Captains Day

It was sunshine all the way for Alan's Captain's Day. A more or less maximum field took part in a three ball competition, which flexed the minds of a few of the entrants. However, all was well and the cards were duly completed in one form or another. There was the added complexity with the Kethro Tray being played for, which was off full handicap rather than 3/4 for the main competition !!
Sandwiches and chips finished off the play and then we were wonderfully entertained by Hugh Harkett's London Welsh Choir, showing a great range of choral work. So, to the prize giving :-
There was a good range of team scores, surprising that they were not that high, considering a number of the scores posted for the Kethro. However, that is all about team scores !
72 Wrench, Burrows, Stevens
71 Wakefield, Gurney, Gauge
68 Farrow, McSweeney, Stallard
67 Lacey, Anderson R, Wood
66 Court, Belsham, Doggrell
66 Moynihan, McKay, Peacock
66 Lowe, Turner, Gill
65 Newbury, Bullen, Goodson
63 Wade, Gilgallon, Thomas
63 Ives, Donnelly, Marshall M
62 Hazelwood, Skelding, Bunyan
61 Coventry, Smart, Hollingsworth
61 Carter, Key, Dean
60 Robinson, Norman, Thoday
60 Cooper, Anderson A, Lee
59 Hazell, Menezes, Backhouse
59 White, Evans R, Marshall P
58 Harkett, Barnes(g), Bunford (g)
57 Evans D, Kerr, Newland
57 Morris, McAinsh, Berry
56 Jarman, McGeady, Blomily
55 Henderson, Fox, Westergreen-Thorne
52 Imray, Sandland, Rostron
The Captain's Team score was 63 so, apart from the winners, five teams bettered the score and were awarded two balls each.

And so to the Kethro tray :-
There were some good scores on the day and handicap adjustments were given.
Graham Court 40 points, -1.2 to 12.9
David Gauge 39 points, -1.1 to 19.8
Bernard Gurney 38 points, -0.6 to 15.4
Dave Wrench 38 points, -0.5 to 12.2
Jim Peacock 38 points, -0.8 to 21.7
Robert Anderson 37 points, -0.3 to 15.7
The full list will be on the board on Thursday but you can look in the Finalised competitions on the website.
Harry Wakefield forgot to put his card in !!!!!
Peter Hollingsworth
Hon. Sec. JOG Seniors

Member and Guest Day–Tues. 5th August. Organisers Report

On yet another perfect day for Golf, 33 members and 31 guests set out on their rounds from two starting tees on the John O'Gaunt Course (with thanks to Les Tharby for standing in as a "pseudo Guest" until Bill Howard eventually arrived to relieve Les and even up the numbers). Scoring for the day reflected the perfect conditions as 9 pairs scored more than 40 points.

The decision to have singular skill prizes rather that separate prizes for Members and Guests resulted in all skill prizes being won by Guests.:

Longest Drive on 9th was Dave Sankey

Nearest the pin in Two on 11th was Ron Hollings

Nearest the Pin on 16th was George Hamshaw

The runaway winners of the Whitbread Trophy were Ray Smart and Jim Phelps with a very impressive 47 points, second were Gerry Gentle and Martyn Seaholme on 44 points. Three teams scored 43 points but on countback third place went to Peter Dean and George Hamshaw.

Sales of raffle tickets and other donations on the day amounted to over £250. Thanks to all who contributed.

Finally special thanks to Trish Sills and Sara Fowler on the reception desk and to Starters Ian McAinsh and Bill Burrows for all helping the day to go off so smoothly.

Neil Pinnington

Annual Stableford Trophy

On a glorious sun drenched, almost windless morning and on the perfectly prepared John O’Gaunt course 74 ‘maturing’ golfers set about making the most of this opportunity to play to, or better than their handicaps. Whilst a few got near to the magic number, only 2 surpassed it. One, David Woods, who barely qualifies, being just above the minimum qualifying age amassed 37points. By far and away the best was a much loved 73 years young Gordon Goodchild who romped home with 40 points. He is delighted to accept a 2 shot handicap reduction, and a round of applause that was heard in Biggleswade.

Whilst collectively we may have failed, our generosity resulted in contributing £195 to my Captain’s Charities. Thank you..

Alan (Capt)

Home match, JOG v Gog Magog Elders, 22nd July

On a perfect day for golf, last Tuesday, John O’Gaunt Seniors hosted Gog Magog Elders in a keenly anticipated match on The Carthagena.

The JOG organiser for the match had earlier been heard to describe the JOG sixteen as ‘The finest team assembled since that put together by Mrs Thatcher to retake the Falklands.’

Unfortunately, on the day, the Gog Magog team performed significantly better than the Argentinians and took five of the 4BBB matches to JOG’s three. However, it is perhaps worthy of note that, in four of the matches that the Gogs won, the JOG duo were three, and in one case even four, holes up at one point in each of the matches. So, many of The Elders team are to be sincerely congratulated for taking full advantage of our wonderfully conditioned Carthagena course to perform significantly better than their handicaps suggested, and so fight back to victory against some of JOG’s best golfers.

The  organiser for the match had, also earlier, been reported to be excitedly anticipating ‘The Caribbean Gammon a’ la JOG’, which he’d ordered for the teams lunch.

JOG Team Captain Alan Fowler, followed his own magnificent performance on the course (one of only two winning matches) with a rather funny story and was the highlight of the lunch.

The return Match in September, on Gog Magog’s Wandlebury Course and in their dining room, is now even more highly anticipated.

