Mallards Away Day's...

Since its inception the Mallards have made it an Annual Event to have an 'away day' at another golf course. For the first few years the format was to arrive at the chosen course and have coffee, followed by a 9 hole team competition then take lunch of soup and sandwiches followed by 18 holes of golf then an evening meal. Following the poor turn out of members in 2002 a decision was made to change the format as it was believed that 27 holes of golf was just a bit to much for many members to play in one day. So from 2003 it was changed just to play an 18 hole competition and since then the interest in the away day has increased dramatically.

There is difficulty at the present getting information on 'Away Day's' in the early years of the Mallards. The courses mentioned below are know courses that have been visited but in what order?

June 1994 - Peebles Golf Club

The first away day organised by the Mallards was to Peebles in the Scottish Borders, (reasonable prices those days) in 1994. Not known at this time how many attended. It is believed that Geoff Coxon won the competition that day. Geoff has since left the Mallards, having taken up residence in Lincolnshire.

June 1995 - Loch Maben?

June 1996 - Matfen Hall?

June 1997 - Prudhoe?

June 1998 - Kirkby Lonsdale?

June 1999 - Lockerbie?

August 2000 - Thornhill

The away day was to Thornhill but due to the weather it was a wash out and no golf was played. Committee members negotiated a return the following year

May 2001 - Thornhill

This away day trip was a return to Thornhill Golf Club following the wash out from last season, a relatively easy walking course which it much to the liking of the members of the Mallards. Thornhill is some 7 mile north of Dumfries on the A76 and within easy travelling distance of Carlisle. This day out was open to members who had travelled the previous year. Other members were invited to take the place of those who did not wish to return

September 2001 - Loch Maben

This trip to Loch Maben Golf course was the main away day trip of the year and though only a few miles up the road a coach was hired to take the members. Though the Mallards had visited Loch Maben a few years earlier this visit was arranged because the course had been extended to a full 18 hole. On arrival the Mallards had their coffee and biscuits then played a 9 hole team event. Winners not remembered. After a soup and sandwich lunch the Mallards played an 18 hole stableford. Following the evening meal the prizes were presented by the Captain, Hugh Turtill, who on this occasion took it upon himself to provide a few novelty prizes. Winners!, well who were they? The facilities at Loch Maben are a great improvement on the 9 hole course and takes the course into a new dimension with the course now running around the edge of the loch. A course the members will be happy to return to.

June 2002 - Workington

This was an Away day with a difference and indifference among members. It was not a popular choice as only 16 members made the journey to Workington. As it turned out it was a very warm day and being the stalwarts we were those days we played 9 holes in the morning and 18 holes in the afternoon. The walk back from the 9th to the club house for lunch put paid to the strength of the members. Following lunch of soup and sandwiches the members then played another 18 holes. Gosh a bunch of rag dolls collapsed in the club house afterwards before the evening meal. All in all a long hot tiring day as it turned out. Seen here on the right is the captain, Arnold Snowball with his playing partner David Slater

June 2003 - Minto

The away day this year saw a change in format from previous years of playing 27 holes. This year arrangements were make for bacon roll and tea/coffee on arrival followed by 18 holes of golf, stableford format, and then a meal. The Mallards again travelled into the Borders, this time to Minto Golf Club. Restrictions by the club meant we could only take a party of 32. Non the less we were made very welcome and the steward, Ian, seemed to have the responsibility for all organisation of visiting parties. Following our bacon roll etc, we headed of to play our golf. and found the course to be in excellent condition. Most of the course was relatively easy going for the members until they arrived at the 12th, I think, name 'Everest' on the card. Unfortunately it was the end of the round for one member, after getting to the 'top' of Everest he called it a day and retired to the club house

June 2004 - Ponteland

This year saw 42 members travel to the Ponteland Golf Club, near Newcastle for their Annual Golf day out.
This course proved to be very popular with the members as they found it to be reasonably flat and easy going, but none the less just as difficult to play as any other strange course with one or two hidden greens which caused problems with the direction in which one had to play. On arrival the members enjoyed a bacon roll and coffee before playing and there was an excellent meal afterwards

June 2005 - The Woll Golf Course

June the 9th 2005 and 38 members of the Mallards made their way to The Woll Golf Course, some 5 miles north of Hawick in the Scottish Borders. This course is relatively new, at least the full 18 holes is relatively new having been a 9 hole course for some years it was extended to 18 some 12 months ago. The club house, an excellent facility was open in April this year. On arrival we were made extremely welcome by the staff and in particular the steward, Eric, who filled the tables with bacon rolls and tea/coffee. As it turned out we had the honour of being the first 'large party' to make use of the new facilities. At 11am prompt the Mallards played the course and after the first 2 holes found it was not as flat as had been expected, but none the less it was a pleasant course to play and in a lovely setting at the bottom of the valley with the surrounding hills. It is a course the members would consider returning to when it has matured. Winner on the day was Robert Waite and the runner up was Alan Nixon. Derek Smith and David Dalglish also figured in the prizes.

June 2006 - Dumfries & County

Wednesday the 7th June 2006 and but a short trip to Dumfries for the Annual Away Day. This time to Dumfries and County Golf Club. Leaving the vicinity of Eden Golf Club at 9am and arriving at Dumfries at 10am to enjoy a bacon sandwich and some tea or coffee 38 Members made the journey and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Golf was played in brilliant sunshine, for some the golf was brilliant, but for most of us we made do with just the brilliant weather. Some members found the course a bit hilly for their liking most of us found the light rough difficult. Regardless it was an excellent day out. George Dunning, Roger Rees, Francis Fitzpatrick & Mike Poole took the prizes. 6 members recorded a 2, Francis Fitzpatrick, David Dalglish, John Hannon, Cyril Hankey, Ernie Henderson & Rob Woodland

June 2007 - Penrith Golf Club

Wednesday 13th June 2007, Penrith Golf Club was the choice for this years 'away day event. A mere 20 miles south of Eden the members made their own travel arrangements. As the members arrived at Penrith it was raining and a wet day was anticipated. Regardless a bacon roll and tea/coffee was enjoyed by all before the first tee time at 11am. As it turned out the rain had stopped by this time and the members set of to enjoy a stableford competition. The majority of the members completed their round in dry weather but the rain came and the late starters suffered a bit.   Following the competition the members thoroughly enjoyed an evening meal served up by a rather amusing chef/steward. Prize winners on the day were Alan Best, Mike Poole, Ian Melrose & Jim Cruddas. The only 2 of the day being recorded by Sandy Thorburn. Unfortunately there is no group photograph this year, the members refused to stand in the pouring rain so the included photograph is a trio of the later finishers.

June 2008 - Matfen Hall Golf Course

Wednesday 4th June 2008 and at 8.30am prompt 34 members of the mallards travelled by coach to Matfen Hall Golf Course, three other members made their own arrangements to travel. So a grand total of 37 members would enjoy a day out. The sun was shining brightly when we arrived some 1 hour and 15minutes later. Tea/coffee, and bacon rolls were warmly welcomed by the members. Prior to setting off to play their golf the Vice Captain, Alan Nixon, gathered the members together for a minutes silence in memory of our Captain, Trevor Phipps, who had died a few days earlier. The members then went to play golf !Unfortunately not the course that had been arranged and we ended up playing 9 holes of the original course followed by 9 holes of the new course. For a majority of members it was their first ever visit to Matfen Hall, needless to say they found it a long difficult course and this was reflected in the scoring. Gordon Milne & John Mason returned scores of 34 points, followed by a 32 then the rest were 30 and under. 2's were recorded by Robert Waite, John Mason & Douglas Pringle.