In 1993 (or 94) a group of mostly AIG (or ex-AIG) guys went on what became know as Not The Mutants Golf trip to Kenmare in SW Ireland. Gerry Canavan, Mark Linzey and I were in that group and from time to time talked about a repeat.

In 1995 or 96, Mike McCue, Bill Cunningham and I had been to Les Hiboux for a Golf, Wine and food trip. Having had a superb time and bargain prices the idea of something that brought together the Mutants Golf Trip and Cognac was appealing.

So in 1999, we planned the trip and it eventually became the Coup de Jarnac and below is the letter with all the gory details…………..

July 1999

Dear All,

NOT THE MUTANTS GOLF TRIP 1999 – Les Hiboux near COGNAC

Thanks for your cheques that have now gone off to Les Hiboux – which is run by Richard and Jean Strickland.  Its been interesting organising this trip as there have been any number of changes to:

v  The people attending

v  How they are getting there.

v  The rooms available and

v  Costs

As I hope I told everyone at the start there are not enough “Category A” rooms with En-suite for everyone and I have as agreed tried to allocate the better rooms on a first come first served basis. Everyone but Malcom Mitchell and Ken Cooper have an en-suite of sorts. Malcom and Ken have a Bathroom next door which will probably (but not definitely) be used just by them.

 

So that you all know who people are:

Mike McCue, Bill Cunningham and I went to Les Hiboux for a very similar trip around 3 years ago (I think).

Mike suggested Brian Peters and Ken Cooper,

Bill invited Malcom Mitchell,

Gerry Canavan, Mark Linzey and I are ex-colleagues and have played Golf together on and off for 10 years or so.

Sean is a friend of Gerry’s living in Portmarnock north of Dublin and they are both flying to Bordeaux where they are hiring a car to drive to Les Hiboux.  The rest of us are going in two cars from Kent. I reckon Gerry and Sean have got the better idea!

 

As far as I’m concerned, the aim of the trip is to:

1. Eat and drink as much of  Richard and Jean Strickland’s superb wine and food as possible. One of the meals is a Gourmet 5 course with 5 wines. The others are “just” excellent 3 course dinners with as many wines as we wish to pay for. Attached is Richards wine list and if the wines are as nice as the ones we had last time you can’t go wrong.
2. Play some relaxing golf!
3. Relax at Les Hiboux – there’s a pool, croquet, boulle, a good library, games etc.

 

We get three rounds of golf included – but could of course play more. I suggest at least two rounds are at Cognac which is a superb course. The other courses are nice but harder work – so please let me know preferences so I can get these booked by Richard.  I have no problem with playing Cognac three times!  The suggestion is to play Golf on Friday and Saturday and either Sunday or Monday – leaving one day golf free. I guess some people may want to play a fourth round and others not. With three cars and nine of us there should be plenty of flexibility.

 

Those of us on the shuttle need to be back in Calais no later than 23:00 on the Monday evening so we must leave by around 14:00 at the latest.  We played golf on the Monday last time (I think).  To get down there the aim is to get the very early shuttle from Folkestone BEFORE 6.00 on the Thursday morning. That means leaving Edenbridge/Tonbridge by 5.00am! I don’t know what the timings are for the “jet setters” from Ireland.

 

If you want to know more about Les Hiboux, including locations, Directions etc do have a look at their Web Site at http://www.strickland.co.uk/hiboux/index4.htm .

 

The costs are based on an average room rate and the cheap shuttle fares. Assuming we get the off peak shuttles, the only costs NOT included are Petrol, booze, lunches and the air-fares for Gerry and Sean. Costs for the seven of us going by car are based on two off-peak 5 day fares (out before 6.00am on day 1 and back before 24:00 on day 5) at £139 / car x 2 cards with each of us paying a 7^th.

 

You can also order wine to collect as part of Richard Stricklands business is Wine buying and selling. I’ve attached the wine lists and forms to this letter if you’re interested.

 

Any queries or suggestions, please call me. If I don’t get any strong views I’ll speak to Richard by about the 15^th of September to confirm the Golf bookings.

 

Accomodation and Travel Arrangements

Who?	Main House	Car
Steve Tringham	Family	Steve
Mike McCue	Cat A	Mike
Brian Peters	Cat B Ensuite	Mike
Ken Cooper	Cat B Share Bathroom	Mike
	Gite
Mark Linzey	Cat A Ensuite	Steve
Bill Cunningham	Cat A En-Suite	Steve
Malcom Mitchell	Cat B -shared Bathroom	Steve
	Small Gite
Gerry Canavan	Large Bed – Cat A En-Suite	Fly/Hire
Sean	Own room or Living room – toilet Basin	Fly/Hire

See you in a few weeks,

Best Regards,

Steve