Fun on the fairway

At the golf course, during a break in play someone started reading from a newspaper: "Listen,they write here that some guy killed his wife with a golf club..." An awkward silence followed. Finally, this was broken when one of the golfers tentatively asked: "Do they say how many strokes he needed?" It may have been somewhat risqué, but the joke perfectly encapsulates golfers' enthusiasm for this sport. There was a great deal of such excitement at the Naterki golf course near Olsztyn, where the 11th Eurobuild CEE Golf Tournament took place. An equally enthralling event was taking place at the same time - the 7th Eurobuild CEE Tennis Tournament, as well as an improvised volleyball match. Back at the golf, Martyn Wickens won in the Strokeplay Gross category, while Wojciech Borowski came out on top in the Strokeplay Net category, with Ewa Kozak coming a close second. The third place statuette went to Janusz Gutowski. The most accurate shot in the ?Closest to the Pin' competition belonged to Rea Wiatr, while Marek Tymiński hit the longest drive. As is the case every year, those who wanted to take their first steps in this noble game could take part in the Golf Academy, followed by two competitions for the beginners. Robert Sztemberg, who was making his debut, had the most accurate stroke, while Darek Wypyski's drive was the longest. In the tennis, meanwhile, the winner in the women's category was Dorota Grudzień, and Devin Saylor was the runner-up. The best player in the men's was Michał Małaszyński, with Konrad Pawlak coming second. Despite the fact that all the players had been in a good mood, as had the spectators, the organisers decided to present an impromptu award for the most smiley competitor to Piotr Urbański.

Then the time came to celebrate the winners and console those who missed the cut in both events at the celebratory gala held at the Przystań restaurant on Olsztyn's lakeside. Once their statuettes and awards had been presented it was time for people to let their hair down. The Afro Carnaval dance troupe provided some hot Latin rhythms, followed by a firework display over Lake Ukiel, putting the guests in a slightly more romantic mood. Those who had reserved some energy for more sport took part in the night golf tournament on the jetty. Only two people managed to hit the target in this difficult competition, while many of the others sent their balls to a watery grave. The players who could boast the greatest night vision and accuracy were Paulina Grodzińska and Antoni Pankiewicz. And this was not the final sports-related item of the evening, if we count the energy expended on the dance floor as the partying went on into the early hours... ZW