Bailiff Shield, Tues, 29th September 2015

Another fine day saw over 70 Seniors take to the field to contest the Bailiff Shield. With the fairways showing some grass and the rough being rough, it made a fair test for all who played. The greens had recovered from the work on them and played well. As a result scoring was not that difficult for the higher handicappers, who filled the first five places. All the podium group were level on 38 points with David Crosby, continuing his current fine form, coming out on top with Mike Marshall, second and John McPherson, third.

Peter Hollingsworth
Hon. Sec.

Winner, David Crosby

Runner-up, Mike Marshall

3rd, John McPherson

Away Match v Gog Magog Elders, Thurs, Sept 17th.

Following John O'Gaunts' win of 6-2 on a sunny day in June, this away match was also played on a sunny day in September. Unusually, and by way of a challenge, lately announced NHS appointments claimed five of the Jog team such that, by 9pm on the 16th, JOG was still two golfers short of a full team. It speaks volumes for the ‘esprit de corps’ of the JOG Senior’s Section that, even at that late hour, members stepped forward to fill the vacancies, despite the need for them to arrive at ‘The Gogs’ by 7.45am the following morning, and that after negotiating the notorious Cambridge rush hour traffic.

The match was played on Gog Magog’s physically demanding (hilly) Wandlebury Course, with its wide fairways, soft sand-filled bunkers and tricky undulating greens. However, despite such unfamiliar playing surfaces and a certain amount of sleep deprivation, the JOG Team rose to the occasion and halved the match.

After observing a minute of silent reflection in honour of the recently deceased former captain of the Elders, Ramsay Bovaird and after the usual excellent ’Gogs lunch’, served by smiling waitresses in the very well appointed (but view lacking) Gog Magog Dining Room, Graham McKay, JOG’s Captain for the match, toasted the Gog Magog Team and announced that it had won three games and halved two, as had the John O’ Gaunt Team.

Pat G

Organiser.

Captain's Day

Well I think we did Richard proud today and I would like to thank the organising team for putting on a wonderful show. Vice Captain Jim, although under the weather, got everyone together and orchestrated wonderfully. The ladies in the foyer, who took our monies so well, it seemed we hadn't paid anything !!

Everything was there, the card, the Programme, the marker for the captain's drive, the putting comp card and the chipping comp entry slip, the Two's club and the Raffle tickets.

On the first tee we had the dulcet tones of Pat Gilgallon, trying to emulate the starter for the Open. Sue (Scarbrow) was on the tenth and she also announced all the players.

When we came in, Steve Ackrill was on hand to help with entering the cards and the catering team were there to hand out the team sandwiches and chips.

My thanks go to Jim for making it a great day for all who played in it and we should also thank Pat Gilgallon, Neil Pinnington, and the Ladies for their good works. Special thanks to Jean Peacock and Algy Grimes for keeping order in the putting and chipping competitions respectively.

The Captain also did a drive off the first, I am not sure what happened, as it wasn't reported !!!!

I think that the AAA screening team were kept busy and I hope everyone had a positive result.

So, to the Prizes. Captain Richard put on a superb prize table and there were also four fourballs at various courses that were sold off for the Captain's Charity. The money raised for the Captain's Charity was a magnificent £783.00 !!!

The Captain's Trophy, for the putting Competition went to Brian Gill

The Chipping Competition was won by Les Bolland

The Captain's drive was closest to Neil Pinnington's marker

There were 7 players who got two's but only five were in the Two's Club, they were Messrs, White, Wakefield, Evans(D), Bunyan and Cooper.

Nearest the Pin on the 4th was Steve Cooper

Nearest the Pin on the 10th was Keith Hargreaves

Nearest the Pin on the 16th was Gerry Gentle

Nearest the Pin in Two on the 11th was Peter Wade

The Kethro Trophy was won by John Thoday, on count back from Phil White, both on 37 points.

Robert Anderson was third, on count back from Neil Pinnington, with 35 points.

Peter

Member and Guest Day

A record number of entrants (38 members and 34 guests) played in this year's Member and Guest day. Special thanks go to Pat Gilgallon and George Menezes who stepped in at short notice as member and "pseudo guest" to cover for the fact that Baz and his guest could not play on the day.

The weather was kind in as much the day was dry and warm. However, the strength of the wind made playing conditions quite testing. At least that is what I thought, but others seemed to take it in their stride as we had two holes-in-one in succession on the 4th hole. First, Philip Long from Beadlow Manor holed out. Only for David Lincoln to repeat the feat in the very next match. It goes without saying that both were well toasted by all.

