The invitational day at Castle Royle Golf Club on 11 July was a spectacular and memorable event. The course was demanding and played in excellent condition, with slick greens and too much beach for some. Eleven Aero members, including our Captain and Secretary, joined seven members from Castle Royle (including two ladies), all of whom have some connection to aviation, and we were made superbly welcome in beautiful surroundings.
Managed by the Members Secretary Charlie Stewart, we were organised into teams of three and played a Stableford Cha-Cha-Cha format competition (explanation below for the unfamiliar). By a narrow margin and with a total score of 72 points, the winners were Tom Lyons, Tom Cox and Castle Royle member Sean Sullivan. Our hosts very generously provided quality champagne prizes, and at least one Aero member looked very smart in his Society tie! 
The event was organised as a development activity by Nick Butler and Phill O’Dell, to test the opportunity to play at some alternative inexpensive venues, explore a different competition format and opportunistically conduct some recruiting for new members. It was unanimously declared a spectacular success, meeting our Society aims of playing enjoyable golf in excellent company, and costing each member the modest sum of £40 for the day (including a simple breakfast and sandwich lunch). Our hosts were excellent company, and we have since learned that all seven who participated wish to join the Aero, including the two ladies - a 100% recruiting success. The Committee will discuss at the forthcoming committee meeting on 30 July how we benefit from this experience in the future.
Cha-Cha-Cha competition format (also known as 1-2-3 Best Ball)
The Cha Cha Cha is played as a team Stableford competition and involves a three-hole rotation, with each player playing every hole as normal. On the first hole, the highest points score in the team is counted as the team score; on the second hole, the two highest points scores are combined as the team score, and on the third hole, all three points scores combined make up the team score; the process starts over on the fourth hole, and subsequently on 7th, 10th, 13th and 16th holes. The competition is won by the team with the highest total Stableford score after 18 holes.