July/August 2022 report

The match vs Croham Hurst in August was cancelled, due to the greens being treated shortly before the scheduled date and therefore considered unsuitable for play.

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Mid – July and, despite a handful of Covid-enforced withdrawals in the days leading up to the fixture, there was a good turnout for the President’s Meeting. Hever Castle was the venue and the fairways were looking very parched after a long dry spell. Most participants were pleased there was a little breeze to give relief from the heat, and set off to win one of two cups on offer; the Veterans’ Cup meeting in June had been postponed (because of the heat) and was contested from Hever’s green tees (6023 yards) alongside the President’s Putter off the yellows (6502 yards).

Certainly this is one of the longest courses we play on; the 17th alone measures 618 yards off the yellows and, despite the extra length the dry fairways gave even the more modest golfer, most members found it a challenge to reach the green in the regulation three shots. Not Martin Hayes. Relatively fresh from completing his 100 matches in the Halford Hewitt, he produced one of the best rounds the society has seen in its open competitions, with 42 stableford points off a playing handicap of 4 – a gross 70, including a birdie 4 on that 618-yard 17th. Just tell me it was a single putt, Martin, please. Martin won the President’s Prize (he is seen, left, receiving the prize from OWGS President, Pip Burley) by 7 points from Mike Berners Price (35 points) and Jeremy Stanyard (34). (Mind you, Mike had himself burned up Tandridge that very morning, scoring 43 points, before rushing over to Hever!).

The Veterans’ Cup also saw some very good scores. Jerry Hamley won the Cup with 38 points, and Roddy Sage came second with 35, beating David Hedges on countback.

It was a pleasure to have three Hewitt centurions join us for this meeting (Peter Hedges, David Hedges and Martin Hayes). Almost certainly, a first. The meeting was expertly managed by John Gould, who overcame a number of challenges along the way, not least when the secretary (accidentally) pocketed his mobile phone before leaving the golf club. Apologies and thanks, several times over, John!