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A letter from our (past) captain

Words by Tony Smith , Pic by Nic Brook

Dear friends,

Thank you to all of you who made it to the Captain’s Dinner at Brasserie Blanc at the Southbank. The fantastic turnout of 51 members and guests created a wonderful atmosphere for the prize giving and our two fabulous guest speakers.

Former captain and trailblazing member, Liz Kahn, gave a compelling account of how life was for her as a journalist and would-be member of our society. It was uplifting to hear how her dogged determination had got her through so many difficult situations. And we also heard a very funny speech from Royal Liverpool captain and PGS member Alastair Machray.

The warm and friendly evening was a fitting end to my year as custodian of the chain of office. I was pleased to be able to thank so many people for the important part they played in helping me through 12 months littered with highlights.

If I could pick out two events which really helped make it such a joy they would be my Captain’s Day and, of course, the Wryter Cup.

We were fortunate enough to have a warm and sunny day on the South Downs as we battled a hilly and tricky set up at Mannings Heath. I was proud to share with so many friends the place I call my golfing home.

The Wryter Cup at Granville, in Normandy, was a most remarkable few days. The French were excellent hosts, the food, drink and camaraderie were all excellent and so was the course. The weather, not so, with 40mph winds and horizontal driving rain on the Monday. 

The record books will show that we didn’t quite get enough points to bring the trophy home but we did return with our pride in tact after giving them a very close run. I am exceptionally proud of everyone in our team, which was a mixture of experience and three rookies. Well done to Ben Todd, Mike Waker and Neil White for embracing the occasion so well.

As I said in my farewell speech, the PGS isn’t just about winning pots of silver. I hope that, more than that, everyone likes to mingle with men and women from the same profession, who love golf and to tell the inane, sometimes serious, often preposterous but always entertaining stories that attracted us all to this profession. 

I am delighted to pass the baton of captaincy to Jamie Weir. 

I know Jamie will have a wonderful year at the helm and I have the upmost confidence in him and his team to regain the Wryter Cup at Royal Dornoch next autumn.

Thank you all once again,

Tony 

Pics by Nic Brook and selfie from a freezing Taunton Railway station by Jamie Weir.

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Fun & Funds at the scramble!

Words Tim Allan, Pic Nick Toksvig

In a field flooded with single figure players, a team of three 20-plus handicappers took the honours at our Christmas Scramble.

With three teams recording net scores of 59 (yes…59!!), the winners on countback were James Bartholomew and his guests Charles Pender and Tom Dean.

James said: “I can hardly believe it! We were planning to leave early, never thinking we’d have a chance in such an illustrious field, but when word filtered out that we were in with a chance we were very happy to stay. What a lovely day!”

The Scramble was played at Worplesdon for the first time, because our usual venue, The Berkshire, was having work done on the clubhouse and could not provide food – always an essential part of our Scramble day!

Worplesdon proved a superb venue for us, with the course in excellent condition for mid-November. The food was excellent and the bonhomie as convivial as always!

James and his team, playing off 15 per cent of their combined handicaps and receiving 11 shots, pipped the two other teams who scored 59 – Evan Samuel with guests Rob Wall, Tom Wood and Maurice Brett, who played off 10 per cent of combined handicap and received five shots; and James Nursey, with guests James Smith, Chatree Selahom and Nick De Villiers, who played off scratch.

Nev Appleton, Tony Smith, Mike ‘Harry Potter’ Waker and Colin Hancock, playing off seven, were fourth with a net score of 60.

After lunch, Ian McIlgorm stepped up to the auctioneer’s rostrum (well, a large table covered with tat) and led us to raise more than £3,000 for the Journalists’ Charity – a magnificent effort by all concerned.

It’s looking highly likely we’ll be back at Worplesdon for the Scramble next year, because The Berkshire have just told us that they won’t allow four-person team Scrambles any more!

The full, confirmed fixture list will be published on the website (pressgs.co.uk) as soon as it’s nailed down, as well as in the newsletter.

