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Late breaking...05/09/20
2020 New Champion is Mr Ham.
A tightly contested battle of wits, and another playoff, with the Champion squeaking home at the first holed.
Order has been restored to the universe and an omnivore promoted to the top spot. Hurrah!
Late breaking...30/08/20
2020 Champion is Mr Dickson.
Well done that man. It took a year off from the tour, and a change in lifestyle that came out of left field, but if that's the price to pay for victory, so be it.
Following his playoff win against Mr Scott (commiserations sir), he promptly invited everyone round to his his place for a slap up celebratory meal - of dandelion and quorn stew, with a side of sillage. After much um-ing and er-ing and shuffling of feet, the attended masses decided that it was in fact quite late after all and maybe they'd take a rain check on the stew, and headed off to their respective homes for a late carnivorous meat-fest.
Diaries have been electronically pencilled in (thank you Mr Stanger)
Mr Bell NB The date is scheduled for 02nd to 05th September 2021 30/08/20
- Mr Bell is temporarily to be referred to as 'Mingey D', with specific reference to his tight wad, vis a vis tipping (or not). Committee to meet to discuss this becoming a permanent name. Committee to also discuss the apparent 'evaporation' of the kitty money, on a number of occassions over the past years
- Preferred dates for next years tour to be first week in September which avoids most calendar conflicts
- A call (again) for a 2022 tour to South Accrington - subject to spousal approval
- The (re)creation of a communal bank account for monthly payments to spread the load of aforementioned tour and to avoid the annual, wallet-draining withdrawal
- Congratulations to the finance and organisation committee of Mr Bell (with assistance), his well planned scheduling, and orgazisation of the weather
- The aparent creation of a new role - FD (Financial Dogsbody) to arrange said bank account. This to be concurrent - and to merge with - the role of SD (Stato Dogsbody), WD (Web Dogsbody) and ID (Internet Dogsbody)
Re-live every score from the comfort of your bathchair. Meltdown for Mr Scott - rampant, and runaway victory for Mr Ham
- Preferred dates for next years tour to be second two weeks in August 2020 which avoids most calendar conflicts
- A call (again) for a 2020 tour to South Accrington - subject to spousal approval
- The (re)creation of a communal bank account for monthly payments to spread the load of aforementioned tour and to avoid the annual, wallet-draining withdrawal
- Congratulations to the finance and organisation committee of Mr Scott, his well planned scheduling, and orgazisation of the weather
- A (frankly) derranged assertion from Mr Bell that no previous Diggers tour has ever had to be rearranged because of his changing movements (see 2015 Shuffle below)
- Preferred dates for next years tour to be first two weeks in August which avoids most calendar conflicts
- A call (again) for a 2019 tour to South Accrington - subject to spousal approval
- The (re)creation of a communal bank account for monthly payments to spread the load of aforementioned tour and to avoid the annual, wallet-draining withdrawal
- Congratulations to the finance and organisation committee of Mr Scott, his well planned scheduling, and orgazisation of the weather
- Preferred dates for next years tour to be first two weeks in August which avoids most calendar conflicts
- A call (again) for a 2018 tour to South Accrington - subject to spousal approval
- The (re)creation of a communal bank account for monthly payments to spread the load of aforementioned tour and to avoid the annual, wallet-draining withdrawal
- Congratulations to the finance and organisation committee of Mr Scott, his well planned scheduling, and orgazisation of the weather
It was to be Glasgow, but now it's definite. The thought of a heaving metropolis, awash with drunken louts from both sides of the border suggested another choice of venue. And what could be closer to home, or central to all travellers - than Nairn.
In no particular order and subject to confirmation and/or heated debate :
- Preferred dates for all foreseable tours to be the first two weeks in February ? which avoids most calendar conflicts
- A notional call (again) for a 2018 tour to South Croydon - subject to spousal approval (like that's gonna happen)
- The (re)creation of a communal bank account for monthly payments to spread the load of aforementioned tour(s) and to avoid the annual, wallet-draining withdrawal method - subject to spousal approval
- Congratulations to the finance and organisation committee of Mr Bell, his well planned scheduling, and orgazisation of the weather/taxis
- While not for the purist, the "drop, with one shot penalty, closest in line and length to the area of disappearance" lost ball procedure contines to work well and avoids the 're-load' and potential 'dicking about with going back to the tee' malarky
- 2016 Tour pencilled in as being a home fixture
- Preferred dates for all foreseable tours to be last two weekends in September (or very early October) which avoids most calendar conflicts, though not temporary (or permanent) armed conflicts/flare ups
- A notional call for a 2018 tour to South Africa - subject to spousal approval
- The (re)creation of a communal bank account for monthly payments to spread the load of aforementioned tour(s) and to avoid the annual, wallet-draining withdrawal method - subject to spousal approval
- Congratulations to the finance and organisation committee of Messrs. Stanger and Scott who manfully battled the capricious tides and quick-sand of The Diggers calendar scheduling
Special mention also to the dogged determination of Mr Dickson who manfully hobbled through both rounds and was in contention to the last. The biblical gesture of the casting of the crutches had to be seen to be believed - though heavy medication may have helped. Cardrona
It was to be Instanbul. Then Turkey in general. Next it might have been Cyprus. Or Dubai. Then Alicante. Then off. Then Brugge. Then Palma. Then Istanbul. Then Brugge. Then....Peebles ?! Bit confusing, but now it's definite sorted. Probably.
