Our first match of the season, the annual match against West Hill Golf Club, took place on Tuesday, 25th March.
The team of 12, plus match manager Nigel Dowdall, assembled at West Hill for tea/coffee, bacon rolls and to meet the West Hill team members, led by Richard Owen. It was a perfect day for golf with intermittent sunshine, a gentle breeze and, following the recent mainly dry weather, the course was in excellent condition. The team included three currently serving members and three playing the course for the first time.
The match itself was a close affair - the RAF took the first two matches, only for West Hill to reel off three matches in a row to lead 3-2. Fortunately our anchor pair of Graham Pearson and Paul Hughesdon came in with a 2 and 1 win in the last match, to complete a halved match at 3 - 3. All the matches were close affairs, with three decided at the 16th and the others at the 17th. However, West Hill retain the Wg Cdr James Webster trophy following their victory in 2024.
RAFGS team: Peter Bedford, Holly Steel, Les Bruckner, Martin Crocker, Kevin Conquergood, Ian Robinson, Geoff Thorburn, Stu Butler, Kevin Burston, Graham Pearson, Paul Hughesdon.
West Hill GC team: Richard Owen, Chris Barber, Tim Osbourne, Colin Whitbread, Rob Pike, Mat Beadle, Timm Christopher, Gerry Martin, John Botham, David Duncan, Nigel Sillick, John Todd.
Images of the course and the match can be found in the Gallery.