Pat Gilgallon

Reg Batson Trophy

Some had a good day, others not so good ! However, there were some reasonable scores with a 68 from Dave (El Bandido) Gauge winning from Alan Fowler, Gerry Gentle and George Menezes on 69.
Phil White won the best Scratch with a gross 75.
There was a noted error of omission when the first group out ( Collins, Jarman and Wakefield), were  all under the impression that it was a Stableford Competition !!. Considering you had to play in two medals to get into the competition, the format should have been obvious.
On a point of etiquette, we should all remember that, if we are wearing shorts, short WHITE socks are to be worn on the course and in the clubhouse. (George, you have been told!)                                                                 

Peter (Hon Sec)

Championship Trophy, Tuesday, 17th June

With very good weather, if a little gusty and a course which was immaculate but challenging, 61 played in the Rex Cleaver Championship Trophy and the Bessant-East Scratch Trophy.
It was interesting that a number who played in the Annual Medal Trophy, played worse and vice versa. However, Phil White, with his usual steady play won the Bessant-East Trophy by a mere 6 shots !!
In the Rex Cleaver, it was altogether much tighter, with four shots separating the top ten. Fourth, third and second respectively were Steve Collins, Phil White and David Lincoln. The winner, with a net 73, playing off 12 was our Treasurer Ray Smart, well done. William Skelding won nearest the pin prize on the 16th which was donated by Peter Dean who did a great job of organising the competition.
Now we await our fate as Alan Anderson identifies the qualifiers for the Reg Batson Aggregate Trophy which is on Tuesday the 8th of July. Entrants will be the top 30 of the combined net scores from the Annual Medal and the Championship Trophy. You have to be in both to have a chance.
Thanks,
Peter

John O’Gaunt v Leighton Buzzard, on the JOG Course, Tues 10th June

I feared that there may be some problems with holes along the river bank following a violent thunder storm during Monday night but these fears turned out to be unfounded as there was no flooding and we were also blessed with some gorgeous sunshine.

It must be noted that there was some confusion over the date of the fixture as it was altered after the seniors fixture list went to the printers and not everyone received the change information including our captain for whom Brian Bullen ably deputised. Everyone was assembled to start by 8:20am including one person who decided to travel via Leighton Buzzard for some reason. All the pairs were announced by Brian to make each known to the other.

Then battle commenced. I partnered Brian against Leighton Buzzard Captain Fred Ritchie and his partner Victor Albertella. After a run of 7 halved holes we managed to win the eighth and incrementally increased our lead to win 4&3. Wins were also recorded by Steve Cooper & Jim Kerr, Robert Anderson and Graham McKay, Alec McGeady & Neil Pinnington and the banker pairing in the last match, Ken Robinson and Colin Fox won 5&4 to clinch the match 5 to 3. Peter Hollingsworth and Richard Farrow were unlucky to lose a close match on the eighteenth. Bill Burrows and Malcolm Lee, Malcolm Stringer and Colin Newbury gave their all in their matches but came second. The overall result was that John O’Gaunt won 5&3.

The nearest the pin on the 16^th was won by Steve Cooper who hit his iron to 850mm or 2’9½” in old money if you haven’t been decimalised!!!

The day was concluded with a meal of roast pork with all the trimmings followed by Eve’s pudding and some very PC jokes.

Ian McAinsh

JOG Match Organiser

Ken Robinson Texas Scramble–Tues 20th May

All in all it was a very fine, enjoyable day with the winning score just a whisker ahead of second place. The winning team, Tony Goodson, Martin Ives, Mike Lacey and Rodney Thomas scored a net 56.5. Second Alan Anderson, Fred Cox, Mike Tomblin and Dave Wrench scored 57 and third David Evans, Alan Fowler, Malcolm Lee and John Sandland 59.

Statistics: All holes on the course were birdied. The 16th was eagle by Martin Ives!! That can’t have happened too many times in the past! The best first nine gross was 30 and the best back nine 32.

Peter (Hon Sec)

Rex Bullock Trophy

     We had a good day for golf with a bit of a breeze but fair weather all round. Carthagena was in terrific condition so no excuses for poor play! Because we had so many playing, 76 turned up on the day, which was great, I did not quite allow for the teams on the ninth being able to get off before the guys from the first arrived there. This did create some hold ups and I apologise for that. I will try harder to get you all moving at a better pace next time. It didn't help when Mr Scoot and party started on the 1st at 12.30, before we had all got through, I will talk with Will about this for future timings.

     The scoring was average and the Standard Scratch for the day was 69. This was a good target, as only 8 players equalled or bettered 69 within the Stableford scoring. At the top, Stephen Akrill made his appearance on the prize list, in fourth place, with 37 points. David Lincoln beat Stephen into third place on countback. In second place with a very steady 38 points was our low handicap man Phil White. These three gentlemen all lost something from their handicaps. However, it was Derek Weller, a guy we all thought would do it one day, actually did do it, in a big way. 44 points on the day, to win by 6 points was fabulous! Well done Derek, it was only 2.4 off your handicap, well deserved!!

Peter (Hon Sec)

Annual Medal Trophy

We had a very good turnout for the Medal on Tuesday. There were some good scores and some bad scores but I felt the course was again in superb condition...apart from the mud flats that I kept landing in!!!!
Top of the leader board were three net 73's and they were all our old favourites!!
1st  -  Gerry Gentle
2nd  -  Pat Gilgallon
3rd  -  Rob Carter
Stewart Denny, Peter Thomas and Dave Wrench all scored a very creditable net 74.
Phil White was the lowest Gross with 81 (net 76).  It is hard work against these Senior Bandits!!