ENJOY THE GREENERY

All members are aware of the background. Damien and Loraine Murphy, elected Captains for 2020, were deprived of the fruits of office by the pandemic and, quite sensibly, re-elected for 2021 in the hope that the virus would be under closer control and they able to organise all the events enthusiastically planned but never executed. March fittingly saw a lovely change of direction, embracing as it did, St. Patrick’s Day, and the Murphy’s being Irish. Not forgetting Peter and Kate Bradley, patiently waiting Vice Captains, who boast the same country of birth. Apologies in advance therefore. This month’s theme will be pre-dominantly green, and is kick started by Loraine:

“We're all a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day. From shamrocks to snakes, Guinness to the Blarney Stone. Shamrocks have been associated with St. Patrick's Day since the very first time the holiday was celebrated. But why do we associate them with a celebration of Irish culture? And while you may know that the holiday has something to do with Ireland, shamrocks, or leprechauns, did you know that St. Patrick actually was a real person?

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is also the country's national apostle. But as it turns out, his name wasn't originally Patrick. His name was Maewyn Succat and he changed his name to Patricius, or Patrick, which derives from the Latin term for "father figure," when he became a priest. He was born in Britain around the year 400 and captured by Irish soldiers as a teen. He was transported and held in Ireland as a servant until he was able to escape several years later. But after he managed to get back to Britain and studied to become a priest, he felt a calling to go back to the place he'd been held hostage and teach the Irish about Christianity. According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain about God. The shamrock, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem. Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Trinity, that in the one God there are three divine beings: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The shamrock was sacred to the Druids, so Saint Patrick's use of it in explaining the trinity was very wise.

Another tale about Patrick is that he drove the snakes from Ireland. Different versions of the story tell of him standing upon a hill, using a wooden staff to drive the serpents into the sea, banishing them forever from Ireland. One version says that an old serpent resisted banishment, but that Patrick outwitted him. Patrick made a box and invited the snake to enter. The snake insisted it was too small and the two argued. Finally to prove his point, the snake entered the box to show how tight the fit was. Patrick slammed the lid closed and threw the box into the sea. Since snakes often represent evil in literature, when St. Patrick drives the snakes out of Ireland, it is symbolically saying he drove the old, evil, pagan ways out of Ireland and brought in a new age.

Guinness is good for you!

We know. Technically it's not a food. But a pint of creamy, dark-coloured Guinness contains B vitamins, iron, antioxidants and other nutritional goodness. It’s also surprisingly low in calories. Basically, it’s a health drink.“

SCRIBBLER IN BLUNDERLAND

“Mae fy ymddiheuriadau eisoes wedi mynd at aelodau craidd-caled Cymru, ond i unrhyw rai eraill a welodd fy nghamgymeriad tudalen olaf o rhifyn mis Chwefror, cyn i Dorothée chwifio ei ffon hud a’i chywiro, camgymeriad fi fy hun yn unig ydoedd. Sori pe bai’n cyffwrdd ag ychydig o nerfau.”

Which, for the benefit of the few who may not be familiar with the Welsh language, translates as follows:

"My apologies have already gone to the hard core Welsh members but for any others who saw my last page error in the February issue before Dorothée waved her magic wand and corrected it, the mistake was mine alone. Sorry if it touched a few nerves."

And thank you Judi for the translation!

GREY DAYS PERSIST

Golf starved UK players would have been out in their thousands on Tuesday 2nd, happy to be dry let alone warm-ish. Our boys and girls didn’t hesitate either. The turn out was good, as were some of the scores. None more so than that of Flavio Papa Quesada, again, who romped home with a 38, top place on the leaderboard, a cut to 12.1, and the knowledge that an old archive photo will have to serve his cause, again.

Brendan Walsh 37, Adrian Reading 36, and Damien Murphy 33, qualified for current picture taking if they present themselves next weekend.

Damien was otherwise engaged making the announcements.

Biggest cut of the day was earned by Pauline Hilliard’s 37 point first place, with Lilly Lagerwerf 35, Liisa Lindstrom 34, and Isabella Rippinger 33 trailing in behind her.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

A day early, a diminished field, early morning rain having frightened off a handful, prospects far from bright and cheerful, Campo America again, and buggies limited to the paths. Plus a return to the familiar 0930 shotgun start. Despite the mental adversity the predictable winners romped home with a majestic score of 105 points, duly celebrated with copious beers.

Second and third places were separated only on handicap but quite a way back.

Damien and Loraine had to wait ages for at least one score card to be checked, substantially corrected to embrace what should have been the players’ handicaps, only to find it all amounted to a total of no consequence!

The word “woke” was never heard but the Murphy’s did their best to recognise the significance of IWD with a series of one line jokes batted back and forth. They were also thoughtful enough to give all the ladies a little “souvenir” to mark the occasion.

Little was made of the fact that the average ladies’ team score was rather higher than that of the men thus winning the “match” between their four teams and the five others. This result was announced almost as an afterthought and certainly earned no applause from the losers.

Nor was it made clear at the time that the slogan for March 8th’s true IWD was “Choose to Challenge” which, for our competition, translated into “need for accuracy” and, in turn, “nearest the pin!“. Those observing this need and justifying their bottle of wine included Peter Bradley, Vic and Pauline Hilliard, and Monique Peters, to each of whom the rewards were personally delivered by Loraine.

CLARA ZETKIN

Who? Being honest Scribbler hadn’t heard of the lady either but information these days is only a click away, and not to have included some mention of International Womens’ Day might have led to some knuckle rapping. The Russian woman is credited with being the founder of a movement which has grown enormously since 1910. Originally it was celebrated on February 23rd in the days of the Julian calendar. When the Gregorian version took over it became March 8th where it has remained ever since. There is still a long journey ahead for the world’s women, and they are fully aware of this. This year’s theme is “Women in leadership. Achieving an equal future in a Covid 19 world.”

ENJOY YOUR TEE COLOUR

History was in the making as players assembled on Campo Europa, Tuesday 9/3 for the monthly medal, but with a difference. As of now, and irrespective of age or handicap, members can choose which tee they fancy playing off. Not forever but for the particular day. At close of play they must alter their SignUp setting back. If need be.

It is not known what Jill Davies chose but whatever it was did her no harm, as a winning score of 74 nett confirmed. Corinna Dawkins, clearly reluctant to move out of the spotlight just yet, edged Isabella Rippinger out of second place on handicap, both on 76.

Another enjoying a spell of centre stage performances was Brendan Walsh with 72, but stepping forward into his shadow came Hugo Verheyen with 73 whose handicap bettered that of Peter Bradley to earn him second position – just!

HELPING HAND OR IRRITANT?

XV11 ST.PATRICK’S DAY TROPHY

Robert Mitchell, our Director of Golf, bid 40 players a bi-lingual welcome to this Open competition on the 14th. The conditions could hardly have been kinder. Dry, sunny, and a soft breeze all adding up to America at its friendliest. Everyone was given a suitably worded Guinness hat but, it was reported, few wore them when playing!