Away Match v Letchworth - 23rd September 2019

An early start to Letchworth for coffee prior to introductions, did somebody forget the biscuits, before readying ourselves for the forthcoming battle. Playing alongside our organiser Peter Jarman we halved the first with a par, but fell behind to a birdie on the short par three, where our opposing captain thought he might have to pay for a hole in one, and was then moaning he had picked the wrong hole for nearest the pin.

A close match ensued until our hosts put on a spurt to wrap up the match 4&3. However the company was good which is what matters on these occasions, or that’s what I say when losing.

The pattern of our match seemed to be repeated by the majority of the team as we went down by 5 to 3.

However as usual we rounded off the day with a  nice meal, good company, and a couple of questionable jokes. A very enjoyable way to conclude our fixtures for 2019.

 

Dave Gauge

Seniors Captain

 

Senior's Bailiff Sheild - Tuesday 25th September 2019

After such a long dry spell, the dawn broke on the day after the deluge to be greeted with a light drizzle which would be interspersed with sunny spells and the odd heavy downpour. But spirits were not dampened by the weather (Ouch!) with a field of 76 competing on the John O’Gaunt course for the Bailiff Shield.

 

Nevertheless, after much course work with tyned and sanded greens, wet fairways and changeable breezes, it was a day for avoiding dropping shots rather than tearing up the course.

 

In the event there were 3 competitors tied for 2^nd to 4^th place all on 35 points. Peter Jarman took the unlucky 4^th place and was out of the prizes; Steve Cooper came 3^rd and Ian Simpson came 2^nd.

 

However, the honours went to “Mr Reliable” Vernon Toms with a very creditable 36 pts. 

 

The Raffle made £173 and 10 pence. Nobody owned up to the 10 pence.

 

Bill Walker

Vice Captain

 

Winner - Vernon Toms

Second - Ian Simpson

Third - Steve Cooper

 

Away Match v South Beds - Wednesday 18th September 2019

Report to  follow......

Away Match v Leighton Buzzard - 16th September 2019

As always Leighton Buzzard made us very welcome for our anti penultimate match of this challenging season.

 

This match proved to be equally challenging as was witnessed in the first game where even gross birdies were not a guarantee of winning a hole. The Leighton Buzzard captain put in a splendid display including three gross birdies culminating in a net six under par and Leighton Buzzard going one up in the overall match.

 

This proved to be a prelude of what was to come with Leighton Buzzard winning 6.5 to 1.5. Our only win came on the last hole with a winning putt by Brian Bullen, this after our pair of Brian and Algy Grimes being 4up at one time and 3up at the turn.

 

However the day was very pleasant with a good selection of cakes at the halfway house and a wholesome post match meal including equally good jokes by both captains.

 

Gerry Degaute

Organiser 

Away Match v Gog Magog Elders - Friday 13th September 2019

The day was clear, bright and sunny, a truly wonderful late summer's day as the eight Gog Elders were joined by eight JOG Seniors for coffee and introductions on that 13^th September morning.   Having been alerted to roadwork closures in advance, JOG Seniors set off in plenty of time to meet the 08:00 rendezvous, ready for battle to commence promptly at 08:30 on the Wandlebury Course. 

 

First off were the two team captains and organisers, driving up the hill and out of sight, well not quite but still good enough for JOG Seniors to be the first to surmount the summit and draw first blood on hole number 1.   A good omen?

The course winds and twists around the countryside with stunning vistas and views but also making it impossible to keep in touch with other team members so on this occasion there were no opportunities for covert hand-signals and whispered, “How are you doing?” so it was not until the close that we knew the result of our day's endeavours.

As the afternoon drew to a close and following a meal all agreed was excellent and very well presented, the two Captains stood to make their speeches and announce the results, which sadly this time, with a 6/2 win for GOG Elders, levelled the series for this year, so it is congratulations to GOG Elders and see in you 2020.

 

Michael Newstead

Organiser

Senior's Away Day - Market Harborough - 12th September 2019

Captain David Gauge welcomed in the last group

The 5^th annual JOG Seniors Away Day was held on Thursday 12^th September 2019 at a hilly Market Harborough Golf Club. Yet again the weather was very good, although a bit windy!

 

40 seniors eat a hearty full English breakfast before trying to overcome a tricky, yet rewarding course.

