Golfing Society Reports

Members of the Golfing Society have continued to meet and play in various annual events during the course of the last year. Currently, there are sixty-six Old Boys’ who have expressed an interest in playing, but only a minority of these respond and play in the Spring and Autumn meetings. I feel sure that there must be many more Old Boys who are regular (or even irregular) golfers who would enjoy taking part in the meetings or matches. If you would like to join, or know someone else who plays, please contact me.

The 2003 season kicked off with our 3rd Annual Match against the Old Gregorian Golfing Society at Royal Ashdown Forest. Worth was represented by Nick Barnett (G ‘73), James Blake (S ‘97), Andrew Boys (R ‘64), Simon Jones (S ‘98), George Ross (G ‘95), Father Kevin Taggart (President), Matthew Wood (B ‘77) and myself (G ‘65). We came a close second!

We had a good turn out for the Spring Meeting at The Wildernesse Golf Club at the end of May and, on a gorgeous day, Stuart Hiscocks (R ‘93) deservedly won the Rose Bowl with a score of 36 points, as well as taking the prize for the longest drive. James Blake and I gained consolation prizes for nearest the pin. Next on the list was the Grafton Morrish Scratch Foursomes event at Knole Park. The team of Stuart Hiscocks (R ‘93), Simon Jones, Rupert Pridham (G ‘80), George (G ‘95) and Ken Ross and Matthew Watts (R ‘93) only just failed to qualify for the final event at Hunstanton in the Autumn.

The Russell Bowl is the Catholic Public Schools Annual Scratch Foursomes event, played at Woking Golf Club in early June. It is always a most enjoyable day, played with a great deal of bon homie but a certain amount of competitiveness. The team last year consisted of James Blake, Peter Gottelier (R ‘70), Stuart Hiscocks, Ken and George Ross and Simeon Stevens (S ‘95). The latter three were recovering from George’s stag night which possibly accounts for the fact that we did not grace the winner’s podium!

The Autumn Meeting in October was held at the Berkshire Golf Club (and will also be held there on 22nd September, 2004) and the Worth Salver was won by Peter Gottelier with 38 points, playing off a handicap of 6. Rupert Pridham hit the longest drive and Howard Brookman (G ‘93), Ruairidh Gaunt (G ‘82) and I picked up prizes for nearest the pin.

The season is now underway for 2004 and the 4th Match against The Old Gregorians was again a close call. James Ambrose (G ‘75), James Blake, Simon Jones, Paul Moran (G ‘94) and three Rosses—Ken, George and Simon (G ‘98)—and Simeon Stevens, all turned out for another most enjoyable day at Royal Ashdown. The Spring Meeting, for the Rose Bowl, will be held at the East Sussex National Golf Club, Uckfield, on the 19th June 2004 followed by a short AGM. Please let me know if you are interested in playing in this event or the Autumn Meeting at the Berkshire Golf Club.

Contacts: Work: 01323 641221; home: 01323 733499; fax 01323 727044 and e-mail kenneth.ross2@virgin.net.

The Golf Society continues to prosper as it enters its seventh year, largely supported by a keen but smallish cohort of golfers.

Subsequent to my last report Worth was again represented in the Grafton Morrish trophy and the Russell Bowl. The former is open to schools whose Headmasters are invited to attend the Headmaster’s conference. Over a hundred schools enter teams of six players who play a qualifying round at one of seven regional centres. The format is Stableford Scratch Foursomes and Worth, playing at Knole Park, just failed by one point to qualify for the first time. The team consisted of Patrick Davey (F ‘01), Peter Gottelier (R ‘70), Stuart Hiscocks (R ‘93), Simon Jones (S ‘98), Rupert Pridham (G ‘80) and myself.

