San Miguel Golf Society
Las Ramblas, August 5
Las Ramblas has often been described as a thinking man's golf course. Unfortunately, a lot of our members thought better of playing this difficult course hence the paltry turnout of 18 members plus three guests. Advocates of the course – a motley crew of low handicap players who are enchanted by the challenges of barrancos (ravines), bunkers and tree-lined fairways – vainly endeavoured to blame Covid-19 and the hot weather for the absence of their erstwhile companions.
On the plus side, the course was, as ever, in excellent condition (even the member who won a consolation bottle of wine for his pitiful score of 10 points agreed on this). Wellpresented fairways and tip-top greens afforded our society every opportunity to score well, a task that proved a bridge too far for most.
As with many courses in this part of Spain, the perimeter consists of upmarket housing for adrenaline junkies who love the thrill of swimming in their pool, knowing that any moment an errant drive or shanked 5 iron could put them in a vegetative state.
At the 17th hole, a resident in a rather fetching pair of speedos indulged in a bout of passive-aggressive staring after my playing partner's drive morphed into a drone missile and almost took out a poolside sunbather. A goose at the same hole was not so lucky. A wormkilling low drive from a committee member struck the bird on a lower limb (to be fair, he did shout 'fore!'). Desiring to live, it hurriedly limped off into the foliage before the golfer could play his second shot.
It was a day of high drama. The Vega Baja Earthquake Monitoring Centre reported a tremor of 1.2 with its epicentre at Las Ramblas 14th hole. The prosaic truth was that a tad overnourished member had fallen into a barranca (after stepping into a hidden rabbit hole), suffering severe bruising to his body and ego.
On a serious note, maybe Las Ramblas should consider roping off the most dangerous ravines as they constitute a clear risk to player safety.
Prizewinners owed their thanks to Mick Roscoe at The Property Shop and Leisa Geddes of Spanish Insurance, steadfast sponsors of San Miguel Golf Society.
Nearest the pin winners were: Phil De lacy, Darren Strugnell, Graeme Forbes, and
Paul Thompson.
Silver Category: 3rd Lee Eastman (the would-be sunbather assassin) on 28 points
2nd Phil De Lacy on 29 points (lost on count back)
1st John Rose 29
Gold Category: 3rd – Darren Strugnell on 33
2nd Tony Smale on 38 (lost on count back)
1st David Rowe on 38
Abacus: Norman Padmore on 10 points.
Best guest: Daniel Luijkx. Our thanks go to the staff of Las Ramblas for a great day out. Next week, we play Roda and the week after we are at Font De Llop.
Keep up to date with all SMGS matters by logging on to our website www.smgs.org or simply give Captain Phil de Lacy a call on 711032859.