 

There were 5 par threes and nearest the pin was won by Gerry Degaute, Clive Morley, Tony Goodson, Rob Bolans and Ray Smart. (Pictured below)

 

The main competition was a full handicap stableford, playing for the Jim Peacock Seniors Away Day Shield. This was won by Jonathan Lean with 35 points, second was Gerry Gentle with 34 points (on count back), third was Ian Simpson with 34 points (on count back) and 4^th was Malcolm Lee with 34 points (on count back). (Pictured below)

 

Winner - Jonathan Lean

 

Second - Gerry Gentle

Third - Ian Simpson

 

Fourth - Malcolm Lee

A very enjoyable day was had by all and hopefully everybody will be able to attend next year’s event.

 

Organiser Richard Coventry and Captain David access the scorecards

Below - Neil Pinnington drives off

 

Above - a welcome drink after the day's exercise.

 

Richard Coventry

Organiser

Home Match v Bedford and County - Tuesday 10th September 2019

It was a perfect Autumn morning when we assembled at the Gaunt for our last home match of the season. As usual there were many familiar faces drifting into the clubhouse, and I recognised some of the opponents as well.

After the normal formalities we left to do battle on the Carthagena. John and I miraculously won the first, halved the second which must have upset our opponents as we then found ourselves four down at the turn. We did manage to reduce the deficit on the back nine but could not make enough of an inroad to prevent us going down on the sixteenth.

However, we had a good round, in brilliant golfing weather, with good company, so in a way we were all winners.

Having done the normal warning about the state of the course during the introductions, it was pleasing to hear the visiting captain express how relieved he was about the fairways and he thought the greens were in exceptional condition. Perhaps we worry a little to much.

Anyway the match was nip and tuck throughout with the result ending up with a victory for the visitors by 4 ½ to 3 ½ points.

Peter Hullance won NTP for the visitors whilst David Crosby was successful on the home hole.

An enjoyable day ended with a good lunch followed up by Jonathon Lean completing his Weatherspoons joke that was interrupted by Jim Peacock earlier in the season.

Dave Gauge

Seniors Captain

Away Match v Harpenden Common - 5th September 2019

After a rather traumatic journey for a few of the team, the organiser managed to miss the introductions and was greeted with a cheer on entering the clubhouse, but he was on time at the tee.

A chilly start weather wise with long sleeves for a lot but some hardy soles were in short sleeves and some even in shorts. With a THREE tee start all games got away quite quickly.

The first match off the 1st tee started very well for the away pair of Captain David Gauge and the organiser (Algy Grimes), they were soon two up but pulled back to one up and it see-sawed for the rest of the front nine but we were one up at the turn. We were pegged back to all square before regaining a two hole lead which became dormy starting 17. We won that too so won 3&1, Three out of the four of us were on the eighteenth green with our tee shots, but only one par was achieved
(not us).

As the teams came in the overall score again see-sawed to and fro with JOG winning 4 - 3 with one result to come in. Unfortunately it was a loss for JOG meaning the result was a draw 4 all. An excuse that could be used was that the greens were a bit quicker than those at JOG so took a while to get used to them

Steve Collins won the skills prize of the day, being nearest the pin in two on the seventh hole, it was very close too. I forgot to ask if he got the birdie.

The pairs scores were as follows;
David Gauge and Algy Grimes - Won 3&1
Peter Imray and Nick Schumann - Lost 2&1
Gerry Gentle and Keith Fuller - Lost 1down
Nick Seeley and Steve Collins - Won 1up
Neil Pinnington and Gerry Degaute - Won 2&1
David Lincoln and Graham Court - Won 3&2
Sam Standen and David Crosby - Lost 2down
Jim Kerr and John Ellary - Lost 1down

A super meal of cold meats and salad followed by rhubarb crumble and custard (cheese for some),
last year's captain Jim tried to suggest a fine for all of us that had started their meals before he arrived to sit down, you can guess the response!!

Algy Grimes
Organiser

Club Captain's Charity Day - 3rd September 2019

Our Seniors Captain David Gauge led a team of four seniors to success in the Club Captain's Charity Day on 3rd September 2019. They won by one shot with 129 against two teams on 130.

David Crosby, Jim Kerr, Club Captain Phil Haddow, Algy Grimes, David Gauge

Completion of a fantastic Captains Charity Day saw the winning team of David Crosby, Jim Kerr, Algy Grimes and David Gauge take home the title with a score of 129(-13).
The Auction that followed helped raise over £8000 for the Captains Charities.

