Category: Blog

Tour – Southport – 2nd to 5th September 2021

The Players in front of Hesketh GC Clubhouse

This years Tour to Southport taking in Royal Birkdale, Formby Hall and Hesketh was a great success with 20 players taking part. As you can see the weather at Hesketh was magnificent, but I get ahead of myself!!

Nearly all foregathered at the Vincent Hotel on Thursday evening and partook in the customary fitness and mental machinations prior to the first day at the magnificent Royal Birkdale.

Birkdale was in magnificent condition and their hospitality was second to none.

The Clubhouse at Royal Birkdale – Coming up the 18th!!!

The winner of the Day was Michael Salmon with 33 points on countback from John McMenamin with Gareth Sheppard 3rd with 17 on the Back 9 on countback from Neil Blundy, Martyn Howie and Robert Seeley. Front 9 Winner was John McMenamin, with 18 winning on countback with 13 points on the last 6 from Martyn Howie, Robert Seeley and David Wannerton all with 12 on the last 6. Back 9 Winner was Neil Meixner with 18 points as Michael Salmon has already won a prize. NPx2 was Gareth Shepherd and the NP was handed down to Neil Blundy as he was 4th over all and Michael Salmon has already won a prize. The team score was 1.5 points to the Captain’s team and 3.5 to the Vice’s!

Day 2 saw us play the rather disappointing Formby Hall where the service and organisation were absolutely awful! However we stayed dry and  some had an excellent round

Winner on the day Oliver Tobin 33pts on count back – 16 on the back 9, Front 9 Ben Hurworth 21 pts and Back 9 Steve Haley 17 points. NP Stewart Kirkwood AKA Alvin and NPx2 Gareth Shepherd for the second time in two days!! The Vice’s team extended their team score lead after day 2. The scores were 3.5 points to the Captain’s team and 6.5 to the Vice’s!

Day 3 dawned sunny and warm and we played Hesketh, a great parkland/links course just north of Southport.

Final Days Winners were – NP Oliver Tobin and NP in 2 Neil Meixner, Front 9 Ben Hurworth 22pts, Back 9 Neil Blundy 21 pts both and Day 3 Winner Steven Barker with 42 points and 22 on the back 9.

Ben Hurworth receiving the Green jacket and Claret Jug from last years winner Rob Seeley

So to the overall results in the individual. Third over three rounds was Iain Stevenson with 96 points, Second Neil Blundy 99 points and The Green Jacket Winner and therefore the new holder of the Claret Jug Ben Hurworth with 103 points. Well done Ben!!

The team score was very closely fought on the final day with the Vice’s Team prevailing over the Captain’s by 10.5 points to 9.5 Points. Jason Wood (Vice Captain) presented an engraved whiskey glass to all his team winners as a memento of the weekend.

A great time had by all!!

Glorious Ashridge – 23rd June 2021

What a great day we all had at Ashridge – Perfect weather – The course in the best condition we’ve ever seen (albeit the rough was extreme), great company and the food and service provided by the club was first class.

A belated presentation was made to Digby Hebbard of the Replica Trophy of his “Player of the Year 2019” success delayed because of you know what!!!

Next Up was Oliver Tobin who won the nearest the pin in 2 on the 9th

Not present but winner of the nearest the pin on 16 was guest James Barrett

The Yellow Ball team was due to various shenanigans performed by the scorer to ensure no-one got more than one prize was won by Chris Sunderland, Rob Cowup (not in the picture), Jason Wood and  Ashley Pratt the latter two selected on merit from elsewhere!!

So Matt Jones and David Kavenagh (not picured here), who were part of winning yellow ball team and only one of two teams to bring back their yellow ball – but couldn’t win two prizes, won the  best team score from two other teams on 44 points having 23 points on the back 9 from 22 and 20 respectively!!