Philip may well have felt a little hard done by as the 4th hole was designated the nearest the pin hole for members only. However, our captain decided to mark the occasion by giving both an additional bottle of wine.  Results of the various skills competitions were :

For Guests:

Longest Drive on 9th was David Charteress, St Neots

Nearest the pin in two on 11th was Roger Turnbull, Gog Magog

               Nearest the pin on 16th was Mick Hodgson, Letchworth

For Members:

Nearest the pin on 4th was David Lincoln (unsurprisingly)

Longest drive on 9th was John Sandland

Nearest the pin in two on 12th was Bill Walker

The  winners of the Whitbread Trophy were William Skelding and his guest Sam Wallace with an impressive 44 points considering the conditions. Second place went to Colin Beales and Bill Matthews on 43 points. Third was Alan Fowler and Ray Lawes on 42 points.

Sales of raffle tickets amounted to £250. Thanks to all who contributed.

Finally special thanks to Tina Page and Lesley May on the reception desk and to Starters Ian McAinsh and Bill Burrows for all helping the day to go off so smoothly.

Neil Pinnington (Organiser)

Annual Stableford Trophy

A most enjoyable day played off the white tees on the Carthagena Course. Although there were some showers in the second half, everyone apparently enjoyed the day.
First, with an outstanding 41 points was Robert Anderson who is now off 14!! Second, Richard Westergreen-Thorne had 39 points (on count back). He is now playing off 21. Third, Colin Newbury, also 39 points. Now off 13.
Other adjustments: Ron Atkinson from 24 to 22. Neil Pinnington 16 to 15 and Paul Jeeves 19 to 18. Well done to all.
Ken Robinson

Reg Batson Aggregate Shield

This well attended and well organised competition was played off the white tee's on the JOG Course. 

Although the weather was very good it showed that playing a medal round off the white tee's was indeed a challenge, with only one player managing to achieve playing to his handicap. The first, second, and third places were only one shot apart which shows what a closely matched thing this was.

It has been noted that John Baxter did tell everyone before the start that he was playing very well and was going to win, this proved to be no empty threat because he came second.

Stewart Denny came first with an excellent Net 71. (Now cut by one shot)

John Baxter came second with an excellent Net 72. (Now cut by two shots)

Stephen Cooper came third with an excellent Net 73. (Now cut by one shot).

Malcolm Lee came fourth with an excellent Net 74 (Now cut by one shot).

It was brought to our attention that it had been Reg Batson's wishes that the best gross score was to receive a prize of a very nice bottle of whisky, so this enables the inclusion of Philip White who carded an impressive 83 and of course no mention of winners would seem complete without the very good golfer Philip White being included. Well done again.

Harry Wakefield

Rex Cleaver Championship Trophy

Another spring/summer day with warm weather and an irritating little breeze to contend with. The course was in fine condition and there should have been a plethora of fine scores. But, it was not to be and tales of woe came from all quarters, even the low handicaps managed an 8 !! It was left to the mid handicappers to steal all the prizes. 

There were four on net 68, seven on net 70 and five on net 71. Robert Anderson was out of the prizes on count back, Stewart Denny was third, Trevor Hazell was second and, somehow, Dave Gauge managed to pip them all to win.

The Bessant-East Scratch Trophy winner, with a score of 76, for the second year running was Phil White. With his third prize of the year he will be running out of rooms for his clocks !!!! Second was Martin Ives with 79 and there were four on 82.

Peter

Ken Robinson Scramble, John O'Gaunt Course

We had a good turn out today for the third year of this competition. The weather did not seem to deter the players as there were some good scores and a lot of 'if only that putt had dropped'. The top three were really close all being within 0.1 of each other.
Third, Graham Court, Gerry Degaute, Kevin Donnelly and Fred Williams on 62.3.
Second, David Crosby, Tony Goodson, Ken Robinson and David Wood on 62.2.
The worthy winners were Jim Peacock, Paul Stallard, John Wade and Phil White, 62.1.

Peter

Home Match v Harpenden Common, Tues, 12th May

JoG Seniors played the Ancient Britons on the Carthagena course on Tuesday. After an early sprinkling of rain the weather turned warm and windy. The course was, as ever, in superb condition with the greens in good and testing condition. The Captain's match was, unfortunately the only one lost in the 7-1 victory but he was up against the Harpenden Club Captain, playing off 5, who played one under his handicap.
So, another victory for the Seniors in what has been a very good start to the season.

Peter

Annual Medal Trophy, 5th May, 2015

This competition was played on the John O'Gaunt course, off the white tees. The weather turned out to be overcast with quite a strong breeze and the occasional light shower. In addition to the main competition, the Jubilee Cup (category 4 handicappers) was played for. 

In the main competition, the winner with a net 74, was Michael Tomblin. Second was Terry McSweeney with 76 and third was Brian Bullen with 77, on count back from Phil White. The only handicap change in the field was Michael Tomblin, down 0.6, still on 19.

In the Jubilee Cup, the trophy winner was Malcolm Lee with net 79. In second place was Peter Grimes with 81.

Congratulations to all prize winners.