Old St Beghians’ Golfing Society

 

Michael Coffey, President of the OSBGS, reports:

Tom Wright has very sportingly agreed to take on the role of Hon. Secretary of the Society and you will be hearing more from Tom in the not too distant future.

His first ‘report’ is that the bench in memory of that great Old St Beghian and golfer, Alec MacCaig, has now been installed next to the 7th tee on the school course. The bench has the dual role of a resting place for golfers and for those walking the cliff-top path. It was funded thanks to the support of several members of the Society and the St Bees School Golf Foundation.

The Foundation, which we intend to relaunch next year at the Critchley Cup, to ensure that golf remains a priority at the school, has also made two very significant donations (one for machinery, the other for support and to lessen the burden on the members) to the St Bees Golf Club in order to assist them with the improvement of the course, which both Tom and Bill Douglas (best described as green chairman/assistant greenkeeper) say is in better condition than ever.

Photos may be seen here.

 

HALFORD HEWITT 2017
We were drawn against Stonyhurst in the first round to be played at Royal St Georges. This always provides the added bonus of being able to have the opportunity to enjoy their marvellous lunches, particularly when the golf matches have not turned out as you would have wished.

Aided by the draw and the determination of our golfers to present a strong and healthy St Bees presence at the Halford Hewitt, we arrived with a team of ten plus three reserves to enjoy the festivities.  We were also delighted to have Tom Wright for his first Hewitt, and to welcome back John Berry, who returned after spending almost twenty years living in Australia. The team made the most of the chance to play at St Georges and we had excellent practices on the Tuesday and Wednesday before the event proper started on the Thursday.

We were drawn first out at 0745 against Stonyhurst, which may not be the best starting time for a team keen to enjoy all the socialising, food and refreshments which are all part of the event. However, we had a plan for the matches against Stonyhurst, and but for a few misplaced putts, we would have won what became a very closely fought match with three of the pairings going to the last hole and beyond. Unfortunately, it was not to be, though we were able to console ourselves with an excellent lunch.

And so to the plate event at the Princes Golf Club where we were to play Stowe, who had surprisingly lost the previous day to Aldenham. We knew we would be in for a challenging match and so it proved. Tom Wright playing with Andrew Deall in the top match was able to secure his first point in the Hewitt, the first of many we hope; again the other matches were closely fought but it was not to be our day.

Despite the results it was an excellent Hewitt and promises much for the future.

 

GRAFTON MORRISH (6 aside scratch foursomes) Regional Qualifying.
Fixby Hall GC – Huddersfield, Sunday, 14th May 2017.
Contact: Andy Deall at andy.Deall@nsgltd.com.
Although our team of: Mike Stamper and Andy Deall, Ben Wilson and John Berry, John Currie and Ethan Spedding gained much valuable foursomes’ experience; unfortunately they failed to qualify on this occasion.

 

CYRIL GRAY TOURNAMENT (over 55 years - 6 aside scratch foursomes, for the last 32 Schools to enter the Halford Hewitt).
Worplesdon GC – Surrey, Wednesday 21st - Saturday, 24th June.

Thanks to the support of a local (West Hill) Golf Club secretary, Patrick Dawson, we were able to field a full team of six to take on our old rivals and dining companions Glenalmond on the Practice Day for the Cyril Gray Tournament. Whilst it was good practice we were unsuccessful:
Adrian Peckitt and Jeff Ellis lost 1 down
Mike Stamper and Andrew Goodwin lost 1 down
Michael Coffey and Patrick Dawson lost 3/2

For Thursday’s opening match against King’s Canterbury we were joined by Tim and Brian Morrison – with the deciding match involving Jeff Ellis and Tim Morrison going to the 19th, where we were ‘robbed’ by a fine second shot going through the green into a poor lie.

Losing this contest meant that we were required to play again, almost immediately, against former lodging companions King Edward’s School, Birmingham. They turned out to have shuffled their pack which resulted in a 9/7 victory for Messrs Stamper and Bigwin and Brian Morrison and Adrian Peckitt losing 4/3. That left the bottom match with Jeff Ellis and Michael Coffey comfortably three up with five to play, not so comfortable when they lost both 14th and 15th with some untidy play, the 16th saw a shaky half, but things improved with a good half at 17 and the same at the home hole. We were therefore through to play St Paul’s at noon on Friday, they proved to be difficult to beat and we ran out losers 2 ½ to ½; then they went on to beat Glenalmond 2/1 before losing to Rossall in the Plate Final. Canford won the main event.

The Cyril Gray Tournament is recognised as the most friendly and enjoyable tournament on the ‘past pupil’ calendar. We were blessed with fine weather and great company and whilst we had a mixed bag of results a great time was enjoyed by all.

 

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH CORONATION SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT (6 aside scratch foursomes).
Royal Burgess GC – Edinburgh, September.

Contact: Andrew Goodwin at andrew@trulyonline.co.uk.

 

THE CRITCHLEY CUP – we hope to play this next at Seascale during July or August next year ahead of the school’s reopening.

 

Old St Beghians GS
Penrith GC – Saturday, 30th September 2017.
Teams of four from 11.00am, followed by ‘lunch’.
Contact: Michael Coffey at michael@golfclubsec.co.uk.
Details may be seen here.

 

Membership of the Golfing Society is by annual subscription of £25
(to contribute to events and entry fees; for example, Halford Hewitt entry is £855 in 2017) by standing order to:
Old St Beghians Golfing Society,
Barclays Bank - A/c. No. 80197742, Sort Code 20-55-34.

 

For any further information on the OSBGS please contact Michael Coffey (OSBGS President): Michael@golfclubsec.co.uk or 01255 676727.

 

 

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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