PGA Catalunya Resort – Spain 2019

This years SGC takes us to northern Spain, To Catalonia, on the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula,

Catalonia consists of four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. The capital and largest city is Barcelona, the second-most populated municipality in Spain.

The PGA de Catalunya golf course on Catalonia’s Costa Brava has been voted one of the ten best golf courses in Europe by Golf World magazine and one of its writers, Steve Carr, described it as the ‘jewel in the crown’. The course is now rated as Nº1 in Spain and won the award as ‘Best Golf Resort’ in Europe at the IAGTO Awards 2014.

Just reading some of the reviews you feel it will be pretty special, not sure how 8 middle aged pissheads will do, but I liked this review when I saw it.

“From the minute we arrived we were made to feel completely relaxed and welcome. Food was fabulous, wine selection was quality, golf outstanding and all the staff amazingly helpful and friendly. Will be back!! “

http://www.pgacatalunya.com/golf/

PGA Catalunya golf_brochure

Tour Course

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/pga-catalunya-tour

Stadium Course

https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-course/pga-catalunya-stadium

Normal Golfer Plays Catalunya

Schedule

Birmingham Flights to Girona
Depart Birm 20th leave at 06:30 – arrive 09:40
Return Girona 23rd leave at 17:15 – arrive 18:35

London Flights to Girona
Depart Stansted 20th leave at 09:10 – arrive 12:05
Return Girona 23rd leave 13:05 – arrive 14:05

Itinerary

Thurs 20th June – Tour Course – 15:20

Fri 21st  June – Tour Course –  12:00  (SGC Day 1)

Sat 22nd  June – Stadium Course –  12:00 (SGC Day 2)

Please also have a look at this….  New Golf Rules

Rooms

Brits and Etere

Chipper and Panky

Shaun and Monkey

Shep and Ginge

handicaps 2019

Player Notes
Mark Brittan 6 Becoming an also ran, age and coco pop catching up on him
Richard Clancy 4 Penalty for 2018 win, over confident
Ian Pankhurst 15 Like his blues team, always finishes in the bottom half
David Etere 13 the senior member of the tour, defies age and is 3 shots worse off than 2017, playing well and finishing above his younger peers
Paul Brittan 11 The struggler amongst the pack, talks a great games, all the gear and plays the most
Shaun Hose 16 New kid on the block….. Jury is out
Martyn Shepherd 20 A big welcome back from the poor AGC to Shep.. The Rocky Balboa of the tour
Lee Howell 24 Practice Practice Practice…may see him finish about Chipper for the first time in a while?

Handicaps will be reviewed after each round.

Thursday 20th June – The Tour Course

Birmingham boys arrived on the early flights out of Brum, whilst the stansted boys arrived fresh and rested at the airport for their mid morning hop across to Girona.  2019 the SGC welcomed our newest international Shaun Hose.  Shortly after being introduced to the SGC he is now and forever more, known as Oscar (after his childhood hero).

After the 10 mins taxi from the airport to PGA Catalunya we eventually checked in and met the brum lot for a quick beer and some food in the restaurant.  after arranging a 10 year loan to rent a buggy, we were making our way to the practice area in readiness for the golf.

There was the annual ‘my injury is worse than yours’ banter, as we made our way to the tee.

The first group went off with some forgettable drives Etere, Monkey, Oscar and Shep.  closely followed by Brits, Ginge, Raymond and Panky.

30 degree weather and a very nice and well tender golf course for the next 4-5 hours was the perfect tonic to the early morning flights.

After we returned to the club house for a beer and a count up it became clear that David Etere had just returned probably the highest ever points total in 19 years of the SGC.  At 52 he is not only the eldest golfer attending the SGC but probably the finest purveyor of this sport.

Etere  40

Panky 34

Chopper 32

Ginge 31

Brits 30

Oscar 28

Monkey 27

Shep 21

shower, change, Girona….  Things went downhill from here…  Think we were told to be quiet more than once.

The taxi driver, who became a regular was an overweight middle aged polish rave dance lover.

Friday 21st June – The Tour Course

The hangovers kicked in once we started the 15 mins walk to the clubhouse in 30 degree heat.  Chopper, Monkey,panky and brits who sneaked off early seemed rather chipper.  Shep was his usual grumpy self.

The scores today were appalling for the hardcore who stayed out.  But for those who were suitably refreshed some great opening SGC day 1 scores on the doors, notably from the new favourite Panky.  He has been here before so, everyone slept easily, secure in the knowledge that normal service will resume tomorrow.  Monkey and Brits hot on his heels and the dark horse in fourth only 3 shots behind.  Sheps rise in fortunes were not only due to his handicap increase but persistence and grit.

Panky 38

Monkey 37

Brits 36

Shep 35

Oscar 32

Etere 29

Ginge 29

Chopper 29

The evenings entertainment included Girona again, a romantic pizza for two with Oscar and I, an english bar and a few late ones in the square.  I think Oscar may need a little assistance with the ‘how to behave in a foreign city’ etiqutte as he relieved himself from the city centre bridge as families walked past him in full view.

That being said, most people stayed the duration

Saturday 22nd June – The Stadium Course

The day unfolded yet again to glorious 30 degree heat and clear blue skies.  On todays agenda was the famous stadium course, where many spanish opens have been played.  This course is a lot harder than the tour course and the wind had started to blow.

A little nervousness on the first tee as the spoon boys led off proceedings.

Chopper first off, hooked his drive left into the bracken, Ginge split the fairway perfectly and then Etere followed chopper into the bracken, albeit 30 yards shorter.  Oscar followed ginge with a perfect down the middle drive.  Provisionals for chopper and Etere.

Spoon 4 ball

Name Stadium SGC
Front 9 Back 9 Total SGC
Etere 12 15 27 56
Oscar 14 11 25 57
Chopper 13 12 25 54
Ginge 10 6 16 45

Championship 4 ball

At the halfway stage of the final round we had a tie for top spot, with Shep and Monkey sharing the lead with Panky and Brits sharing 4th spot.

A total collapse from all three of them left Brits to secure the title for a record 4th time.

Name Stadium SGC
Front 9 Back 9 Total SGC
Shep 16 10 26 61
Brits 12 17 29 65
Panky 10 7 17 55
Monkey 13 11 24 61

SGC 2019 Review:

All in all a very enjoyable SGC.  Great venue and location.  Far too close to Lloret de Mar for my liking.

Both courses were amazing and Stadium course needs to be played with respect rather than a steaming hangover.

Highlights:

See you all in Majorca 2020 for the 20th Anniversay

Girona – Espana – PGA Catalunya Resort

2019 SGC – PGA Catalunya – Tour Course & Stadium Course (Ranked #1 course in Spain)
Player Handicap Day 1 Day 2 Final
Mark Brittan 5  36  29  65
Martyn Shepherd 25  35  26  61
Richard Clancy 4  37  24  61
Shaun Hose  14  32  25  57  16 handicap for final day
David Etere 12  29  27  56
Ian Pankhurst 14  38  17  55
Paul Brittan 12  29  25  54
Lee Howell 25  29  16  45
NOTE: Tee Times TBC

Winner – SGC Champion 2019 – Mark Brittan 

https://youtu.be/hTamb8E5-Dk