Golfing Society (OSBGS)  Old St Beghians’ Golfing Society The Cyril Gray 2024 Thanks to Niall Brooker, doyen of the Glenalmond side and a member of just about every club, we were accorded the privilege of playing our ‘warm up’ match against our usual opponents, Glenalmond, at the delightful New Zealand Golf Club, close to Worplesdon. The club is famed for its beautiful tightly tree and heather-lined course, its lunch, its members and their wine list, not to mention no handicaps and dogs galore. We had a splendid lunch and did the wine list justice, then followed the match which we narrowly lost 2/1. It was a wonderful afternoon. We also were indebted to Aubyn Stewart-Wilson, the Club’s Secretary, for allowing an extra threeball (a no no in itself) after the match proper. Messrs WB Morrison, Mike Stamper and Michael Coffey, took to the course for a contest narrowly won by WB Morrison. After the joys of New Zealand, it was a dash to the Tournament dinner in the Worplesdon Clubhouse.

The Cyril Gray matches - In our match v Stowe in the first round proper, Adrian Peckitt and Andrew Goodwin were 4 up on the 13th tee and eventually won 5/3. Stephen Moss and Nigel Costeloe were all square on the 13th tee but eventually lost 2/1. Charlie Crummey and Jeff Ellis were 3 down on the 13th tee and eventually lost 4/3. The overall match was much closer than the result might suggest.                       Sadly, if you are in the bottom 2/3rds of the draw and lose in the first round, you are forced to go out and play in the first round of The Plate that afternoon. Once again, we were up against Stonyhurst, an altogether too frequent occurrence, and one which has always been close but never successful. Until 2024!   After 10 holes the scores were 1 down, 1down and 2 up. After the 13th, 1 down, 1 up and 5 up. Cruising… with match 3 now in the bag. Match 1 into extra holes. Match 2 now playing 18, 1 up… Match 2 now into extra holes! Now one match a piece. We won the decider at the 20th. Hurrah! We retired to celebrate a WIN at The Jolly Farmer. The next morning, we had a re-match v Glenalmond, who were obviously confident after the warm up contest. After 6 holes the scores were a/s, 2 down, a/s. All to play for. By the turn, it was 3 down, a/s, a/s, the joy of foursomes golf. In the end we won the first game 1 up and the other two games were narrowly lost. Well played everyone, and well supported the two Michaels. It is obvious that the Cyril Gray is the best bet for St Bees in Old (?) golf. It always has been since its inception. Let’s hope we can re-invigorate the team and keep up our presence on the course, and not just as the best dressed team!

The second of the photographs, dates from the Tournament dinner in 2022, so apologies to Nigel Costeloe… however, it illustrates two things: The team is still the same and competitive, but NOT getting any younger.

The Golfing Society continues to run on behalf of Old St Beghian golfers. If anyone is interested in further information or joining the Society, please do get in touch with either myself (Tom Wright) or Michael Coffey, the President.

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk