We eagerly looked forward to our second Christmas Golf Holiday at The Robinson Club but not without a little trepidation. Having spent the whole of 2013 telling everyone how very good it was and how well received by last years group, one hopes it will live up to expectation. And indeed it did.
The group of 22 arrived through the day on Saturday and we made our introductions over the first of many excellent dinners in the all inclusive restaurant. It is worth mentioning here that everyone had the highest praise for the standard of cuisine throughout our stay. When the 9 ladies in the group announced handicaps of 7, 9, 11 and several in the teens the men knew they had real competition for the week!
We awoke to sunshine and blue skies for our first round on Sunday, a best 2 from 3 team event on the Quinta do Cima championship course. Seven teams provided a close competition, one score of 67, two each of 68, 69 and 70 set the trend of close finishes for the following days.
Liz, Steve and David G lost out on the back nine to Ali, Neville and Kenneth.
Monday, again in the best of conditions, we visited what is surely the best course on the Algarve, Monte Rei. This Nicklaus signature course is simply a gem, with an overall service and location to match. A free draw for a mixed 4 ball better ball brought Joan (7) & David P (17) in as winners by 3 points with an excellent 40 points. I marked the card and it was well deserved, Joan carding a personal 36pts.
Christmas Eve and yet another fine golfing day at Benamor. One of the older courses designed by Henry Cotton and we had another day of close 4 bbb results. Several scores of 37 & 38, two 39’s but Andy & David H lost out to Don & David P on count back with two excellent 40’s. Back to the hotel for our Christmas Eve celebrations, dressed in our black and purple theme for the evening we enjoyed a marvellous buffet and a long evening which, if possible, was surpassed the following day when, on…….
A none golfing (for the sensible ones) Christmas Day, the festive dinner included, amongst many other offerings, Goose and Wild Austrian Boar, not to mention a superb array of sweets.The optional dress code for tonight was black and white and when the band struck up another long night for the hardy allowed a few calories to be danced away!
Boxing Day and back on the course for our main competition of the week, an individual stableford on the Quinta da Ria course. Maybe the previous two nights had taken its toll but still the scoring was very close. Both the ladies runner up, Ali and gents, Andy, had 31 points being pipped by Ronnie and Don on 32.
When numbers permit a Ladies v Gents match is always keenly fought! So, the final day at Castro Marim, the Ladies had four teams of fourball better ball and the Gents six, we added the four Ladies scores together and discarded the best and worst of the Gents. As mentioned earlier, the men knew their backs were against the wall this week and so it proved with an 8 point win for the ladies. However, the leading ladies score, an excellent 41 from Ali and Ronnie was pipped by a 42 from David P and Steve. Now, I marked this card and witnessed a rather remarkable back nine. 16 points on the front 9 wasn’t promising great things but David had other ideas. He had a run of five 3 pointers and two 2 pointers in the next 7 holes. Steve, would admit he wasn’t having his best of days but sensed a little help was required and finished off the day par, birdie for 3 & 4 points respectively and a back 9 total of 26, Happy Christmas!!
Following the final night presentation dinner several made provisional bookings for next year and albeit a long time away, we are happy to take those now, with a no obligation returnable deposit, as numbers are limited to 22.
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