‘The time has come’, the Walrus said, ‘to talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing-wax; of cabbages and kings…’
(Lewis Carroll)

…and, because it’s that time of year again, of the general nonsense that surrounds the Abersoch Open.

I can’t believe it’s a year since, well, last year, but all of a sudden it’s here again. Yes, Friday 23rd May sees the start of the 20th Abersoch Open. My golfing buddies and I are off to Wales (sadly not to Abersoch itself)  for what promises to be another epic encounter – or, at least, some “interesting” golf, some entertaining banter and the odd glass of something or other.

As regular readers will know, for the last few years during “Open season” I’ve taken a small detour from my usual blog to record our antics for posterity. There’s no pretence at any business continuity-related themes or any pretension of imparting my vast experience, encyclopaedic knowledge or profound wisdom. Far from it. The Abersoch blog is just a mish-mash of observations and commentary on the exploits of a bunch of ageing blokes who should know better (but, thankfully, don’t). And this year will be no different in that respect.

Where it will differ is that I plan to chronicle this year’s adventures by way of that well-known literary device, the tweet. “Why?” I hear you cry. Well, partly because it’s a bit different and variety is, after all, allegedly the spice of life; partly because the action will be recorded (almost) as it happens; and partly because it means I’ll be able to spend more time, particularly during the evenings, fully engaged in the proceedings, rather than with my head down writing about them.

So, if you have the slightest interest in our goings-on (and who could blame you if you don’t?), there are a couple of ways to read about them. If you’re a dedicated Twitterer and want to follow the action blow-by-blow (almost) as it happens then a) get a life! and b) follow @AbersochOpen (please note the correction – not @TheAbersoch as previously stated) and/or search for the hashtag #AbersochOpen. If, however, you’re happy to receive the information at a more leisurely pace, just have a look at this blog occasionally as I’ll be updating it with the various tweets at strategic intervals.

So here goes…

#AbersochOpen Weather forecast : Friday 14⁰, heavy rain; Saturday 13⁰, heavy rain showers; Sunday 13⁰, light rain. Ideal golfing weather!

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 22, 2014

Mrs Oz tells Oz he should take sun cream "just to be on the safe side"! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 22, 2014

Oz does as he's told and packs the sun cream. Factor 30 should suffice! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 22, 2014

Breakfast at the Bringsty Common Cafe. New owners but luckily for Mark M no dress code. Wonder if he's changed those shorts since last year?

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

Chris is disappointed to hear that tomato sauce doesn't count as one of his 5 a day #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

A carefully balanced mix of protein and carbs – athlete food #AbersochOpen pic.twitter.com/kVkNCpZaAT

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

12 finely-honed athletes arrive at Builth Wells Golf Club http://t.co/NBspDNQwSX ready to do battle in the #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

Ed gets the show on the road by buffing one up the middle #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

Fore! Mark B hits his drive 3 inches over the heads of the group on the adjacent fairway #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

Oz makes a bid for nearest the pin in 2 on par 4 8th with an iron to 5ft of the hole. A proper shot this year too! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

Quote of the day – Ed: "At least the rain's keeping off". Guess what happened 3 minutes later! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

No-one takes the nearest the pin prize on the par 3 15th as no-one actually hits the green! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

…although Oz is in contention for nearest the tee after thinning his shot 20 yards into the rough #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

Slight flaw in the plan to tweet highlights as they happen – no signal on large parts of the course or in the clubhouse! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

…or the hotel – and the alleged wifi doesn't seem to work either!! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 23, 2014

The Pirates take the lead, finishing day 1 6 points ahead of the Bandits. #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Day 1's lot ball count = 25. The two Pauls & Oz lead the field with 4 apiece #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

https://twitter.com/AbersochOpen/status/470092074784931840

Last night' passed off relatively peacefully, apart from the hen night that invaded the pool competition. #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Difficult to do a pub crawl in Llandrindod Wells as there only appears to be one pub. #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Ed blows his chances of winning the guess the total no. of lost balls competition with a bid of 19. 25 lost already! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

#AbersochOpen day 2. Cradoc Golf Club http://t.co/5qsLDZxV9l. Weather forecast was right – heavy rain

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

https://twitter.com/AbersochOpen/status/470130415219781632

Jules's hurty elbow turns out not to be an excuse after all as it's so bad today that he can't play #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Completely unreasonable of Jules to refuse to caddy for Mark though. #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

5 money holes today. Paul D takes the 1st nearest the pin tenner. #Abersochopen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

@AbersochOpen: A tad wet at Cradoc today (4th hole) #AbersochOpen pic.twitter.com/sDcRbbwokm

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

And the 5th pic.twitter.com/Hh0QaDoiZC

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

And the 6th! #AbersochOpen pic.twitter.com/RHMfzwMze4

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Cockup of the day: Dave hits a cracking tee shot to near the pin only to be told he was outside the teeing area. 2 stroke penalty. Plonker!

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Mark M takes the 2nd par 3 nearest the pin prize and Rich takes the third, both with spiffing shots #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

If there was a shortest drive prize Oz's magnificent 8 yard scuff would surely win it. Unless anyone can beat it! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

No winners of the 2 nearest the pin in 2 (par 4) prizes as no-one managed to hit either green in 2! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

Chris stood the best chance of a nearest the pin in 2 after a great drive but then played an air shot for his 2nd #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 24, 2014

The Bandits had a remarkable 2nd day, turning a 6 point deficit into an 18 point lead. A rather apt name then! #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Day 2 lost ball count : 17 #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Sun cream remains unopened. Still, there's always tomorrow #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Headline news – 2nd pub found in Llandrindod Wells #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Watched the football with the locals. Shock horror, Rich & Chris manage not to offend anyone #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

#AbersochOpen day 3. Llandrindod Wells Golf Club http://t.co/ljh85IoZ6t
The rain started 2 minutes before we left the hotel

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

On the 1st tee. Mark M starts proceedings with a monster drive as usual #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

The Bandits #AbersochOpen pic.twitter.com/F3rjN9KVRs

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

The Pirates #AbersochOpen pic.twitter.com/RlmVxthjkP

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

1st lost ball of the day…Oz #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Dave nearly does his wrong teeing area trick again til his captain helps with the encouraging words "are you taking the ****?" #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

A massive 7 money holes today. Rich takes the 1st par 3 nearest the pin and Moke N the 2nd #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Mark B takes the 1st nearest the pin in 2 prize with a shot to within a foot of the hole #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

53rd hole of 54 and at last a small patch of blue sky pic.twitter.com/QYgajWBdy4

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Waiting in the 18th tee Paul D puts his driver over his shoulder and hits himself on the head #AbersochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Day 3 lost ball tally is 26 giving a grand total of 69 for the 3 days. Mike N wins the £10 for guessing correctly. #AbersocOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

The Bandits were on fire again today, winning by 18 points #AbrrsochOpen

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

The Bandits take the trophy by a massive 36 points for the 3 days, an #AbersochOpen record pic.twitter.com/IGH2yiwWTy

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Spot the winning captain #AbersochOpen pic.twitter.com/Qry6IYTqHe

— The Abersoch Open (@AbersochOpen) May 25, 2014

Well, that’s it for another year. I’m not sure whether this “blog of tweets” worked or not – perhaps you can tell me. Either way, if you stuck with it I hope it gave you the odd chuckle.

Normal service, Oz’s Blog-wise, will resume soon.