2017 Ryder Cup
THE 12th TORREBLANCA RYDER CUP 12th TO THE 15th SEPTEMBER 2017
September is the time for our major event of the year. The Torreblanca Ryder Cup. Not the USA versus Europe, this is far more important than that. The North of England verses the South. So, 60 plus of us including wives and partners travelled away from the Costa del Sol to play at the Islantilla Golf Resort on the Isle of Cristina, Huelva for this our 12th Ryder Cup. As is the norm now this is a three-night event giving everyone a chance to unwind on the first day with a game of golf or just relax around the pool, before the competitions begin. The South unfortunately lost again last year and with the North, currently ahead by 7 matches to 4, the South were in desperate need of a win.
This year there were two new captains so just maybe things would change. Sue Cobb for the South and Catherine Shiels for the North. Sue was determined to reverse the current losing trend of the South and start a winning run, she was confident that with her leadership and a revitalised team this would happen, whilst Catherine was confident she could continue the winning streak for the North. Only time would tell who would be victorious. Whilst there were many tried and tested members in each team, this year there were also a few new ones so it was going to be difficult to predict the outcome.
The teams for the two-day event were given out on the coach. Once this had been debated and digested the two teams spent the rest of journey to the Huelva discussing tactics and preparing themselves for the tournaments. They didn’t really, but it sounds better than everyone enjoying the journey on the coach and swapping jokes.
Once we arrived at the hotel and checked in some of us rested with drinks and tapas on the terrace at the golf club. However, the more adventurous and fit members decide to play 18 holes. Hoping this would give them an advantage by practicing on the course. This was not to be as they played a different course to the one we would be using for the Ryder Cup. But they still enjoyed the afternoon as did us sensible ones on the terrace with a glass or two of wine.
After a superb meal in the hotel restaurant and a not so quiet night on the terrace of the hotel bar, it was time for an early night in readiness for the next two days competition. Believe that if you can. So, after a hearty and healthy breakfast, the non-golfers headed off to collect the little train taking them to the beach club for a tapas and wine tasting day. Whilst the golfers headed for the first tee. The format for the first day was Fourball Matchplay on the front nine with Foursomes on the back nine. Both Captains were on the first tee to see their teams off give them a final pep talk and to go through the tactics for the day. So, with the weather sunny and warm and with the course in good condition it was time for the competition to begin. As the day progressed and with success in the first three games it looked like the South were well on the way to a win. Sadly, this was not to be. The next five games went to the North. Despite a valiant effort by the last few Southern players the North were once again the winners on the first day with a score of 15 to 9.
After a few drinks at the club house it was time for us to return to the hotel to get ready for the evening party. That night the Golf club had arranged for us to unwind in the grounds of their club house with a BBQ, Karaoke and music for dancing. To get everyone in the party mood we again decided to have fancy dress night. What a fantastic night it turned out to be with everyone getting into the party spirit by dressing up. There were some superb outfits. A real assortment of costumes and ideas. Amongst them there were pirates, hippies, teddy boys, Captain Marvel, a couple of Cleopatra’s, 20’s flappers, Alice and the Mad Hatter plus Stewart Gurney as a rather unhappy and scary clown, Paul Barrett turned up as a traditional welsh girl, complete with make-up, scary. Once again it was down to that man Colin Bryan to go over the top in a superb way. He turned up as a Saint Trinian’s school girl, fabulous, but Colin a miniskirt with those hairy legs, not good. With this trend of dressing up in woman’s clothes I am getting worried. I wonder is it because they want to play of the ladies’ tees? Well done to everyone for making the effort.
After a superb BBQ with a constant supply of drinks it was time to start the party properly with dancing and a few more drinks!!! at the club house. We had also arranged a Karaoke. I was amazed at the talent, singing that is, we have in our golf society. That was of course until Colin Bryan, being a Crystal Palace supporter, well someone has to be, entertained us with his singing and dancing to the Crystal Palace club song “Glad all Over”. The dancing and especially the drinking went on late into the night with nobody wanting to go to bed.
The next day there were two very important competitions. For the golfers, it was time for the Singles Matchplay competition. For the non-golfers, the golf club had arranged a putting competition. So, as you can imagine after the party the night before there was a quite a few bleary eyes and blank stares. Despite our condition we were raring to go and all determined to win our games. With the weather once again very sunny and warm it was time to start. Unfortunately, the day started out badly for the South. With the North winning the first 6 games and I am sad to say things got steadily worse for the South as the day wore on. The South once again put up a spirited fight but alas is was not to be. They were once again soundly beaten. The North were again triumphant winning the 12th Torreblanca Ryder Cup 31 to 16.
