Golf Society Reports
2011
North Oxford
Our final game of the year took place at North Oxford Golf Club on a beautiful Autumnal afternoon.
Twenty members took part in the "Hogs Back Trophy" competition which was won by Jim Nicholls 38 points runner up Bill Sandhu 37 points. Brian Phipps was nearest the pin 4th hole & Barry Gotham 11th hole.Martin Hurst had the longest drive on the 18th. Birdie 2s were picked up by Alan Brewer, Jim Nicholls & Vaughan Billings.
The Chairman's Cup was also up for grabs at this venue for any player who could get nearest to the pin with their second shot on the 8th hole par 4. Brian Kay or should I say Helen made such a good job of polishing the cup it was only right that Brian should have it back as he was the winner.
Eighteen months ago numbers were dropping in our membership and I wondered whether we would still be going in 2011. SAGS started back in June 1988 and has been recognised as an outstanding golf society by the R&A in Scotland.
I put it to our 20 members at the last meeting and they voted unanimously that we move on into our 24th year, so if you are reading this and feel that you would like the odd game or six then please contact us, any gender and all abilities are welcome.
Happy golfing and may all your 3 footers be gimmes!!
Chair Alan Brewer
Captain's Day & SAGS v SACC
The Captain's Day held at Southfields Golf Club was a great success with Mike Brown taking the spoils ahead of our Captain Gerry Graham, who refused to accept the second prize, which then went to Paul Needle. The concurrent team competition was won by Mike Brown, John Damm and Gerry Graham. The Longest drive was also won by Mike Brown with Ian (Eric Blincoe's guest) taking the nearest the pin competition. Overall a good day was had by all and we would like to thank Gerry for providing all the prizes for the day.
On Sunday, 18th September SAGS took on a team of ex-Cricket Team players (under the banner of SACC) in a game of golf at the Banbury Golf Club in Adderbury. Although the weather forecast was not too good we were blessed with dry conditions for this annual fixture.
The returned scores were wonderful with Neil Powles (SACC) taking the first prize with 44 points (What a bandit!!). Four players gained 40 points ( Eric Blincoe (SAGS), Geordie Mawson (SAGS), Alexander Damm (SACC) and David Powles (SACC), however Eric and Geordie came second and third respectively on countback. The Longest Drive competition was won by Neil Brewer with a monster drive and Geordie Mawson won the Nearest the Pin competition.
The team winner's trophy (which was won by SACC last year) was retained by them with a score of 413 to 381 points. The SAGS need to get practising for next year's encounter. Well done the SACC - who now wish to be known as the NOMADS (as none of them now play for the Cricket Club anymore).
Alan Brewer
Chairman
Burford was the Dave Scott Show
Although he (Dave Scott) did not win the singles competition - he came second with 38 points following Glenn Marshall, the winner, with 40 points. However he went on to win the Longest Drive competition, both nearest the pin competitions and swooped the birdies two competition with three (taking lots of dosh in the process).
Glenn did not have a bad day either, apart from being the winner he was a member of the successful team winners along with Eric Blincoe and Jim Nicholls.
Well done to both Glenn and Dave (both of whom will have their handicaps cut for the next outing).
The next SAGS outing will be our Captain's Day at Southfields Golf Club in Oxford, a club we have not visited for a couple of years. Southfield always proves a challenge to the membership and I hope that you are able to attend and support our Captain Gerry Graham. Guests are, of course, most welcome.
Alan Brewer
Wychwood
Our second outing of the year took SAGS to Wychwood Golf Club at Lyneham. The expected downpour was late coming in the day which meant that most of the players were nearing the end of their round when the heavens opened up.
That said, a great day was had by the 21 members and guests with some good scores being recorded.
The winner of the Cardale Stableford Singles was Dave Scott with 35 points with Chris Cooper close behind on 32 points. The team game was won by Robbie Robinson and Paul Needle, a great result as there were only two members of this team due to their third member having to call off at the last minute. The longest drive was recorded by Tony Giles and the two nearest the pin competitions being won by Mike Brown and Chris Cooper.
Our next outing is to one of our favourite courses, Burford Golf Club, which always gives us a great welcome as well as a course that has been manicured to perfection. I do hope that as many of you as possible are able to attend and remember to bring your guests along.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at Burford.
Happy Golfing
Alan Brewer
Rye Hill
Our first outing at Rye Hill , played under good weather with good scores returned by the players. As we played only 18 holes, no prizes were awarded for team play, however, the Singles Stableford was won with a magnificent 41 points by our current Captain Gerry Graham with Paul Needle runner up with 37points. Needless to say both players will now be playing with a lower handicap. The Longest Drive competition was won by Dave Scott and the two nearest the pin competitions were won by Paul Needle and Robbie Robinson. Well done to you all.
Our next outing is to an old favourite, Wychwood Golf Club, Lyneham. This is a course that is enjoyed by most of the members and hopefully you will all be able to attend. Please remember that guests are very welcome.
Alan Brewer
2010
SAGS captain Alan Brewer held his Captain's Day at Chipping Norton Golf Club.
The morning team game (stableford waltz) was won by Mike Brown, Nick Powell & Paul Needle.
Nearest pin 3rd Chris Cooper
Nearest pin 2nd Jim Nicholls
Longest drive Chris Cooper
Chairmans Cup 2nd shot NP 18th Brian Kay
Guest winner Pete Tyreman
Ladies winner Jan Krouse
Overall winner 18 hole stableford Jim Nickolls 41 points.
Wives & partners joined the players for a wonderful dinner & presentation in the evening.
