23rd July 2020

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Hello PIGS,

We are half way through what's been a very strange year, and I thought I would take this opportunity to take some time out to review our Piggy year thus far.

 

Firstly I’m sure you would all like to join me in congratulating Kev Sromek on his Golfing performances in 2019.  Kev managed to triumph in the Order of Merit competition, was the overall tour champion at Slaley Hall, and also claimed the Malkins Bank winter league crown as well.   Kev was a consistently good performer throughout 2019, and worryingly has started 2020 in a very similar style! Seriously, very well done Kev, you may not be aware but this was the best overall performance by an individual Pig since the society was originally founded back in 2001.

 

Well what a year we’ve had and how do I start to review the events so far. With the commencement of ‘lockdown’ our PIGS order of merit competition was a very early casualty, and this has only recently been resurrected at Portal Tarporley, but more about that later.

 

At the start of the year Phil negotiated a great deal with Malkins Bank for a reduced annual membership fee for all PIG members .This encouraged 16 PIGS to take up the offer and they are now utilising Malkins Bank as their home course. As a result there is a regular game available with fellow PIGS at Malkins Bank on Weds, Friday, and Sunday every week. These days are very well attended, and I think those of you who play will agree they have proven to be a very enjoyable addition to our golfing calendar. A special mention is required here for Kev Abel who has stepped up as the prime organiser and controller of these days - many thanks Kev much appreciated.

 

Since the easing of some Lockdown measures in May we managed to get back onto the course, initially in pairs only and more recently in larger groups. We also started a Malkins Bank summer league played on Friday afternoons. In this competition we have experimented with a much more relaxed handicap system allowing handicaps to move up and down much more quickly. This has resulted in some very interesting and provocative handicap changes, and as you can imagine has stimulated a lot of debate amongst those taking part!  NB these handicap changes are only applicable to the Friday summer league at Malkins, and will not affect the overall official PIGS handicaps. These as ever will continue to be policed by Andrew Abel in the normal way.  At the moment Kev Sromek is ahead in the summer league, but there are a number of PIGS on his coat tails and a lot of Golf to be played yet Kev!

 

In tandem with the summer league we’ve also experimented with a Knock Out cup competition in an FA cup style format.  There were 16 PIGS initially  keen to take part, and at the time of writing we are down to the quarter final stages. There has already been some keen competition with two ties requiring replays and also great deal of banter with this one as well . If it proves to be popular event it will again be included in our calendar every year.

 

Unfortunately due to the uncertainties of the Covid 19 situation we have had to reluctantly cancel our Cardiff tour this year. Phil has already explained the rationale behind this decision, and he has secured our deposits and reserved the venue for us in 2021, so hopefully we will all be attending the same venue together next year.  You may have heard that a few of us are heading off to North Wales to play a couple of courses in September instead. This is not a Piggy event and will not be scored or reported as such. Just a few of us off to play some Golf and perhaps taking in the odd half pint of ale afterwards, (what goes on tour stays on tour.)

 

Now back to the main event. Our first Order of Merit day took place recently at Portal Tarporley with Andrew Abel coming away with the laurels on what was a very challenging day and a difficult course, well done Andrew.

 

Phil has been working extremely hard to replace our lost PiGS  days, and I am happy to report we have a number of excellent venues secured for the remainder of this year. Full details can be found on the PIGS website. As we have only a limited number of events to play we have again experimented and introduced a different scoring system. This will be based on a Grand Prix type format with 12 pts for the winner, and subsequent places reducing their points total Pro Rata. The intention is to see if this produces a competitive competition right through to the last event – we will see.

 

Finally – I would just like to say something about absent friends. A few of us who live locally and play at Malkins have been lucky enough to play some golf games together and even managed to socialise a bit in a restricted format. This has been a very welcome relief to us all, BUT we are  very aware that many of our fellow PIGS due to health, shielding issues, or just simple geography are not able to join us.

 

Just to let you all know that you are all sincerely and sorely missed, and one day when all this madness is over we will be having an almighty reunion bash with all the PIGS and what a red letter day and absolutely great pleasure that will be.

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Yours in Sport.....

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Steve

RESPONSES

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24th July 2020 (from Jon Downs)

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Dear Mr Captain.

 

Having read your very wise and wonderful words, I could not help but reflect on times gone by in our PIG world.

