In a scene reminiscent of the supporting cast of the famous music video, Thriller, a band of Awali Golf Club’s finest fossils staggered forth from their dark hideaways to compete in the club’s Seniors Championship, with the field restricted to those who had reached the big five-oh.
Proving that trends can be bucked and that 50 is the new 70, with their zimmer frames stored temporarily away as also their hearing aids, the myopic gathering slithered around the course following a crack of dawn start. The weather, calm at first but soon gusting to more than 30 knots, caused the sand to occasionally sting the players’ faces and keep them conscious as they missed their armchairs and cups of mid-morning Horlicks.
However, all managed to make it back to the clubhouse after the 18 holes, Ariette Paul being awarded the accolade of winning fossil for her score of nett-61 (gross 101). Mark Hodgkinson completed his play as part of the costa-geriatrica group to become runner-up (68/90), followed by Nicola Bailey in third place (71/97). Ariette was also the recipient of a 6-shot handicap cut to 29.