There comes a moment in every senior golfer’s calendar when the diary must bow to something truly important. Anniversaries can be negotiated. Grandchildren’s recitals can sometimes be “recorded for later.” But the Captain’s Away-Day? That is sacred.
Dust off the travel bag. Find the lucky ball you meant to retire in 2014. Book your place for the 2026 Captain’s Away-Day at High Post Golf Club on 27 July 2026.
High Post sits proudly on the southern edge of Salisbury Plain. It is not far from Stonehenge. This location feels reassuringly familiar to many of us who also date back to ancient times. The club’s name comes from the site of an old gallows. This seems entirely appropriate given what some of us do to a perfectly innocent tee shot. It is a stunning course with sweeping views and enough breeze to ensure at least three members will blame it for everything.
The day begins as all proper golfing occasions should: 09:30 arrival for a bacon roll and tea or coffee. No one plays well on an empty stomach, and several of us don’t play well on a full one either, but we persevere. First tee is at 10:35, with the opening three holes usually played with the wind, offering a rare and fleeting sensation of effortless power. Enjoy it. It may not last.
The course itself is a fine test of strategy, strength and finesse. In other words, it rewards careful thinking, sensible club selection and the occasional miracle. The 9th was said to be Peter Alliss’ favourite hole, so naturally we shall all pretend to appreciate it in a thoughtful and knowledgeable manner before three-putting. The closing stretch is not for the faint-hearted. The 16th, a par 4 with a Stroke Index of 2, has been known to separate the optimists from the mathematicians. By the 18th, handicaps may remain intact, but egos rarely do.
After 18 holes of heroic endeavour, we retire for a well-earned two-course meal, raffle, prizes and the usual forensic examination of what might have been. There will be on-course competitions. Expect modest triumphs, and exaggerated re-tellings. You will also have the comforting reassurance that no matter how the scorecard reads, the company is always first class.
All this for £80. Enjoy a bacon roll. Play golf on a magnificent course. Delight in a proper meal and prizes. Share laughter and a day with those who understand that a lost ball is never lost. It is merely “temporarily mislaid in light rough.”
To secure your place, use the form or the WhatsApp link and send a £10 deposit to:
Matthew Hood
Sort Code: 60-84-07
Acc No: 97749911
Do it sooner rather than later. History suggests that the field fills up faster than a divot on medal day.
High Post awaits. Stonehenge has stood the test of time. So, in its own way, has our senior section. Let’s all rock up for day to remember.
