QMT Tour 2016

The 'QMT' stands for Question Mark Trophy and refers to the unprepossessing bauble 'borrowed' from a pub in Appleby, venue of the first golf tour two plus decades ago. It is, non-exclusively, the tour of former rugby players of a particular generation. None of them is a serious golfer. I joined the party for the first time three years ago. Like rugby tours of old it is an alcoholic test of endurance.

The golf is very much secondary to the socialising and the badinage was top draw deluxe. The golf, certainly in my case, was bottom draw moderate but hugely enjoyable, all forty-five holes of it. Melton Mowbray Golf Club were excellent hosts and turned a charitable blind eye to our desecration of their nice course - the back nine is particularly challenging and the seventeenth and eighteenth make a great finish. All in all a fabulous three days (we fitted in Leicester races and karaoke on the first night) and it was especially gratifying to play yesterday with my little brother.

Both Craggy and Tom White managed to leave a ball on the island at 18

Certain people grow old with dignity - I prefer the 'Sod it, life's for living' approach of my fellow tourists. Thanks to them all. I slept for ten plus shours last night and I still feel tired. And very much alive.