AIR SOCIETYROYAL FORCE GOLFING

2008NEWSLETTER

A recurring theme in recent newsletters hasbeen your committee's attempts tomaintain anattractive golfprogramme in the face of the ever increasingcostofgreenfees. This has resulted in

alsonumerous changes overthelastten years orso. Yourcommitteehas attemptedto alleviate theimpactofinflationby providingthe prizesfor golfmeetingsandsubsidisingthecost ofentryfeesfromSociety funds.

the two-day Summer Meeting was reducedtoone day and renamed theChampionshipWhenMeeting, aone day SummerMeetingwas added with theintention of alternatingthe venuebetweenthe

NorthMidlandsand the South with the Championship Meeting remaining atTheBerkshire. VerySuccessfulmeetingswere held at Newark and Lincoln

bebutareasonably

inpriced venue combined with a

located could notconveniently quality course found the South. Last year's newslettergolf

informedyouthatin future the SummerMeetingwould alternatebetween Newark,LincolnandmaybeSleafordandthe search for areasonable priced venue in the South wouldbe abandoned. In the event

did nottheAGM supportincluding Sleafordintherota.

Recentlythe Guest Meeting at Denham has been poorly attendedandlastyear'sMeetinghadto becancelled. Considerationhasbeengivento abandoning the Meeting. However, as Denham anis

venue has beenexcellent and convenient your committee decidedto persevere and the Meeting hasrenamed "The Denham Meeting" and membersmay ifthey wishinvite a guest.

It is pleasing to reportthat the rest ofthegolf programmeremains settled with theScottish Tourreturning to theMoray Firth after ourvisitto Fifelast year. After many yearsabsence Nairn has beenadded tothe Tour instead of Forres. As accommodationwould notbe available forusat RAF KinlossinMay the Tour thisyear willtake place inthefirst week of June. Afairer handicappingsystem is tobe introducedtoreplace thepunitivesystem which has been in force since the Tour started.

Turningto the golfingyear, the performance ofthe year was undoubtedly John Pearce'slevel parroundat LundinLinkstoscore45points;the followingday with hishandicapreducedfrom 9toscratch

scored 27 points over the difficult Jubilee Course at St Andrews. Ourcongratulations also go tohe

Mark Oliver forleading ourteam to afine win over a strongRoyal Air Force side at Woodhall Spa.Wealsorecorded our best everresult intheGraham Butler Foursomes at Ferndown where we were sixth of

iscighteenteams. Although in the final, SteveYork to be congratulated onselectingandloosingleading our team intheBrent Knoll Bowl at Burnham and Berrow.

Of our nineteen matches we won seven,lost nine and halved two; a less than satisfactoryresultbutgreat pleasure wastakenfromrecording wins against the AERO Golf Society, Hunstanton, the RAF,the Royal NavyGolfSociety and twice against Sonning toretainthe Clyne Cup.

Although wehavesome match fixtures earlier in the year our golfing year starts with theSpringHeath madeMeeting atLuffenham wherewe are always to feel most welcome. Wehadanentryof 30

and BillEvans wonthe morningmedalroundfor the ElizabethSinger Cup with Martin Deakin, JohnBob a shotPearce and Pearson running up just behind. John Jaggerand Gordon Varley won the

afternoonfoursomesto take the EgertonJohnson Cup oncountback fromRichard Lushington and JohnPearce

The following weekwe wereinFifeforthe Scottish Tour whereweplayed: Ladybank,Scotscraig,Lundin Links and The Jubilee Course at StAndrews. Lessons were learntas the entry of 50 proved

inunwieldy anddifficultto get the courses twice Problemswere exacerbatedby the slowaround day.limitedplay ofsome and for the future thefield first comebasis.Tomtoindividuals will be on a

John45

the Cup 142points withwon Scottish with Pearce ten pointsbehind. OurPresident SirHanlon130 EmsonHine theretained VeteransQuaichwith points twoahead ofHenry whohadmadePaddy

the from Canadato play in hisfirstevent afterjoining thejourney Society.

