The new improved Rex Bullock Shield

 

The Rex Bullock Annual Stableford Trophy -  competed for since the early Nineties -  was running out of space for winners' names so, thanks to Trophy Custodian Dave Wood, it now has a new enlarged shield ensuring that we can continue to celebrate the winners for many years to come.

Arthur Lucas Cup (Bring and Win) November 11 2025

 

Graham Gadsden, receives the Arthur Lucas Cup from Seniors Captain Tony Lloyd

The Arthur Lucas Cup, also known as the Bring and Win, and one of the most popular events in the Senior Section calendar attracted a healthy field of 70 golfers.

As usual, everyone was asked to bring a prize worth at least £7.50 to add to the groaning table of goodies.

But this year, for the first time, we also spent some of the entrance fees on hampers of goodies for the top five players.

The golf went well with mild and dry conditions on the John O'Gaunt course encouraging some good scoring. And the atmosphere in the clubhouse afterwards was convivial to say the least as everyone gathered in the Burgoyne Suite for the prizegiving.

Many thanks to Nigel Underwood and his wife Sabrina for organising, handing out the cards for the shotgun start and buying extra prizes for the top five players.

Three players came in with 38 points but the winner of the Arthur Lucas Cup - and the best of the hampers - was Graham Gadsden. 

Beaten into second and third place on countback were Peter Harvey and George Simmons.

Chris Saunders and Peter Wallace, who scored 36 points, took fourth and fifth places.

In a touching moment at 11am - this being Armistice Day - the klaxon sounded and the entire field fell silent for two minutes' silence.

Everyone's a winner! The prize table awaiting Bring and Win entrants 

New this year: five hampers for the top five players

Fifth place: Peter Wallace

Fourth place: Chris Saunders

Third place: George Simmons

Second place: Peter Harvey

TSB Trophy (Juniors vs Seniors) October 29 2025

 

The Juniors and Seniors after the match with William Gilbert holding the TSB Trophy

The long-standing tradition of the Juniors and Seniors competing for the TSB Trophy continued on a grey and drizzly day on John O'Gaunt.

The Trophy goes back 43 years and the Juniors are certainly ahead overall by quite some margin, winning last year 3½/2½.

But on Wednesday the Seniors managed to peg back their young rivals to a draw - 2½/2½.

So, as the current holders, a draw was enough to retain the trophy for another year.

As is tradition the Seniors bought their Junior playing partners lunch after the match.

The standout performance came from Ollie Newman who shot level par - his best ever round.

Results in detail:

Albert Watts and Alex Payne vs David Barlow and Michael Newstead: Junior win 3&2

Harry Burgess and Freya Pallett vs Andy Brown and Trevor Darrington: Match halved

Daniel Durkin and Ollie Newman vs Algy Grimes and Bill Walker: Junior win 4&3

Jayden Slender and Chloe Church vs Dave Wood and Graham Gadsden: Senior win 2&1

William Gilbert and Harry Pope vs Tony Lloyd and Chris Walker: Senior win 3&2

Albert Watts and Alex Payne vs David Barlow and Michael Newstead

Daniel Durkin and Ollie Newman vs Algy Grimes and Bill Walker

Jayden Slender and Chloe Church vs Dave Wood and Graham Gadsden

Harry Burgess and Freya Pallett vs Andy Brown and Trevor Darrington

William Gilbert and Harry Pope vs Tony Lloyd and Chris Walker

Tony Lloyd presents William Gilbert with the TSB Trophy

Sue Lee responds on behalf of the Junors

Swap Day at The Links, Newmarket Monday October 27 2025

 

Winners Ian Riches and Trevor Darrington with Seniors Captain Tony Lloyd

Forty Seniors from John O'Gaunt and 40 from The Links, Newmarket, swapped courses for the day to enjoy a day out with a difference.

This year's Swap Day, brilliantly organised by Dave Wood, didn't disappoint, taking place on a dry, sometimes sunny, but chilly day with a stiff breeze blowing across the Gallups.

Three pairs came in with 39 points. Just missing out on a prize were Paul Hammond and Tony Whittaker while 2nd place and £20 pro shop vouchers went to Paul Dobson and Graham Gadsden.