Whilst this epic battle was being fought on the golf course our lady non-golfers were being tutored in readiness for their own golf competition. Thanks to Tino the Golf Director for taking time out to organise and coach them all for a putting competition. Once they had been taught the finer points of putting it was time for their competition. There appeared to be no outright winner so they all agreed that they would all share and enjoy the prizes. Yes, you’ve guessed it. The prize were bottles of wine. According to the non-golfers the day was a resounding success with everyone enjoying themselves.
With both games over we all relaxed on the golf club terrace with drinks and tapas watching the sun go down, it was time for the usual inquest about what went wrong. Although in the North’s case once again what went right. There were the usual “what ifs” echoing around the terrace. Some of the players were reliving every shot and wondering what might have happened if only they had used a different club, or possibly more to the point had not had that final brandy or beer the night before. However, everyone agreed it was a good three days golf.
After another great meal in the hotel restaurant it was time for the speeches and prize giving. Everyone was pleased that I only made a short speech. It was then the turn of the two captains to give their speeches reliving the two days competitions and praising their team’s performance. I am pleased to say that in her speech the winning Northern team captain was very gracious to the Southern captain!!!!!!! It was then time to hand out the winners and runners up medals. With the formalities over it was party time again. The celebrations went on very late into the night, with some of us having a small drink or two, celebrating or drowning our sorrows, depending on which team you played for. Catherine spent the night carrying the trophy everywhere. Including the dance floor and a few circuits of the hotel terrace.
The next morning with the North still celebrating, although much quieter due mainly to their sore heads, we boarded our big purple coach for the journey home. Our thanks to Uta, her caramel vodka on the coach gave us a much-needed hair of the dog. The perfect end to a fantastic four days.
On a special note, I must say a big thank you to everyone at the Islantilla Golf Resort for looking after us so well, everything was superb. The service from their staff was first class, they went out of their way to make sure that everything was perfect and were always smiling. Of course, not forgetting our lovely coach driver Gloria.
Everybody agreed, whether their team had won or lost, it was another unforgettable trip.
September is the time for our major event of the year. The Torreblanca Ryder Cup. Not the USA versus Europe, this is far more important than that. The North of England verses the South. So, 60 plus of us including wives and partners travelled away from the Costa del Sol to play at the Islantilla Golf Resort on the Isle of Cristina, Huelva for this our 12th Ryder Cup. As is the norm now this is a three-night event giving everyone a chance to unwind on the first day with a game of golf or just relax around the pool, before the competitions begin. The South unfortunately lost again last year and with the North, currently ahead by 7 matches to 4, the South were in desperate need of a win.
This year there were two new captains so just maybe things would change. Sue Cobb for the South and Catherine Shiels for the North. Sue was determined to reverse the current losing trend of the South and start a winning run, she was confident that with her leadership and a revitalised team this would happen, whilst Catherine was confident she could continue the winning streak for the North. Only time would tell who would be victorious. Whilst there were many tried and tested members in each team, this year there were also a few new ones so it was going to be difficult to predict the outcome.
The teams for the two-day event were given out on the coach. Once this had been debated and digested the two teams spent the rest of journey to the Huelva discussing tactics and preparing themselves for the tournaments. They didn’t really, but it sounds better than everyone enjoying the journey on the coach and swapping jokes.
Once we arrived at the hotel and checked in some of us rested with drinks and tapas on the terrace at the golf club. However, the more adventurous and fit members decide to play 18 holes. Hoping this would give them an advantage by practicing on the course. This was not to be as they played a different course to the one we would be using for the Ryder Cup. But they still enjoyed the afternoon as did us sensible ones on the terrace with a glass or two of wine.
After a superb meal in the hotel restaurant and a not so quiet night on the terrace of the hotel bar, it was time for an early night in readiness for the next two days competition. Believe that if you can. So, after a hearty and healthy breakfast, the non-golfers headed off to collect the little train taking them to the beach club for a tapas and wine tasting day. Whilst the golfers headed for the first tee. The format for the first day was Fourball Matchplay on the front nine with Foursomes on the back nine. Both Captains were on the first tee to see their teams off give them a final pep talk and to go through the tactics for the day. So, with the weather sunny and warm and with the course in good condition it was time for the competition to begin. As the day progressed and with success in the first three games it looked like the South were well on the way to a win. Sadly, this was not to be. The next five games went to the North. Despite a valiant effort by the last few Southern players the North were once again the winners on the first day with a score of 15 to 9.