The Major prizes now with Phil Bowyer winning the Guest Prize with a great score of 36 (19 on the back) points from Ashley Pratt also 36 (16 on the back) and Nigel Anderson on 35

So to the Winner of the Finlinson Cup – Seen here presented by Captain  Iain Stevenson was Steve Hurworth on 36points playing off WHI 7 (Cut 2) from Matt Jones on 35 (cut a further 1)

Some great Golf played and some not so great but a very enjoyable day.

Remember to have 23rd September and 14th August in your diary as these are the next two EPIC Events

Burhill – Captains Day

We were very well looked after at Burhill on Wednesday 26th May 2021

The weather was fine considering how bad May has been this year and the course was in great nick although playing long due to the lush fairways. Altogether a great test of golf!!

Before golf we were treated to a substantial ploughman’s lunch and after golf and foregathering in the Honours Bar we repaired to the dining area for a splendid meal and  prizegiving.

Without going into the intricacies of the scoring system (designed to limit any individual to a single prize) the results were as follows.

Nearest the Pin – Martyn Howie
Nearest the Pin in 2 – Chris Sunderland
Team Winners (actually the team partners of the two individual winners up next) – Steve Davies and Daniel Myers
Guest Winner – Matthew Betts
EPIC – Captains Cup Winner – Matthew Jones – 38 points (CUT 2) from Robert White 37 (CUT 1)

A reminder that we are at Ashridge on 23rd June 2021 so get it in the diary and sort out your guests.

BAGS v EPIC – 19th May 2021

The now traditional match between the two rival societies was held at Theydon Bois on a day which promised much rain but delivered little. The course had though suffered from previous rain and was somewhat waterlogged! Many thanks to Mike Foster for organising the club and indeed to Theydon Bois for great food and good service

The match itself couldn’t have been closer as our gallant 12 took on the BAGS in a better ball match-play competition

The early matches were nip and tuck with Charles Gjertsen and Chris Anderson as well as Steve Hurworth and Martyn Howie earning a 1/2 point (the latter were denied a win by an enormous putt on the last hole from EPIC Member Gavin Tuck playing for the opposition!!!) with Rob Seeley and Mat Jones losing. Steve Davies and Michael Foster again could have won but secured a 1/2. So it came to the last two groups. 2 wins and the trophy was ours for the first time, a win and a half and we had a drawn match!!!!

The Neils (Blundy and Meixner) delivered a win but unfortunately having been 2 up at the start Iain Stevenson and Aidan Mahoney couldn’t quite hang on and with their loss we finally had to admit defeat 3.5 to 2.5.

The closest of margins.

Next year it will be BAGS choice of venue so we’ll probably be back at Thorndon Park!!

The Martyn Rowlands Memorial Hole in One Cup

President Ken Adams presentation of the “Martyn Rowlands Memorial Hole in One Cup” to previous “hole in oners” Steven Barker and Jason Wood.

Hole in One Trophy – Steven Barker – Presented by Ken Adams
Hole in One Trophy – Jason Wood – Presented by Ken Adams

Ken sponsored the cup in memory of friend and fellow EPIC member Martyn who sadly lost his battle against cancer last year and was the only other person in the society to get a hole in one!! Congrats to them and thanks to Ken for sponsoring the cup!!

Moor Park – Golf again!!!!