But the winners, on countback, and taking home £30 pro shop vouchers, were Ian Riches and Trevor Darrington.

Wine prizes for Nearest the Pin went to Andy Brown and David Barlow.

Some lucky players witnessed thoroughbred race horses being exercised on the gallups, which skirt the course.

Meanwhile one unlucky player - Paul Dobson - lost a banana to a hungry crow that helped itself from Paul's golf bag. To make matters worse he lost a brand new ball on the same hole!

The day ended with warming cottage pie followed by sticky toffee pudding and plenty of clubhouse banter.

Runners up Paul Dobson and Graham Gadsden

Nearest the pin on the 9th Andy Brown

Nearest the pin in 2 on the 14th David Barlow

Above and below: scenes from The Links, Newmarket

Senior Section Committee Meeting Notes 16th October 2025

 

In attendance: Tony Lloyd (TL), Algy Grimes (AG) Richard Westergreen – Thorne (RWT) Barry Donovan (BD) Dave Wood (DW) David Barlow (DB) Nigel Underwood (NU)

 

Apologies: Jonathan Lean (JL),

 

Minutes previous

 Agreed

 

Matters arising not covered elsewhere on the agenda

 None

 

Captain's report (TL)

 Our inter-club matches, which began way back in March, ended on Sept 19 with a thumping victory against Bedford and County. More news, no doubt in Algy’s report.

For me it has been a very rewarding experience. It has been an immense honour to captain the teams and I like to think that we didn’t do too badly overall!

 I would like to thank Algy and Alban for their incredible work behind the scenes and all the organisers and participants for their efforts throughout the year.

 

Treasurer's report (BD)

 The financials position as at 13/10 is a bank balance of £13.6k up from £9.k last month. This includes £3700 deposits for the 2026 Tour.

 New processes are working well with the Main club. A full review will be undertaken before the year end.

 The 2026 Tour has been booked at the Nottinghamshire on 20/22 May 2026. 26 are signed up and all but one has paid their deposits.

 Bank Account. Further attempts to resolve the Online App issues with the Bank Account – still unresolved. Serious attempt to review new Bank options will follow.

 From a personal point of view I will be undergoing knee surgery in October – confirmed as 27/10/25.This will impact my availability for awhile. Shouldn’t impact things too much but I may need some help for the Christmas Fayre.

Budget 2026. I will start this process over the coming 2-3 weeks. Algy has confirmed that Match fees and food costs remain unchanged – excellent news.

 Any new events, costs or Revenues – please let me know

 The use of SumUp machines for raffles was discussed.

 

Vice Captain's report (DB)

 Nothing to report this month.

 IPC report (RWT)

 Nothing to report.

 

Secretary’s report (RWT)

 A brief report this time with the calendar and AGM separate agenda items for the meeting.

 Four new members to report since the last meeting. Three new to the club and one existing club member who asked me to circulate his note about setting up a '9 holer' group. I hope that he gets some interest as it would be good to have that option for members. I will keep in touch with him and report back.

 Thanks to Algy for attending the recent club New Member Induction Meeting and helping to make those who attended feel welcome. Two of the new members to join us this month are a direct result of that induction session.

 As the calendar and AGM agenda items suggest I need to turn my attention to the 2026 season and start getting the various lists and information up together to circulate to members, committee and other clubs. Suggestions welcome.

 Finally, many thanks to Tony for finishing off and then sending the Newsletter to members over the past couple of weeks.

 

Competition Secretary's report (NU)

 Quite a busy time since our last meeting, with 3 competitions on consecutive Tuesdays. All have been completed without any major issues, although numbers withdrawing have increased markedly for these three competitions.

 The “Autumn Swing” began with the Gordon Percival hidden teams incorporating the Martin Ives individual trophy. This was won by Lawrence Atherton with 41 points from Tony Lloyd on 39 and David Howley (also 39, countback). The hidden teams resulted, for the first time in memory, in a tie on 104 points with Terry Domagala, Graham Berry and Philip Gow matched by Oz Osman, Fred Williams and Richard Young. There being no way to apply countback, the decision was taken to declare the trophy shared, both teams receiving vouchers.

 We need to decide whether that is to be applied should the situation occur again. One option would be to give the prize to the team with the highest individual score but is that in the spirit of a team competition?

