TEAM EUROPE
The Teams
The introduction of a new hi-vis, dayglow, almost luminous yellow shirt for this year had inadvertently led to a rename of the whole competition. As we were unable to use any motif or wording that linked us to the other Ryder Cup (yes, you know, that one) our annual tournament will now be forever known as The Carvoeiro Cup. Here’s hoping the Mayor of Carvoeiro doesn’t get on his high horse... that could give us a real problem!
The supposedly random team draw at Birmingham Airport once again set all three Taylors on the same team and both of the players still without stars – Fonzie and Carter – on the other. With Geordie’s 100% record to defend on one side and the possibility of knocking the Taylors off their pedestal on the other it was agreed that the two teams could not be much closer in ability. A sum of the handicaps confirmed this, just a couple of shots each way regardless of how the pairings were matched up.
The supposedly random team draw at Birmingham Airport once again set all three Taylors on the same team and both of the players still without stars – Fonzie and Carter – on the other. With Geordie’s 100% record to defend on one side and the possibility of knocking the Taylors off their pedestal on the other it was agreed that the two teams could not be much closer in ability. A sum of the handicaps confirmed this, just a couple of shots each way regardless of how the pairings were matched up.
Nick Taylor
Nick
"Nick" 8 (hcp)
Simon Taylor
Roo
"Roo" 17 (hcp)
Clive Taylor
Lob
"Lob" 17 (hcp)
Paul Thomson
Thommo
"Thommo" 14 (hcp)
Colin Jennings
Coleen
"Coleen" 36 (hcp)
Chris Hewison
Geordie
"Geordie" 20 (hcp)
Paul Foster
Fonz
"Fonz" 21 (hcp)
Geoff Kettle
Geoffrey
"Geoffrey" 13 (hcp)
Simon Scard
Scardie
"Scardie" 17 (hcp)
Shahir Patel
Shak
"Shak" 14 (hcp)
Duncan Hayes
Sky
"Sky" 23 (hcp)
Simon Carter
Carter
"Carter" 17 (hcp)The Venues
It had been generally agreed that removing the pool from the competition would be a good idea. Whenever we had reached the last evening there wasn’t a single person that enjoyed the tension and that really destroyed the holiday atmosphere. Far better to play more golf – we are supposed to be friends on a golf trip after all!
Morgado was our first stop this year. We played there two years ago but opted for its sister course Alamos in 2015. The second day was scheduled for the Royal Course at Vale do Lobo, with its picture perfect 16th hole and then the lakes of Salgados would provide a stiff test for the singles on Saturday morning.
Darts was split between our regular haunt – Sully’s – and one game at a bar close to the Italian restaurant up the hill. Sully’s remains our favourite spot though – perfect for creating a real atmosphere.
Oh, and we didn’t have to be nice to the only woman we know in Carvoeiro with a decently accessible pool table. That was definitely a plus!
Morgado was our first stop this year. We played there two years ago but opted for its sister course Alamos in 2015. The second day was scheduled for the Royal Course at Vale do Lobo, with its picture perfect 16th hole and then the lakes of Salgados would provide a stiff test for the singles on Saturday morning.
Darts was split between our regular haunt – Sully’s – and one game at a bar close to the Italian restaurant up the hill. Sully’s remains our favourite spot though – perfect for creating a real atmosphere.
Morgado
Vale do Lobo
Salgados
Sully's
Day 1: Morgado - Texas Scramble
A leisurely trip from the airport to Carvoeiro for some lunch was then followed by a short journey to the security gate of the Morgado/Alamos complex. After a long drive from there we finally reached the clubhouse and got ourselves ready for the “extra” round of golf. This was to be played in pairs as a Texas Scramble, with seven drives per player counting. A new format for the trip, and one that every player thoroughly enjoyed – particularly Coleen who’s never played so many shots from the fairway.
The course, particularly around the edges of the greens was a disappointment however. We do love the complex, but it’ll be a big decision to go back again next year.
As there was very little between the handicaps it was no surprise that there was very little between the match scores too. The leaderboard on Golf Gamebook pulsed red then blue then red again and often showed lots of black. Eventually the final scores were in, and thanks primarily to Geoff monopolising the half-point extras, there was nothing between the two teams in the overall standings. All three matches finished on the 17th too – another indication of how tight everything was going to be.
