Golf
Notice
Sadly Major J R L Harman, a past Society Captain, an OC player in the Halford Hewitt on twenty occassions and a winner of the Army Golf Championship, died on 8th July 2009 aged 76.
Notice
Sadly Major J R L Harman, a past Society Captain, an OC player in the Halford Hewitt on twenty occassions and a winner of the Army Golf Championship, died on 8th July 2009 aged 76.
Old Cheltonians Golf Society
OC's Triumph at West Hill
7th July 2009
I write with more great news! We have had a marvellous Mellin result last week.
In the G.L. Mellin Salvers (over 55) we defeated Sherborne, Felsted, Haileybury and Forrest to win for the first time since 2001. The team and pairings were JJN Caplan & RI Macleod-Smith, MJ Silver & WRS Wise, KGD Thomas & JH Watts with HUS McMichen joining in place of MJ Silver for the Saturday round.
In the Peter Burles (over 65) we defeated Sherborne, Bradfield, Cranleigh and lost to Shrewsbury in the final losing a sudden death play off at the first when our president missed an 18 inch putt on the 18th green (he had made a 12 footer at the previous hold to keep us alive), the team being MW Ashton & AJ Miller, D Pick & CR Marsh.
In the Bunny Millard (over 75) we qualified and lost in the Final to Cranleigh on the 18th green, the team being AS Elliott & GK Elliott.
To reach all three finals must be a record for any of the 16 Mellin schools and this following our Halford-Hewitt semi-finalist result does suggest that OC golf is on a roll. The team enjoyed an excellent evening at the club being the 50th anniversary of the Mellin and the clubs Centenary Dinner.
Congratulations to all concerned!
In other news Peter Richards & Angus Baillie pulled together at the last minute following some late team changes to represent us at the Alba Trophy. After a challenging/trying morning they did very well in the afternoon.
Having defeated the Old Marlburians in recent years they strengthened their side and managed to see us off 3-1 in an enjoyable match at Woking.
The new match against the Medical Golfing Society was a great success, Peter Richards defected to the MGS team, won his match and turned the result agains us 3-2. Denham was in great condition which bodes well for the autumn meeting.
Our next match is against Old Sherburnian GS @ Hamptworth GC in the New Forest on July 25th.
Our next meeting is on 18th August at Worplesdon GC 'Evergreens vs Braves'. We will be about 22 strong on the day which is fantastic! Ed Kennedy is in need of a couple of more Braves (younger members under 40) so please come forward.
Best Wishes
Charlie Elliott
Secretary
The Public Shools Old Boys Halford Hewitt Campaign
I write to update you on a very successful Public Schools Old Boys Halford Hewitt campaign for the Old Cheltonian Golf Society (OCGS). The team made it to the Semi Finals for the first time since 1966, losing 2-3 to Merchant Taylors' who Tonbridge subsequently beat in the final 3-2.
Twelve members (P Richards, J Tucker, A Morris, C Eliott, D Thomas, J Ashbridge, E Kennedy, A Sherwood, J Watts, J Miller, J Hampshire & A Baillie) made up the squad following increased competition for places at the trial weekend in February, perhaps providing proof that competition helps!
The Captain, Peter Richards, has fostered a great team spirit which, no doubt, helped on to the course.
As is to be expected of a Cheltenham side some extraordinary events took place, not least the miracle of Tuckers Hip! James Tucker underwent an operation on his hip late last year and had since been unable to walk any distance without considerable pain and had not played a single hold of golf for 5 months!
Therefore, a week before the campaign, he unfortunately declared that he would not be fit for the first round and made himself unavailable for selection. However, after a day of supporting the team in the first round, I guess he felt the mental torture of watching the side almost snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a 3-2 win over Gresham's was worse than the physical pain of playing and so declared himself fit for the second round. He then proceeded to return an unbeaten performance and won his 4 matches!