After a few drinks at the club house it was time for us to return to the hotel to get ready for the evening party. That night the Golf club had arranged for us to unwind in the grounds of their club house with a BBQ, Karaoke and music for dancing. To get everyone in the party mood we again decided to have fancy dress night. What a fantastic night it turned out to be with everyone getting into the party spirit by dressing up. There were some superb outfits. A real assortment of costumes and ideas. Amongst them there were pirates, hippies, teddy boys, Captain Marvel, a couple of Cleopatra’s, 20’s flappers, Alice and the Mad Hatter plus Stewart Gurney as a rather unhappy and scary clown, Paul Barrett turned up as a traditional welsh girl, complete with make-up, scary. Once again it was down to that man Colin Bryan to go over the top in a superb way. He turned up as a Saint Trinian’s school girl, fabulous, but Colin a miniskirt with those hairy legs, not good. With this trend of dressing up in woman’s clothes I am getting worried. I wonder is it because they want to play of the ladies’ tees? Well done to everyone for making the effort.
After a superb BBQ with a constant supply of drinks it was time to start the party properly with dancing and a few more drinks!!! at the club house. We had also arranged a Karaoke. I was amazed at the talent, singing that is, we have in our golf society. That was of course until Colin Bryan, being a Crystal Palace supporter, well someone has to be, entertained us with his singing and dancing to the Crystal Palace club song “Glad all Over”. The dancing and especially the drinking went on late into the night with nobody wanting to go to bed.
The next day there were two very important competitions. For the golfers, it was time for the Singles Matchplay competition. For the non-golfers, the golf club had arranged a putting competition. So, as you can imagine after the party the night before there was a quite a few bleary eyes and blank stares. Despite our condition we were raring to go and all determined to win our games. With the weather once again very sunny and warm it was time to start. Unfortunately, the day started out badly for the South. With the North winning the first 6 games and I am sad to say things got steadily worse for the South as the day wore on. The South once again put up a spirited fight but alas is was not to be. They were once again soundly beaten. The North were again triumphant winning the 12th Torreblanca Ryder Cup 31 to 16.
Whilst this epic battle was being fought on the golf course our lady non-golfers were being tutored in readiness for their own golf competition. Thanks to Tino the Golf Director for taking time out to organise and coach them all for a putting competition. Once they had been taught the finer points of putting it was time for their competition. There appeared to be no outright winner so they all agreed that they would all share and enjoy the prizes. Yes, you’ve guessed it. The prize were bottles of wine. According to the non-golfers the day was a resounding success with everyone enjoying themselves.
With both games over we all relaxed on the golf club terrace with drinks and tapas watching the sun go down, it was time for the usual inquest about what went wrong. Although in the North’s case once again what went right. There were the usual “what ifs” echoing around the terrace. Some of the players were reliving every shot and wondering what might have happened if only they had used a different club, or possibly more to the point had not had that final brandy or beer the night before. However, everyone agreed it was a good three days golf.
After another great meal in the hotel restaurant it was time for the speeches and prize giving. Everyone was pleased that I only made a short speech. It was then the turn of the two captains to give their speeches reliving the two days competitions and praising their team’s performance. I am pleased to say that in her speech the winning Northern team captain was very gracious to the Southern captain!!!!!!! It was then time to hand out the winners and runners up medals. With the formalities over it was party time again. The celebrations went on very late into the night, with some of us having a small drink or two, celebrating or drowning our sorrows, depending on which team you played for. Catherine spent the night carrying the trophy everywhere. Including the dance floor and a few circuits of the hotel terrace.
The next morning with the North still celebrating, although much quieter due mainly to their sore heads, we boarded our big purple coach for the journey home. Our thanks to Uta, her caramel vodka on the coach gave us a much-needed hair of the dog. The perfect end to a fantastic four days.
On a special note, I must say a big thank you to everyone at the Islantilla Golf Resort for looking after us so well, everything was superb. The service from their staff was first class, they went out of their way to make sure that everything was perfect and were always smiling. Of course, not forgetting our lovely coach driver Gloria.
Everybody agreed, whether their team had won or lost, it was another unforgettable trip.