 

My reflection started with my first PIGS tour in 2008, having been invited by my good friend (before he became handicap secretary, things have gone down hill since) Andrew Abell. Think it was Troon that year.

 

Truth is I don’t remember much about it, other than the first tee at Troon and the killer pool games in the hotel bar. Kev Sherwin was a bandit and took the money most games of pool, pretty much pissed off the locals every night too! Richard Meadowcroft was a very bad influence on me, or was it Steve Ruddell, but I cannot remember drinking Guinness before that tour, I haven’t stopped since. Cheers Rich or Steve!

 

I recall in 2008 Abell (the Andrew one) was holding 2007 champion and had high hopes of back to back your wins.  But a young Kev Sherwin was unstoppable and took all the money at pool, and also took all the money at golf. The handicap rules were a bit unpredictable in those times. I think if you won at pool, you lose 3 shots at golf the next day! But from that point onwards I was a PIG!

 

In 2012 I was lucky enough to win my first Tour! Anglesey. Truth is, all I can remember from the tour was being on the first tee, on the first day, again with Richard Meadowcroft, both of us absolutely battered from the night before! It must’ve been a good tour as I won. Shame I cannot remember most of it.

 

Being a PIG is special, in fact I know quite a few special PIGs since becoming one! So we had tour after tour excellently organised by Phil. (Phil, by the way I’ve written to the Queen asking that you be awarded an OBE, she hasn’t got back to me yet) but cheers for all you do for us!

 

But I have to say there is a continuing theme in my reflections. What I can remember is getting to most of the tour locations, but I cannot remember much past the first night! I am thinking golf is affecting my memory....

 

So fast forward to 2016 and Formby, where I must have been getting old, I remember most of it. Especially Marks room parties which are legendary in PIGS circles, and beyond. lovely snacks and music.

Formby was one of them courses that suited my game, wide enough for my slice, wide enough for my hook, and the holes on the greens were bigger than normal ️‍♂️🤷🏼. All this resulted in my second tour win. Loved it!!

 

Now we all know if you win the trophy three times you get to keep it. So having read Mr Captains wise and wonderful words this morning, I couldn’t help but reflect on Slaley Hall 2919. Again a great tour well organised, with a great bunch of lads. Peaky blinders, I haven’t even watched it before this tour, now I cannot wait for series 6 to start and I am told the David Beckham is making a guest appearance in it. As roommates go, Kev Sherwin is top of the bunch, genuinely this guy is just too nice and I hope he is my roommate for many years to come. Back to golf and we played a couple of courses which tended to suit by hook, slice and thinned shots. Over the three days I had a fairly good knock, in particular the last day where in my own words, I smashed it! 

 

So back to my reflections, I need to play more PIGs golf!  If I had in 2019, I would have a PIGs tour trophy permanently in my cabinet. Lol!

 

But seriously, as Mr Captain wisely states, we never know what’s around the corner! Enjoy friendship and golf to the full!!! 

 

Looking forward to a game this afternoon.

 

Cheers

Jon

A PIG since 2008, and long may it continue.

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24th July (Steve Rushton)

Thanks Jon. I think we all share your sentiments about the Pigs,  and Phil’s admirable organisation of our great society. I’ve also got some rather fuzzy memories of our tours and away days. i.e

 

·         Myself and Kev Sherwin propping up the bar at Bull Bay ,  only to be disturbed by the ladies wanting to put out the breakfast things.

·         Playing with a serious case of DT's  at North Wales

·         Phil Stonier going ten rounds with  the coffee maker

·         Kev Abel waking me up breakfast brandies.

·         Mark Steele - what a great roommate, tea and bacon butties in bed in the morning,  and great music and drinks supplied at night.

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I could go on - and long may the pigs go on, once this shit is past us.

 

Steve Rushton.

 

24 Jul 2020, (Kev Sherwin)

Definitely stirred up some great memories JD ,Rich meadowcroft has a lot to answer for regarding Guinness before teeing off , we have a great bunch of pigs and its definitely a privilege to be part of it,and as our captain says,long may it continue ,we have so many story's to tell, mostly drink related and not golf ,looking for golf balls at three in the morning with my roomie last year 🤣 ,can't wait to sit down and have a beer with you all soon ,missing the pigs ,alot .We will definitely make up for time lost when we get chance ,because as far as spending time with a great bunch of lads goes the pigs are the best

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