The 2011 PDC International returned to the Apple Isle - to the wonderful Barnbougle Dunes and was extended to include the new Lost Farm layout. Opinions were split very evenly about which was the better or preferred course, although I suspect the Lost Farm may have just won an official vote.
As usual, what would seem to be the simple task of selecting players and match order and rules on night 1 turned into a 2 1/2 slog fest over several bottles of wine. But we got there in the end...
Team captains for the event were the old boys, Chief and John. Chief's team were designated blue shirts on day one and included Bellringer, Lord, Shirls, Coolsa, Doc. John's team were white shirts day one and included Craw, Jeff, Wardy, Schnapper and Tommy.
Day 1 at Lost Farm presented a terrific challenge, especially after the wind (40km/h?) hit the field from about the 13th hole onwards in round 1. In the morning on the par 3 6th I hit 6 iron, in the afternoon I hit 1 iron! Great fun.
Jeff donned the chef's outfit for Thursday night dinner and knocked up a terrific pasta feast, which was accompanied by local ales and superb wines.
Day 2 we returned to the familiar environs of Barnbougle Dunes. Conditions were brilliant - blue sky, sunshine and 18 degrees. And we had plenty of time to enjoy it - our afternoon round took 5 hrs 45 mins and the last group finished in the dark after 8.00 pm. All that sitting around waiting is probably the reason for the over representation of photos from the back 9!
The overall individual event winner was Shirls (by a lot), followed by Bellringer (I think), while Chief led the team victory.
Despite the carnage which both courses reaped on the field on Thursday and Friday, the hardy ones tackled Lost Farm again on Saturday morning, others had a long slow breakfast while Shirls, Bellringer and I took the local mailrun with Pete the pilot to Flinders Island and back. Brilliant stuff.
Well done to everyone involved in the organisation. Great company, great food and wine and superb golf courses. Stay tuned for updates about the 2012 venue!
Photos and various footage from the weekend are available HERE.
PS Favourite holes for me at Lost Farm were the short par 3 4th at the most westerly point of the course, the wonderful short 4 par 14th which play straight into the wind, and the tough par 4 16th. All magnificent. At Barnbougle the par 4 12th and 15th continue to offer a variety of options (although on the latter perhaps the designers didnt envisage players hitting 4 iron in from the 14th fairway!?) and are completely brilliant.
