The 3rd Major for the Caricom Cup was held at a CGS favourite venue Lilleshall Golf Club in Shropshire. It’s a great venue and one the CGS have now played several times. Lilleshall use to be the hub for the England football academy and many a quality player emerged because of the training programs ran there. It was back in 2022 when the CGS first acquainted itself with the Lilleshall Golf course and back then it was Carl Douglas who rose out of the 42 players to take home the Caricom Cup which was once again the trophy being played for. His 38 points total was a solid score which allowed him to take home the top prize ahead of Lloyd Thomas with 36. Back in 22 the weather was cloudy and raining and, on this occasion, it wasn’t much better, this is supposed to be the start of summer and would usually be a lot warmer however it was very much the opposite, it was chilly to say the least. The introduction of some new CGS long sleeve winter tops came in very handy and everyone who’d requested one was wearing it to keep the chill off.

Last June the CGS once again visited the Lilleshall, and it was the then captain Eddy Wedderburn who took the honours with yet another 38-point score around this track.

The course was in good condition for this year’s event like previous it must be said, but the greens were a little on the slow side, I think we have been spoilt in the past as the greens have been much quicker but, on this occasion, the slow speed caught many players out with putts stopping inches short from the hole. Its possible a lot of courses are still recovering from the poor weather we’ve had this year so let’s give the greens staff a little slack and I’m sure those greens will get quicker at some point this year.

The event was well attended with some 43 members in attendance, it just goes to show how popular this venue is and with the treasurer Anthony Davidsons 123 rule, to book in, pay and select your meal choice all at the same time it’s obviously working, a thumbs up to Anthony and to everyone for following it.

In the chilly conditions play got under way and like rounds before the scores were again in the mid to high thirties. There was some good golf being played and there were some memorable moments such as Trevor Lammy’s wedge over some very large trees to with a couple feet of the flag and his nearest the pin in three on the 10th with a tee shot sliced right followed by a punch shot towards two large trees which followed with his 3rd knocked stiff for a tap-in birdie. On the 14th long hitting Carlton Donald who misses the long drive competition which as recently been shelved from events by our committee could easily drive the 14th green but laid up and hit his second to within a couple feet to win the nearest in two prize, there you go Carlton it’s not just about the big drives, it shows you can still win a prize with a wedge in your hand.

Dave Brown out in the 5th group played some solid golf, he didn’t do anything spectacular but the 2016 order of merit winner golfed his ball around the course for a 35-point score and 3rd place overall.

Another good round was from Errol Murray a solid front nine was enough to see him in 2nd place with 36 points. His back nine play may have made him think it was slipping away but everyone struggled on the back nine apart from our winner Trevor Lammy whose game was on point today with two birdies to his name is 37-point score was enough to give him the Caricom Cup along with his nearest in three prize, solid golf from Trevor today.

The nearest the pin prizes were held on the par 3 6th and 16th and was won by Ansel Pottinger and Simon Dixon respectively.

Thanks again to the committee for all the hard work and to all the winners’ congratulations especially Trevor Lammy on lifting the Caricom Cup.

To all the members for booking and paying promptly let’s keep it up for the rest of the season and beyond, remember 123!