RS XIII 2016 Cameron House, Loch Lomond

Champion: VINCE HOLMES (28 points)

Runner up: Paul Henderson

Competitors: 14

Challenge Winner: Jim Wilson (27 points)

Bag o'shite awarded to: Richie Jones (13 points)

Pairs winners: Andy Henderson & James Stewart

In 2016, the Rim Stinger made its maiden trip to Scotland. Wet weather gear and thermals were packed but there was hardly any rain. Instead glorious weather and views were enjoyed on the banks of Loch Lomond.

In the pairs event, Andy Henderson recorded a hat trick of pairs wins (a fifth in all), this time partnered by the OCC. Andy and James scored heavily with ten points in the last three holes to prevail over the Holmes / Holmden axis which capitulated at the final hole with Charles visiting forestry and Vince missing a short putt. It was to be his last mistake of the weekend.

The thirteenth Rim Stinger was played in glorious weather. We were re-joined for the first time in seven years by T Wagenhofer (RS V) who had been recording victories in nationally-recognised competitions (foolishly telling the CHC about it) and also by debutant N Dale, who holds a golf professional qualification and plays as much in a week as the average Rim Stinger does in a year.

Quickly out of the blocks was P Henderson (RS VI, BoS X & XI). Taking full advantage of a 28 handicap he collected regular points and having made sure early on of avoiding a third BoS title, he raised his sights to the top of the table and posted a club house lead of 27 points. In the same group the CGC, D Zarmalwal (RS III) returning from a year’s absence, struggled as much as Paul thrived and posted a BoS club house ‘lead’ of 14 points.

Defending champion V Holmes (RS XII), handicapped down from 11 last year to 5 this year, managed to keep up with this pace and reached the 18th knowing that a par would score an outright win and back-to-back titles. More interested in the outcome than most was the CGC who had posted odds of 20-1 against P Henderson who had promptly put £10 on himself. It has to be said that Vince played the 18th faultlessly. Split the fairway, GIR, 2 putts. The very definition of Conduct Unbecoming a Rim Stinger. Having snatched the title from the CHC he is now aware that future handicap committee meetings will not be kind.

The CGC’s financial exposure was therefore averted but his personal exposure to the bag o’ shite remained very live. His big hope was that R Jones and J Stewart were also struggling. With four BoS titles between them they both know exactly how to win this trophy. Playing in the same group is a good start. There is nothing like playing next to someone who is willing your every shot to end up in trouble (a wish that more often than not comes true). In the end the OCC had just enough in the locker, and finished on 16 despite blobbing the last 2 holes. R Jones, however, just could not string two shots together and reached the 18th needing a double bogie / single point to force a play off. Unfortunately he visited forestry, the lake, personal pits of despair and never reached the green at all (Vince should take note – THIS is proper Rim Stinger behaviour). Not for the first time R Jones was left ruing entirely unavoidable handicap penalties. He became the first player to win a third bag o’ shite.

The money day was won by Jim Willson, who must now stop bleating about never winning anything. He finished a few points ahead of the two professionals, Dale and Wagenhofer, who saved their best for when money was on offer. The last day was notable also for the intervention of an irate Glaswegian, who stormed onto the ninth green, offered the Dale some adverse feedback on his putting preparation routine, swung a leg at the OCC and chased C Holmden off the green. He then had an altercation with the CM&PR whose camera was rolling (in connection with his M&PR duties). The gentleman had to be escorted from the premises by the course marshall who informed him that his behaviour was inappropriate for a five star resort (which resulted in the marshall being labelled “a five star p***k”).

Other than this unsavoury and uncalled for incident, the thirteenth Rim Stinger was a great success (apart perhaps from R Jones who managed to break both his unwanted trophy and his front tooth during the course of his efforts).