If Carlsberg did Simulated Game….

Mark Firth spoke to Steve Ferris at Patson Hill to find out about his simulated shoot. The costings, itinerary, and "Firthy's thoughts" are all included below!

A drive for more

When Steve Ferris, co-founder of one of the world’s leading software companies, ForgeRock, sold out, he could have afforded to put his feet up for a very long time. But that's not Steve.

Accustomed to only the best, he bought Patson Hill Farm and set about creating a simulated game shoot, with three vital ingredients:

Stunning countryside, taking advantage of some serious banks with far reaching vistas over two counties
The strongest possible traps, capable of throwing clays well over 150 yards before slowing down – mounted on bespoke ATVs to ensure perfect positioning whatever the wind
Personal care and attention from beginning to end every aspect of the day

Customer reaction suggests he has achieved all of the above.

The Itinerary

On a typical day – customers arrive at the Mitre Inn, Sandford Orcas (just North of Sherborne, Dorset) – which just happens to belong to Steve and his wife, Alex.

You are welcomed with either bacon baps or a full English – everything is possible. Set off for the first drive – either in your own 4WD vehicles or one of Steve's. On each drive, the line can expect to see approximately 1500 clays. At the end of the drive, there'll be a range of drinks and home - produced snacks.

By the end of the fourth drive, each gun can expect to have fired roughly 500 cartridges.

After all that, it's back to the Mitre for a lunch of your choice - perhaps washed down by a drop of ale from Alex's micro-brewery.

Costings

£3200 per day for a full line of up to 16 people, where each peg is shared by up to two – swapping over halfway through the 'drive'

£210 per gun on one of their 'home team' days based on sharing a gun on each drive.

What's included

All shooting – four drives
VAT
Hospitality
Loan of safety equipment - Ear defenders, safety glasses and hats
Loan of a bucket and magnetic stick for picking up empties

Not included

Gun hire – please ask in advance
Loaders or Coaches – to be settled directly
Cartridges – Steve is happy to provide but if you bring your own, they must be fibre wad

Firthy's thoughts

I can't imagine anywhere you could better entertain 16 friends for £200 each – with a guarantee they'll leave tired, happy and in good spirits!