Not even the weather can dampen the spirits of our Trilby Tourians! We head to Nottinghamshire for our next stop in the TT

For the first time in TT history, serious consideration was given to calling off the event right up until the day before, but the greens crew worked like heroes to ensure there was a playable course, even when many of the holes were completely underwater. The 18th tee had to be moved to further down the fairway and 2 emergency holes were prepped on the higher grounds. Then the decision was made that if there was no more rain overnight the event was on. Then it rained in the night. The event went on anyway, this is the Trilby Tour after all.

There was little sign from the elevated tee on the 1st of how what lay ahead for the players, just miles and miles of glorious countryside, but once they reached the fairway the heaviness and unique water-based issues that lay ahead became clear. There was some standing water on the edge of the cut and in the bunkers. No point complaining, though, the fairways were all fine and that's where you should be landing...right??.

The Notts is one of those courses that twists and turns back against itself and so groups of players had the opportunity to chat to others on adjacent fairways. Soon advice and tips about the difficulties of upcoming holes were being traded (in a most friendly and un-Trilby way) and by the time the first players arrived back at the clubhouse some of the best scores of the tour so far this year were being registered. Quite a feat considering the conditions.

More rain arrived in the early afternoon and players already wet from the feet up were soon getting wet from the head down as well. It really was teeth-gritted determination time. Fortunately the holes on the higher ground (9 to 13-ish) were much less sodden and offered players some respite before the final slog to the 18th. Still the high scores came in.

And then it all cheered up. Mid afternoon the rain stopped, the sun came out (a bit) and the atmos round the leader board turned to the usual banter-fest. Perpetual TT bridesmaid Ian Marshall was playing in one of the later groups and was under strict instruction from William Hunt to make the play-off or face a lifetime ban from the competition. He came in for particular ridicule as he came up the 18th way off the pack but took the drubbing he received on finishing in good cheer so his lifetime ban may be suspended. Maybe.

After a long, wet, man-up-or-move-out day the play-off saw a large group of spectators squelch round 3 holes for the last time and then everyone returned to the clubhouse to ring out their trousers and down well earned hot toddies.

God may not have wanted the Trilby Tour to continue but, today at least, He's not having the last word.

Dave Lee