At the kind invitation of Peter Leathem, CEO of music industry trade body PPL, I attended the annual PPL / PRS for Music golf event today at Denham Golf Club in Buckinghamshire. I arrived at 7.15am in good time for a tray of coffee and bacon rolls, with the ‘shotgun’ tee off scheduled for 8.30.
I joined my namesake Andrew Ames, PPL Head of Comms, plus team partners Allen and Steve on the 3rd tee, alongside the neighbouring airfield – from which numerous light aircraft and helicopters took off during the morning!
Early notice of the lightning fast greens was served when my long-iron approach rolled through the 3rd green, immediately scuppering my thoughts of an early birdie. This proved an omen of the tricky approaches to come.
Despite some encouraging moments, we didn’t score particularly well as a foursome. However it was an enjoyable day in the autumn sunshine and a fulfilling lunch and prize-giving followed in the impressive traditional clubhouse.
Once the golf event was over, I headed back to town and briefly dropped in on my colleague Helen and Sam’s birthday drinks bash in the Oval. I had created a ‘four decades’ music quiz for this, which proved a good test for my colleagues!
Knowing my son Ben was receiving a cricket medal at the HSBC Sports Ground in New Beckenham around half past eight, I just arrived in time to join my wife Julie as he and his Beckenham CC team were presented with medals for finishing runners-up Dartford CC in the Kent SE League for 2018.
Thanks to everyone involved in a memorable days sport.