OW Golf Society News
Solihull Salver 2018 - Whitgift’s winning team (l to r), Nic Gates, Alex Atkinson, Matt Webster, Mark Coppell, Joe Carmody-Firth, Neill Williams
The season is winding to a close, with only the final of the Challenge Cup (our annual knock out competition) still to be concluded. That will be keenly contested by Howard Beeston and Peter Kelley.
The final open meeting of the year was the Autumn Cup meeting, help perhaps prematurely this year at the end of August. The venue was a relatively new one for us, Betchworth Park near Dorking, and we were delighted with the outcome. It was a fine day, and the course was an enjoyable challenge and in good condition despite its fairways suffering a little during the summer heat; we are indebted to John Grima, who is a member of the club, for his introduction. Being on home turf clearly did John no harm, and he came a decent third with 33 points, out of the field of 23, pipped for second place by John Spanswick (34). Unfortunately for both of them, Don Anderson streaked away with the Cup, scoring 39 points, crowning a season in which he also had two other podium finishes in our open meetings. Well played, Don. As is the case with all winners, Don will now suffer a two-shot cut to his handicap for the next 12 months, although on his current form, I doubt that will trouble him too much!
Our programme of matches was fulfilled in September with a postponed match against Croham Hurst, sometimes billed as the landlords against the tenants! The original fixture, scheduled for July, had been postponed because of the heat – an unprecedented experience, at least for your correspondent. Both sides put out relatively strong teams, as it happened, and an enjoyable encounter finished in victory for Croham Hurst, and an equally enjoyable encounter with a fish and chips supper.
The more serious golf in our season is played in the scratch inter-school competitions, the last of which was the Grafton Morrish, held in early October at Brancaster and Hunstanton. Led by Matt Webster, our team was beaten 2-1 by Edinburgh Academy in the main competition but went on to win the Solihull Salver, one of the ‘plate’ competitions, played in diabolical conditions on the Saturday. The team, with Salver, are pictured below – from left to right, Messrs Gates, Atkinson, Webster, Coppell, Firth and Williams.
A record number of OWs went on the Autumn tour, also in early October, playing at three courses in the New Forest. The results are not yet to hand, but rest assured a good time will have been had by all. Details to follow, if anyone can remember.
Anyone wishing to play with and/or join the society should contact the secretary at peterbgale@sky.com.
Peter Gale OW (Hon Sec)
