First round of spring Snakes and Ladders” tees off at Glamorganshire Golf Club (From Penarth Times)

First round of spring Snakes and Ladders” tees off at Glamorganshire Golf Club

7:10am Thursday 10th January 2013 in Sport

THE first round of the spring “Snakes and Ladders” competition teed off at the Glamorganshire Golf Club on Sunday, with over 100 intrepid souls presenting themselves for a “shotgun” start at 9am prompt in overcast but dry conditions.

A few new members were experiencing this amalgam of quality golf, orienteering and colourful language for the first time, and quickly settled in to enjoy the unique blend of bragging, banter and blasphemy for which the “Snakes” is renowned.

Several participants from the autumn competition had made themselves unavailable in anticipation of both adverse weather conditions and the serious training that they undertake in drinking Wales to victory in the Six Nations.

All holes were in play, but with winter mats being used. Trevor Boyle was clearly unused to teeing off in this manner, unleashing a huge drive on the third and reaching the end of the mat!

The third tee was again in the news, with Tom Sidford sneering at his partner, Nick Morgan, for an extravagant air shot at 10.18, only to stylishly repeat the shot himself a minute later!

Some decent golf was also played, with 'Chief Snake' Jammy James and new club captain, Phil Rattray, ending the 15-game Snakes’ winning run of Jon Bowles, partnered this half by Ricky Buchalter.

With some of the usual suspects sitting out this half, it fell upon Peter Chaffey, a 28-handicapper, to make an early bid for the “Pancho Villa Award for Banditry.”

He not only played sublimely throughout the round, but surprised his partner, Liam Beddard, by enquiring how close Liam would like the ball to the hole on the 15th. Liam sarcastically responded, “Oh, three or four feet would be good.”

Peter duly obliged by knocking it to within two foot of the pin. No doubt, match captain Leon Reece has already been informed, and Peter can expect his handicap to drop like a stone!

Following the morning’s play, Snakers gathered for the speeches and raffle. Jammy began speaking, only to be interrupted immediately by former captain Dave Kent, requesting that Phil Rattray stand on a chair as he was more vertically challenged than his two metres high predecessor, Jim Corsi.

Congratulations were offered to Paul Mathias, who was married, and Dave Ellis, who was engaged, over the festive period. The raffle still has the same number of whisky bottles and golf balls on offer, but the draw now seems to take twice as long as it did previously.

Almost without exception, new officers of the club were delighted at their luck when their numbers were called out, and strode purposefully to the front of the Spikes Bar to receive the spoils, only for each to be humiliated with a resounding chorus of “Only joking!”

The tee positions have been drawn and the shot situation calculated for Snakes Week Two and, already, bets are being offered on likely winners and wooden spoonists. Watch this space!