 

 

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Nation’s Cup 2025 – First details

The planning for next year’s Nation’s Cup is already well underway, and Nick Buckley is going to captain our team to The Netherlands for the October golf on the amazing Isle of Texel.

To read the brochure giving dates and details for the trip, click on this link: Brochure_Nations_Cup_2025.

Anyone interested, contact Nick at nickbuckley2012@hotmail.com or Jonny Bramley at jonathanbramley63@gmail.com. An amazing time is guaranteed!

 

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Par–Tee in Portugal!

The official team photo the night before the action started in earnest – Mark Lomas was yet to arrive – what could possibly go wrong…

The sun shone, the courses were spectacular and although the hospitality didn’t quite match the high standard set in Italy last year, the PGS team thoroughly enjoyed their recent trip to Portugal.

The European Press Championships (or EMGJ as it’s officially called – European Masters for Golf playing Journalists) were last week held over 2 courses an hour north of Lisbon: Praia D’el Rey and Royal Óbidos.

This is allegedly the ‘serious’ counterpart to last year’s Nations Cup and with only 75% handicap allowance the scoring was understandably low. We enjoyed practice rounds in warm sunny weather over both courses before getting down to business.

Twelve teams from across Europe were competing: UK, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Czech Republic and a strong French team stacked with Wryter Cup regulars.

On day 1 at Praia d’El Rey players were randomly grouped together with other nations – it was the luck of the draw whether you had a friendly Austrian woman who sprayed schnapps into your mouth every time someone made a birdie, or a dour German who didn’t speak all round unless someone went close to treading on his line.

Only one of our team – Christian Fraser – got to 30 points but with the ability to discard our worst 2 scores we were in a respectable 7th place after Day 1.

We were all teamed up with mid-table rivals Netherlands, Austria and The Czech Republic on Day 2 and with the wind getting up, Royal Óbidos with its expanse of water became an even tougher challenge. Overtaking the Dutch was within our grasp but we were also looking over our shoulders at the Austrians and Czechs behind.

Despite a below-par performance from Captain Bubbles, Keith Malone’s 28 and consistent scoring from Christian again, Nev Appleton & Sheena Quinn meant that although we were unable to overhaul the Netherlands we at least maintained 7th.

Very impressive though was France’s Guillaume Michel whose 35 pts (2 over gross) helped the APG to a dominant overall victory.

Once again the PGS led the way in the bar, consistently the last ones standing and while the food and ‘entertainment’ were less than impressive we made the most of it and had a lot of fun over the week.

Looking ahead to the Nations Cup next year, it’s being played in the Netherlands on a traditional links course on the island of Texel, a couple of hours drive from Amsterdam. Unfortunately it clashes with the Wryter Cup which will make it harder to put out a team.

The great news though is that Nick Buckley has offered to Captain the side, and will be very keen to find willing team members.

I guarantee that anyone who makes the journey will have a fantastic time courtesy of the Dutch hosts.

Words by Jonny Bramley

Gallery below from all the team!

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Bomber Harris Blitzes West Hill Field

Pic by Paolo Minoli

Mirror snapper Phil Harri stormed his way round West Hill to claim the Peggy White Vase in our final regular meeting of the season.

Harris, playing only his second event of the season, made light of having to walk after taking a buggy at The Berkshire.

As he said: “I was playing with two much older gents there and they were walking, so I was kind of shamed into it…but if this is what does for my golf, I’ll do a lot more walking.”

West Hill was in superb condition, with tightly mown fairways, plenty of gnarly heather and greens recovering well from recent hollow tining. Sometime in the shadows of its fellow ‘Three Ws’ members, Worplesdon and Woking, West Hill proved more than a match for them as an autumn course.

An impressive field of 34 members turned out for our only one-round singles stableford meeting and they were rewarded with a warm and calm day.

The lunch was up there with the best of them, and the wonderful surroundings of the clubhouse and the terrace right on the 18th green were enjoyed by all.

Phil’s 36 points took the honours, with Jono Baker second in Division Two on 35 and Mike ‘Harry’ Waker third on countback with 34.

