Golf and Tennis - Mallorca, 13th - 17th May 2009

13 – 17 May

Simon Curtis

 

Great Britain won the 2009 Golf and Tennis IC competition hosted by IC Spain in Cala Rejada, Mallorca from May 14th to 16th. The event is for teams of 6 players. The 2 tennis-only members play a singles match each, followed by a doubles match; the 2 golfers-only members each play a round of matchplay golf; and the 2 tennis-and-golf players play a doubles tennis match followed by a matchplay fourball: a total of 7 matches.

 

Originally entering a combined team with Luxembourg, Great Britain fielded Barry Weatherill on golf only, Shamus Donald on tennis-and-golf; and Russell Howat on tennis-only. Late withdrawal of the Luxembourg contingent put our attendance in jeopardy, but guest players Adam Boucher (tennis-only) and Tony Munsey (tennis-and-golf) saved the day and our team arrived in Cala Rejada short of just 1 golfer.

 

No doubt because of the pressures of the economic recession, the event was attended by just 3 other IC member countries: Denmark, first-time attendees Ireland and the hosts, Spain. GB were drawn to face Ireland on the first day, with Spain taking on Denmark. The vacant 2nd golfer-only place in the GB team was filled by golf club manager Gabriel. Things started well with Shamus and Tony winning the opening tennis doubles for the tennis-and-golf players, and Adam and Russell winning both singles tennis matches. Within a few hours, however, the match was down to the wire with Adam and Russell narrowly losing a 3-set tennis doubles, Shamus and Tony losing the golf fourball and Barry losing his golf singles. Fortunately our guest Spanish golfer beat the Irish captain at the 18th hole, and we won the match 4-3!

 

In the other first-day match , Spain defeated Denmark 6-1 after losing the opening doubles.

 

On day 2, an early start was decreed due to an adverse weather forecast, and the British team’s match began at 9.15 in damp and blustery conditions. Singles tennis honours were split, with Adam very convincingly beating an underpar Spanish number 1 and Russell just as convincingly losing to the number 2. They later lost a more closely contested tennis doubles. Our tennis-and-golfers Shamus and Tony came to the rescue winning both their fourball golf match and their tennis doubles match. Barry lost the first golf singles, but our guest Spanish golfer again brought us home by bagging a point for the second golf singles. Another 4-3 win.

 

With the competitive play completed, players were free to relax on day 3, although courts and tee-off times were made available. Many of the golfers took part in a tournament being run at the Canyamel Club (no successes by the British players) and some of the tennis players played some bounce matches at the Club Aguait. And of course some lay by the pool and soaked up the sunshine in what was the best weather of the weekend.

 

The facilities made available for the event were excellent. Tennis matches were played at Club de Tenis Aguait, one of the venues which staged the recent Seniors World Championships; and golf clubs Canyamel and Pula were the beautiful settings for the golf matches.

 

The hospitality extended by the IC of Spain was absolutely impeccable. Players were accommodated at the 4-star Illot Park Spa Hotel, which hosted a presentation evening on the final night which included drinks and canapés, a delicious 5-course meal, fine wines and Cava and after-dinner drinks. The sundrenched terrace of the Golf Club Canyamel was the setting for the opening night welcome event, which included the draw, an excellent buffet supper, plentiful wine, and the opportunity after dinner to watch Barcelona winning the 2009 Spanish soccer cup. Day 2 ended with an informal paella-based meal at the Tenis Club Aguait; and throughout the event, drinks and food were available to the players at the tennis and golf clubs.

 

We really couldn’t have been better looked after, and all teams were keen to return in 2010.