As there was very little between the handicaps it was no surprise that there was very little between the match scores too. The leaderboard on Golf Gamebook pulsed red then blue then red again and often showed lots of black. Eventually the final scores were in, and thanks primarily to Geoff monopolising the half-point extras, there was nothing between the two teams in the overall standings. All three matches finished on the 17th too – another indication of how tight everything was going to be.
Match 1
Colin Jennings
Coleen
Paul Thomson
Thommo
Ducan Hayes
Sky
Simon Scard
Scardie
Match 2
Nick Taylor
Nick
Chris Hewison
Geordie
Geoff Kettle
Geoffry
Simon Carter
Carter
Match 3
Clive Taylor
Lob
Simon Taylor
Roo
Paul Foster
Fonz
Shahir Patel
Shak
Day 1 Result
Night 1: Sully's - Cricket Darts
The absence of anyone that would consider themselves a decent darts player suggested that the cricket could easily be as close as the golf. As it turned out, it wasn’t – but despite that Paul Foster “LOVES ARROWS!”
Two wins out of two for Europe put them in pole position, but there was still lots of golf to play and lots of points to be won so no-one on the American team was too downhearted.
The absence of anyone that would consider themselves a decent darts player suggested that the cricket could easily be as close as the golf. As it turned out, it wasn’t – but despite that Paul Foster “LOVES ARROWS!”
Simon Taylor
Roo
Paul Thomson
Thommo
Chris Hewison
Geordie
Ducan Hayes
Carter
Paul Foster
Fonz
Simon Carter
Carter
Nick Taylor
Nick
Click Taylor
Lob
Colin Jennings
Coleen
Geoff Kettle
Geoffry
Simon Scard
Scardie
Shahir Patel
Shak
Night 1 Result
Day 2: Vale do Lobo Royal Course - Fourballs
Once again there was nothing between the two teams on the golf course. In fact, for the first time ever, all three matches in the day finished all square. However, special mention to the USA team for the fact that of those matches two were squared with a win on the last hole and the third was squared from three down with four to play. A fantastic fighting display from Fonzie’s team and three results that will have felt like so much more than the half points they achieved. Only two bonus points available on this day, and Nick Taylor bagged them both for the Europe team.
As for the course, the 15th and 16th were stunning and the rest was gorgeous. An absolute gem of a course and we’ll maybe line up the Ocean course for next year.
Once again there was nothing between the two teams on the golf course. In fact, for the first time ever, all three matches in the day finished all square. However, special mention to the USA team for the fact that of those matches two were squared with a win on the last hole and the third was squared from three down with four to play. A fantastic fighting display from Fonzie’s team and three results that will have felt like so much more than the half points they achieved. Only two bonus points available on this day, and Nick Taylor bagged them both for the Europe team.
Match 1
Nick Taylor
Nick
Colin Jennings
Coleen
Geoff Kettle
Geoffry
Ducan Hayes
Sky
Match 2
Simon Taylor
Roo
Chris Hewison
Geordie
Shahir Patel
Shak
Simon Carter
Carter
Match 3
Clive Taylor
Lob
Paul Thomson
Thommo
Paul Foster
Fonz
Simon Scard
Scardie
Day 2 Result
Night 2: Sully's - Cricket Darts
Due to the poor quality of the board at Sully’s we stopped at a bar high on the hill for our second night of darts action. Unfortunately, there was a league game scheduled so only one game of cricket was possible. The away team in the league match, however, were Sully’s and one of their number (Phillippe) suggested that we ask for the better quality board that’s kept in the kitchen. Oh, and if we’re all going to Sully’s then tell them the first round is on his bill.
We like Phillippe.
A cracking first game, with both Scardy and Roo bagging four wickets in one visit to the board, was followed by what can only be described as a demolition of the USA team in the second match. Unusually for The Carvoeiro Cup, the darts had been all one-sided and that put Europe firmly in the driving seat going into the singles on the last day.
Due to the poor quality of the board at Sully’s we stopped at a bar high on the hill for our second night of darts action. Unfortunately, there was a league game scheduled so only one game of cricket was possible. The away team in the league match, however, were Sully’s and one of their number (Phillippe) suggested that we ask for the better quality board that’s kept in the kitchen. Oh, and if we’re all going to Sully’s then tell them the first round is on his bill.
