Halford Hewitt (7-10 April)
Back to the traditional scheduling in March/April, this year’s Hewitt came around rather quicker than usual as the delayed 2021 tournament had only taken place six months’ prior. We were delighted to be back in our usual cottages which have now been done up quite nicely, after a (hopefully one time) visit to the ‘hotel’ over the road last time around.
With everyone present by Wednesday, the practice rounds proved rather difficult and unpleasant with 30mph winds and horizontal rain requiring a complete emptying of the golf bag and towelling down of the grips. Undeterred, and warmed up by now-functioning showers, we decamped to Tim Murphy’s house, father of two fellow OBs, for a fantastic BBQ. We can only assume the Romney Marshes are now devoid of lamb, given how much of it was on offer! A wonderful evening, it gave us the chance to reconnect as a team and, as in George Scott’s (99-09) case, make some new friends.
Despite missing one or two of our stronger players, we fielded a very strong team with an average handicap of 1.95, the lowest it’s ever been and a full shot lower than in 2021, which in itself was the lowest it had ever been. The draw had again been favourable in one sense – mid-morning at Royal Cinque Ports – but not in another having drawn Winchester, a top 10 side and the 2018 winners. Thankfully the rain had cleared but it was now gusting 45mph-55mph, making playing conditions extremely difficult and rendering the pleas of the starters to be round in 3hrs 15mins rather unachievable.
The team of Iain Pratt & Lee Dinmore were unlucky to draw a former German amateur champion playing off +6 and put up a spirited fight to lose only 3&2. The two Georges – Wilson (03-10) & Scott – narrowly lost the 18th to lose 1 down before the team of Henry Wilson (04-11) & Will Notley (92-03) won 2-&1 and Tom Langley-Poole (96-06) & Simon Blundell (84-89) won 3&2 in the back game to leave the match all square and riding on the shoulders of Colin Beesley (90-98) & Tim Martin (11-17), the latter calmly rolling in a 25-foot birdie putt on the 20th (see photo) to put Bedford through, 3-2, to face the top-ranked school, Tonbridge.
Another tough draw for Iain Pratt (83-93) & Lee Dinmore (86-89) saw them up against the Spanish Open Senior’s champion off +3, and a 4&3 loss followed. Through 12 holes, Bedford were up in the other four games; one match by one hole and the other three by two holes, and Tonbridge were worried. The two Georges held on for a 3&2 win, with Will Notley & Henry Wilson closing out their game 2&1 as well. A few poor shots from the remaining pairs, a few bad breaks and a few fantastic shots from the opposition led to a 1 down loss on the 19th for Colin Beesley & Tim Martin and left it all riding on game 5, Tom Langley-Poole & Simon Blundell. All square going down the last, an eight-footer slipped by for par and, with it, a 1 down loss, 3-2 overall, and a very bitter pill to swallow.
Gut-wrenched, we reflected on the game that got away, a chance to really announce ourselves as a team to contend with. Made worse by the fact Tonbridge then got all the way to the final – where they narrowly lost to defending champions Loretto – we can at least move forward with the confidence of knowing that we should fear no one, and are capable of a sustained run. It feels closer than ever, on to 2023!
Spring Meeting (23April)
Despite pleas for increased attendance, this year’s meeting attracted probably the fewest players ever – nine. In fairness, late injury and Covid did for five players in the 48 hours preceding – including for Robin Maris, who missed his first Spring Meeting in 50 years – but the result was a now familiar awkward conversation with the Club Secretary and a resulting look of disappointment mixed with frustration, as he no doubt cast his mind forward to the impending emails from club members questioning why they couldn’t get on to their own course on a Saturday morning for a Society who then didn’t use half their allotted tee times. So, I ask again, please, if you can play, do so.
An unusual, brisk, easterly wind made the course play completely different to normal and, coupled with some tricky pin Fplacements, made it difficult to score. Almost everyone had a disaster somewhere on their scorecards, but most faired pretty well considering the circumstances. Tom Langley-Poole (96-06) – not immune from a card wrecker with a quadruple bogey 7 on the par three 5th – regained the scratch trophy with a 77, whilst Jeremy Woodrow (83-93) posted the round of the day with a nett 68 to win a couple of bottles of wine in lieu of the Medal salver. Roger Dalzell (48-57) thoroughly deserved to win the Junior Trophy with 35 points despite being the only eligible player as he would have won Senior Trophy with the same score, which instead went to Kevin Dunbar (74-79) with 30 points.
Nearest the pin on the 5th was won by Adam Foster (83-88), with Jeremy Woodrow taking the same prize on the 7th. We were delighted to be joined by OBGS President Anthony Ormerod (47-57), as he recovers from a shoulder operation, for a terrific lunch of roast lamb, finished off with the club drink, a pink jug of seemingly mystery ingredients (pictured). He re-iterated his pride in following the team’s relative successes at the Halford Hewitt during his recuperation via a dedicated WhatsApp group – which also included the recently emigrated Piers Constable (79-89), who refused to go to bed until the early hours in Australia after the match had concluded – and wished to thank Colin Beesley (90-98) for his ongoing administrative efforts.
An even smaller group of six players took to the course in the afternoon for the foursomes in a single group, which was remarkably won on countback on the last three holes by Jeremy Woodrow & Will Notley (92-03) with 21 points from Iain Pratt (83-93) & Kevin Dunbar. A cup of tea and a slice of cake followed, with reflection on a wonderful day on a great golf course, and a mutual agreement to encourage more attendance in 2023.
Report by Tom Langley-Poole (96-06)
OBGS Secretary