Golf Day 2023

25th August – Oakland Park Golf Course

As always for this event the sun shone down on the hardy golfers who were keenly competing for this annual Major event.
This year Gwyndaf had organised a Texas Scramble. A very enjoyable format that involves all the players in every golf shot regardless of ability.
The results were very close apart from the winning team who achieved an impressive score worthy of winning the golf club Championship had it been achieved by a single player !
Well done Pat and the two Robs.

Detailed scores are listed below ….

Teams & scores:
75 strokes – Pat Whitworth, Rob Brett & Rob Britton
80 – Margaret Broomby, John Whitworth & Gwyndaf John
81 – Pam Britton, Ralph Broomby & Eryl Morris
84 – Jane Morris, Colin Thomas & Alun McCarthy

Ladies nearest the pin: Jane Morris
Gents nearest the pin: Gwyndaf John

Gwyndaf presented the winning team with a number of much needed golf aids – a “shot saver” for more accurately lining up putts and other strokes; A “golf ball grabber” that fits on the putter handle so that the player doesn’t need to bend down to lift the ball from the hole; some clip-on pencils; and a pack of ball position markers.
Rob Britton presented a bottle of wine to each of the nearest the pin winners.

20 members sat down for a lunch of Seared Salmon with Beurre Blanc Sauce & veg followed by lemon tart with mixed berry compote and whipped cream
Bill Jones brought along the Society’s new banner, the first time it has appeared at one of our events, though it has been promoting the Society at external events
An excellent day was enjoyed by all.

Colin Thomas

More photographs here.

Golf Day 2022

Friday 19th August was a fine day for playing golf. It is fair to say that the golf played on that day at Oaklands Park Golf Club by the members of the Chiltern Welsh was rather less than fine, but it was enjoyable nevertheless.

Nine players arrived in good time to enjoy coffee and a bacon roll, and to be allocated into three teams of three for a competition over the 18 holes. As the last team holed out on the 9th green before moving on to the 10th tee, we were joined by Gwyneth Herrington who completed the last nine holes at Oaklands for the first time. Gwyneth managed to outscore two of our team over the back nine, but we were unable to count those points unfortunately. Not that it would have made a difference to the overall team results.

The first team home, of Jane Morris, Brian Evans and Rob Britton, were the clear winners recording 93 points. The other teams, of Pam Britton, Eryl Morris and Alan Longshaw, and of Alun McCarthy, Rob Brett and Gwyndaf John, scored much the same with 80 and 82 points respectively.

Individual honours fell to Rob Britton for the longest drive, and to Alan Longshaw for nearest the pin.
Alun recorded the day’s highest individual points score, with Eryl also recording an above par individual score of 37 points.
This was Alun’s first round of 18 holes on a full-size course. He only started playing the game upon his retirement last year, and had only played on a short “par 3” course previously. But his high score ensures that he will not enjoy such a generous handicap at our next Golf Day!

After the playing exertions, 18 gathered for the lunch afterwards and tucked into a main course of salmon followed by dessert of lemon tart. It was a particular pleasure to see Helen Hall there, on a trip out from the Care Home she has recently moved into at Chorleywood. She was brought along by Ann Lawrence, who was herself looking remarkably well after her recent operation.

The winning team were congratulated on their triumph and presented with a prize of three bottles of wine. Rob thanked Gwyndaf for organising the event, though Gwyndaf pointed out that Rob himself had been the key contact with the Golf Club.

Gwyndaf John

Golf Day 2021

The weather was fine and course conditions good for the CDWS Annual Golf Day on 27th August.

Ten members turned out for the event at our usual venue of Oaklands Park Golf Club.

Golf Day 2021

For the team competition players were allocated to three teams of three, each with a similar aggregate handicap. They were led by a lady captain, namely Kate Picton, Margaret Broomby, and Pam Britton.

The team scoring was the tried and tested Chris Thomas system, though the man himself was unable to be with us on the day. The Stableford points of all three players counted on the par-3 holes, the two best scores counted on the par-4 holes, and only the one best score counted on the par-5s.

All players competed for the best individual score including the tenth player, Brian Evans, who accompanied the final team on their round. As he went around on his golf-buggy he also played a useful role as a ball spotter for his playing partners.

