March/April 2023 report

Scratch Cup entrants were scratching their heads when they turned up for this year’s event at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal. The temperature was above freezing, the wind was hardly blowing, it wasn’t raining – could this really be the Scratch Cup? Yes, the first to be held in benign conditions and eighteen players competing for the prize; and especially good to see some new candidates in the field – Aidan Millham, Matt Spriegel, Owen Richardson, Chris Jones and Paul Harrup.

Paul, in his own words ‘only there to make up the numbers’, caused an early stir. An 8-handicapper, he left the ninth green announcing that he was 2-under. ‘Against your handicap?’ came the response. No, two under par, gross, putting him in the lead at the halfway point. Also at the ninth, Paul’s playing partner Ian Hunter holed his 6-iron approach for an eagle two. Sadly, none of those in the halfway hut were paying attention, and neither Ian nor Paul saw it go in either. Eventually Paul suggested looking in the hole ‘for comedy value’!

The inward half at Deal is always the true test, although that is normally because of the prevailing wind, which wasn’t prevailing this time. Owen Richardson (pictured left with Dudley Thompson) coped best overall, and got back to the clubhouse with a gross 70 (two under par), winning the cup in front of Aidan Millham (72), Toby Kemp, Stuart Hollins and Matt Spriegel (all 73), and Richard Gibson (last year’s winner) (74). Martin Hayes won the Silver Medal as the leading player over 50 years of age (the Cyril Gray qualification); he registered 75, but this year he did at least have competition and wasn’t the only over-50 in the field! In normal circumstances it would be true to say that Martin’s is the only name on the Silver Medal, since he has won it in every year of its existence; however, it is not actually true, because Richard has never had the plaque engraved. Clearly he is looking to economise on the eventual cost!

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We held our Annual Dinner at a new venue, Tandridge GC, on Monday 20th March. It proved to be an enjoyable evening and a successful venue, with 24 attendees and two guests; Neil Kendrick summarised the current state of golf at the school and Archie Adlington received the Walker Cup from our President Pip Burley (pictured together, right) for his achievement in school golf. The award was particularly poignant this year, since Charlie Walker, who donated the cup to the society several years ago, sadly passed away during the year – John Gould spoke eloquently afterwards about his friend of many years.

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Also at the Dinner, Simon Beck encouraged more entries for the upcoming Gala Day golf and dinner on Friday 26th May, details of which can be found in the previous post (January/February report). He explained that the day is in aid of the school’s bursary fund, providing education at the school for boys who would otherwise not be able to afford the fees. The fund has not grown in recent years, meaning that, after inflation, the total number of bursaries provided has fallen. So this is a worthy cause and entries from members and guests will be greatly welcomed. Please join in!

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Six Whitgift pairs participated in the Peter Kenyon Bowl, a foursomes competition run by the Halford Hewitt committee, at Prince’s, Sandwich. Played over Prince’s Dunes and Himalayas courses, this was on the day before the Hewitt itself got under way. It was very windy, but essentially dry. The Whitgift winners on the day were David and Peter Hedges, with 31 points, who picked up the Thompson Tankards – the society’s only foursomes trophy.

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Halford Hewitt 2023 report

This one was different. Not so much in terms of the result, because Whitgift again went out relatively early in the competition, but the approach, the performance, and the mentality all demonstrated something new. This is a Whitgift team which can achieve something. It has a better balance in terms of age – there are players in their twenties, thirties and forties (ok, two were over 50, but they bring experience, and in Neill Williams’ case, a +4 handicap!) – and a good team spirit. Also note that there are another ten or so scratch or near scratch golfers, all of whom are young, who can play for us in the future, if only we can get them to make themselves available in Hewitt week. The future is bright.

This year’s first round opponents were Repton, a team ranked in the top-10 over the last five years, based on their performances. A tough draw. It became apparent quite early that their strongest players were all playing at the front, whereas Whitgift had even strength throughout, so Whitgift’s top two pairs (Gibson/Bailey and Hollins/Hayes) found the going tougher than pairs 3,4 and 5. Indeed, Whitgift’s third and fourth pairs (Raison/Sellers and Evans/Spriegel) won their matches not long after the first two had succumbed, leaving the tie equal at 2-2 with only Matt Webster and Toby Kemp to finish. A wild Repton drive on 15 brought that match back to all square, and then Matt Webster holed from eight feet on 17 to put Whitgift ahead. Repton were tidier around the 18th green and so took the match to extra holes – a test of nerve that Whitgift have struggled with over the past ten years or so. Toby Kemp took the long walk back to the 1st tee (the 19th), with the firm intention of hitting a drive as reliable as he had proved throughout the match, but it was not to be. It went wide, so wide that it collided with the clubhouse (out of bounds) guttering, with an almighty bang, and then bounced high on to the road – and from there back in bounds, greeted by cheers from the Whitgift contingent (see photos below). An outrageous piece of luck, and one which Whitgift consolidated after Repton left their approach to the green short of the water. Webster holed from seven feet for a par 4, beating Repton’s bogey 5.

