OSAmag78

T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 7 8
oS GoLF SoCiETY – 2013 SEASoN REViEW
The season concluded with a meeting at Sandy Lodge, near
Watford, on 11th November. We seem to be fated with this
course since we planned to play there in March, but it snowed!
We thus re-arranged our meeting for November, to take
advantage of winter rates as the green fees in the summer are
pretty steep. However, the weather was dire with rain forecast for
the morning but the possibility of it clearing in the afternoon.
Nine hardy golfers thus turned up and started in the rain. Sadly
the rain, instead of easing, intensified and it was agreed to curtail
the event which stopped after eleven holes. The meal was
brought forward and the service and food were excellent. Further,
the club agreed to rebate some £15 per head since the greens had
started to flood and had become unplayable.
The course was excellent and by popular agreement it was
decided to stomach the high summer costs and play it in 2014.
The winner, after 11 holes, and based upon countback was yours
truly, shading out Tim Westbrook.
In October we had the traditional three man team event at
Brookmans Park. The course was wet and muddy with penal
rough. Some nine teams took part and the winning team was
captained by Alan Nowell, one of our long term associate
members. He is a Brookmans Park member, as was one of this
team. The runners up were a Brookmans Park team. Clearly local
knowledge counts!
Sadly, early in the year, we lost one of our best players, Don
Bucknall , and just before Christmas we learnt of the untimely
death of Howard Cox, a well respected and popular long term
associate member. Both will be missed.
Our two matches this year were a disappointment as we lost
(again) to Old Tollingtonians, and lost to the Stationers
Company – the first time in four meetings.
The away trip in August at Boston West was a resounding
success. Some fourteen people attended. The course was flattish
but interesting and the accommodation was excellent. All this for
£65 per head, which included two rounds of golf, dinner bed and
breakfast. We shall be hard pressed to find a better venue next
year.
The Pairs Trophy, played for at Redbourne GC, was won by Ray
Humphries and David turner, whilst the Shield was finally won
by Bruce Kitchener who beat Dave Sheath, our current President,
and your esteemed Secretary, into joint second place.
All in all a good year. Suggested venues for 2014 will be
circulated shortly. Meanwhile I wish you a Very Happy New Year
and let battle re-commence in April 2014.
Peter Bonner
Secretary/Treasurer
Alan Nowell (left)takes the team trophy.
oS GoLF AND BRiDGE
On the 9th October 2013, at the suggestion of Past
President and bridge expert DAVID HUDSON, we
arranged an event with Brookmans Park Golf Club
wherein we played them at golf in the morning and
then after drinks and snacks, bridge in the afternoon.
The golf was halved but we did manage a healthy
victory in the bridge to come away victorious overall.
However the main objective was to have an event on a
social basis and I am pleased to say that without
exception all participants expressed their pleasure in
having taken part.
Representing the OSA were the aforementioned David
Hudson; Roger Engledow; Bruce Kitchener and myself.
We do hope to be able to have future such events and
so anyone interested in bridge with other members of
the OSA could contact either myself or any of the
above gentlemen.
David Turner
Howard Cox (right) who died before Christmas.
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