 Action Point: As it was very unlikely to happen very often it was agreed that if there was a tie again in future then the trophy would be shared as it was for 2025.

 The second leg was the Autumn Singles Stableford, won by your humble correspondent with 38 points on JoG, on countback from Stephen Mathers and Tony Munn on 37. Of 96 entrants, only 4 bettered 36 points in ideal conditions. Divisional prizes went to Andy Brown, Terry Domagala and Ken Brewer. It should be noted that these divisional prizes are generating lots of positive feedback.

 Tuesday saw the “three clubs and a putter” competition on the Carthagena, the field for which was almost double last year’s. Winner was Ian Simpson,37 pts on c/b from Bob Anderson, with Michael Bonwick 3rd on 35 pts. There was a serious hold up caused by sending too many matches off the 9^th. In future I suggest no more than 11 starts from the 9^th, with 14 from the first and the field capped at 72 or 75.

 I mentioned withdrawals earlier. In the week before the Gordon Percival there were eight withdrawals. By an absolute fluke of arithmetic (and Ken Wareham’s late entry  the numbers worked perfectly. There were 10 withdrawals in the week before the stableford, less critical obviously, from the total entry number angle. Up to Monday 15.00 hours there had been 11 withdrawals from 3 clubs and a putter, partly covered by 4 late entries. I am not for a moment suggesting any are for non-valid reasons, but 2 or 3 has been the norm and this is a marked spike. No obvious reason, just how things are I suppose.

 I am continuing to monitor slow play (slightly better in these 2 comps).

Bring and win entry fee cut to £2.00 with 41 entries so far.

 Action Point: the senior’s policy for withdrawal is that if notice is given more than 48 hours in advance the entry fee is refunded. Less than 48 hours it is not refunded but added to the charity pot (with the discretion of the captain to waive this dependent upon the reason for withdrawal). RWT to circulate this to members via the Newsletter prior to the Arthur Lucas.

 

Match Secretary's Report (AG)

 Since our last committee meeting, the Seniors’ team completed their fixtures with a 4 all draw at Harpenden Common and finally a 7 – 1 win at home to Bedford and County.

 The running totals finished the season as Won 13, Drawn 2, Lost 15.

 So onwards to next year, I have discussed the cost of meals at home and there will be no increase, so I propose we keep the match fees at £24.00 per match. Actual menu is still being worked on.

 I will be talking with Alban soon regarding setting the system up for 2026 so hopefully the Calendar is now fixed for the matches.

 Action Point: subsequent to this report the club has intimated that there will be price rises for the meals for 2026. AG and BD will follow up with the club and report back to the committee.

 

Trophy Custodian's Report (DW)

 The return of trophies to me for engraving is progressing well and it is anticipated to have the trophies with the engraver at the start of November.

I have obtained a larger wooden shield to attach to the Rex Bullock Shield to enable the attachment of new cartouches in the future. Wendy Ashworth obtained the shield on line at a cost of £27.50. I have reimbursed her the full amount. I will arrange for our engraver to build the combined shield and re-arrange the cartouches, leaving space on the face of the shield for future additions.

 The Baillif Shield is also lacking in space for future winners to be added, although a few older cartouches could be moved to the reverse of the shield, under the stand. This shield is the largest of our shields, so is not suitable for adding an additional even larger shield.

 Swap Day – Newmarket Links, 27th October 2025.

All arrangements for the day at both Courses are complete – all we need now is a fine, dry day to help the occasion go well.

Club Vice-Captain Paul Fletcher has agreed to perform a ‘meet and greet’ to the Newmarket Group, remarking that he is honoured to have been asked.

 Presentation Evening 2nd December 2025.

Arrangements/timings will remain as previous years. The Presentation meal menu is now available following some delays in having it ratified by Club Management.

Invitations have been sent out to our Captain's guests and to the Committee Members. These will be followed by invitations to Competition winners and runners-up in the Knockout competitions when the finals have been completed.

I propose to hold a raffle on the evening following the success of its introduction last year. Raffle prize donations will be most welcome.

