The President’s Putter

I leave on Jan 2 for England to participate in my first ever President’s Putter. I hope to have at least a few rounds at Littlestone and Rye. We’ll see what happens. I play Gareth O Jones on Thursday the 4th at Littlestone. It will be great to catch up with Gareth — he and I played together last year at Oxford. For those unfamiliar with the Putter, I’ve included a little excerpt from Rye’s website. Enjoy.

The President’s Putter

Rye – isn’t that where they play the President’s Putter? Yes it is, since 1920 in fact. The Oxford & Cambridge Golfing Society, founded 22 years earlier for ex-participants in the golf match between the two universities, decided in addition to fixtures against various clubs to hold an annual meeting at Rye in early January.

The format of the main event is scratch match play, the basis of university golf, and currently attracts a field of about 160. Thus the winner must survive seven or even eight rounds over four days, frequently in adverse weather, without undue delay since at that time of the year play is only possible between 8.00 am. and 4.30 pm. But herein lies the genius of the instigators, for the length of the evenings provides ample opportunity for sociable reunion, if not an obstacle course for those aspiring to success on the following day. Nearly everyone stays in or around the ancient Cinque Port of Rye, where amid its cobbled streets a myriad of inns and restaurants contributes to the congeniality.

Players range in age from 20 to 70, some playing regularly – David Hayes the 2006 winner with a handicap of plus two – others barely picking up a club from one year to the next as work and family commitments intervene. Nevertheless the Old Course at Rye can be a great leveller and with the greens at their slickest and best in winter, never truer was the adage that ‘the man who can putt is a match for anyone’. Serious fun is the theme, exemplified by the presentation of a silver medal to the winner in exchange for the victorious ball. On the back of the medal are inscribed the Latin words ‘Primus inter pares’, which are freely translated by everyone else as ‘he was lucky to win’.

Picture: G O Jones and M J McFadden at Royal St. George’s (Mar 2006)

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Body Scans And Green Juice

As late 20-somethings, Kelly and I are often asking ourselves, “are we getting old?” The question is typically answered with a “no way” but just last night we had a sign.

We were down in La Quinta (near Palm Desert) for the holiday week between Christmas and New Years. My dad and Mary Ann, Bob and Jean Campbell, and Kelly and I were all down enjoying some golf and relaxation. It was a nice treat from all the hussle and bussle that tends to build up around the holidays.

Anyway, last night Kelly and I turned to each other and laughed. Bob, my dad, and Mary Ann were in a deep conversation regarding body scans and their importance. By no means do Kelly and I underestimate the significance of a body scan but just the fact that this was a major topic of conversation made us laugh. Of course this was only 5 hours after a deep discussion on 100% juice and how we all need our green juice.

For some of our consistent readers you might ask, “are you making fun of your parents on your blog?” and the answer is sure. Fortunately for us the probability of our parents finding this on the internet much less reading it is near to nil (with the exception of Fran who wouldn’t tell anyone . But just in case, we have added some links that might be of use for the Body Scan and Green Juice crowd. Enjoy: