Tour Records

Time for some more stats! (Don't forget we're missing the scores from 2002, 2006 and 2007)

Most appearances
18 - Ben W

Most wins
6 - Ben W

Best points-scoring rounds
45 points - Stuart (off 31) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004
43 points - James (off 35) at Puckrup Hall 2011
43 points - Ben F (off 19) at Weston-Super-Mare 2012
42 points - Paul (off 36) at Canford Magna (Parkland) 2005
42 points - James (off 36) at Bridport (2015)
40 points - Mark (off 13) at Rolls of Monmouth 2004

Best totals in a three-round tournament
108 - Ben F 2012
105 - James 2011
104 - Ben W 2011
104 - Simon 2011
104 - Brian 2012

Best totals in a 'three out of four' tournament
109 - Mark 2004
106 - Simon 2004
103 - Brian 2004
100 - Paul 2005

Best totals in a two round tournament
68 - Ben W 2008
66 - Brian 2008
63 - Kevin 2008

Best four round total (only three counting)
137 - Simon 2004
131 - Mark 2004
129 - Kevin 2005
128 - Simon 2005
127 - Kevin 2004

Biggest margin of victory
6 points - Ben F 2010
5 points - Ben F 2017
4 points - Ben F 2012
3 points - Mark 2004, Ben W 2013 and 2018

Smallest margin of victory
1 point - Ben W 2003, Paul 2005, James 2011, Simon 2015, Brian 2019
2 points - Ben W 2008, Kevin 2009, Ben W 2014, Brian 2016

Best Tour single round average score:
35.75 points - Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004 (eight players - ave. handicap 20.4)
35.5 points - Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2008 (four players - ave. handicap 12.3)
34 points - Canford Magna (Parkland) 2005 (six players - ave. handicap 16.7)
34 points - Puckrup Hall 2011 (eight players - ave. handicap 22.5)
33.13 points - Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011 (eight players - ave. handicap 22.9)
32.89 points - The Dorset (Woodland/Lakeland) 2013 (nine players - ave. handicap 19.6)

Worst days at the office!
13 points - Paul (off 36) at Worlebury 2010
13 points - Paul (off 36) at Cleev Hill 2019
15 points - James (off 35) at The Warren 2015
15 points - Brian (off 15) at Ilfracombe 2017
16 points - Paul (off 36) at Weymouth 2013
17 points - Paul (off 36) at The Warren 2015
17 points - Paul (off 36) at Sidmouth 2015
17 points - Paul (off 36) at Handsworth 2019
18 points - Paul (off 36) at Ilfracombe 2017
18 points - James (off 32) at Came Down 2013
18 points - Stuart (off 30) at Roserrow 2003
18 points - Simon (off 17) at Tiverton 2017

2012 (Bude) - Two out of three for Ben F

The prestigious Kylies on Tour Trophy will sit proudly in Ben F's garage after a stunning last day performance regained him the title he won two years ago.

The first round was at a cloudy but warm Downes Crediton. This course has a taxing back nine and points were hard won, much like the first time this course was played in 2003. Ben F came out on top with 35 points, equalling the best total of Simon from that earlier tournament, earning him a three point lead

Ten points covered the rest of the field from Kevin on 32 to defending champ James on 22. James and Paul, two points ahead of him, clearly struggling from a lack of practice.

Bude & North Cornwall was the Saturday course and the links proved another tough challenge, this time only Brian exceeded 32 points. He scored an excellent 38 and with Ben F only bagging 30 the Kingham man would take a three point lead into the last day. James recovered to score the second best with 32 while Bruce (25) and Paul (21) found it hard going.

We headed towards home on Sunday and our course was Weston-Super-Mare. Bruce had played this the best of all of us two years ago but fatigue saw that there was no chance of a repeat and his challenge fell away after eight holes.

This course featured when Ben F won his first title and perhaps it was those positive associations that inspired him to a superb 43 point round. Brian played to his handicap but even that wasn't enough and Ben F had a four point cushion and his second title.