33 Summer meetinoIt hadwas our second visitto wherewe playing forour Meeting.TheLincolnisscheduled

that

totakeplacethe day before our match againsttheRoyalAir Force at WoochallSpa.Thissome One compete is

73ensures of ourCategory golfers and the scoring usualyquitecompetitive

77.Shimwell retained the Denys Ficld Scratch a ahead of Inch McAlpine onCupwithRod fineSimon Paul 35 CupsBaldwinand Taylorscored take the oncountbackfrom Martintopoints SassoonDurhamand Inch MacAlpine butonly after Simon holed his second shot (asix iron)tothe eighteenth

to points.green score five The Ladies waswonby Elizabeth FennwithPam in secondCup Mumfordplace.

a34 hasentered fortheChampionship Meeting whichnow long term futureat The Berkshirewherethe catering arrangementshavebeentailored to our requirements to makeit easierforustoplay

two medal roundsinthe day. Terry Brady has beenclose inthe past anditwas pleasing toseehim win161the Challenge Cup with a shotahead ofRichard Lushington. Terry also wonthe Handicap Cupon

count back from Roger Carrand David Barnett on 149 net. Davidwon boththe Veteran Scratch (169)Mitchellnet) (173) (150and Handicaps Cups (149 ahead of Peter and Sir Paddy Hine net) respectively

IndiaSir Paddy retained the Trophy, for veterans over 75years of age,with GeoffTwinerunner up on158net.

The YorkshireMeetingat FulfordisprogrammedforthedaybeforetheLord Deramore Battle ofBritain Trophywhich alternates betweenEasingwoldandFulford Golf Clubs.We had 29 participatingandthemorningroundforthe Halifax Trophy was won by Tom Hanlon with 44 point aheadofMikeRudd on38 points.Harry Griffiths scored 36 pointstowin the Halifax Veterans Trophyahead of LesMitchell and John Mumfordon 32 points. Inthe afternoon St AndrewsGreensomeTomHanlon and

41 the onpoints Platesto 39Les Mitchellscored take Cheshire ahead of MikeRuddandDavidWaltonpoints.

isaClubWildernesse delightfulvenue fortheWinterMeetingtoconclude our golfingyearanditwas tohave only 10 Tony wonthe Swinton Cup ofMikedisappointing playing. Bastable ahead Fenn.In the afternoon TonycombinedwithPhilVeriertotaketheGeorge-GrantGovan Cups aheadofRoger

Dowdal.NigelCarr and

had 501 40At end members includingthe of theyearthe Society ladies. Duringtheyearwe1membersnewwelcomed lady.10 including

isIt the membersiswithregret deaths ofthefollowing recorded:

Mr M.G.ClarkeFH.Mr David

Mr B.J.JohnsonR.J.A.WingCommander McGuigan

Captain J.J. Oakes

Mr K.T.Powell

The Annual General Meeting ofthe Royal Air Force Golfing Societywillbe held at Newark GolrClub on Wednesday16 July2008 afterplay in theSummer Meeting.

Finally,our Chairman,Ray Piercey joins mein wishing best wishes to you all and welook forwardtoseeing many of you at our meetings and matches.

1January 2008

MATCHREPORTSO

Hill GolfWest Club.

victoryThe Societystruckfirst witha in the country for ourfirst pairbut the other four pairssuccumbed late in the roundHill time.4-1 Atleave West at lunch lunch Chris McAuliffe, the West Captain, entertained theteamswithto Hillup

intime excellent amemories of his the ATC. After an lunch with lots oflubrication,and captain's motivating speech,oursiderose to the challengeto win the afternoon foursomes to halve the match at 5-5. The Club's hospitality was as usual

Jimsuperb and well organised by Webster with specially printed menus for theoccasion. We were honoured to have thecurrent and two past captainsinthe West Hillteam plus MikeWildegoose,whose daughteris aRAF nursing sister servinginAfghanistan. Athoroughly enjoyable day.

Sqn BretonLdr N.c.WBarkerTeam: FitLt PLT.A.BradyGpCaptGp Capt RFR. Carr Q.L. HopgoodDixon Sqn LdrM.S.

PH. RJ.D.A.Johnson PearsonLewendonLdr D.J. (C)Sqn Saady

BrentKnott Bowl at BurnhamandBerrowG.C.Playing Burnham forthe firsttimeinastrongand unusual North Easterly wind meantthecourse showed itsteceththroughouttheweekend. Saturday saw a fineteam performancewith a hard fought2-1winagainstthe Old Malburnian Golf Society

a win Oldfollowedby comfortable 3-0 againstthe Tauntonian Golf Society. After an early nightthe team arrived inconfidentmood looking forward to whatturned outtobe ahardfoughtsemifinalagainstastrongregularArmy team. Thematch lived uptoexpectations withthe Armygainingthefirstpointagainst Shimwell andWilsonbut Yorke and Ashcroftmanaged tosquarethetieinthefollowing game. The deciding game wasallsquareonthefinaltee. Holliday did welltolayup30 yardsshort ofthe greenfrom themostawful liebut underpressure McKee payed an exquisitechipand runstonedead for the team to advanceintothe final. Unfortunately,wecould not repeat the morning's performanceinthe finalagainstWighornsGolfSocietywhoranoutworthy winnersby 3-0. Overtheyearswehavefiguredstrongly onthelast dayand the Team is to becongratulated ona very fine performance.