To their consternation, the visitors found their usual handicaps cut, as Oaklands is rated as an easier than average course under the new World Handicapping System.

Oaklands members played off their usual course handicap, with the exception of Colin Thomas. He claims that his official handicap is now 29, but we all remembered that he returned the top score last year playing off 24. Unsurprisingly there was unanimity that he should score off the same 24 handicap this year. He still managed to return the second highest score!

It has to be admitted that the players’ performances did not match the excellence of the conditions.

With one notable exception. Pam Britton was in superb form and her 41 points was much the highest individual score on the day. With her in such good form her playing partners, Ralph Broomby and Gwyndaf John, only needed to make a modest contribution for their team’s shared victory.

The strong hitting trio of Kate, Rob Britton and Alan Longshaw made up the first three to tee off, and they returned a team score of 65 points. They also claimed a record for the number of “Blobs” on the team scorecard after much time spent searching for lost golf balls.

Oaklands is a tight course that rewards accuracy rather than length. As was found out by Ralph and Brian as well as Alan, all players more used to the long open fairways on the courses of Gerrards Cross and Harewood Downs.

Pam led the way in the second trio with low straight shots that ran on for a decent length down the fairways and avoided the trouble that lurked in wait for any loose shot. Her team scored 80 points.

Margaret Broomby’s team of her, Colin Thomas and Rob Brett all played consistently. They put up a fight to finish a close second with 76 points.

As ever with a round of golf everybody experienced highs and lows during their round. But everyone was very pleased to be out on the course together once again, and enjoyed the event.

After our morning’s exertions the players enjoyed a light lunch in  the open air.

Rob Britton has won two veteran’s competitions at Wexham Park in recent months. On this occasion however the honours were well and truly deserved by his wife.

Pam

Pam was presented with a bouquet of Agapanthus flowers for her team’s victory and also scooped the bottle of wine for the best individual score.

 

 

 

Gwyndaf John

Golf Day 2020

CDWS Golf Day 4th September 2020

It was so nice to be able to be able to catch up with some old friends in a socially distanced way. It was the first occasion that the Chiltern District Welsh Society had been able to meet since our St David’s Day Dinner back in March at the start of the lock-down.

We arrived at Oakland Park Golf Club at about 9am to be greeted with bacon butties to prepare the competitors for the morning’s exercise.

Unfortunately, some of the participants had to call off due to injury and Gwyndaf John did some hasty rearrangement of the teams.

David Powell and Colin Picton formed the supporters group to wave off and welcome back the golfers.

Due to Covid restrictions rules were changed to allow for social distancing. Conditions were good, with sunshine and a slight wind.

The competitors formed themselves into 4 groups – three 3 balls and one 4 ball set off about 10 minutes apart.

The supporters returned to the course at 12:30 to find the first group at eighteenth hole and accompanied them for refreshments at the 19th hole.

Soon after the 2nd and 3rd groups returned and we compared scores, with Kate Picton quietly confident of the result. We waited for the fourth group to arrive…

Some 30 minutes later the last group arrived – and when their scores were compared – proved to be the winners! Gwyndaf looked quite pleased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman David Powell presented the prizes to the winning team.

As the restaurant was closed there was no chance for a meal, so after congratulating the winners, we said our farewells and returned home.

It was good to have a chance to see fellow members again.

 

 

Our thanks to Rob Britton and Gwyndaf John for arranging the day.

Golf Day – 30th August 2019

Once again we were blessed with perfect golfing weather.  I cannot recall having played our golf day in any other conditions.

 

Colin Thomas, Pam Britton and Rob Brett

The scores of the team competition were very close, and was won by Pam Britton, Colin Thomas and Robert Brett. 

 

Lady Winner – Irene Glyn Jones

The winner of the individual stapleford score was Irene Glynn-Jones, who returned a fantastic score of 44.  Irene played an excellent round of golf and her putting was outstanding.

The ladies’ longest drive went to Pam Britton and the men’s longest drive went to Ralph Broomby.

Men’s Longest Drive Winner – Raph Broomby

The ladies’ nearest the pin was won by Jane Morris and the men’s by Eryll Morris.  Perhaps they have been practicing hard together!

Unfortunately the numbers of golfers went down this year again, but we had full support from those members of the Society who came to the lunch.