Senior Section Member & Guest Day - Tuesday 27th August 2019

The thunder crashed, the lightning lit up the sky and the rain came down in torrents. Luckily this only happened minutes after I got home from the Member and Guest Day.

The day itself went off without too much incident. The heat did take its toll on a number of the competitors but thankfully all did recover.

A total of 38 teams entered for the day, with guests being invited from 29 different golf clubs. I have received many kind words of thanks from guests, expressing how much they enjoyed the day. This is especially pleasing given the way the fairways on John O’Gaunt are struggling at the moment.

All the teams that competed

Given the heat, and the fact we were playing on John O’Gaunt, a good standard of golf was maintained with half the field scoring 35 points or more. Three teams were tied on 40 points. Despite my best attempts to find ways to disqualify the other two teams my brother and I lost out badly on count back and finished fifth. Also losing out on 40 points were Alan Kirkham and Nick Forshew, who finished fourth. At least Nick could console himself having won a raffle prize and a skill prize.

 

Third place went to Richard Farrow and Derek Quail, with Richard winning nearest Pin on 4. Kevin Barbour and Kevin Flynn came second on 41 with Kevin winning a Longest Drive prize by smashing a drive well past the bunker on the 9th. 

 

The winners of the Whitbread Trophy were David Crosby and Alan Capps with a magnificent 42 points. This just proves how important the choice of Guest is.  Not only did Alan contribute 33 of those points, but he did it in style by holing his second shot on the 12th (the third hole they played) for a magnificent Eagle and 5 points,

The total list of skills prize winners is:
 

Nearest the Pin on 4th (Members):                   Richard Farrow

Longest Drive on 9th (Guests):                        Kevin Flynn (Letchworth G.C.)

Nearest the Pin in 2 on 11th:                            Barry Sullivan (Bedfordshire G.C.)

Nearest the Pin in 2 on 12th (Members):          Derek Page

Nearest the Pin on 16th (Guests):                     Nick Forshew (Stevenage G.C.)



Longest Drive on 17th (Members):                  John Thoday

Derek Page

 



Richard Farrow



                

John Thoday

Kevin Flynn

Barry Sullivan



 



Nick Forshew



Whitbread Trophy Winners - David Crosby and Alan Capps 



Second - Kevin Flynn and Kevin Barbour



Third - Richard Farrow and Derek Quail

Whitbread Trophy

 

Winners:                      David Crosby and Alan Capps (West Berkshire G.C.)

Second:                        Kevin Barbour and Kevin Flynn (Letchworth G.C.)

Third:                           Richard Farrow and Derek Quail (Petersfield G.C.)

 

Well done to all.

Neil Pinnington

Organiser

Away Match v Wellingborough - Monday 19th August 2019

A team of 16 intrepid golfers  set off to Wellingborough vowing to avenge the 6-2 defeat we suffered at home. I did not have a lot of hope for the top match as their Captain Peter Gannon and partner had inflicted a 4&3 defeat on Bill Walker and I at home, I have played against him on every single time I have been in the team to play Wellingborough and do not remember any victories.

 

True to form we lost 3&2. Peter did mention that he thought our Captain must be trying to avoid playing him by being on holiday for both home and away matches.

As the results started coming in, I feared this may be the second whitewash of the year. However thanks to a stalwart win by Jonathon Lean and Algy Grimes and a gritty half from David Lincoln and Keith Blankley we managed to retain some modicum of respect with a 6.5 - 1.5 loss.

At least our spirits were revived somewhat by a truly delicious meal in their impressive clubhouse.

 

Neil Pinnington

Organiser

Home Match v Dunstable Downs - Tuesday 13th August 2019

On a sunny day we played Dunstable Downs on John O'Gaunt course.

Vice captain Bill Walker gave us a good start by having a birdie on the first hole.

This was followed by winning the next three holes and finished with a result of 8 and  6.

Roger Wheeler has had a driving lesson and mainly hitting 250 yards straight, luckily for us his partner did not have a good day. A funny moment happened on the last hole when both opponents managed to hit my golf bag with their drives!

Peter Jarman was expecting to have his usual loss against Tony Rogers (playing off 7) but with a good partner (David Lincoln) they managed a half.

