Friday 24th April. A day to remember. The day summer announced itself in Lancashire with a bold, sunlit flourish, temperatures climbing to a generous 24°C. The day the u3a golf group embarked on their first ‘away day’ at Ashton-in-Makerfield Golf Club—and, by all accounts, the day new golfing legends quietly began to write their stories.

This marked the opening chapter in a series of six carefully planned golfing occasions for 2026, each promising its own blend of competition, camaraderie, and discovery. These away days—‘Society Days’—offer something just a little elevated: the chance to step beyond familiar municipal fairways and onto the manicured, storied grounds of private clubs. Ashton proved a fitting debut.

Bathed in warm sunlight, the course revealed itself in stages—lush fairways stretching like green ribbons, bunkers placed with mischievous intent, and greens that demanded both respect and imagination. There was a sense, too, that the course was watching, quietly assessing each swing and putt, rewarding patience while punishing overconfidence.

Yet beyond the technical challenges lay the true heart of the day. Laughter carried across the tees, friendly rivalries sparked and settled within a few holes, and every well-struck shot—whether planned or gloriously accidental—was met with shared delight. For some, it was a day of personal triumphs; for others, a gentle reminder that golf, much like life, rarely unfolds exactly as expected.

As the rounds concluded and stories began to grow in the retelling, there lingered a quiet satisfaction. Not just from scores recorded, but from moments collected: a perfect drive under an open sky, a long putt dropping against the odds, the simple pleasure of good company in beautiful surroundings.

If this opening ‘away day’ is anything to go by, the 2026 series promises far more than golf. It offers a succession of days where sport, scenery, and shared experience come together—each one adding another layer to what may well become a legendary season in its own right.