CplP.HollidayG.AscroftTeam B.McKeeCpl(C)R. Shimwell Chf Tech N.Wilson S.F. Yorke

RAF Halton Apprentices Golf Society at Basingstoke G.C.Theinaugural meetingcouldnotbe played lastyearduetotorrentialrain. Weexpectedahardfoughtmatchbutstartedtheday with confidentexpectationsofawin. Itsoontranspiredthatthe "Brats"had astrongerteamthan anticipated. Althoughwe had put together ateamwith handicaps ranging between 3 and 13this wasnotgood enough andthematch was lost4-1. TheClub made us feelvery welcomeindeed. It was agreed thatthematch should alternate between venues chosen by

Societies next Frilfordthe and year's matchwill be played at Heath.

K.L.FltLt HinkleySmithPJ. Breton Gp Capt D.H.A. GreenwayTeamWgCdrM.J.MiddlemistD.A. LewendonSqn Ldr M.S.Hopgood (C)Dr A.J. WagnerRJ. Pearson SqnLdrR.C.WStokes

AERO GolfSociety at West Byfleet G.Cballs in lineinaThe morning four resulted 3-2% score favour of theSociety. Aftertheusualexcellent lunch atWest

Byfleetthe afternoon foursomeswerehalved 3-3 forustorecordafine win. With an AEROteam member achieving a holeinone at the fourth hole(drinksreadily forthcoming) it wasadaytoremember. The Societyholdsthematchtrophyforthefirsttimesince 2003.

Sqn LdrN.c.w. BarkerTeam WgCdrG.D.Bartlett T.A. BradyGp Capt H.A. GriffithsGp CarCapt R.ER. M.J.H.Harding

M.L.R.PH.Sqn JohnsonLdr M.s.Hopgood LunnonMcCallJA. Capt (C)R. Piercey

G.C.Henley

This year, Henley's Centenary, wasaspecialeventin theannals ofthe Danesfield Cup. Henley's Captain was Geoff Lucketand he partneredtheir President,lan Johnstone inthe first game. Asusual the match scoreswasvery closealthoughthefinalscorewas awinforHenley by 5-2. Manygamesincludingthefirst were decided on the final green. The meal intheeveningand theconvivialatmosphere wereoutstanding. Inadditionto presentingthe Danesfield Cup,John Burkepresented

asuitably engraved glassbowl to commemorate thecentenary and the long association between theRAFand theClub.Responding theHenleycaptain presentedtheSocietywith acopy oftheHistoryof Henley Golf Clubthat had bcen signedby both teams. Another outstanding day at Henley.

Bates AirViceMshl K.A. CampbellTeam J.C. Air Cdre J.J. Burke (C)

WgCdrGp Capt R.ER. Carr Gp CaptQL. DixonC.R.D.DickensB.E.J.V. Edwards Evans Gp Capt J. Evans

Smith Wg Car MJ. MiddlemistK.L.Hinkley D.A.LewendonWg CdrD.R. VickersGp Capt M.G. Peaker

RoyalCinque PortsG.C.

Royal Cinque Ports fielded their usual strongsideand in the morning andtheafternoonthe Society were restricted to 1%points. Only four gamesfailedtoreachthe 18th green which was some consolation in defeat.The course was as usualinoutstanding condition and theDeal team were generous hosts.

BettsTeam T.WG. Sqn Ldr M.G. FennGp Capt R.FR. CarrK.L. Hinkley Smith Sqn Ldr M.S. HopgoodFIt Lt T.J.Hedgcock

Keeley D.J.Sqn Ldr SaadyB.N. Wg Cdr RodgersLA.A.J.Dr Wagner

Royal Navy Golf Society atWestSussex

A strong performance in the morning gavethe Society a healthy 4-1 lead. However,the Navy mountedasturdy comebackafter anexcellentlunch to faremuchbetter in the afternoon but could notpreventthe Society retainingthe trophy by7%-4%.

Wg Cdr J.Ww.Blockey RJ. DaviesJJ. BaynesTeamG.A.J. DrG. EastingWg Cdr N.P. DownmanDowdall

C.C.HammondCapt L.K.Ellison-Davis B.E.EvansK.L. Hinkley Smith Sqn Ldr M.S.Hopgood Sqn LdrMJ. Hudson (C)

DrGp G.J. PearsonCapt A.J. Wagner

Hunstanton G.C.at Woodhall Spa G.C.

