A6 Golf Challenge Sep 10
The A6/ICT Golf Challenge 2010 – Sponsored by Thales e-Security
The annual A6/ICT Golf Challenge was held at Studley Wood GC near Oxford on Thursday 30th September 2010 and was kindly sponsored by Thales e-Security. The weather forecast had been indifferent for the week and a full day of rain the day before left the co-organisers fearing the worst if conditions did not improve! Once again, like preceding years, the golfing gods were smiling on us providing a beautiful sunny day, which ensured a great day’s golf on a course in superb condition in a picturesque location. “A hidden gem! ” - perfect description? For anyone who has not heard of or played at Studley Wood, why not look this golf course up if you are in Oxfordshire with a morning or afternoon spare - you will not be disappointed. A sincere thank you must go to our sponsors Thales e-Security for their fantastic support with particular thanks to Ian Danter, Market Development Manager, whose enthusiastic, high handicap golf was most entertaining. The management and staff at Studley Wood were perfect hosts throughout the whole process of staging the event this year.
For the latest Thales e-Security COMSEC newsletter, please click on the follwing link: http://www.cpnlthales.co.uk/CS1110
Post coffee and bacon rolls the registration process was completed with all competitors collecting their programme for the day, 3 Titleist golf balls and a bag of tees! A few balls on the range and minor swing re-alignment saw the day begin with a friendly 9-hole Texas Scramble team event. As the scorecards came in, it was clear to see that some golfers were already playing well!! However, the main event of the day is a 2-player team stableford competition with each individual playing off full handicap with the highest combined team total winning and the pair becoming the 2010 champions. Minor prizes were on offer as well throughout the afternoon round; these included nearest the pin, nearest the pin in 2, longest drive, straightest drive, most golf played and a 2’s sweep. Studley Wood presents a testing challenge whichever colour of tees you choose to run your competition from and it did not let us down with the course set out to test all standards of golfer. New champions were crowned despite the best efforts of the 2008 champions pairing, the defending 2009 champions pairing and some many new combinations to the competition, who will undoubtedly have an excellent chance of lifting the prestigious title in the years to come. With a combined to total of 77 pts, the Cosford pairing of FS Mark Fletcher (38) and Sgt Mouse Rhodes (39) won the 2010 title by narrowly outpointing the 75pts of the MOD’s Gp Capt Q Dixon (39) and Sqn Ldr Neil Flather (36).
It was extremely pleasing to see that for the 3rd year in succession the number of participants increased. Given the fact that some players who have previously attended could not make this event, it does bode well for future years as the player database is ever increasing. Plans for the 2011 event are now underway so watch out for future publicity on the RAFGA website and make sure you are there!!! Sgts Jasper Timmins and Shifty Simpson will take up the reigns again and no doubt provide another superb day for you (and me if I can get back to the UK for it).
Words by FS Andy Walsh
On behalf of all those players who participated, thanks are due to Andy Walsh, Jasper Timmins and Shifty Simpson for organising such a great day’s golf. Best wishes also go to Andy as he departs for his next tour in Creech AFB (Las Vegas). Our hearts bleed….