Chris Thomas and Pam Britton were thanked for organising the golf day and the club staff for a very enjoyable meal.

Rob Britton

Golf Day 2018

Once again we had a glorious golf day at Oakland Park Golf Club on 31 August 2018.  The day was well supported with 34 sitting down for lunch.  It was agreed without dissent that the golf day will again take place at Oakland Park on 30 August 2019.

 

It was good to have so many members coming for lunch who did not play.  As lunch was not until 2.30 it gave members the opportunity before lunch to catch up with old friends and meet new ones from the Society.

 

 

The day is primarily for fellowship and fun, and although the golf and scoring is always important, it is the enjoyment of the day that is paramount.  Our president, Anne Evans, presented the prizes.  There were 6 teams of 3.

 

 

The winning team was Margaret Broomby, Colin Thomas, Eryl Morris

Highest stableford score was awarded to Margaret Broomby

Longest lady’s drive – Jane Morris

Longest men’s drive –  Rob Britton

Nearest the pin – ladies – Sue Mills

Shame on the men, no-one landed on the green from the tee on the designated hole!!

 

Members thanks Pam Britton and Chris Thomas for organising the day.

 

Robert Britton

Golf Day 2017

Society Golf Day

On a beautiful sunny day, with just a hint of autumn in the air, nineteen eager golfers gathered at Oakland Park Golf Club for our annual Society Golf Day. We enjoyed delicious bacon baps and coffee as we were greeted by Pam and Chris, who had organised the day, and were given our teams and told the format of the competition.

The first intrepid trio teed off at 9:00am and, before long, we were all on our way trying to drive the ball straight enough to cling onto the fairways and thereafter negotiating the various hazards: – long grass, big trees, strategically placed bunkers and various areas of water.

Many of the holes were lined with wild flowers, which provided a stunning array of colours, a consolation to those of us whose shots were less than glorious.

After golf, hot and weary, we gathered on the patio for a welcome drink with non-playing members who were joining us for lunch providing a welcome opportunity to catch up with old friends.

A delicious lunch was served upstairs by the efficient, friendly staff before Chris Thomas announced the day’s winners:

 

 

 

Jane Morris, Colin Thomas and Tony Glyn-Jones won the team event.
Colin Thomas had the best net score with an impressive 40 points.
Marilyn Evans won the Ladies` longest drive

 

 

 

 

 

Huw Thomas won the Men’s longest drive
Jane Morris was nearest the pin for the ladies
John Rigelsford was nearest the pin for the men.

 

 

 

 

 

After the results, Rob Britten and Ralph Broomby paid tribute to Mike Stythe, a long-standing member of the Society who died earlier this year. Ralph told some wonderful stories of walking and climbing trips led by Mike in his beloved Snowdonia with members of the society, whose courage he tested to the full with some hair-raising feats. He will be greatly missed.

Many thanks to Pam Britten and Chris Thomas whose superb organisation greatly contributed to an extremely enjoyable day. I’m sure we are all looking forward to next year’s event: let’s hope the weather will be as kind, the lunch as delicious and, for some of us, the golf of a higher standard.

Pat Whitworth

 

GOLF DAY 29th AUGUST 2014

What a fabulous summer and fortunately the weather on our golf day was once again kind to us. We had 18 golfers sign up, so it worked perfectly without drafting in any of our stalwart extras.  Mike Stythe was due to join us but sadly suffered some cracked ribs at the last minute and had to withdraw.  We had an additional 6 members came for lunch which was great.  Our President was unfortunately called away to America and was unable to join us.

IMG_4406The results were as follows:

Winning team:  Colin Thomas, Margaret Broomby, Marilyn Evans

IMG_4416IMG_4405IMG_4408Marilyn had a brilliant round, scoring top marks, 44 stableford points.  Jasper Garnham had the highest score for the men of 34.  Colin and Pam Britton won nearest the pin and the longest drives were won by Margaret and Gwyn Owen.  Ann Lawrence, who was unable to play due to injury this year, kindly presented the prizes.

Robert Britton addressed everyone, suggesting that maybe another year we should go to pastures new with fresh organisers and a new format.  No-one volunteered to take over the helm, and the consensus seemed to be ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’!  So we have booked the same Friday next year at Oakland Park.

Colin gave a vote of thanks to Pam and Rob for organising the event.