 

Suspension of Play Protocol

 The following policy that has been developed by NU was agreed by the committee subject to final confirmation by the club:

 

THE GENERAL CLUB PROCEDURE FOR SUSPENDING ALL PLAY IS BY THE AIR HORN (KLAXON). IF HEARD, PLAY MUST STOP IMMEDIATELY (e.g. due to risk of lightning or other danger) AND PLAYERS MUST SEEK SHELTER AS APPROPRIATE.

·       This procedure applies to Senior’s calendar competitions ONLY.

·       A Senior’s Competition will start if the designated course is open for play.

·       If there is any possibility of extreme weather during a Senior’s Competition, one or more members of the Seniors Committee will be designated as points of contact. This will be notified by email before play if the weather forecast suggests it may become relevant.

·       If, during the course of a competition, players consider that areas have become unplayable, by reason of, for example, flooded greens, dangerously strong winds, hail etc. they are asked to contact the designated committee member/s who will adjudicate. If necessary, play will be suspended. This will be signified by ringing of a handbell and/or repeated blasts on a whistle. On hearing this, balls must be marked in line with general golf rules and players must return to the clubhouse without delay. Players are asked to inform other groups still playing, who may not have heard the bell/whistle, of the situation.

·       Play may be suspended for up to one hour, during which time information will be provided at least every 20 minutes. If conditions improve, play will resume when safe/possible. If no improvement has occurred within one hour of suspension, the competition will be deemed to be over. If 70% or more of entrants have completed their rounds, results will be declared. If less than 70%, the competition will be abandoned and entry fees refunded.

 

 Calendar 2026

 Action Point: RWT will confirm with Nigel Tarn that the calendar can now be entered onto the club diary.

 

AGM 2025

 This is due to take place on 3^rd Feb. 2026.

 A discussion took place regarding the arrangements for the AGM and the process of nomination, voting and elections to posts on the committee.

 Action Point: RWT to bring draft ‘Notice of Meeting’ and ‘AGM Agenda’ notes to members to the next meeting for confirmation in time for them to be distributed to members.

 

Past Senior Captains' Lunch

 The date for 2026 has been confirmed as Weds 14^th October.

 

AOB

 Photographs in the club foyer - DB continues to follow up

 Peter Imray has sent a note to the committee regarding the distribution of GOTY across both courses and playing formats.

Action Point: TL to invite Peter to a committee meeting to discuss

 

Dates of Future Meetings

 

Tues Nov 18^th (note change of date)

Thurs Jan 13 2026

Thurs Feb 3 2026 (AGM)

 

Past Senior Captains' lunch Oct 15 2025

 

Seven past Senior Section Captains and the current Captain gathered in the Burgoyne Suite for their annual lunch. Clockwise from Dave Gauge in the red jumper are Fred Williams, Jonathan Lean, Richard Westergreen-Thorne, Alan Fowler, Tony Lloyd, Algy Grimes and Bill Walker

Three Clubs and a Putter Oct 14 2025 (and GOTY winner)

 

Winner Ian Simpson receives the trophy from Seniors Captain Tony Lloyd

Ian Simpson was confirmed as Senior Section Golfer of the Year today after winning the Three Clubs and a Putter competition, our final GOTY qualifier.

Seventy-five golfers took to the Carthagena course armed with only three clubs and a putter each. Some chose better than others as the scores showed.

Only two players scored 36 points or more.

In third place, with 35 points, was Mike Bonwick.

Commiserations to Bob Anderson who was clubhouse leader on 37 points for quite some time until he was pipped at the post by a player in the very last group out.

That person was Ian Simpson who won on countback with 37 points. He took out with him a 3 wood, 6 iron and 50 deg wedge which he used successfully to get out of no less than four bunkers.

His win also shot him to the top of the Golfer of the Year leaderboard with a final points tally of 88. Finishing just behind him were Terry Domagala (74), George Simmons (73), Dave Wrench (69) and Len Greaves (63).

For a short while the 3 clubs and a putter leaderboard was headed by Pat Gilgallon on 80 points which included six holes in one!

His fame was short lived however when Competition Organiser Nigel Underwood realised that Pat had entered his stableford points instead of his gross scores. (See Pat's card below)

Raffle prizes of £10 pro shop credit were won by Peter Imray, Stephen Cherry, Andy Brown and Bill Walker.

Runner Up Bob Anderson

Third place: Mike Bonwick

Pat's uncorrected entry on IG showing six holes in one!