J Ashbridge and A J Morris combined to inflict a painful 8 & 7 defeat on their semi final opponents while on the flip side our 5th pair, playing their first round match set off at an equally aggressive pace, being 7 up after 8 holes. From that point they only managed to half the 14th with a 7 having holed a tricky 5 putt and lost 2 down!
Although the OCGS made it to the semi finals in 1927, 1928 and 1930, the following society members were all involved in the last semi-final appearance in 1966; J J N Caplin, M W Ashton, R I Macleod-Smith and C B Sanders.
Barry Wild informs the OCGS that College have two very good firth form golfers that could be useful to us in two or three year's time. They are both low single figure golfers already and will surely improve, which must bode well for the future./
To date a very creditable 26 members have played for the Society this year and I hope this number will rise substantially as we move towards the summer.
Finally, we pass on our congratulations to the College Golf team who narrowly lost in the West of England Schools final at Burnham and reached the national finals of the H M C Foursomes in the summer.
Charlie Elliott
OCGS Secretary
The Old Cheltonian Golf Society
Open to all golfing abilities, the OC Gold Society is the largest and most active of the Sports Clubs. We play some of the best courses in the country, in fact our fixture list for 2009 will take us to 6 of the top 100 courses in GB & Ireland!
We boast a membership with leavers to those with seven decades of experience. Most of the Societie's fixtures are open to all memebers and with subscriptions costing £20 per year the Society offers an excellent opportunity to meet other OC's furthermore, our younger members will be subsidised at our events.
For those single figure handicappers the Society enter teams in the prestigious Halford Hewitt trophy held at Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St Georges in the early Spring (www.halfordhewitt.com) and the Grafton Morrish held at Hunstanton GC and Royal West Norfolk GC in the Autumn (hhttp://freespace.virgin.net/grafton.morrish/index.htm).
We are always looking to expand our membership and keen to hear from any Old Cheltonians who like playing golf.
For further information, please contact:
College Contact: Barry Wild
Tel: 01242 265627
Mob: 07702 420071
Email: wild.barry@cheltcoll.gloucs.sch.uk
OC Contact: Simon Collyer-Bristow
Tel: 01285 760228
Email: scb@crfc.co.uk
OCGS Secretary: Charlie Elliott
Tel: 01451 870995
Mob: 07971 818158
Email: celliott@elliott-t-l.co.uk
2009 Letter from the President
Dear OCGS Members,
It seems that the Golfing year has gotten off to a rather cold & damp start but much has happenened behind the scenes.
We have four new fixtures including matches against Loretto School, the Medical Golfing Society, the Old Decanians and have been included in the Edward Harris Cup in the Autumn.
The 'Harris Cup' is an inter school handicap competition based in Wales; a team of eight will represent the OCGS under the captaincy of Henry Rees.
This addition brings an event to our calendar that does not rely on low handicap players but on keen handicap golfers. Some 8 schools participate, and organise the fixture by rotation.
As normal each fixture or match has a match manager and if you are interested in participation please contact the match manager and make them aware of your interest, please don't wait to be asked.
On other matters Even OCGS members attended the Halford Hewitt draw at the East India club and for the first time in several years we have not drawn one of the favourites. We are playing Gresham's on Thursday afternoon (12.05) at Royal ST. Georges and as ever supporters are most welcome.
As usual there will be a formal dinner at Royal St. Georges on Thursday evening and I very much hope that supporters will join the team. Should this be applicable please let the match manager know well in advance.
I recently attended the Mellin AGM; I can confirm we've been drawn to play the Old Shirburnians, expect an early morning start this year as a result of the celebratory dinners.
Of other significant news I am delighted to learn that Simon Collyer-Bristow, the Society's link with College, will make a presentation to the Upper Sixth outlining our credentials as a Society and explaining what we have on offer. It is very much hoped that this will start to create a steady stream of younger members joining.
I am excited and optimistic that 2009 will be very promising for OC Golf, I hope that many of you will get involved and enjoy some great fixtures.
John Miller
OCGS President
2008 OCGS Captains Report
As I come to the end of my two year reign as Captain I can recall some memorable days with the Society, albeit with some mixed results!
The Halford Hewitt Team set out full of optimism following its success against Radley in the pre Hewitt match in February, however, Epson proved too strong and we bowed out, losing 5-0 in the first round. The team managed to get through two rounds of the Plate Competition loosing to Sherborne in the Quarter Finals with the final match going down the 18th. The plate compeition was well supported and gave the team useful match play experience.
The Spring Meeting hosts the annual match versus the College. Held at Blackwell Golf Club for the second year in a row it proved a roaring success especially as this year the weather was significantly kinder allowing members of the society to see Blackwell GC in all its gloyr; a truly splendid golf club and course. 15 College boys attended outnumbering the OC's team of 9. However after some careful team selection choices, the match was won by the Old Cheltonian Golfing Society.
Royal Ashdown in Sussex provided the usual and beautiful venue for aulifying to this years Grafton Morrish. The OC's qualified on a count back and secured a path to the finals by the narrowest of margins. The finals were held at Brancaster and Hunstanton.
The Alba Competition held at Woking Golf Club was not a great success. The course was in fantastic condition but the captains golfing ability was some margin short of the demanding conditions. The Captain apologised for his own play at the AGM.
John Miller, President, reported that although we lost in the first round in the Mellin, we went on to win the Plate Compeition and congratulations were offered. John also reported that we lost to Cranleigh in the Burles Trophy and did not compete in the Millard Trophy.
Our friendly matches were a great success, as they are every year. We beat Marlborough and halved with Sherborne although Sherborne etained the Cup due to winning it the previous year. The matches provide competitive hard fought golf played in the best spirits where the lunch and drinks afterwards are as important as the result.
Our fixtures list is beigninng to grow with a further match arranged against Dean Close. Thanks are owed to Charlie Elliot for arranging this new fixture. The meeting proved a success although we lost 3-1 at Denham Golf Club. Dean Close are hosting the 2009 fixture to be held at Walton Heath.
2009 OCGS Fixture List
14th January Halford Hewitt Draw at the East India Club - Smoking Room. Contact - Peter Richards.
21st February Halford Hewitt Trial at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Kent. Match Manager - Peter Richards.
22nd February OCGS vs. Radley College at Royal St Georges, Kent. Match Manager - Peter Richards.
1st - 5th April Halford Hewitt at Royal Cinque Ports CG & Royal St Georges CG, Kent. Match Manager - Peter Richards.
21st March OCGS vs. Lorreto at Piltdown Golf Club. Match Manager - Angus Baillie.
3rd May OCGS vs. Cheltenham College at Cotswold Hills Golf Club. Match Manager - Charlie Elliott.
10th May Grafton Morrish Qualifying at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club. Match Manager - James Tucker.
6th June the Alba Trophy at Woking Golf Club. Match Manager - Peter Richards.
30th June OCGS vs. the Medical Golfing Society at Denham. Match Manager - Peter Richards.
June TBA OCGS Summer Meeting at Minchenhampton Golf Club. Match Manager - Simon Collyer-Bristow.
24th June Marlborough Match at Woking GC. Match Manager - Henry Rees.
2nd - 4th July the G L Mellin Salver, the Peter Burles & the Bunny Millard at West Hill. 3rd July Centenary Dinner at West Hill. Match Manager - John Miller.
25th July OCGS vs. the Old Shirburnians Golfing Society at Hamptworth GC. Match Manager - Henry Rees.
30th July OCGS vs. Old Decanians at Walton Heath 2.00pm. Match Manager - Angus Baillie.
17th September OCGS Autumn Meeting at Denham Golf Club. Match Manager - John Watts.
24th - 27th September Grafton Morrish (finals) at Hunstanton GC and Royal West Norfolk GC. Match Manager - James Tucker.
2nd October the Edward Harris Cup at Rolls of Monmouth. Match Manager - Henry Rees.