Fantastic Founders Event 2022!!!
- hdagolfmembers
- Dec 5, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2022
WOW.
From the first sip of cava at the Welcome Reception to the final beer of the Gala Dinner, I'm sure that the HDA Founders Event of 2022 will live long in the memory of all of those who were able to take part!
The Founders Event is the highlight of our golfing calendar and also the community calendar here at HDA. It is a time that our golfing and non-golfing residents, friends, and guests can come together and celebrate the wonderful life that we enjoy here at HDA.
After a few years dogged by COVID restrictions we really let the 'shackles off this year' with a full house of 80 players for the two day golf tournament and 130 people attending the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening... absolutely fantastic.
Welcome Reception
The players, partners and guests (over 100 people!!!) gathered at the HDA Club House on the evening of Thursday 1 December to enjoy the Welcome Reception.
Eduardo Ruiz, UGOLF Director of Golf, gave a brief welcoming address in which he outlined some of he exciting developments planned for he Club... huge investment in irrigation will be the key to improving the fairways during 2023 as HDA looks to be listed in the top ten courses in Spain.
Jacobo Gomez , Director Ona Hacienda del Alamo, then outlined the planned improvements for the Club House and that the Hotel will hopefully be open by the end of February 2023.
So both on and off the course there are exciting times ahead at HDA!
After a brief outline of the 'plan of action' for the weekend everyone 'tucked-in' to a delicious plate of tapas... if this is the sign of the quality of food to be served in the Club House we are all in for a real treat.
What a fantastic start to the weekend!
The Golf
As is the norm for our major competitions we made sure that the weather was absolutely perfect... ok, that's not quite true!
As the players turned up for the start of the competition on Saturday morning they were greeted with near Baltic conditions more akin to a winters day on the west coast of Norway or Ireland... would these cold and windy conditions suit our 'hardier players'?
Looking more like the 'Michelin Man' the well wrapped up players took to the course... and for many the nip of whisky from the Ladies of the halfway house was the most heartwarming moment of the round.
Despite a high degree of mediocrity, there were some fantastic scores from the leading players.
In the Men's Category Tore Krog scored 40 points, Steve Crook 39 points and Tam Henderson 37 points.... and in the Ladies Category Angela Pendlebury also scored 40 points with Joan Tassie hot on her heels with 37 points.
Would they be able to keep it up on day two or would someone from the 'pack' chase them down???
One side note to take from the close of play on day one was the 'shameless' act of Mr Cecil Tassie, who was heartbroken that Joan his wife had scored one more point than he had... and then offered odds of 500/1 that she would not win the tournament on the Saturday. Needless to say that the honourable Members of HDA were horrified by this offer and banished Cecil to the bar. To be honest he didn't look too unhappy.
Would this be the incentive that Joan needed?
There were a number of players with sub 30 scores... most were still in the bar late into the evening on Friday - apparently unaware that their shocking performances would mean that they wold be off the 10th very early the following morning!
And so on to day two...and what a difference a day makes!
Warm sunshine greeted the players on Saturday morning and we were set for a great day of golf.
Once again the ladies of the halfway house provided some fantastic 'treats' - chicken bake, tune bake, tortilla and of course plenty of liquid refreshment!
Despite the marked improvement in conditions the scoring was not as good as day one... maybe the Baltic weather had taken its toll on weary 'old' bones - who knows???
In the Men's category a second day score of 33 points for Tore Krog was enough to post a final score of 73 points to take the Men's Founders Trophy by one point from Steve Crook.
In the Ladies Category, Joan Tassie responded to her husband's incentive (!!!) to overturn a three point, first day deficit, to score 73 points and win by two from runner-up Angela Pendlebury.
By the way Cecil you owe me €500.
Mike Niven took the Guest Category prize with 67 points... winning on lower handicap from Harrison Willis also with 67 points.
The Billy Sim Trophy for the best gross score Stableford on day one for Men, was won by Tam Henderson with 25 Points and Gina Wagemans won the Lindsay Laing Trophy for the best nett Stableford score on day one for Ladies, with 35 points.
Congratulations to all the winners... notably Tore and Joan our Founders champions - remember that the weather on day one was made to measure for the Vikings and their Irish colleagues!
Please see a full list of results below.
Founders XVIII Gala Dinner
What a finale we had for Founders '22 with the XVIII Gala Dinner at Mabali Restaurant in Fuente Alamo.
It was great to see everyone dressed in their finery... it was difficult to recognise some as they had 'scrubbed up' so well.
The menu was superb, the service impeccable and the wine was perfect...
After dinner we had our presentation ceremony... with Yasmin, the Home Space Group, and Torril, Simon HDA Homes, kindly presenting the trophies and prizes.
Undoubtedly the biggest roar of the night was made on the announcement that Joan Tassie was our Ladies winner!
Tore Krog then gave a very entertaining and emotional speech in Norwegian - warmly applauded by the two people in the room who could understand him!!!
Two very worthy and popular winners.
To finish off a fantastic evening and Founders '22 we all relaxed and danced the night away...
Thank You
There are a number of people who were responsible for making Founders '22 such a great success.
On behalf of the Members I would like to thank Simon HDA Homes and the Home Space Group for kindly sponsoring this year's event - you have made it possible to transform a really good event into a truly memorable experience. A massive thank you for your support...
A big thank you to my fellow Committee Members - Geoff Hill, Louise Hay, Heather Janney, Sue Winder and Angela Pendlebury - this is quite a big event!!! Thank you for all your hard work.
The two stalwarts of the halfway house, Louise Haigh and Jan Forbes McDowell... you’ve been stars throughout the year... and once again proved two days of sustenance and smiles for Founders - Thank you!
Victoria Oliveira, who has been an absolute star behind the scenes helping to co-ordinate the coaches and most importantly liaising with Mabali to co-ordinate the Gala dinner... thank you.
Once again, Sandra McLean, has been a fantastic help with organising the Gala dinner and with her support with the golf competition... thank you.
And, thank you to Simon HDA Homes for all the great photos...
Founders 2022 Trophies and Prizes
Men’s Winner - Tore Krog 73 points
Men’s Runner-up - Steve Crook 72 points
Ladies Winner - Joan Tassie 73 points
Ladies Runner-up - Angela Pendlebury. 71 points
Guest Winner - Mike Niven 67 points (LH)
Guest Runner-up - Harrison Willis 67 points
Billy Sim trophy best gross score Stableford on day one for Men - Tam Henderson 25 points
Lindsay Laing trophy best nett Stableford score on day one for Ladies - Gina Wagemans 35 points
Nearest the pin Ladies - Mary Brown
Nearest the pin Men - Christian Dettmer
Longest drive Ladies - Angela Pendlebury
Longest drive Men - Angus McLanders
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