IGC was blessed with excellent conditions for its annual trip to France and a selection of excellent golf courses, fine food and an excellent hotel (Hotel du Parc at Hardelot) created all of the ingredients for a superb weekend.

The weekend could not have started worse for your organiser however, as Wimereux Golf Club, the venue for Friday's afternoon round, informed us on Thursday that they had double booked our slot and that we had to start 3 hours later. A rapid round of phone calls ensured that almost everyone (apologies to Graeme and Kristian) was informed that their early morning departure from Brussels could be delayed, not to universal disapproval I have to say.

Wimereux was everything that it promised - a seaside links course, with splendid views over the English Channel and, of course, a brisk wind. There were 21 players on this first afternoon and included were many fine scores in the 30s but the highlight of the day was Rodolphe Matossian's 40 pts, while captain Per Aidemark played to his handicap with 36 pts in 2nd.

A quick dash back to the Hotel du Parc at Hardelot to meet up with those who had to work on Friday and relaxation at last with dinner, good wine and excellent company and bonhommie all round.

A fine feature of the "Parc" is the fact that bar closes at a reasonable hour so most (?!) were in bed at a reasonable hour and with Saturday morning's scramble teeing off at a leisurely 8:48 - no excuses for missing the tee-off (or was there?? see below).

There were 26 lined up for the scramble which cause much head scratching on Friday night over whether to have a 8 x 3-balls and a 2-ball or 6 x 3-balls and 2 x 4-balls. The latter was considered much more sociable (rightly so) but then there was the question as how to "penalise" them for the extra person. It was the captain's job to decide and the decision was that with each player in the 3-balls contributing 6 drives, the 4-balls should each contribute 4 drives and nominate the worst drive on 2 of the holes (questions see Per!).

There was a lot of discussion later in the weekend as to the quality of this course compared to its illustrious sister (are golf course female?) - I thought that is was a beautiful course in excellent condition and with fiendishly difficult greens.

With every team playing form scratch, the scores were expected to be competitive. The results did seem to show that the format favoured the 4-balls as both finished in the top 2 with the winning score a gross 66 coming from the team of Stuart Hurst, Per-Andreas Bjorgan, Man-Yew Lieuw and Peter Mountain.

By the afternoon the temperature was rising and Les Pins beckoned those playing the first of the 2 rounds designated for the Stay & Play Championship over 36 holes. Unfortunately IGC were held up by slow play from the groups in front and the round took nearly 5 hours. Man-Yew Lieuw kept his cool and his patience however and came home in 1st place with an excellent 39 pts over this very tough course.

The delayed finish to the afternoon round meant that the meal at Le Manoir (a repeat of last year's superb faire) started very late. The hotel did not disappoint however and again we were served with a superb meal and excellent service. With a drive back to Hardelot and the anticipation of an early morning tee-off at La Touquet "La Mer" the following day few lingered after the meal but departed to the bar at the "Parc".

Unusually, new ladies captain Sybil Beaton was first on the tee the following morning (7:20am) setting an example both by her enthusiasm (?) and by her golf. In relatively mild conditions (a cloudless sky and no wind) La Mer's teeth were drawn and there were some sparkling scores to finish off the weekend. Sybil came in with 40 pts to win with a clustezr of three players on 38 pts.

Lester prevailed on Per and Sybil to wind up proceedings with the prize giving (photos below courtesy of Malachy Hargadon) and a weary but happy crowd of IGC members left for home...

... well not quite! Michael St-Clair George and Kristian Toivio had signed up for a round over La Foret and were probably just finishing as the rest of us arrived home.

A weekend of golf made great by you the IGC members - thanks to all of you who were able to come.

Lester, Per and Sybil prepare the prize giving

Late for the prize-gining? Per-Andreas' wife Terri "sprinting" to join the crowd

Replacement golf balls for best endeavour to some of those who left their best golf at home:
Bill Purdue, Stuart Hurst, Richard Mulholland, Majed Ghammachi and Brigitte Rau

Having been drawn in the favoured scramble combination with Suzanne Lenaerts and Carole Bodart, Michael St-Clair George missed his tee-off time on Saturday morning and was awarded a special White Feather prize: a gold medal (donated by David Winter) and the conspicuous yellow IGC cap

Tied for 3rd on Friday: Nigel Butler, Graeme Rodden and Olivier Ducarme with 33 pts

Runner-up Per Aidemark (36 pts) and winner Rodolphe Matossian (40pts)

2nd in Saturday morning's scramble with gross 68
Harry Lieuw, Nigel Butler, Richard Ginder and Kristian Toivio

Scramble Winners with gross 66
Stuart Hurst, Per-Andreas Bjorgan, Man-Lieuw Lieuw and Peter Mountain (who unfortunately had to leave before the prize-giving)

Saturday's runner-up at Les Pins David Winter (35 pts on CB) with winner Man-Yew Lieuw (39 pts)

Tied for 3rd on Sunday at La Mer: Paul Pickard and Iain Gidman (38 pts)

2nd on Sunday at La Mer, Suzanne Lenaerts with 38 pts winning on a CB

Winner on Sunday at La Mer, Ladies Captain Sybil Beaton with 40 pts

Playing all three stableford rounds - the winners of the 54 hole competition were Iain Gidman (2nd on 102 pts) narrowly beaten by Sybil on 103 pts.

Runner-up for the 36 hole Stay & Play Championship David Winter with 68 pts.

Stay & Play 36 Hole Champion Man-Yew Lieuw holding the crystal trophy for 1st prize with a total of 75 pts over the two most difficult courses played this weekend.

Committe huddle? No - just confusion becasue Lester has awarded prizes for tied 3rd places

IGC members relax as the prize giving takes place

Last but not least, number 1 fan, Malachy's daughter Iris who provided her own touch of fun to the weekend

Copyright © 2002-7 IGC All rights reserved. Revised: April 29, 2007 .

Copyright © 2002-7 IGC All rights reserved.
Revised: April 29, 2007 .