The ramblings of an old man
Following on from this years tour chat, a couple of issues which may need to be debated the next time The Diggers meet, in a pub, over a beer or six. First is clarification of the lost ball procedure - reload and penalty, or drop at point of dissapperance, and penalty. Second - and very much more contentious - is the allocation of handicap in event of a points tie. You know where this is going - but it's good to talk.
Re-live every score from the comfort of your bathchair
Having run the scores through the 'Spreadsheet of Truth and Reconciliation', it seems only one of our number can count and add properly. Worryingly, it's not me. After some very moderate to-ing and fro-ing (relax Mr Bell), Mr Scott is hereby promoted to third place and Mr Graham (this year to be known as The Decimally-Challenged Digger) relegated to fourth. Competition analysis to follow. Zzzzzzzz...
With an impressively high score, courtesy of a complete gear makeover and an assist from Golf Monthly magazine (and some sterling golf), Mr Ham finally joins the role of honour and is the very worthy 2014 Champion.
We'll be departing these turbulent shores soon - and may not return, depending on the result of that referendum
with thanks to the Bell Archives
In the tightest of finishes, Mr Bell makes it three in a row - a Diggers first. Well done sir - again.
What happened to the handicap review...?
2012 Champion is Mr Bell. Well done fella. That's two in a row now. Next - handicap review...
2011 scores now added
A crushing victory for Mr Bell. Well done indeed.
2010 scores now added
An incredibly close finish and Mr Dickson the new champion.
The 2009 scores have now been added, including a graphic representation of the cumulative scores
Interesting to note how close it was at halfway, how the Shetland contingent flagged and flat-lined, that Mr Ham couldn't decide whether he was in contention or not - and how it ended up a close two horse race.
.. Mr Stanger. Excellent work, old boy. Was it the seven iron up the middle or ?
In spite of the approach of Hurricane Bill, the tour is on. Handicaps agreed : gentlemen, start your engines...
And now, as we start galloping toward summer, this years scores have been added to the site (with thanks to Mr Ham) And, upon closer inspection, it seems the margin of victory was but a single point and not two as previously advised. Closer than a close thing. (the numbers in red are substitutes for N/R's and are three over par)
Seasons greetings to all - and spare a thought for Mr Ham, who may have his first alcohol-free Christmas - ever.
It seems only like the 9th of July that the tour date was provisionally, probably agreed and it's upon us again. Looks like the student life has left Duncan with too much time on his hands and he's trying to organize next years tour already. Must be a fit young commerce student in the library he's trying to impress with his rollodex. Possibly the 22nd August 2009 - voting continues. Venue unknown.
Tardy, I know, but the winner of the 2008 Wilderness Diggers is.......Scott Dickson. Congratulations old chap and commiserations to Mr Bell on a capitulation of Charnleyesque proportions. No stories have yet filtered back to the news-desk but this hack waits with itching pencil, if you'll pardon the expression.
The date has now almost nearly probably provisionally been set as the 12th and 13th of September. Friday 12th p.m. at Newtonmore and Saturday 13th at Fort William (baring elections / training / births / deaths / matriculation /asteroids (of both types)
A few photos added to the gallery
Some additions made - some gaps filled
With thanks to Mr Bell for his contributions
Bell in Shock Admission
In a startlingly frank and open confession, Mr Bell has admitted he does change his mind and that The Diggers is all about whether he can make it or not. More soon...
Revised date
Yet to be confirmed, but there may be tacit agreement to le Tour being held on the weekend of 13th September. A quorum of four (plus postal votes from the duo in absentia) has agreed in principle to the tour being held later in the year than was originally suggested. Further updates due (over the next seven months)