Clearly overwhelmed by his achievement and perhaps suffering from sunstroke Ben F described the trophy as ugly and said "It's going back in the garage...do you want it...do you want to get it engraved for me?"

Final scores

Ben F - 35, 30, 43 = 108
Brian - 30, 38, 36 = 104
Kevin - 32, 30, 29 = 91
Ben W - 26, 31, 32 = 89
James - 22, 32, 30 = 84
Bruce - 31, 25, 27 = 83
Paul - 24, 21, 31 = 76

Stuart

Tour appearances: 8 (2002-2004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018)

Best result:
Third - 2015

Best scores:

45 points - (off 31) at Minchinhampton (Cherington) 2004 (TR)
37 points - (off 36) at Puckrup Hall 2011
37 points - (off 36) at The Warren 2015 (TR)
32 points - (off 36) at Minchinhampton (Avening) 2011
31 points - (off 36) at Bransford 2011

Best three round tournament total:
100 points - Great Malvern 2011

Best 'three out of four rounds' tournament total:
95 points - Monmouth 2004

Other Tour Records

27 points - (off 36) at Ilfracombe 2007 (Joint)

TR = Tour Record

Puckrup Hall - "each hole is a novel challenge for every level of player"

The 2011 Tour wound up at Puckrup Hall which bills itself as a "pleasure to play". I agree. As much as I enjoyed Minchinhampton (Avening) this was my course of the Tour. We scored well here too - it was only me that couldn't reach 30 points.

I haven't been able to find a decent course guide on the web so you'll have to rely on my memory which is always a problem. The first is a great starting hole, aiming between two trees and then doglegging right uphill to the green. That's followed by a short par three with a very small target.

It's all round good fun, the water appears in the right places so if you're playing properly it shouldn't pose a problem. There are various doglegs about the place, the 17th is a blind tee shot and the 18th is a par three with a 200 yard carry over the water in front. James will have fond memories of this place after his last day comeback to win, Simon less so after a lost ball fiasco mid-round.

Best rounds:

43 points - James (off 35)
37 points - Stuart (off 36)
35 points - Simon (off 20)
35 points - Bruce (off 17)

I'd play here again (hopefully better!), how about you?

Bransford - "A Golfers Paradise"

Bransford was the Saturday course for the 2011 Tour. There were some great reviews on the web ('the closest thing to Sawgrass in the UK') about this course but I think we were underwhelmed by it.

The website calls this 'Floridian style' and it has 14 lakes on it. There's one on the first that James skipped his ball across after at least a half hour wait after our designated tee time. In fact I think the whole round was on the slow side.

I lost a stack of balls on this course but none of the holes really stand out as classic. Perhaps Simon will have fonder memories as he scored 39 points round here.

Best scores:

39 points - Simon (off 21)
34 points - Ben W (off 9)
34 points - Kevin (off 8)
34 points - Ben F (off 18)

Have you got anything good to say about Bransford? Let me know and I'll publish it here.

Minchinhampton (Avening) - "Outstanding mature parkland"

The second Minchinhampton course to feature on the Tour, Avening was used for the opening day in 2011.

This was an enjoyable course to play and all bar one of us notched at least 30 points which is always pleasing. I think the third had some good views (or was it the sixth?), the fourth is Stroke Index One but we all had putts for par (and missed them!) and the fifth is a short dogleg to tempt the bigger hitters.

The undulating greens are a real feature, particularly on the front nine, and there's some well-placed bunkers too catch you out too. I liked this one and would be happy to play it again if we're ever that way.

Best scores:

36 points - Ben W (off 9)
36 points - Kevin (off 8)
36 points - Bruce (off 17)
35 points - Paul (off 36)
35 points - James (off 33)

Did you enjoy Minchinhampton (Avening) too? Let me know. Somebody? Please? I'm lonely.