North Shore 2007

A retrospective and by no means comprehensive look at another successful return to Skegness for the North Shore Experience ’07. Administratively tough, with final numbers only confirmed at the 11th hour. Debutants Whilmott and ‘The Doc’ Brown were among the runners, but with a trio only able for 2 of the 3 days Horsburgh & Tuckwell were left racking their brains for a format.

Individual:
3 rounds stableford: North Shore Champion 2007
Eclectic: Each individual puts forward their best score from each hole over the 3 rounds, to enter their ‘dream’ card.

Team: Pairs competition
Day 1: Best score put forward out of the pair

Day 2: Both scores from the pair
Day 3: Better ball stableford in the pair.

Bangles Bookmakers Ltd was once again in operation, and with a limited form guide, offered very generous odds on Hefter, Phoenix, A.T. and pre-tournament favourite Brown. Team Phoenix & Hefter were installed as early favourites with Brown and Hoenigmann rank outsiders. Maybe decisions were not helped by rocking into ones Oxfordshire bedstead, after a very, very heavy night on the source, at 3.30am. Ideal preparation for a quiet weekend Christoph…

The Golf…
Batman & Robin: It was all about 1 man, who literally blew the opposition away with majestic sustained golf and very ably supported by his partner in crime. From Day 1 Brown smashed all records in sight - A level par opening 9 set the tone, eventually smashing the North Shore 18 hole low, previously held by the Tuckwells’, by 3 - with a 76 gross and 38 points. The Tuckwell’s proved the closest challengers with 34 windswept points. Horsburgh Snr 33 points elevated confidence and bravado to traditional first day highs. While Hoenigmann, with a tip from the doc to free those hips, proved animalistic with his new King Cobra driver, hitting it unerringly straight and far – and registering a pleasing 31 points.


Day 2: The outside pairing of ‘snakehips and the doc’ virtually sealed team honours. Two fantastic 36 pointers combining superbly - Hoenigmann’s 20 point back 9, the highest since TGS North shore records began and another sub 80 round from Brown. A.T. was clinging onto the shirt tales with 33 points even with a disappointing back 9. Phoenix began to show but was once again ruing a 12 point 9 hole showing - proving his undoing. Hepburn perhaps had the improvement of the day proving his worth as a team player: 29 points phenomenal in light of a golf game in transition (polite) and a fragile mental state (kind). The customary first night alcohol fuelled bravado led to the traditional Horsburgh Snr prophecy of a table topping nature, amidst the centre of camp pool etiquette and a spread betting ring. Unfortunately, for Rob, normal service was resumed, unhelped by the morning after the night before, a second hole wrist injury and 5th hole trolley collapse - whilst playing partners Phoenix and Dean walked on in disbelief.


Day 3: The customary jaded start and call from certain areas that the third day is a day to far and should be scrapped! Brown once again the only man to truly test the elements and course. A second consecutive 78 gross and 36 pointer, even with 2 no scores, confirmed the inevitable. 110 points equaling Lacey’s 2005 3 round total, and one shy of Baker’s 2006 total. A massive 15 point winning margin made even more impressive from the low handicap mark – does that reflect on the rest of the party at all..?




Tuckwell Jnr finished runner up but can look to 3 poor back 9’s after being in prime position at the turns. Hoenigmann, inspired, made the rostrum with an absolutely brilliant 3 round showing, casting off the previous years wooden spoon. Well played Mike...


Team Challenge: Rank outsiders, and cleaning out the bookies in the process, Snakehips and The Doc aka Hoenigmann & Brown blitzed the opposition with delightful team play. Silver medalists, Tuckwell Snr and Hepburn (yes you read correctly!) warrant equivalent praise and special mention showing brilliant teamwork. A.T following up last years winning team prize.


Eclectic: A new feature aimed to keep all interested until the final hole, whereby each player records their best score on each hole to put forward to a ‘dream card’. Unsurprisingly it was a shoot out between Hoenigmann and Brown, with Hoenigmann returning victorious with a mammoth 49 points to Brown’s 48 – a nett birdie on 17 proving decisive, Horsburgh Jnr, unfeatured in the individual, chose his holes well for 44 points and the bronze on count back from A.T.




Off Field
The traditional post carvery retirement to the snooker room released Horsburgh Snr inner camp, with John Inman surfacing in a cameo so impressive that it proved too much for the non TGS couple occupying the snooker table. ‘Balls’, ‘holes’ and ‘going down on me’ obviously pressing the right/wrong buttons! Brown proved as deadly on course as on the baize scooping the killer stakes. Whilmott proved this years ‘Chubb’ with a lack of appropriate dining wear.



The popular Day 2 Saturday Skegness Express had a full quota and was full steam ahead to the Sea View for the customary full time scores and a leisurely loosener. Onwards to the sparsely populated Marine Bar, pulling in a game and viewing the care in the community (polite) whilst observing the wildlife (generous). Door policy: 16+ stone and shunned by society. Woolfies, Harveys and a return to Woolfies set the tone – fuelled by Hepburn inspired Jagermeister and redbull, Hoenigmann Aftershocks and Tuckwell’s Glayva, obviously necessary as the double G&T’s and ample lager weren’t enough…


A group decision to forgo the evenings dining was made in favour of kicking on through. The venue was no contest as within the space of an hour and a half ‘The Marine’ had transformed into possibly the most youthful (diplomatic) visually friendly (safe) and aesthetically pleasing (wow!) venue on the planet. Even if one of the day release patients was still shuffling/gyrating/guerning her ample geographically challenged bra laden frame on the dance floor. Fair play for the stamina!


Hoenigmann took it upon himself to introduce himself to every female group with varying degrees of success. Other elder members were speechless as to the lack of clothing apparent and ‘I’m too old for this!’ With no sign of the pace slowing Tuckwell got embroiled in a dance off with some nutter: with trademark ‘slide’ and ‘bounceability’ in full working order he final succumbed as hoisting an adjacent female into the air before falling into splits was a step too far. Although the robotics and rubber legs seemed in working order later on. Hall and Brown were on fire into the early hours - Conversational skills working a treat, dinner (Subway, twice) and ensuring their hosts a safe passage home before graciously declining coffee.


Having been dragged to one bar too far (The Litten Tree) by Hoenigmann (who was left as Last Man Standing - unsurprisingly), Tuckwell and Dessaur hit the chips and cheese trail and convinced some local scallies that they were a film crew reporting on the apparent high mortality rate of Skegness residents during the off season. Priceless.



Man most alert, smart, bright eyed, bushy tailed and coherent for Sunday mornings’ breakfast… Hoenigmann – unbelievable