Toby Kemp prepares on the 19th tee

Spectators respond to the cries of ‘fore’

Messrs Jones and Atkinson remain calm

… and the ball bounces back ‘in bounds’

Epsom were the next opponents, and another top-10 side. Both teams knew each other well, especially those who are members at Walton Heath. The weather for day two was awful. Strong winds of 35mph and over, plus horizontal rain at times. Standing to spectate was an achievement in itself. Swinging a club smoothly, or trying to maintain composure whilst putting, was impossible, and was reflected in the scoring. Raison and Sellers won the 12th with a 7 to Epsom’s 8, both having lost a ball.

At the turn, there was nothing between the sides, all matches being within one hole. Thereafter, the overall lead appeared to change every five minutes, and it became apparent that this was going ‘to the wire’; extra holes were a possibility in all five matches, and clearly the side which held its nerve and conviction was likely to finish the winner. Williams/Gibson, Whitgift’s leading pair, set an example in this respect over the closing stretch. One down after 14 holes, they birdied each of the 15th, 16th and 17th, to win their match 2&1. Richard Gibson holed putts of 20ft and 30ft on the last two holes.

Gibson plays to the 6th – off the beach

Further back, Harry Sellers and Jack Raison were 2 down after 11, but recovered to lead by one after 14. The pendulum swung yet again and the match was all square going down the last. Epsom drove into the long rough on the left of the 18th but recovered well, halving the hole in 4 after a 25ft putt down the slope. Extra holes beckoned, and Jack rose to the task with a great drive down the centre of the fairway, which Harry Sellers converted with a 120 yard wedge to within 2 feet of the hole (all this in 35mph winds, don’t forget). Brilliant, and a birdie which Epsom could not match. 2-0 to Whitgift and overall victory apparently within reach, as Hollins/Hayes (the next pair) had been reported as 2up after 13. But, after a fight back by Epsom, the match also appeared on the 18th tee all square, and although both sides were short of the green in two, Epsom edged the match as Whitgift, struggling with the gusting wind, took four from forty yards out. A similar misfortune befell both Webster/Kemp, who 3-putted 17,  and Evans/Spriegel who, already 1 down coming down the last, had to go for broke to square their match and found the stream.

So Whitgift lost 3-2, but it was close, very close, and remember that Epsom are a side which has won the Hewitt twice in recent years, and consistently gets to the latter stages. Typical then, but all the more encouraging, that Epsom should go on this time to reach the final, where they came up against Loretto, winners of the Hewitt in both 2021 and 2022. Loretto edged the final 3-2 to earn themselves a hat-trick of victories.  Congratulations to them.

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Alan Scovell receives the Captains Cup from Pip Burley under the watchful eye of JF Abercromby

The last action of this report period took place at The Addington, designed in 1913 (the year when the OWGS was founded) by J.F. Abercromby. A great deal of work is being done by the current owners to return the course to something like its original condition. Certainly the views over London have been opened up and make for a splendid sight, especially when the sun is out. The course however is in transition, and probably was not at its best when we visited, with removal and construction work still in progress; and the awful April weather will not have helped either. There were only 13 starters for the competition, the Captain’s Cup, which was disappointing for a Sunday meeting, when there would normally have been the opportunity for some to play who work during the week, but we had not allowed for the fact that this was a bank holiday weekend and there were other priorities in the diary.

Or maybe the absentees knew the difficulties presented by The Addington! The scores reflected the problems faced, with the winning score being 31 points, achieved by Alan Scovell, the captain, who was awarded his own trophy by Pip Burley, our President (right). Alan narrowly defeated a triumvirate on 30 points, Mike Berners Price, David Absalom, and Adrian McMillan. Rather than try to separate them on countback, the Captain decided that they should all be presented with magnificent runners-up prizes, in the form of Fortnum & Mason biscuits! A tasteful end to a very enjoyable day.

The next open event is our Gala Charity Day on Friday 26th May.

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