Few will be unaware of the rifts that have almost torn apart the Union of European Golfington Associations (UEGA, or EU for short) in recent months and the aftershocks are still being felt. Insidious agents within Golfington Britain (GB) have been demanding a withdrawal from EU because they would rather play by their own rules and don’t like so many foreign players in their leagues. This is bad for the game as a whole and for GB in particular, especially as the those leading the exit campaign have largely disappeared without any clear plan for how to draft their own version of the rules and face a potential loss of many extremely valuable foreign players from their leagues.
Superstars Open 2016
With this in mind, it is heart-warming news that the upcoming Superstars Open is being hailed as the “Unification Games” to bring split factions back together. The tournament will be held at the magnificent Course de l’Ours in the foothills of the Pyrenees:
The course is both the most picturesque and historically interesting in France, so there is much to look forward to! Almost all the top players will be playing this year, with the notable exceptions of two of last year’s competitors Mandy Americana and Jan Sverigesson.
Cyder Cup 2016
As if that were not enough, shortly afterwards we will be treated to the Cyder Cup, the long-running competition between the players (and drinkers) of the USA and Europe.
Given the recent upheavals in the European game, the Europe camp will be hard pushed to put out a unified team against the well-drilled competitors from the USA. For their sake, let’s hope that the Superstars Open serves to re-build some bridges and encourage mutual support. The captains of the Cyder cup teams this year are Jacques LeCoq for Europe and Penelope Featherington for the USA. Let’s hope that they can assemble their best teams and calculate the most precise tactics that they can muster.
Here are some pictures of some of the Cyder Cup players on a recreational team-building golf day in the run up to the main event, which was very well attended:
The Kit Room
Have you ever found yourself planning a golfington hole in an ideal location – a grand staircase, a picturesque forest or a twisty corridor perhaps – but not found a natural “hole” in which to end it? You need a portable hole. The ideal portable hole will fold up conveniently so that it can be carried around with your rackets and cocks in your golfington bag and then be brought into use when required. Different styles are available, so they can fit in with your course design.
This simple pop-up net folds up small and can provide a very useful “hole” wherever required. It stands at an angle, which makes it an easy target from multiple angles:
Some course designers prefer more traditional, “flat” holes rather than the angle that the net presents. For these, there are also options. This simple folding disc fits the bill perfectly and can also double up as a flash reflector should you be interested in photography:
Dream Venues
The Escheresque confluence of stair cases is crying out to be used for a challenging and twisting golfington hole. Should you ever find yourself booked into The George Inn in the Hertfordshire town of Baldock, remember to take your racquets:
Signing off
That is it for this edition! We will be back soon with an update after the Superstars Open. Until then, keep your feathers trimmed and your shots true.