What a great turnout on Thursday (49 members and guests). Thanks to all who attended and enjoyed the course at it’s very best, with super-quick greens and beautifully manicured fairway and bunkers.
It was a great shame that we couldn’t network in the usual manner after the golf but as many have said to me “at least we are playing golf again!!”.
Thanks to all of your generosity we raised a whopping £380 for Rosie’s Rainbow Trust from the attendees £10 stake. The winner of the £75 voucher, drawn randomly this morning by my wife Christine, was Heather Last who will receive her voucher shortly via Steven Barker. Congrats to her and many thanks to you and your guests.
So to the results.
Following some adjudication by the secretary (which will not be subject to appeal) and some resulting minor adjustments to the leading scores the winners are as follows
  • Nearest the Pin on 18 – Martyn Howie
  • Nearest the Pin in 2 on 7 – Mark Mackenzie-Crooks
  • Team Winners with 41 points – Chris White and Nigel Bobroff (22 back 9) from Neil Blundy and Michael Trott also with 41 points (21 back 9)
  • Guest Winner – Michael Armstrong playing off 2 with a superb 35 points (17 back 9) from Mark Mackenzie-Crooks also on 35 (15 back 9)
  • Finally despite the secretaries best efforts to adjudicate otherwise the winner of the coveted Spring Cup was Neil Blundy with 38 points (Cut 2) from Steve Hurworth on 37 (Cut 1).
  • Due to the COVID restrictions the Cup will be presented at a later in the year!!

I will be sending vouchers out to all winners shortly. (those for guests will be sent to their member invitee for onward transmission)

Congratulations to you all.
The next event is at Burhill on 26th May 2021. Golf from 1pm. Please put it in the diary!!  Full information will be issued next week!!

Abridge

We thought we’d get away with a dry day! How wrong we were!!!! Although it started well there was some torrential rain for all on the front 9. The course was very wet anyway after record rain in early October.

Abridge Golf Club were absolutely fabulous at catering for us during these Covid times!! We were treated to a great meal in pleasant surroundings organised so well that at times one forgot we were in the middle of a pandemic!! Many thanks to the staff.

The Ball sweep added £325 to the Rosie’s Rainbow Fund coffers. Thank you all.

Scoring was excellent, by some, considering the conditions.

The President’s Cup, for EPIC Members, was won by Matthew Jones on 37 points (Cut 2) who received the trophy form Captain and runner-up Ian Stevenson 35 points (Cut 1)

The Guest Prize was won by Stuart Norris again with a great 37 points

The Team competition was the closest fought with the “Dream Team” of Luke Croll and Jamie Dredge on 45 points narrowly beating two teams on 44 points to snatch the prize.

Charles Gjertsen won Nearest the Pin in 2

Guest Oliver Tobin won Nearest the Pin.

Well done to all our winners

The next event is Letchworth for “Family and Friends” on Tuesday December 29.

Burhill in Glorious Sunshine

A great day out was had by 18 members and 15 guests playing the old course at Burhill, a new venue for EPIC and one I’m sure we’ll return to next year!

A ploughman’s lunch greeted guests and members alike followed by a sort game clinic prior to the main event starting at 1.10 from the first tee.

The short game clinic didn’t seem to assist many players as the scores lay testament to the difficulty of the read and speed of the greens – fast and with some amazing borrows!!

Burhill Golf Club and their staff were magnificent throughout the day and we were treated to a great 3 course dinner in the clubhouse.

We received a complimentary driver from the cancelled  golf tour to La Baule this year and Captain Iain supported by committee elected to raffle that for Ken Adams’s chosen charity Rosie’s Rainbow Trust. The driver was won by guest (soon to be member, we hope) Stewart Kirkwood. The raffle raised an amazing £590, congratulations to all who participated.

Left over from the AGM 2020, the following

Neil Blundy – Last years Captain presented Robert Seeley with his replica trophy for his win at the La Cala Tour 2019

After dinner Captain, Iain Stevenson, presented prizes for Burhill as follows.

Guest Glen Payne – Nearest the Pin
Steven Barker – Nearest the Pin in 2
Suzanne and John Biscoe – Team Prize

The Guest Prize was won by Tony Humberstone playing off 9 with a magnificent 37 points. Tony was unable to stay for dinner.

Iain Stevenson (2nd on 34 points and losing to) Gavin Tuck presented the Captains’ Cup to him having lost on count-back!!!  Well done Gavin Cut 2 and bad luck Iain Cut 1!!

Thanks to all who attended and a reminder that we hope to keep the event at Abridge 15th October 2020 live following HMG’s latest Covid changes. More later!!!