“Lynx Inspector’s Report”

As an experienced and qualified Lynx Inspector it has been my privilege over the years to inspect a large number of golf courses around the world. As all connoisseurs know, there are three key elements which interplay to provide a quality day out on a lynx course – a rolling landscape, challenging conditions and an excellent camaraderie with your fellow golfers. I’m delighted to say that accompanying the Oxford-based cricket team, the Far from the MCC, around the Ashleigh Road Golf Course on the Mumbles seafront ticked all the boxes this Saturday gone.

Jake (left) found it difficult to compete using two walking sticks.

A grey water-coloured sky provided the backdrop for a thoroughly soaked and undulating course that hadn’t seen a mower or gardener for well over a month. This was lynx golf at its most challenging best; factoring in gale-force winds and the occasional maelstrom of rain. Even the great Tiger Woods would have struggled to make par on this day.

The FFTMCC gentlemen devised an ingenious way to split their party into manageable chuncks; with the first hole separating the thrasher from the golfer. All 8 teed off, and those that managed a double-bogey or better were pooled into the Elite group [chests puffed out, arrogant smirks at the ready]; whilst those who hit their balls into bushes or oncoming traffic were pooled in the Losers group [sloping shoulders, glum faces at the ready].

Eventual winner S. Parkinson drives through the rain.

It is credit to both sets of players that the contest proved exciting, ignoring hurricane strength gusts, horizontal rain, and occasional female jogger displaying her form. Self-styled Corinthian, S. Parkinson eventually triumphed over a luckless I. Howarth – winning out after a sudden-death, extra-hole play-off, immediately dedicating the victory to “style and panache over grim northern endeavour”. T. Smith brought the second group home after being ran close by umpire, J. Hoskins.

A most entertaining day and what a colourful cast of characters.

‘The Lynx Inspector’