Gerry Gentle & Malcolm Lee had a good 6 and 4 win. This was followed with wins by Keith Fuller/Nick Schumann and John Cocksedge/ Michael Newstead.

The overall result was four & a halve to three & a halve which made the 2019 aggregate result a honourable draw.

The lunch was a hot and cold buffet followed by fruit crumble and custard.

Brian Bullen

Match Organiser.

Home Match v Letchworth - Tuesday 6th August 2019

All players assembled for the usual team partners to be announced and introduced to their playing partners ready to do battle on the Carthagena . There was a big applause for Gerry Gentle from both teams, reason unknown....

The weather stayed dry for all to complete their rounds and great banter was enjoyed by both teams.

Dinner was appreciated by all players and praise goes to Dawn and all kitchen staff for a splendid meal.

Both Captains were called Dave and they presented their usual jokes, which went down with both teams really well.

An enjoyable day was had by all.

The result was a win for John O'Gaunt by 4.5 to 3.5
David Gauge & Peter Jarman came in all square
Bob Anderson & Steve Collins - Won 4&2
Brian Bullan & Gerry Gentle - Won 4&2
Gerry Degaute & Colin Newbury - Lost 4&3
David Crosby & David Lincoln - Won 2&1
Keith Blankley & John Cocksedge - Lost 8&7
John Ellary & Malcolm Lee - Lost 2&1
Michael Newstead & Nick Schumann - Won 2&1

Peter Jarman
Organiser

Seniors Captain's Day - 30th July 2019





Captain Dave Gauge held his Captain’s day on the John O’Gaunt course on 30 July. It attracted 88 participants competing for the Kethro Tray. Also at stake was the captains vs the vice captains shield.

The Kethro Tray was won by Bryan Hankins with a very creditable score of 36 points, particularly given the blustery winds and occasional heavy showers.  Michael Newstead came second on count-back with Sam Standen coming 3^rd on 35 points

The captains vs the vice captains shield was won by Seniors Captain Dave and Club Captain Phil Haddow who beat Vice Captain Peter Horlock and Senior’s Vice Captain Bill Walker with a combined stableford score of 60 points to 59 points.

Other honours went to Harry Wakefield for a hole-in-one on the 16^th hole.  David Wrench was nearest the Pin on the 4^th hole.  MS-UK representative Chris Lee was nearest the Pin on the 10^th hole, and Jim McIlwaine was nearest the pin in 2 on the 11^th hole.

Finally, a crazy putting course was laid out on the practice green with Club Captain Phil Haddow winning the putting completion by completing the 9-hole course in 23 putts.

The day also resulted in a Raffle contribution to MS-UK of £331.

All in all a very enjoyable day made more so by the shot-gun start which resulted in a full house for the presentation of prizes.

 

 

Senior Captain David Gauge with Club Captain Phil Haddow
and their guests



Ladies booking everyone in

The various winners are as follows-

Skills winners 

Nearest the Pin on 16th with a Hole in One
Harry Wakefield 

NtP on 4th - Dave Wrench

NtP on 10th -

NtP in two on 11th -

Winner putting comp - Club Captain Phil Haddow

Overall winner - Colin Stokes MBE (Guest from Prostate Project)

Captains won competition with Vice Captains

Third Place - Sam Standen

Second - Michael Newstead

Winner - Kethro Tray - Brian Hankins

 Bill Walker - Vice Captain
 Organiser

 

Away Match v Bourn - 24th July 2019

It was a confident John O’Gaunt team that arrived at our new Golf Club on a sunny morning, ready to fight for the two and a half points needed to bring the elusive silver scroll back to John O’Gaunt for the first time in living memory, if not ever. We took coffee on the patio as the clubhouse is undergoing major refurbishment, and the conservatory was baking at 8.00 in the morning. The good news was that we were having lunch in the marquee as this was much cooler.

I was partnering Gerry Gentle and it soon dawned on us that we would have our work cut out if we were going to get anything out of our match. Having been 2 down very early we managed to clamber back to all square but were then ‘Hewletted’ as Keith Hewlett turned on a majestic spell of golf which resulted in him finishing the round 5 over gross. We were the first to fail to get a point.

As each pair returned to the clubhouse the story was the same and the final result was a crushing 8-0 defeat that meant the elusive scroll remained at Bourn for at least another year.

The main reason for the defeat however is attributed to the ghastly shorts worn by Dave Wood which he claims were bought by his good lady but I have my doubts.

