the Exeter services. Now I don't claim to be an aficionado of motorway services but this one is as bad as Gloucester was good. Visually intrusive, with a facade dominated by advertising. The interior is no better. To get to the toilet facilities there is a circuitous route march past every franchise, a bit like some airports divert passengers through the duty free. Not many points for the Exeter services I'm afraid.
Finally arrived at 1.32pm. Here's an overview of what is on offer. This afternoon we will play the Pines course. This is a grownup course with slopey fairways and plenty of chances to get into trouble. Were we able to see them, I am sure that the views would have been fabulous. However we did see a lot of Devonian clouds and not a little rain. It means that you will have to wait until tomorrow's blog to see the much vaunted vistas.
We are billeted in Moorview which is the brown block just to the right of the centre shiny lights.
And this is Bill and my room. In case anyone is remotely concerned, the single bed is mine.
Time to take the register.
Bakewell Andy /
Duce Nigel /
Exton Bill /
Morris Graham /
Pickett Chris /
Pickett Mick /
Sheppard Keith /
Ward Jason /
Montmorency Absent
Our destination is the Ashbury Hotel, Fowley Cross, near Okehampton Devon. EX20 4NA. According to the sat nav, from Boston this will take 5 hours 2 minutes without stopping and is a total distance of 287 miles. I reckon with a fair wind and clear waters we should make it by 1pm.
At first sight there's no chance of fitting another four sets of clubs, four cases and four people on board. However we eventually squeeze in quite cosily.
Here we are on the Stamford to Corby road. I think the lorry in front of us is also heading to Okehampton.
Why do the naughty boys always occupy the back seat?
Second stop, the famous Gloucester services. Why famous, you ask, well firstly for the architecture. The whole complex virtually disappears into the landscape, despite the glaring signage on the tarmac. Inside it's bright, clean and airy. Very different from the usual motorway offering. Secondly it is home to one of the best farm shops in the UK, making it the only services in the UK that people go out of their way to visit.
Third brief stop at the Exeter services. Now I don't claim to be an aficionado of motorway services but this one is as bad as Gloucester was good. Visually intrusive, with a facade dominated by advertising. The interior is no better. To get to the toilet facilities there is a circuitous route march past every franchise, a bit like some airports divert passengers through the duty free. Not many points for the Exeter services I'm afraid.
Finally arrived at 1.32pm. Here's an overview of what is on offer. This afternoon we will play the Pines course. This is a grownup course with slopey fairways and plenty of chances to get into trouble. Were we able to see them, I am sure that the views would have been fabulous. However we did see a lot of Devonian clouds and not a little rain. It means that you will have to wait until tomorrow's blog to see the much vaunted vistas.
We are billeted in Moorview which is the brown block just to the right of the centre shiny lights.
And this is Bill and my room. In case anyone is remotely concerned, the single bed is mine.
What single bed, I hear you ask, well if you look in the mirror it's clearly visible in the left hand corner.
Utilitarian is how I would describe the accommodation, nevertheless it's comfortable enough with plenty of storage space. There wasn't much time between finishing the golf and our evening meal, just a quick shower and change.
There are five dining rooms with the food available from a central serving station. Basically you could eat as much as you liked. I had three courses, assiette de viandes followed by hake in parsley and lemon butter sauce with three veg and sauteed potatoes. Apple crumble and custard sweetened the last course. For mass catering the standard was excellent.
Prizes went for first, second and third places determined by the stableford scoring system. Chris Pickett 40 pts Keith Sheppard 31 pts Nigel Duce 27 pts.
After a long and tiring day, everyone was in bed by 10.30, except me who is still writing this. So it's good night from me.
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