Folkestone Tour 2023

A star-studded squad of eighteen Stragglers descended on our spiritual home, Folkestone, for our annual 'tour'. 

We first visited Folkestone in 1966 - just 3 months after England won the World Cup - to play cricket against Folkestone CC and several other local sides. This year, Colin 'Codge' Greetham - an original tourist way back in 1966 - was again a member of the squad for the 13th edition of the golf 'tour'. The following Stragglers made up the squad this year: Messrs Marks (P), Marks (S), Powell, Burridge, Green, Eastwood, Campbell, Greetham (D), Greetham (C), Curl, Pryce, Colmer, Bungay, Perry-Ogden, Collar, Gordon and Heyes. And, of course, Julian Glenister joined us for the fun and good-natured debauchery! 

The 'tour' was unquestionably the most successful of the golf era - great company, great camaraderie, great banter and some good golf!

On a dry, bright and sunny-ish day, the scoring at Walmer & Kingsdown Golf Club was nothing short of ridiculous!

The average score on the Par-72 course was 35 points! The scores were as follows: 

1. Stuart 'Fez' Marks - 42 points (incl. 2 gross birdies and 23 points on the back 9)

2. Richard 'Sesh' Gordon - 41 points (incl. a gross birdie)

3. Andy Heyes - 40 points (incl. 5 gross birdies and 23 points on the front 9)

4. David 'Stick' Greetham - 39 points (on count-back; incl. 3 gross birdies and 23 points on the back 9)

5. Alan Eastwood - 39 points

6. Andy Pryce - 38 points

7. Nigel 'Bogie' Bungay - 35 points (on count-back; incl. two gross birdies)

8. Phil Colmer - 35 points  (on count-back; incl. a gross eagle on the short Par-4 5th hole and a gross birdie)

9. Julian Glenister - 35 points

10. Phil 'Chip' Burridge - 34 points

11. Phil Curl - 32 points

12. Steve 'Dog' Collar - 31 points (incl. a gross birdie)

13. Paul 'Skid' Marks - 27 points

14. John 'JP' Powell - 20 points

Winners of the 'Nearest the Pins' on the 4th hole and 11th hole were Steve 'Dog' Collar and John 'JP' Powell respectively. 

Winner of the 'Longest Drive' on the 18th hole was Stuart 'Fez' Marks.

A squad of 11 Stragglers played in the annual Folkestone CC Golf Day. The weather was, again, horrendous!!!

Due to the poor weather, the scoring was not as good as at W&K; however, the scores were as follows:

1. Phil 'Chip' Burridge - 36 points

2. Alan Eastwood - 35 points

3. Phil Colmer - 33 points

4. Paul 'Skid' Marks - 32 points (on count-back)

5. David 'Stick' Greetham - 32 points  (on count-back)

6. Andy Pryce - 32 points (incl. a gross eagle on the short Par-4 7th hole)

7. Stuart 'Fez' Marks - 31 points

8. Andy Heyes - 30 points  (on count-back)

9. Phil Curl - 30 points

10. Nigel 'Bogie' Bungay - 27 points (incl. a gross eagle on the short Par-4 7th hole)

11. John 'JP' Powell - 22 points

In our 11-man head-to-head team competition with Folkestone CC, we again came second! Enough said!

Four extremely hardy Stragglers ventured onto the fairways of Sene Valley GC on the 3rd day of the 'tour' - Messrs Burridge, Curl, Pryce and Colmer. Needless to say, the rest didn't make it!

A great trip! Fantastic memories. Folkestone might well be a shit-hole; however, it's our shit-hole and we absolutely love the place!