QUARTERLY REPORT – SUMMER 2024

Welcome to our second quarterly report, covering events since our spring meeting on 1st May.

 

Match against John Grant’s President’s Team

covered well after the very wet winter.  All in all a very enjoyable day.

For those of you who don’t know, John is a former captain of the society and has recently been elected President at Robin Hood GC.  For the past two years we have played our internal “North” vs “South” match at Robin Hood and we readily agreed to this alternative.

 

The opposition (alternatively known as The MUGS) have suggested that they would like to come down to the South East next year and we are investigating possible options.

 

 

Past Captains’ Meeting – Surbiton Golf Club – Monday 10^th June 2024

 

Nine past captains were joined by this year’s captain and vice-captain – Brian Stopp and Phil Carter – and David Leishman, following his recent knee operation, joined us for lunch.

 

The course, in particular the greens, was in excellent condition but the scoring failed to live up to this standard.  Congratulations go to David Ling who was declared the winner with 31 stableford points on the basis that the captain, who had 32 points, was ineligible.  The trophy was duly presented to David at the Seniors’ meeting at Blackmoor.

 

 

 

 

Match against The Motor Trades Golf Society – Hayling Golf Club – Tuesday 18 June 2024

 

Our second match against MTGS took place in very benign (just enough breeze) pleasant conditions for Hayling Island.  The eight fourball matches planned became one 2-ball and seven 4-ball matches as both sides lost one player each.  The MTGS captain withdrew on the basis that he was stranded in Nice whilst Clive Moulton most unfortunately discovered on the morning of the match that has clubs had been stolen!

 

Congratulations go to MTSG for the 6^1/2 to 1^1/2 result.  David Barclay (playing the singles match) scored our only point whilst Dennis Culligan and Ev Schenk managed a half.  Nevertheless, all the matches were quite close and everyone agreed that it was a most enjoyable day and one to be continued.

 

 

Tour to Dorset – Tuesday 25^th to Thursday 27^th June 2024

 

Our three-day tour commenced after a light lunch at Broadstone Golf Club.  A spectacular heathland course, within the UK top 100, split opinion amongst the tourists but was agreed by all to be “brutal”, being physically very challenging as well as a true test of golf.  Martin Grazier was perhaps the least enamoured, describing himself as “not a big fan” of Harry Colt!  More on this later.

 

The second morning saw us at Parkstone Golf Club, another top 100 course, which was generally agreed to be fantastic.  In some ways it is similar to St Georges Hill, with plenty of “large” houses overlooking the course.  Gary Peddie, a former professional and now Parkstone member known to some of us, substituted for John Briggs who decided that he could not manage three consecutive days of golf.

 

The remaining 15 tourists plus Gary Peddie (4^th from left) on the first tee at Parkstone.

 

Our third course was Remedy Oaks, another fine challenge through the trees and with rather more water than either of the other two courses.  It also contrasts in being new, having been designed by John Jacobs and constructed in 2006.  Following the golf and prize-giving the 16 of us agreed to being rather jaded but all made it home.

 

We stayed in a spectacular location right by the chain ferry across the mouth of Poole Harbour in Sandbanks and had the pleasure of dining at Rick Stein’s with Harry Redknapp although he was probably oblivious to the honour.

 

Congratulations to Iain Everingham who won over the three days with a score of 41 points (out of a possible 66).  Bob Reid was a very close second with 40.5 points, with Ian Palethorp 3^rd on 38.

 

Thanks go to Brian Stopp and Donald Reid for all the organisation.

 

 

“Seniors” Meeting – Blackmoor Golf Club – Tuesday 2^nd July 2024

 

Another mostly fine day, which started out quite chilly but warmed up, saw 17 of us take on another Harry Colt designed heathland course.

 

The over 70’s (12 of the 17) was won by Ian Palethorp with 35 stableford points with John Smith a close second with 34.

 

 

Congratulations though go to Marting Grazier who won the over 60’s with 38 points and hence won the cup.

 

Martin remarked that his opinion of Harry Colt had improved!

 

 

Summer Meeting – Worplesdon Golf Club – Wednesday 10^th July

 

A write-up will be incorporated into our next edition.

 

 

Future Events

 

Friday 23 August – Effingham Golf Club

 

Our annual Captain vs Vice Captain match.  We have the necessary 20 players; teams and pairings will be announced in due course.

 

Tuesday 27 August – Woking Golf Club

 

Our autumn meeting at this traditional venue.

 

Tuesday 10 September

 

Our annual match against the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) at Denham Golf Club.

 

 

Tuesday 10 December – OIC annual Christmas luncheon at the Connaught Rooms

 

This lunch celebrates the centenary! of our parent club – the OIC.  It would be wonderful to have a number of OICGS tables – please make every effort to attend and help make this special occasion memorable.

 

 

Other News

 

Membership – currently stands at 75, with three in the pipeline.  We offer a warm welcome to new members Dennis Culligan and David `Macfarlane, both of whom have already played with us.

 

Again, we hope you find this informative and welcome any (constructive) comments.