In Division One, Jim Murray claimed first place with 34 points, just ahead of Dave Reading, also 34, and Andy Porter on 33.

Now all eyes turn to the Christmas Scramble at Worplesdon on Monday, November 18 and Captain Tony’s dinner on Friday, November 22. Email me (pgssecretary@gmail.com) to book your place at either or both!

Report by Tim Allan

Photos courtesy of Neil White, Jonny Bramley, Paolo Minoli and Tony Smith.

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Hot Toddy has Golden glow!

Ben Todd was confirmed as the 2024 Sir John Gordon Putter winner after none of his rivals were able to secure a high finish at West Hill, our final meeting of the year.

Muswell Hill member Todd said: “I’m thrilled!”

And so he should be!

Here are the final 2024 Golden Putter standings.

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Happy 120th Birthday, PGS!

Pic by Jonny Bramley

The 120th anniversary of the Press Golf Society was marked in fine style, appropriately at a pub both older than the society and just yards away from where it was founded.

That grand dame of press watering holes, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street, hosted 31 PGS members to an excellent lunch in the old style, the whole event being imaginatively conceived and curated by Nic Brook.

Chester in full flow – pic by Evan Samuel

The Captain of Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Alastair Machray, regaled the hacks in attendance brilliantly with tale tales and one-liners; he has a new career waiting as a stand-up, should he wish.

So, the journalists present were a little concerned when one of their own, Chester Stern, took the floor as the day’s final speaker.

There was no need to worry; Chester was both funny and charming, recalling the excesses of Fleet Street’s golden era and explaining ‘what a proper lunch was like back in the day.’

After the event, Nic said: ‘It was just lovely to celebrate 120 years of the golfing society that we all love, just yards from where it all began, Thank you to Alastair and Chester for their brilliant speeches and to everyone for getting along. It really was great fun! Happy Birthday PGS.’

Nic has already marked his diary for five years time and promises and even bigger event for the Society’s 125th birthday!

Apparently, even our friends from the APG in France were impressed:

And some pics from the day:

Pics by Jonny, Evan & Nic

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Wryte stuff, wrong result for Tony’s brave boys

Words by Tim Allan

Tony Smith’s claret and blue army fell agonisingly short of victory against their French rivals in the 33rd Wryter Cup.

The PGS, superbly led by an inspirational Smith, went down 17½-14½ to their powerful APG rivals on the wonderful Granville Dunes course.

West Ham fan Smithy, whose team wore sky blue on day one and claret on day two, said: “I could not be prouder of my team. They played their hearts out and tried as hard as they could against a team with lots of low handicappers.

“I’ve had one of the greatest weekends of my life. It was wonderful! The match was played in a great spirit and there is true friendship between the teams, which was lovely to see.”

The PGS stormed into a strong position after day one, which was played in truly atrocious conditions. The winds were gusting to more than 40 miles an hour and the rain came down in horizontal sheets, making even connecting with the ball a very challenging prospect.

Smith’s team took the morning foursomes 5-3, with wins for Nev Appleton and rookie Neil White, Smithy and Khalid Javed, Felix Duckworth and Colin Hancock, and a huge 6&5 win for Evan Samuel and Ollie McCormack. Tim Allan and rookie Mike Waker battled heroically to claim a half after being five down at the turn!

It is a quirk of Granville that the stroke indexes mean higher handicap players get all their shots on the back nine, so fightbacks were always on against a French team with a lot of low handicappers.

In the afternoon fourballs, the PGS won 4½-3½, with wins for Jonny Bramley and Nev, Steve Lewis and Mike, Smithy and Tim, and Paolo and Colin. Ollie McCormack and Khalid played superbly to claim a half against a strong French pairing.

Sadly, the more benign conditions on Tuesday seemed to favour the French, who won the singles 11-5 to seal victory. Incredibly, nine of the matches went to the last hole, but the PGS were only able to win two of those.

The singles wins came courtesy of Smithy, who won all his matches; Tim, Paolo and Mike, who all scored 2½ points; and Andy Glen.

