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Created: 18 May 2026

This year's 23 participants on our Annual Tour to Morayshire faced very different weather conditions to last year, when we played in short sleeves and shorts and were able to sit out on the balcony at Moray Golf Club until sunset. Although it was largely dry, with the occasional short, sharp shower or hailstorm (notably at Moray and Hopeman), the weather was decidedly chilly with a cold easterly wind for most of the week.

Nairn Dunbar were unable to offer us a date during the competition part of the week, as they were hosting a major Regional event, but we were able to play the warm-up round there on the Monday. Hopeman was slotted into the week for a competition day for the first time, with the usual courses at Moray, Elgin and Forres providing the other venues. Scoring was certainly affected by the windy conditions that prevailed for most of the week, but consistency was the key to success and the final day's start sheet at Forres, which was played as always in reverse order, featured Si Ackland (in his first Tour), Ollie Whyatt and Farrukh Bajwa - all several points ahead of the next group. In a close finish, Si emerged as the winner of the Scottish Cup, one point ahead of Ollie, with Ian Robinson taking the Veteran's Quaich, Farrukh winning the Guest Tankard for the second year, and a delighted Ray Bull the very popular and worthy choice as recipient of the Harry Griffiths trophy.

Socially, we were able to enjoy the various restaurants in Lossiemouth and the surrounding area, with Moray Golf Club again being happy to host us for the evening 'get together', as well as providing the venue for another successful end of Tour dinner and prize-giving.

Next year will see Nairn Dunbar back on the competition roster, with Hopeman providing the venue for warm-up round.

Full results:

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Created: 06 May 2026

A number of members have already taken advantage of the latest tranche of RAFGS events to open for registration. The events now available are: matches against Rye, Huntercombe and Sonning (at Sonning), plus the Midland Meeting at Coxmoor, which this year will be a Pairs betterball event.

We also still have plenty of spaces available for the Summer Meeting at Lincoln Golf Club (Torksey) on 10 July and the Championship Meeting at Moor Park Golf Club on 24 July.

For the matches, we are still looking for one player for the team to play against Sonning at Woodhall Spa - a great opportunity to play two great courses (the Hotchkin being regularly rated as the best inland courses in England) and to enjoy a stay and dinner at the Petwood Hotel, famous as the headquarters of the Dambuster Squadron. There are, unusually, also several spaces available for the match at Brockenhurst Manor.

Finally, for those members who are also members of the RAFGA, have a look at the Seletar trophy meeting, to be held at Thonock Park Golf Club on 24 August. The event is run, and subsidised, by the RAFGA and is a 36-hole individual Stableford. Prizes include the magnificent Seletar Trophy which comes with a £50 voucher sponsored by RAFGS and currently held by RAFGS member Graham Pearson.

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Created: 30 April 2026

Our Spring Meeting at Luffenham Heath proved to be as popular as ever, with 38 golfers playing in the morning Individual Stableford and 32 competing in the afternoon Greensomes.

The new RAFGS feather flag was displayed for the first time, by the 1st tee, on a sunny but pretty windy day. The course was in excellent condition, with good grass cover on the fairways despite the recent dry spell, and the usual fast greens. We started an hour later than usual due to a mix-up in the club's planning, but with a focus on ready golf at all times most groups had plenty of time to enjoy the chips and sandwiches lunch.

It was a late finish, but still daylight, when the final group completed their afternoon rounds, and fortunately the club had arranged for some of the bar and catering staff to stay later than usual to ensure that we could enjoy post-match drinks and the afternoon (evening) tea. 

Scoring in the morning was understandably restricted in the morning due to the tricky conditions, with Darren Kups just missing out on achieving three wins in a row. Mick Roche was the winner of the Elizabeth Singer trophy on 36 points, with Darren 2nd on 35 points (on count-back), Gordon Varley in 3rd and Pete Hamilton in 4th, also on 35 points.

The afternoon competition for the Londonderry Cups saw some higher scores, probably due to the Greensomes format. Paul Simmons and Kevin Huish were in a clear second place on 39 points, but the winners on 40 points were Colin Lockwood and his guest, Keith Manning.

Next year's event will be on Wednesday 28th April and the club have assured us that we will be back on our usual start time of 0930.

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Created: 24 April 2026

Report from Match Manager, Sean Doherty. Unfortunately, we lost the match 4–2, although all but one of the games were very closely contested. The sixth match was decided in Henley’s favour on the 18th, but Mark Foreman and Andrew Curtis, Adam and I were pleased to secure wins in our respective matches.

Roger Carr joined us for part of the day and followed several groups around the course, which was great to see. The course itself was in excellent condition, the match was played in a fantastic spirit, and, as always, Henley proved to be outstanding hosts.  The post-match meal was excellent.

Overall, it was an excellent day enjoyed by all. The only downside was the final result—and, for me personally, having to present the trophy to Henley.

RAFGS team: Sean Doherty (Match Manager), Adam Blake, Mark Morton, Ollie Whyatt, Mark Foreman, Andrew Curtis, Jamie Nickless, Neil Hazelhurst, Gill Drummond, Alex Drummond, Stewy Fryatt, Dan Scaddan