Visit to Wychwood Golf Club
Friday 29 May 2009
SAGS were blessed with glorious weather for our first outing of the year at Wychwood Golf Club at Lyneham on Friday 29th May. Twenty-one members and guests gathered at this beautifully manicured course to play for the Richard Cardew Challenge Cup.
The morning team game was a Texas Scramble which was won with the excellent score of 28 by Dave Scott, Martin Hurst and Robin Wyatt. In the margins the Longest Drive was taken by Geordie Mawson and the Nearest the Pin competition was won by our Chairman Alan Brewer.
The Singles competition played over 18 holes was won by Vaughan Billings with an impressive 41 points with Mike Brown runner up on 38 points. Also of note was the 38 points gathered by one our young guests George Kay from Duns Tew.
The finale of the day was the presentation of prizes by our Chairman Alan Brewer and Society Captain Frank Damm.
SAGS will be challenging the Steeple Aston Cricket Club at golf on Sunday the 14th June at Rye Hill and our next Society meeting will be at Leamington Spa at the end of June. New members are always welcome.
Frank Damm
Secretary & Captain
Click here for photographs of the winners.
2007
May - Wychwood
Steeple Aston Golf Society began their 2007 season with a visit to Wychwood Golf Club in Lyneham, Nr Chipping Norton. Twenty four members and guests went, despite the Golf Society’s Chairman and Captain being away on tour in Majorca and Portugal.
The weather was perfect but the scoring was not high. Tony Giles took the Cardew Challenge Trophy with 33 points, just one point ahead of Geordie Mawson and Martin Hurst. Geordie got the runners up spot by virtue of a better back nine. Barry Gotham, Lee Miller and Chris Cooper won the team game, Texas Scramble, with 30 shots. Martin Hurst and Richard Suswillo won the two nearest the pin competitions and Bryan McNamara won for the longest drive.
Click here for photographs of the winners.
June - Buckingham
The Golf Club’s second meeting of the year was at Buckingham where the course has been transformed in recent years by the installation of new greens and bunkers.
It did not rain but the scores were somewhat low as the players had extreme difficulty in reading the undulating greens. Dave Scott got 28 points beating Mike Granville who took second spot from Lawrence Cole on a countback score of 27. The team game, where members were only allowed to use their irons, was won by Dave Scott, Robbie Robinson and Bryan McNamara. Nearest the Pin competitions were won by Dave Scott and Bryan McNamara and the Longest Drive was won by Lawrence Cole.
Click here for photographs of the winners.
5th August - Cherwell Edge - SAGS v SACC
The annual golf match between Steeple Aston Golf Society and Steeple Aston Cricket Club was held at Cherwell Edge Golf Club on Sunday 5th August 2007. Twenty three players gathered in glorious weather to play for the magnificent trophy which unfortunately remained in the Cricket Club Captain’s house - I think he realised that was the only way the Cricket Club would retain the trophy.
The game was played in an excellent spirit between two sets of friends who enjoy a day out chewing the fat with pleasant company.
The victors were the Golf Society with an aggregate score of 356 points and the Cricket Club coming a close second on 319 points. Individual winners were as follows:
Overall Winner - Peter Burwell 39 points
Overall Runner Up - Dave Scott 35 points
Pairs Winners:- Peter Burwell & Frank Damm 71 points
Nearest the Pin: Neil Powles
Longest Drive: Jim Nicholls
We had two ladies in our midst who showed the way to quite a number of our regular men golfers - so well done Jan and Sue.
Click here for photographs of the event.
16th August - Stratford on Avon Golf Club
After the recent rainfall, which washed us out at our last venue Burford, we were blessed with warm and sunny day at Stratford on Avon Golf Club. The course was in excellent condition, the fairways wonderfully lush and the greens of superb quality.
Twenty one members and guests from SAGS played a confusing game in the morning called progressive waltz. This game was dreamt up by our Chairman Alan Brewer and I am still not sure that everyone was aware of what he was on about !! Anyway the team with the most points (38) at the end was Bob Haynes, Lawrence Cole, Robin Wyatt and Richard Suswillo. The rest of the competitions were won by just two people, John Damm and Bryan McNamara. John won the SAGS putter for his accumulation of 36 points, well ahead of second place - you've guessed it - Bryan McNamara. John also won the Chairman's trophy for the best score at the par threes and the nearest the pin competition. Bryan wrapped up the only other trophy on offer - the longest drive. The saving grace is that John will have to play off a much reduced handicap in the future.
Click here for photographs of the event.
Captain’s Day at Cherwell Edge Golf Club
SAGS Captain’s day was held at Cherwell Edge Golf Club on Friday 14th September accompanied by bright sunny weather. 27 members and guests gathered to play the games selected by the Captain Peter Burwell. His choice for the morning team game was Ambrose Scramble, which was won by Glenn Marshall, Bob Haynes and Gerry Graham with a score of 25 Stableford points.
The afternoon individual play was won by Brian Kay with 38 Stableford points, beating off a stern challenge from Bob Haynes, Alan Brewer and Mike Granville who all had 36 points but Bob won through on a countback score of 22 points on the back nine holes. The Captain put up a prize for a "Ferret", which is holing a chip from off the green. This prize was won by Brian Kay whose chip was considered the most difficult.
A unique event, for SAGS, happened on the 13th hole when Dave Scott scored a "hole in one". This is the first "hole in one" recorded during a SAGS meeting in all of our twenty years of existence. The day wound up with our Captain presenting the prizes to the winners.
Click here for photographs of the event.