The Baltic hosted its second golf outing in Houston on 30 October, Paul Mazzarulli reports from the Kingswood Country Club.

With a larger turnout than last year, 10 teams all competed for a variety of prizes. Players included golfers from Exxon, Koch, Mena Energy, Conoco, Shell, Navig8, Heidmar, Peninsula Petroleum, AET and Kapa mixing it up with brokers from various shops like Clarksons, MJLF, Gulfstream, SSY, BRS, Nexo and Howe Robinson, together with some other industry players. 

Playing a Texas Scramble format, with a shotgun start (what else would you do when in Houston?) on the Forest course from the white tees everyone managed to complete most of the holes in the dry. Despite a forecast of 90% chance for rain, it held off until around the 14th hole and was not that heavy until after the finish. This combined with the previous night’s downpour did make the course somewhat damp underfoot but it was still in great shape and played very well.

Competition was hot and the scoring was impressive, so much so that the handicap committee will be having a review before 2020. Nobody managed a hole in one, but Joseph Gibson did win closest to the pin with a shot to about eight feet. The longest drive on the fairway was won by Steve Ratterman, who narrowly edged his drive past Max Chancellor’s, whilst Don McBride won the prize for the longest drive that ended in the rough. Both guys crushed it a considerable distance – well done to them.

The overall winners were Team Brown (Alex Brown, Steve Ratterman & Brian Siy) who scored a gross 69 which resulted in a net score of 57. They were a single shot ahead of Tim Toohey’s Team (Tim, Doug Shoemaker, Damian Candelet, Joseph Gibson). James Pendered from the Baltic played typical customer golf, where Team Brexit or Bust came last with a net 69. Shot of the day was achieved by Charlie Kuhn who was suitably rewarded for his deft touch with a fitting prize.

A very big thank you to all those that took part in the golf and attended the dinner afterwards, your support is greatly appreciated.

Pictures from the event are available on the Baltic Exchange Flickr account.