The Society hada good morning and at lunchled 4-2. TheexpectedfightbackbyHunstantonwasrepelled and thankstosomeexcellent golfwe achievedour best resultforsome years to wintheencounterby8-3%.

Sqn Ldr A.W.R. Bastable Gp Capt RER. CarrAir Cdre S.A.BaldwinTeamB.E.Cooke EvansEvans G.G.H.Sqn LdrK.P. HickmanSqn Ldr M.G. Fenn Gp CaptWE.HughesGp Capt Shields D. WaltonRJ.Pearson(C) M.H.

Army Oficers Golf Society at Walton Heath G.C.We fielded a strongsideonpaper butthe opposition again proved toowily and we suffered an8-4 loss. Some goodperformances byourmembers new to thisfixture bode wellforthefuture.

W.J.Belton T.A: BradyWg Cdr J.W. BlockeyTeamWg Cdr C.R.D. DickensGp Capt RFR. (C)Carr B.E.Evans

Gp Capt J. Evans, Sqn Ldr M.G. Fenn Fit Lt T.J. HedgeockWg J.CdrPH.JohnsonN.B. Hunt PearceSqn Ldr

Worplesdon G.C.

An excellentday and with ahalved matchit was thefirsttimeforsome years wedidnothave to buythe wine at lunch.Wereceived the usualwarm wekcome from the Worplesdon Team withthematch played in an exemplary mannerontheirfinecourse

G.E. K.R.T.A.BlakerTeam DalgleishBradyM.J.H. Harding Sqn Ldr M.S. HopgoodGp CaptQ.L.DixonDA. Lewendon Wg CdrN.A.D. NugentPH.Johnson(C)

W. Penman

Air at Woodhall G.C.Royal Force SpaA onvery strong Society team took aastrong RAF sidepreparing fortheInter-Service Championships. Thestandard ofgolfwas very high with some exceptional shot making. A resounding 5-0win inthemorning foursomes was followed byan 8-2 victory in the afternoon singles. It is many years sincewehave recorded consecutive wins andwelook forwardtonext year in thehope of achieving athirdwin in arow. An excellentdaywithmany old friendships renewed.

Team M.I. M.HuskinsonA. KellyBlaberSqn Ldr M.J.Oliver(C)A.W. Mathers M.T.Rimmer

Chf TechN. WilsonM.J. R.ShimwellLdr RuddSqnS.F.Yorke

North HantsG.C.

As usual the players enjoyedaconvivial lunch before the match. North Hants took thefirsttwo games and with two gamesto finish led by 4-1. However, our last two pairs wonso defeat was not ignominious.

Gp Capt Q.L.DixonTeam K.R.T.A.Brady DalgleishM.J.H.Wg Cdr N.P.Dowdall Gp CaptHA. Griffiths Harding

Sqn Ldr M.S.Hopgood D.A.LewendonK.L.HinkleySmithGpCapt M.G. Peaker Capt R.Piercey (C)Wg Cdr M.J. Middlemist

Dr WagnerA.J.

Woodhall SpaSonningG.C. at G.C.Onceagainthistwoday fixtureproved mostpopularwithbothteams.Afierthefirst day'splayovertheBracken Courseweheld anovernight lead of4%-2%. Assistedby suitableevening refreshmentsandanovernight stayatThe Petwood Hotelthelead was consolidatedby a 5%-1% winoverthe Hotchkin Course. Heavy, almost continuousraindidnot diminish thiswelcomevictory.

L.A.Air Cdre DobleTeam Wg Cdr D.H.W.Backhouse SqnLdr A.E.J.DovestonCaptHA.Griffiths K.L. Hinkley SmithFit Lt T.J.Evans Gp

Wg CarM.J.Middlemist(C)Hopgood Sqn LdrR.D.L. LushingtonSqnR.J. Pearson

Ldr M.S.G.F. TwinePearceWg Cdr J.

D. WaltonDr A.J. Wagner

Seniors SocietyGolf at WokingG.C.

Although some ofthegames werevery closethemorning foursomessawthe Societytrailing by 4-1. Aterlunchwefaredwin 3-2but Amuchbetterto the afternoongames lostthe match by 6-4. usual thecoursewas in excellentcondition,the

catering providedbyWokingupto itsusualstandard andthe hospitality providedbytheSeniorssecondto none.

WgTeam CdrJ.W.Blockey Gp Capt R.ER.CarrT.A. Brady(C)B.E.G.A.J. Evans Gp Capt J.EvansDownman

Sqn Ldr M.Ss. HopgoodFlt Lt TJ.Hedgcock K.L. HinkleySmithDr A.J. Wagner

RAF Medical Golf Society at Gerrards Cross G.CAnexcellent day's golf withthe golf course in excellent condition. The Society led 3-1 at lunch butthe Medics managedto halve theafternoonforthe Societyto record awinby5-3.