Mike had a Wryter Cup debut to remember, as he struck up a very promising bromance with the APG’s Edouard Combette and also claimed the Vic Woodman Trophy, awarded to the PGS player who best exemplifies the spirit of the Wryter Cup. He also has a new nickname, after his new friend Edouard noticed his resemblance to Harry Potter!

The course, town, nightlife and food were all top-notch. It’s always good when we stay in a seafront hotel next door to a casino on one side and an English pub that stays open till 2am on the other.

The French now lead the Wryter Cup overall standings 17-16….but we’ll have the chance to get it back to all square at Royal Dornoch next year.

Click here to see the full results from Granville

And the winners:

 

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Glen, Again and Again!

If a picture paints a 1,000 words – Tim Allan & Jono Baker look for a ball in The Berkshire heather but still enjoy their day! Pic by Nick Toksvig

Andy Glen continued his love affair with The Berkshire, winning The Sun Challenge Trophy for the fifth time in its 18 year history as a singles competition.

On a day of sunshine and low scoring, where no one played to their handicap – The Berkshire heather had more than a little to do with that – Andy carded 35 points on the Blue Course in the morning, also winning Division One. Behind him were Tim Allan, with 32 points, and Neil White, who came third on count back.

In Division 2, Peter Dazeley won with 33 points, beating James Saville, who carded 32 points, and who pipped Ben Todd on count back.

Andy’s round could have been even better – despite playing off of 5, he was two shots under gross after the first 10 holes before proving himself mortal.

After an excellent lunch, Andy was not satisfied with his morning efforts, and, combining with the evergreen Chris Stevens, landed The Sir George Sutton Salver. Their 33 points was one ahead of Ben Griffiths & Tim Allan, and two in front of  third place Dylan Dronfield and Paul Kelso.

Photos by Khalid, Nick, Nev, Smudge, Patrick, Evan, Dean, Neil, Chris, Jonny & me!

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Captain Smith’s Wryte(r) Stuff

Nick Toksvig enjoys the skipper’s hospitality.

Words by Tim Allan, pics by Tony Smith

Skipper Tony Smith did us proud, the team for the Wryter Cup was settled and new boy Adam Piggott claimed the Billennium Bowl; quite a Captain’s Day for Smudge!

Adam, playing his first PGS event after joining the society in June, took the Division One honours at Mannings Heath, where he and Tony are both members.

An allegedly embarrassed Adam, said: “Local knowledge definitely helped me!’ He pushed Andy Porter, with 30 points, into second place in Division One, with Steve Lewis’s 28 good enough to take third on countback. In Division Two, Ian Woods came out on top with 28 points, ahead of Paolo Minoli on 27 and Jeff Randall on 25.

In between dishing out sustenance, advice and bonhomie on the 10th tee with girlfriend Caroline, Captain Tony admitted: “I was a little nervous about the day but I’m delighted everyone enjoyed themselves.”

He also laid on nearest the pin prizes on all the par threes, a long drive prize on the tricky 11th, and a nearest the pin in two prize on the 15th. Our generous sponsors, Golfbreaks, made a very handsome payment into the PGS coffers and also provided plenty of golf balls!

The Harold Lewis Weight for Age Trophy, open to all members aged 65 and over, was won by the evergreen photography doyen Patrick Eagar.

Captain Smith presents ‘evergreen’ Patrick Eagar with his prize for winning the ‘Harold Lewis Weight for Age Trophy’.                             Photo by Paolo Minoli

The day was also the the final qualifier for The Wryter Cup, and after the game Tony announced his team to travel to France:

Tony Smith, Captain

Jonny Bramley

Khalid Javed

Ian Woods

Mike Waker

Nev Appleton

Ollie McCormack

Ben Todd

Paolo Minoli

Colin Hancock

Evan Samuel

Felix Duckworth

Steve Lewis

Neil White

Andy Glen

Tim Allan

The reserves are Mike Allen and Kevin Price.

These pics by Patrick Eagar:

And these were supplied by our skipper:

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