The Russell Bowl is played annually at Woking Golf Club and is of a similar format and contested by Ampleforth, Downside, Stoneyhurst and Worth. As ever an enjoyable day was had by the team, who included: myself, Stuart Hiscocks and Peter Gottelier, and also included Paul Barker (B ‘95), Rory Gaunt (G ‘82) and George Ross (G ‘95). The Autumn meeting was again played at The East Sussex National Golf Club and local knowledge favoured ‘yours truly’ who managed to pip Simon Pickard (S ‘78) into second place to win the Worth Salver with 33 points. Simon didn’t go away empty handed as he won both ‘the nearest to the hole’ prizes. Rory Gaunt, who came third, won the longest drive.

2003 has started with the third annual match against Downside being played, as before, at Royal Ashdown Forest. The final score was Worth 3½ points, Downside 4½ points. I regret that the game was evenly poised and depended upon the last match. K Ross and G Ross managed to through putt on the last green to lose by one hole. The remaining team comprised Andrew Boys (R ‘64), Nick Barnett (G ‘73), James Blake (S ‘97), Simon Jones and our President Dom Kevin Taggart.

The Spring meeting is due to be played on Friday 30th May at the Wilderness Golf Club and in the Autumn we return to the Berkshire Golf Club on 24th October.

The Spring Meeting 2001 was held at West Hill Golf Club on a glorious day. Despite Pimms being available at the half way house the Secretary was able to pip Stuart Hiscocks (R 93) into 2nd place.

An inaugural match had been arranged in March 2001 at Royal Ashdown Forest against Downside but was deferred initially because of the foot and mouth epidemic. Fortunately, Ashdown was able to accommodate us later in the year, and in July the Old Boys took to the course with much enthusiasm and a certain amount of skill. Unfortunately, said secretary took a turn for the worse and was subsequently admitted to his own local hospital with delirium. The final score was thus not recorded but I am pleased to report my rapid and complete recovery!

… (for full report please see the 2002 Blue Paper, available to members of WOBS from August 2002) …

I am delighted to report a very good turn out at the Addington Court Golf Club for the Spring Meeting (see photo below). Nick Barnett (G 73) was the winner of the Rose Bowl, which he won with a supreme score of 46 points, beating Howard Brookman and Simon Jones, both of whom could have expected to be on the winner’s podium with excellent scores of 44 points a piece.

If any Old Boy would like to join the Society, any handicap to 28, more than welcome. Please contact me on 01323 733499 (tel), 01323 727044 (fax), or at kenneth.ross2@virgin.net.

The Worth Old Boys’ Golfing Society continues to be well supported by a small but select group of golfing enthusiasts.

The Spring Meeting, 2000, was held at the East Sussex National Golf Club and Stuart Hiscocks deservedly won the Worth Rose Bowl with 36 points, in difficult conditions. The Honorary President, Fr Kevin, skilfully won a ‘nearest the pin’ prize and, spurred on by such success, has often been seen at the Crawley Driving range because he has his heart set on the silver salver!

As an experiment the Autumn Meeting was held on a weekend but this did not alter the turnout. Fifteen members braved the threat of rain and floods at Cottesmore Golf and Country Club, and despite the first round being cancelled because of the weather, the location was considered a success. George Ross won the Worth Salver with 40 points, beating his unlucky father into 2nd place. Will Kenney was the longest drive, but rumour has it that his shot was the only one to stay on the fairway!

As in previous years, Worth was represented in the Grafton Morrish Public Schools competition at Knole Park, and in the Russell Bowl Catholic Public Schools competition at Woking. These matches are played as Stableford Scratch Foursomes, a difficult format under any circumstances. Nevertheless, they are much enjoyed by all participants.

The dates and venues for this year’s events are currently being negotiated and, as usual, all paid up members of the Society (£10.00 full and £5.00 student annually) will be notified. An additional event has been arranged this year - we will be having a friendly 36 hole match against Downside Old Boys at Royal Ashdown Forest in March. As the Society grows it is envisaged that more events will be arranged.

Currently we have 30 members, so if anyone knows of an Old Boy who would like to join the Society please contact Ken Ross on 01323 733499 or e-mail: kenneth.ross2@virgin.net.