On the 21st of June 2018 after 32 Miles and 108 holes, our Solstice of Swing Heroes finally completed their Epic Golf Challenge!
At the start of the challenge there was a ‘fearsome doonpoor’ but despite this team spirits were high and our lads were eager to crack on with the Challenge!
They were greeted at the first hole at Inverallochy Golf Course by a group of enthusiastic wellwishers. This added to the atmosphere!
Jacobi teed off first to much applause and then the Game was On! IMG_6093.TRIM
7 golfers were to play all rounds and to be joined by an 8th guest at each course to help make up two fourballs throughout the event.
The seven were:- Nathan Whyte, Neil Heron, Robert Heron, John Cardno, Ross Cardno and Liam Farquhar.
Alex Watt was the man who joined the 7 swingers who were playing all 6 rounds for the first eagerly anticipated round.
The team teed off at 2315 with the aid of a couple of floodlights and some light up golf balls to help navigate the first course in the dark! IMG_6127.TRIM
Luckily, no further rain came and with it being a still night, the first 18 was successfully completed by 2am. Next stop Fraserburgh……..
Philip Cardno was patiently waiting in the car park when the bus rocked up and after a swift tea break, the first ball was hit at the Corbie at 0230. Light in the sky was slowly increasing but the wind was also freshening and this made the last 5 holes from the Philorth a longer stretch than normal. Round 2 was completed by 0530.
Onto Rosehearty for round 3!
As the first 2 rounds had been completed more quickly than estimated, local pro – Peter Myers from Dunes Golf Centre kindly joined the boys earlier than anticipated at 0600. This enabled 9 Holes to be completed before bacon rolls were served at The Masons Arms at 0715.
Thanks to Rosehearty Golf Club for kindly donating this much appreciated Breakfast! Club Captain Dru Whyte and Leona at the ‘fit o cassa’ must be commended for providing this great gesture and giving the boys a welcome rest and energy boost. This set them up to tackle the second 9. Winds were now gusting 50mph!
Thankfully the rain continued to stay away and round 3 was done by 0900!
The mood in the camp was buoyant! The half way stage had been reached in little under 10 hours! A fine bag o baker’s pieces were handed over to the team bus to give yet another timely boost during the journey up to Turriff.
Having phoned ahead to warn Turriff Golf Club that Team Jacobi were now 2 hours ahead of schedule, permission was given to let the ‘swingers’ tee off around 1000. The boys were a bit more sheltered from the wind with the trees providing the lee but in the back of their minds they knew a great challenge lay ahead for round 5.
Local Villager Jimmy Ritchie was the man joining the team this time and round 4 got underway!
Once this stage was complete, only Peter and Phillip were not present because of prior engagements when the team earned a well deserved lunch break at The Fife Arms Hotel in Turriff. The food was first class and a big thank you must go the proprietors – Herbert and Alison Cox for being so flexible to accommodate them and also to George and Joyce Nicol for picking up the tab!
After being fed and watered, they reluctantly stood up to leave the comfort of the Fife Arms with the knowledge of how brutal it was going to be playing Royal Tarlair in a North West gale!
The short journey to Tarlair was a bit more subdued because of what lay ahead. But as this meant they were now two thirds of the way through the challenge, the team got the bit between their teeth and round 5 started at 1500. Alex Watt made his second appearance of the event to make up the two fourballs, to take on the clifftop course and the famous 13thhole – The Clivet!
After enduring 3 hours of relentless wind, the troops got the van packed up and started to drive back home down the coast for the last leg of this epic challenge!
Before going back out to Inverallochy for the final hurdle, a photo opportunity arose to have all team members present at Dunes. They were clad in team shirts which had been provided by Peter and Dunes Golf Centre. After their photo shoot the team had the chance to have a coffee and final charge of their batteries.
A big thanks must go to Peter and Dunes Golf Centre for donating the polo shirts and the coffees while there and also for local company Designs On You for doing the bonny embroidery and for their prompt delivery of the shirts in time for the event.
As the squad drove to the Golf Club at Inverallochy, it was apparent there was going to be a good crowd of supporters to give the Solstice Swingers that final push to complete their mission.
At 1950 the final round was underway with the wind being still as fresh as it had been 12 hours earlier making sure they were being put to the test for the challenge. Joining the usual seven this time for the final round of the event was Mathew West.
At 2200 – 23 hours after the first shot was taken, the final putt was made and they had done it! IMG_6276
After driving 72 miles, covering 33,586 yards of courses and most team members walking 32 miles each – it was mission accomplished!
The crowd of wellwishers at the last green ensured that our heroes knew their challenge had been appreciated and successfully completed.
Team members had a celebratory glass of champagne followed by a case of beer which had been being donated by the headmistress of the local school. A welcome sight which was duly used to quench the golfers thirst!
Thank you very much Fiona!
Thanks must be also given to each golf course throughout the event for the generous gesture of allowing all golfers to play for free and for the use of a buggy when required, FOC.
The Dave Smith Loyal Rangers Supporters Club in Fraserburgh must also be thanked for allowing their minibus to be used for the team to travel between courses.
To the enthusiastic groups of wellwishers who turned up at the start and end of the swing must be congratulated. Their support and encouragement was a big inspiration to spur the team on to complete their goal!
Finally, to the Solstice Swingers themselves. Without them, this would not have been possible. Turning a fantasy charity idea into reality and doing it in a selfless way. True friends!
For all their help, ideas and fundraising a massive thank you from the Jacobi’s Wish team!
And so the Solstice of Swing 2018 had come to an end, months in the planning and over in 23 short hours but leaving a lot of people a lot of happy memories to look back on!
Just have to start thinking about what they will do next year………
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