Nick Taylor
Nick
Clive Taylor
Lob
Colin Jennings
Coleen
Ducan Hayes
Carter
Paul Foster
Fonz
Simon Carter
Carter
Simon Taylor
Roo
Paul Thomson
Thommo
Chris Hewison
Geordie
Geoff Kettle
Geoffry
Simon Scard
Scardie
Shahir Patel
Shak
Night 2 Result
Day 3: Salgados - Singles
An early start designed to get us back to Carvoeiro in time for the kick-off of the England v Wales game in the Six Nations meant that we were on the first tee at the still very watery Salgardos at some ridiculous time in the morning.
Once again the matches ebbed and flowed, but there was never really any doubt that Europe were going to pick up the points they needed to win The Carvoeiro Cup this year. In the end the final result didn’t really reflect how close the competition had been and, ironically enough, adding a third round of golf had ensured that the darts was the key difference between the two teams.
An early start designed to get us back to Carvoeiro in time for the kick-off of the England v Wales game in the Six Nations meant that we were on the first tee at the still very watery Salgardos at some ridiculous time in the morning.
Match 1
Nick Taylor
Nick
Simon Carter
Carter
Match 2
Simon Taylor
Roo
Geoff Kettle
Geoffrey
Match 3
Chris Hewison
Geordie
Simon Scard
Scardie
Match 4
Paul Thomson
Thommo
Shahir Patel
Shak
Match 5
Colin Jennings
Coleen
Ducan Hayes
Sky
Match 6
Clive Taylor
Lob
Paul Foster
Fonz
Day 3 Result
TEAM EUROPE WIN
Key Moments
Another year another win for Team USA, but what makes the weekend is the classic banter between teams and 2015 was no exeption. With plenty of shits and giggles it is hard to pick a favourite...
- Nick - losing boarding pass = light fingered Scardie
- Fonz - touching steak stone! Wondered how hot it was
- Roo - nearly killing Lob in practice
- Fonz - "Love arrows!" Lost both games.
- Col - Darts = 20 - 20 - 25, D'OH!
- Roo - out of the bunker hitting a house
- Thommo - hitting house
- Fonz - ball stuck 40ft up in tree
- Colin - "the problem with Italy is its full of French people"
- Geordie - best drive of the day - driving into tee box
- Carter - 5 bounce on water hit wall and out into bunker
- Dunc - pulling off in Cart when Fonz wasn't in the Cart
- Thommo - saying to Geordie "I need a SW!" Geordie drives off.
- Scardie - Pizza starter followed by Calzone
- Dunc - "There's at least 10 of you that would be invited anyway"
- Col & Col - Double fart outside mungos Lob fart then Col. "One fart is ok but two, there is a lady here"
- Geordie - leaving boarding pass other side of security
- Col - lost passport - left in the seat
- Roo - "What's that you've got there?" - "Er a pen!"
- Nick - (pointing at plastic bag) "Is that a bag?" - "Er Yes!"
- Team USA - get the USA flag the wrong way round for all photos!
- Lob - forgetting bag on plane - 2 randoms in toilet talking about it and laughing
- Shak - "I've lost my wedge, Fuck! I've lost my wedge! Oh no, hear it is..."
- Scardie - looking for on/off button
- Dunc - "Well we're going to need sun cream Geoff"
- Shak - double 25, 2 of own wickets!
- Geordie - hitting house from tee shot
- Col - 6 shots with 6 Iron
- Nick - "2018 is a year sooner than 2019"
- Geordie - rocky balboa darts
- Geoff - temper kicking away ball on important putt
- Roo - football hasn't teed off yet
- Dunc - Kerplunk Bags
- Carter - on the 16th at Vale de Lobo smashing ball into ravine then teeing up a second saying "Provisional"
- Geordie - "HE KEPT HAVING TO SLAP IT"
- Carter - in the water
- Roo - leaving bag
- Geordie - Discussing bets on cricket - Geordie "I know nothing about horses"
- Duncan - discussing the quality of restaurants and food in Carveiro and says "I love the prawns - the fish food in Portugal is great" cab driver and Carter respond "you mean seafood"
- Roo - falls asleep in Sullys twice.... "I Wasn't sleeping...."
- Scardie - Tipping the iPad to get the ball to move more on Tiger Woods Golf
M.V.P
AWARD 2016 Simon Taylor
Roo
5 points & epic dartsL.V.P
AWARD 2016