Autumn Singles Stableford Trophy Oct 7 2025

 

Nigel Underwood receives the trophy from Seniors Captain Tony Lloyd

The conditions seemed perfect. Nice and mild, slightly overcast with a gentle breeze. The John O'Gaunt course was also in great condition and preferred lies were back.

So what went wrong? Out of 95 entrants only four players managed to score 36 points or more. Answers on a postcard please or comment on this blog.

Let the records show that those four were Andy Brown, Tony Munn, Steve Mathers and Nigel Underwood. Well done to them.

Andy, with 36 points, just missed out on a podium place but did come first in Division A - one of the new prizes introduced this year.

In third place, on 37 points, and winning a £20 pro shop voucher, was Tony Munn.

Runner Up, with 38 points, was Steve Mathers, who won a £30 pro shop voucher.

But the winner, who sat there patiently processing the scores for several hours, was our very own Competition Secretary Nigel Underwood. He won on countback from Steve and was rewarded with a pro shop voucher for £40 as well as the Autumn Singles Stableford Trophy.

Divisional Prizes of £20 pro shop vouchers went to:

Div A (14 handicap and lower) Andy Brown 

Div B (15 to 19) Terry Domagala

Div C (20 plus) Ken Brewer

Raffle winners, who will each have £10 added to their pro shop accounts, were Bob Anderson, Roy Nicholas, Jim Kerr and Peter Sweeney.

The result shook up the Golfer of the Year leaderboard with George Simmons taking top spot with 73 points followed by Dave Wrench (69), Ian Simpson (68), Terry Domagala (58) and Len Greaves (57). Still all to play for with one more GOTY qualifier - the 3 Clubs and a Putter -   to be played next Tuesday. 

Runner Up Steve Mathers, who had to leave before the presentation to walk his dog!

Senior Summer Scratch League Final - Millbrook G.C. September 9 2025

The Final of the Senior Summer Scratch League against South Beds G.C. contested on September 25th resulted in a magnificent win for JOG. Matches 2, 3, 4 and 5 had finished leaving the score at 2 - 2 so it came down to Andy Brown in the first match. Down by 3 earlier on, Andy bumped it out of the trees on the last to 8 ft. and two putted to give JOG the League Title. Jubilant scenes ensued although not too jubilant due to the age of some of competitors.

A big thanks to all who played throughout the Summer, hopefully we can keep this winning run going!

Bob Bage

Senior Scratch Team Captain

Gordon Percival Team Trophy September 30 2025

 

Seniors Captain Tony Lloyd with Lawrence Atherton, winner of the Martin Ives Shield

Two competitions for the price of one brought 96 seniors together on a glorious autumn day on the Carthagena course.

The stableford competition was played in three balls from the white tees -  but the hidden teams were not revealed until the entrants were back in the clubhouse.

For the first time (we think) the result was tied, with two teams scoring 104 points. One team comprised of Graham Berry, Terry Domagala and Phil Gow, the other Oz Osman, Fred Williams and Richard Young.

They will share the Gordon Percival Trophy which this year will have six names inscribed on it. Fight it out yourselves chaps whose mantelpiece it sits on!

The trophy could have been won outright by the Berry, Domagala, Gow team but for the fact that Graham (and one of his playing partners) incurred a two-shot penalty on the 18th after accidentally playing their first shots from the wrong tee. Fair play to them for penalising themselves.

Each of the team players won a £25 pro shop voucher.

The individual competition was won by Lawrence Atherton who won a £40 pro shop voucher and the Martin Ives Trophy with a score of 41 points. Runner up was Tony Lloyd on 39 points (£30) and third place on countback (also 39 pts) went to David Howley (£20).

£10 raffle prizes were won by Richard Newman, Steve Collins, Tony Munn and Pat Gilgallon.

Many thanks to Nigel Underwood for organising a very complicated competition and for handling a flurry of last minute changes.

Tony Lloyd, runner up in the Martin Ives Shield individual competition

Tony with David Howley, who took third place in the individual competition

Graham Berry collects the Gordon Percival Trophy on behalf of his hidden team which also included Terry Domagala and Phil Gow

Details in full of the hidden teams - I hope you can read it!