The Centenary Weekend - part 1 (Friday)

Still a bit wired after the weekend - feeling like there is something to be organised, a speech to write, a contact to make...but we now seem to have a brief respite from Centenary events until the Highland Open.

The last medal of the first hundred years was a successful day, attracting 78 entries, twice the average for a Thursday medal - unfortunately there was some congestion on the golf course in the afternoon - someone quipping that it was the second time in three weeks that the Rotary had brought a Highland Perthshire sporting event to a complete standstill.

Friday was a long day. I had a speech to complete, as well as meeting up with Dougal, Bill and Stephen at the Atholl Palace for a last minute team talk. When I saw the room, I reckoned it was going to be a good night - Dougal and staff had it set out perfectly. I did have a bout of deja vous however, as the top table was in exactly the spot it had been for my wedding 15 years ago.

On arriving at the hotel with Karen at exactly 6.30, I was surprised to see a large crowd already assembled in the foyer, enjoying the free champagne - well, not so surprised then. We spent the next hour putting nervous final touches to the speeches, and the batting order.

After some photographs, it was downstairs for our meal, following an excellent toast by Dougal Spaven - a wonderful four courses, and then it was time for speeches - already over-running (I could see the band limbering up in the hall). Following an introduction by Bill Duncan, Gordon Bannerman entertained us with some stories, and set the tone for the evening very well. Captain Lesley Reid then gave a nice speech for Pitlochry Ladies Golf Club, followed by generous presentations from Ethel Jack for the SLGA, and Ian Ross for the SGU, and a very good speech by Richard Cole-Hamilton for the R & A, in presenting both clubs with a silver plate.

Then it was my turn - I have long accepted my limitations as public speaker, orator, raconteur etc etc, and so had typed my speech out for reading - and on balance was pleased that I managed to get through it fairly fluently, except for when my mobile phone interfered with the sound!

Then it was onto the dancing with the Benachally Ceilidh band firing up and keeping most people on the floor through until midnight, when the disco took over.

By this time, there were a number of meaningful conversations taking place, most of them near the bar. Past Captain Mike Winton was applying whisky liberally, but only for medicinal purposes, Dougal was holding court, and the Perth boys were proving that 18 holes of golf are not the only "rounds" that they like to do at speed.

Guests were interested in the selection of old club photos displayed near the bar with many familiar faces to recall.

We left in the small hours, leaving several people still enjoying the hospitality of the Atholl Palace, some of whom I knew were to be on the golf course in a few hours time. I remarked to Karen that it wasn't that late, there was till light in the sky - she pointed out that it was coming from the east.