 

Peter Wade did win the award for shot of the day, however. 

 

 

Results;

Dave Gauge and Gerry Gentle lost 3&2

Keith Blankley and Keith Fuller lost 2&1

Algy Grimes and Peter Wade lost 4&3

John Cocksedge and Barry Donavan lost 5&4

Dave Wood and Derek Young lost 3&2

Ray Smart and Bill Walker lost 2&1

Neil Pinnington and Nick Schumann lost 3&2

Gerry Degaute and Peter Imray lost 5&4

Senior Section Annual Stableford Trophy - Tuesday 23rd July 2019

For the first time in a number of seasons the entry for this event was full and a waiting list had to be introduced. This is a very encouraging sign as some competitions in recent seasons have had a diminishing start list. Let’s hope it is a sign of an upward trend in the future.

It was a very bright sunny day, which was marginally more pleasant for the early starters than those following later, as the temperature rose as the morning progressed and was extremely hot by the time the final groups returned to the clubhouse.

One by product of the dry and warm spell is that one gets a lot of roll from the course although this is often counteracted by a few dubious bounces when the ball returns to earth.

However some very good golf was played and all the winners were to be congratulated.

A vote of commiseration should go to the trio of Jim Kerr, Kevin Donnelly, and Richard Cobb all of whom amassed a creditable 36 points, got cut 0.3 but still finished just outside the prizes.

Results;

1^st Steve Collins. 38 points

2^nd Jonathan Lean 37 points
3^rd  Alan Kirkham 36 points

Nearest the pin was Clive Thompson

Dave Gauge

Seniors Captain

Winner - Steve Collins

Second - Jonathan Lean

Third - Alan Kirkham not there for photos so David wonders if he should keep the voucher!!

Nearest the pin - Clive Thompson (and he got the Birdie)

Home Match v Gog Magog Elders - 16th July 2019

On a sunny day in July, the 16^th to be precise, Gog Magog Elders came to challenge John O’Gaunt Seniors on Carthagena.   Following coffee and meet and great reception there was a great hush as the pairings were announced.  The air was filled with cries of, “Who am I paired with?”  “What are their handicaps?”  and the quiet thoughts of, “What chance do we have against them?”   First on the tee was each teams’ Senior’s Captain and Match Organiser.   The watching crowd voiced their approval as one, two, three, four drives all split the fairway.   The competition was underway.

Throughout the day many a tree, grassy rough and sand-traps were found by erratically hit balls and anyone listening would have heard cries of despair, “Not Again?” and “Why do I keep doing that?”, and even more colourful language it is not polite to report here.

Carthagena in summer is not an easy course and she showed she could “bite,’ the unwary on regular occasions.

After four hours in the sun the playing was complete and the warriors trickled in ones and two’s to deliver their results to the official scorer.   Gog Magog Elders to took the lead, the second result levelled the match.   The results were coming in thick and fast now and the overall result swayed first one way then the other, until the outcome rested on the result of game 8.   We waited in anticipation for the game 8 players to arrive.   We waited and waited, where were they?    Finally they appeared and made their way to the scorer’s table, which team had won the final vital point?   Then it was all over, the final score John O’Gaunt Seniors 5 points, Gog Magog Elders 3 points.   John O’Gaunt had won the day, but no doubt Gog Magog Elders will be lying in wait when the return match is played later in the year.

 

Michael Newstead,

Organiser

Reg Batson Medal Trophy - 9th July 2019

Warm but slightly cloudy skys greeted the top thirty qualifiers for the Reg Batson Trophy to be joined by myself who felt extremely out of place.

However the competition was good and the scores we excellent considering it was a medal competition played on the John O’Gaunt.

As usual the top of the leader board was congested with countback coming into force to separate the eventual prize winners from the near misses.

The other usual thing that happened was that Robert Anderson won the nearest the pin competition.

Commiserations go to Ian Simpson and Paul Stallard who narrowly missed out on the prizes, but congratulations go to Robert Bage who won the competition with a net 70. Runner up with 71 was Paul Jeeves, with Gerry Gentle 3^rd and Dave Wood 4^th both with 73.

 

Dave Gauge

Seniors Captain

Here are the photos of the various winners -

Robert Anderson

Fourth - David Wood

Third - Gerry Gentle

Second - Paul R Jeeves

Winner - Robert Bage