On the initiative of the club’s Vice-Captain Bill Scarth, a New Year’s Eve party was held at Awali Golf Club.
Nicky Park stepped up to assist with catering and table decoration, whilst Onny Martin took charge of sound and lights.
The event was well attended with 50 members, partners and visiting overseas guests, being treated to hours of fun and fine food.
The memory of the bar staff was taxed somewhat to identify exactly when the last such event had taken place and by all accounts it was 24 years ago, in December 1990!
As the day wore on, the venue was seen to morph from its usual post-golf functionality to something worthy of the ticket price, with not too many signs of flustered organisers who had clearly attempted to plan things with military precision. Candle-lit tables and smooth jazz mellowed the ambience as the majority arrived in their finery, a few seemed to have ‘not spotted’ the dress code in the conditions of play!
Around 9.30pm a mood swing saw the house lights dim even further, to be replaced by those pulsing around the dance floor. And, so began shaking and wiggling to sounds courtesy of Auto-DJ, who maintained the thump towards midnight.
The midnight countdown display was that of the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster and the chimes of Big Ben brought in the New Year at AGC, followed by a Thames-side firework display.
Auld Lang Syne took over and was performed in the traditional manner. One guest, had clearly read the conditions of play and was most traditional, sporting a kilt!