Page 127 - The Bugle 2018

7 RIFLES Village Golf Society
In mid-2017, the battalion was stuck in a rut trying to decide what sport 7 RIFLES would take the lead on within the regiment. All the other battalions had taken on key sports such as Football, rugby, boxing and cricket and although the battalion would have liked to take on a high intensity team sport there just was not any available that were recognised in the Army.
Luckily for the battalion, a small group of fine athletes took the lead and spared our blushes by establishing the 7 RIFLES Village Golf Society. This Golf Society gave many likeminded individuals within the battalion a platform to demonstrate their golfing prowess but also provided a haven for those members of the battalion who had not taken up a sport but yearned for the camaraderie that being part of a sports club brings.
Contrary to popular belief this would not be an easy task, but luckily one of the founding members (myself) understood that for this society to be a success there would have to be a few things sorted out. Firstly, we needed players and we needed them to reflect the diverse culture within the battalion as well as having each rank represented. It was very important that the society was not seen as an officers’ club but a place where every rank could feel comfortable, relaxed and enjoy each other’s company on the course. Secondly, funding: golf is not cheap and for the society to properly enjoy an afternoon loaf we would need an untapped access to funding. This proved to be one of the easier tasks as Capt Boardman (acting RAO) had a talent for fiddling the books and with the help of the QM (Maj Roberts) a keen golfer himself, we were able to enjoy a few jaunts at the expense of the battalion.
Finally, we needed the players to be honest. Not only about their handicaps but by the way they conduct themselves on the course. This proved to be the most difficult thing to implement with the likes of WO1 Rob Souter who thinks his handicap goes up with age regardless of his ability getting better with all the golf he’s playing!
Nonetheless, all these issues were discussed and resolved and despite some treachery from certain members in the society we were able to generate 2 fourballs for our inaugural match.
Since then, the Society has gone from strength to strength and we all have enjoyed a game at least a couple of times a month. We also compete in a monthly championship once a month which isn’t designed to see who is the best player (this is impossible due to Rob Souter’s false handicap) but too see who is the worst. This has proven to a brilliant test of non-talent with many players in the running for it every time we play.
The society has also had some success in the Regimental Golf Day at the South Winchester golf course where the team finished in the top half of the standings thanks to our handicaps being adjusted in the minibus on the way down by Rob Souter (shock) and also Chaz walked away with a prize for having the worst score ever recorded at the Regimental Golf Day. Well done Chaz!
In the future we intend to build on the success of this inaugural year by getting the battalion actually to recognise us as a credible sports team and also
by pushing the limits of the funding allocated to Golf in the battalion and organising a golf tour abroad ... watch this space!
End of year Prizes:
Handicap Thief Award (Best Golfer) – Rob Souter Longest Game Award - Chaz Jones (5hrs 10min) Patient Player Award - Gary Potts (Chaz`s playing partner)
Longest Putt resulting in a win Award – Ross Jones Dark Horse Award – Si Heaver
Beginners luck my a**e Award – Steve Cox (49points after supposedly not player for 6 years)
Non Team Player Award – Jonathan Boardman for entering a team of only officers at an Inter Battalion Competition
WO2 Jones
TrgWO 7 RIFLES & Golfer
Exercise Wessex Trail
For some time now, mountain biking has been on the rise throughout the Army, but to truly experience the sport you need to find mountains and there is no better range of terrain and purpose built trail centres than the Snowdonia National Park.
North Wales has always attracted the thrill seekers and adrenalin junkies to its high peaks and long winding descents. Capel Curig Training Camp provides an excellent base to venture out and explore this unique landscape.
7 RIFLES was joined on the Exped by members of D Coy 5 RIFLES, another great example of how paring can enhance the lives of all our Riflemen. The week was designed around the Joint Mountain Biking Scheme (JSMBS) to complete the Mountain Bike Foundation Course through remote T3 training. This showed the students all the elements of mountain biking skills and allowed them to become competent group members of future expeditions.
After the basic skills were mastered, the week progressed from trail centres and local routes to a student lead 42 km cross country route across the Moel Famau National park where the Riflemen practiced basic skills of navigation and casualty evacuation.
The weather was extremely kind, and the week was one of the driest in March recorded in Wales. This did not detract from the great effort which was needed to complete the 352 km experience.
All departed Wales with a great sense of achievement and a romantic yearning to return to complete that last jump or to perfect that line and corner.
What a ride!
Maj R T Jones XO 7 RIFLES
Adventure training in tandem (left-right): Rfn Lord (7R); Rfn Halpin (5R); LCpl Price (5R), and LCpl Gibson (7R)
THE RIFLES
SEVENTH BATTALION 133