24 players enjoyed 2 wonderful days at Woodhall Spa despite the less than clement weather.

Heavy rain on Day 1 severely tested the Bracken’s drainage and our wet weather clothing. We were a shade fortunate to be down by just 2.5-3.5 and the Sonning Captain was fairly relaxed. The Petwood Hotel provided a welcome haven and the dinner was first class.

Day 2 on the Hotchkin was dry but a strong wind brought different challenges. Four matches finished on the 18^th green and the other two on the 17^th, so the result could not have been closer. Sonning had lost one of their players who had more pressing engagements as a Parliamentary candidate with the general election suddenly called. So Captain Tim gallantly offered the services of Brett Wooldridge as Sonning’s 12^th man. Despite being 1 down with 2 to play, Brett’s pair pulled off an unlikely win resulting in a 3-3 draw on the Hotchkin and thus Sonning retained the splendid Malcolm Middlemist Comet by 6.5-5.5.

This is a really sociable fixture played among many good friends. The score since the first fixture is now RAFGS has won 7, lost 8 and drawn 3.

Team:

28 tourists competed for the Scottish Cup, again based at Kinloss, thanks to 38 Reg RE. The weather was glorious, with shorts in evidence throughout the week. Jeff Glover, Roger Matthews Nigel Dowdall and Ollie Whyatt were this year’s first-tourists.

Robby Boyce arranged a curtain raiser for 20 at Hopeman. Elgin was the first course. Ian Robinson demonstrated his credentials with an excellent 38 points, followed by Dennis Virgo and Nigel Dowdall. Joe Bains won Nairn Dunbar with a super 40 points, with Ollie 2nd and Nigel 3rd. At Moray Ian won again with 36 points beating Ollie Whyatt on countback with Ray Bull the best of 6 scoring 33 points. So it was all to play for at Forres where Roger Matthews won with 40 from Jeff Glover and Patrick McIlroy.

As well as organising the week’s golf, Tim Evans arranged for the presentations to be made in the Mess, where happy tourists reflected on another great week on the Moray Firth. Sion Lewis won the Guest Prize for the first time. The Harry Griffiths Trophy was awarded to John Pearce, one of our longest-standing tourists, who was a great help with the Tour’s administration. Jeff Glover pipped Ray Bull for the Veteran’s Quaich. and the Scottish Cup was won by Ollie Whyatt with a super total of 145, just one better than Ian Robinson, with Nigel Dowdall 3rd.

The Spring Meeting at Luffenham Heath was again a great success, with no less than 44 golfers in the morning and 20 pairs for the afternoon Greensomes. These included 5 golfers playing off scratch or better and 20 with single figure handicaps, which must be a record.

The course was in great condition, the weather obliged, the staff were excellent as always and the scores were amazing. Competing for the lovely Elizabeth Singer Trophy, David Taylor had a brilliant front 9 of 23 points, but the more consistent golfers fared better. Inch McAlpine scored 38 points to get 2nd place on countback from John Blanks.The winner was brand new member, Darren Kups, who on his first visit to Luffenham Heath scored 5 birdies on the front 9 and won with a total of 39.

After lunch, Darren continued his fine form playing Greensomes with Trev Grant and scoring 23 points on the front 9. However in 3rd place were Richie Matthews and Liam Pucill with 39, pipped by Gary Cook and local man Jeff Glover with 40. But the deserving winners of the Londonderry Cups, playing off scratch were RAF players John Blanks and Jamie Nickless.

It was a brilliant start to our season.

In his first year as our Team Captain, Sean Doherty came remarkably close to halting Henley’s impressive run of 14 victories. On a cool Spring day, the course played very well but crucially the greens were quick and not easy to read, and we were giving an average of 6 shots.

Although the final score was a 4-2 win for Henley, the outcome could have been quite different as 4 of our pairs stood on the 18th tee knowing that a win would have either secured victory or snatched a draw. Sadly all 4 were disappointed. Well done Stu Butler and Mark Foreman for registering the day’s only convincing victory.

At dinner Basil Evans, known to many, recalled the history of the Danesfield Cup which was being played for the 50th time. As ever, our hosts were very sociable.& Maybe next year………?

Team: