2019 was a busy year under the Captaincy of David Ewbank with more fixtures including our special ‘Farewell to the Old Course’ event at Stowe.
Team events: Led by Haydn Brooks (Cobham 04) Stowe lost to Eton in the first round of the Halford Hewitt and did not qualify for the Finals of the Grafton Morrish. Jeremy Scowsill (Temple 76), Ian Bendell (Walpole 87), William Hill (Grenville 75) and Nigel Wright (Chatham 78) came 5th of 15 teams in the Dick Watson Trophy at Aldeburgh while led by Stewart McNair (Grenville 71), Stowe did well to reach the semi-final of the Cyril Gray, despite a changeable team.
Matches: In addition to playing the School team at Woking, Stowe and Stoke Park there were matches against Haileybury and Canford at Sunningdale, The Templars at Deal, Downside at New Zealand, Aldeburgh Golf Club and the 2009 Leavers at Stowe – the Society won 5, lost 2 and halved 1.
Meetings: Northern, Spring, Summer and Autumn Society Meetings were held with much higher attendances. The performance highlights were Paul McSweeney (Cobham 94) winning both the Hadfield Salver and the Saturday Tankard at Formby. At Woking Paul McSweeney (Cobham 94) also won the Memorial Bowl, Charlie Consett (Cobham 96) the Nigel Stern Scratch Salver, Roddy Blackburne (Walpole 12) the David Foster U30’s Salver and William Hill (Grenville 75) and Nigel Wright (Chatham 78) retained the foursomes Celebration Tankards. Jeremy Scowsill (Temple 76) won the Buchanan Trophy and paired with William Hill (Grenville 75) retained the foursomes at Aldeburgh. Nick and Chris Luddington beat James Marshall-Andrew (Bruce 92) and John da Silva (Temple 87) to win the Lucas Langley Salvers at Brancaster while Charlie Consett (Cobham 96) won both the Scratch Salver and Nigel Chittenden Cup and Tim Maynard the Piper salver for over 50s in the singles.
‘Farewell to the Old Course’ event: 33 Old Stoic golfers took part in a successful event to mark the imminent closure of the current Stowe course. Pam Benka Simpson (née Tredinnick) who played in the course’s official opening in 1964 presented the prizes with Chatham winning best House score, best scratch score Tim Maynard (Chatham 79) and best stableford score, Nigel Wright (Chatham 78).
More young golfers wanted: 90 different Old Stoics played in the 2019 fixtures with a slight increase in under 30’s participating. The Society wants more young players, male and female, of all standards to be involved in the Society and discounts are given to under 30’s. Roddy Blackburne (Walpole 12) rblackburne@hotmail.co.uk is on the Committee with specific responsibility for encouraging more young Old Stoics to take part.
The year ahead: 2020 promises to be another exciting year for the Society with over 20 fixtures, the opening of the new course adjacent to the Bourbon Fields at Stowe and further work with Andrew Hancox, Director of Golf, to develop links between the Society and the School.
While First Team Captain, Haydn Brooks (Cobham 04) haydnbrooks@gmail.com would like to hear from low handicap players for the Halford Hewitt and Grafton Morrish teams, players of all standards, eras, male and female, are welcome at our matches and meetings taking place at some of the best courses in the country.
If anyone wants to know more about the Society look on the Stowe website, visit our Facebook page or contact the Secretary, Peter Simmons (Cobham 69) pjgsimmons@gmail.com or 07957 141826
Peter Simmons (Cobham 69)