Well, it was a miserable morning when I set off from Oakham at 7am. Torrential rain on the M6 made for very slow going indeed. It was still raining at 9 o'clock, and some reluctant Olton members were sheltering in the pro shop, unwilling to go out.
Fortunately by 10am, when our first group started, the rain had stopped and the skies were clearing. As you can see from the photographs of those sitting on the terrace in the sunshine, the rest of the day became very pleasant indeed.
First visits for most: groups heading out as the skies cleared.
It is nine years since we were at Olton, and I honestly don't remember it being as good as it is now. The beautifully manicured fairways are wound tightly through magnificent trees, and the key to scoring is keeping it down the middle and using your shots. The rough under the trees is mown, so finding your ball is easy, and the trees are penalty enough without delaying your round.
The greens are pure and fast, but the slopes and borrows require skilful reading; three putts were the undoing of many a promising score.
Most of the players were paying their first visit. It was such a pleasure to introduce so many to Olton, because I heard the most rewarding accolades as everyone came off the 18th. Overwhelming praise and endorsement for the quality of presentation at this beautiful parkland course means it will be a firm favourite next year. We are already booked in for Monday 7th June 2027.
Harry Allen did well to shoot 74 to take the Best Gross prize. The team scores reflected the intricate nature of the greens, and the Barton-under-Needwood mafia stood on top of the podium with 85.