T.W.G.Team Betts Gp Capt R.E.R.Carr Wg Cdr C.R.D. DickensSqnGp Capt J.Evans Ldr J. McKenzie(C) K.L. Hinkley SmithPH.Sqn LdrN.B.Hunt Johnson PearsonR.J.

Sonning G.C.Atlunch andafter hard fought tight fourballsthe Society 4-3: However,fortified by splendidatrailed by lunchtheSocietyfurnedthetables to the by and secure winby 7-6h. Our at Sonning is nota

take foursomes two points record andeveryonewas delighted to retainthe ClyneCupforasecondyear. good

LtCdr D.H.W.Backhouse Flt PL.BretonWg Gp CaptR.ER.CarrTeam Wg Gp Q.L.Cdr C.R.D.Dickens Capt Ldr A.E.J.Sqn DovestonLt EvansTJ.Fit DixonLdr M.S.GpCapt H.A. GriffithsD.A. Sqn Hopgood

M.J.Lewendon Wg Cdr Middlemist RJ. PearsonD.J. (C)Sqn J. WilsonLdr Saady

Scratch atFerndownG.CGraham Butter FoursomesisThis of themajor in someone competitions theSouthWest attracting of golfers. Consideringtheplayers were familiar

theleadingamateur noneof with thecourse performed wellto Marshallthe team very secure 6th place with and Dove in Sthoverall. Doveplace played excellentsome golf overthetwodays. Robinsonand Caldwellfought back froma firstindifferent

round wherelack of course knowledge and some apoorscore. Theydifficult

playproduced performed magnificently onsecond day producing solid golf wellabove average for thethe two rounds of that were day to help to registersixth overall field teams.

the Societyplace from of 18a

TechD.B.Chf Marshall (C) R.Caldwell M.Team

I. Robinson. Dove

RyeG.C.aworst wereconfirmed asOur fears after

shelter astill cloudless morning up and became factor as there isthe wind got serious noat we in the to be adrift and after the usual superb

Rye. However, heldon morning only twopoints Ilunchdent thehometeam's could notlead and Rye werewinners by 8-5%.

G.D.Team W.J. BeltonSqn Ldr BartlettN.P.

Gp CaptQL. DixonWg Cdr Dowdall Gp Capt GriffithsH.A.Gp Capt-J.S.Hart (C)

Sqn Ldr M.G. FennK.E. Smith-Hinkley

Air Vice hnsonFit PD.Mshl R.H. Sqn J. McKenzieLt MardonKyle LdrR.Penley-Martin Dr A.J. WagnerSqn Ldr DJ.Saady

Huntercombe G.C.

As always avery warm and hospitality. as inwelcome excellent Regrettably, rains2006, the descended at lunchtimeandalthough started were after holes.the afternoon foursomes mostly abandoned five

Air CdreTeam T.A.Brady C.w. BruceB.E.

Air CdreL.A. DobleCaptJ.EvansGpEvans K.L. Hinkley Smith(C)

R.J. PearsonSqn LdT M.S. Hopgood Sqn Ldr J.F. QuerzaniTwineSqn LdrD.J.Saady G.F. Dr A.J. Wagner

Moor Park C.C.ourA number of selected team wereunable to playbutwe to fill

produced excellent and wehad admirable stalwarts breach. theoppositionsome golfers off wonderful

the Alas,were quietlyseen in As welllookedtheclubandthe was in

company. always wewereveryafterby course excellentcondition.

Team T.WG.Betts Wg D.H.A. Greenway (C)Sqn LdrCdr N.P. Gp Capt

G.Dowdall

K.P. HickmanSqn Ldr M.S. HopgoodCdr Pearce

HinniganWg J. R.J. Pearson

atHonourable Artillery Company TempleG.C.This was the inaugural match the HAC and all agreed was a venue who had

against that it verysuccessful and formanya aserved at it to Played as four ball ball bothteams feltHigh Wycombe was pleasant return Temple. better athat this wasgood and it thatwe aim for match to be betweenteams of 12 aside. We weredelighted toformat was agreed should the

winbyaclean sweep.

Wg CdrC.R.D.DickensTeam Sqn Ldr A.E.J.Doveston Wg Cdr N.P.DowdallLdr M.S. HopgoodSqnGpCapt H.A.Griffiths Wg CdrJ. Pearce

R.J.Pearson Dr A.J. Wagner(C)Sqn Ldr D.J. Saady