News and Results
Welsh Solicitors
The last match of the calendar year was played at the end of October at Hillside GC, Southport, Lancashire. Overall, the weather was kind to us and the course was, all said, magnificent. This is a proper match played over the one night stay and pleasingly LSGC came out as winners despite one Welshman having 5 “net eagles” in 2 rounds! It was good to see new faces in both teams and we can look forward to next year, back in the Principality.
Autumn Meeting
The Autumn Meeting was held at Woking GC on the 18th of September. This proved very popular, with 44 playing on the day, and it was great to see some new faces attend, bringing with them guests all of whom managed to just about evade the rain for 2 rounds of foursomes golf. The winners were John Gilfedder and his dad Michael, thus confirming (after the ELTC in Portugal) that Northern Ireland is a golfing powerhouse. Mention has to be made of the splendid way in which we looked after by all the staff at the golf club, not least Dubravka and Joy in the office.
Captain’s day
14 players, including friends of the Club gathered at West Hill GC on the 14th of September for Gerry Kennedy’s day comprising 18 holes and a good lunch. The winner was Jonathan Swinney.
European Team Championships
After a break of 4 years the ELTC was again held at Palmares GC, Lagos on the Portuguese Algarve with 9 teams taking part including the Ontario Bar, Paris Bar and Irish Solicitors. Around 130 players took part and the overall numbers were swelled by wives, partners and families which makes the event far more than a golf competition. We were very well looked after by the staff at the golf club who certainly “went the extra mile” to make sure that everything ran smoothly. The weather was lovely even if a bit on the hot side and a very enjoyable week was had by all. The eventual winners were the Northern Irish who comfortably beat the English St Cuthbert’s team in the final. The team Stableford was won by the Ontario Bar with David Palser of Wales having the best individual Stableford score.
Magistrates
We hosted the magistrates at South Staffordshire GC for our annual day match. Whilst fiercely contest as ever LSGC were victorious after the 2 rounds of golf (foursome and fourball). “South Staffs” has to be in the “hidden gem” category and that is based on the weather having been challenging and the course well soaked! And then there is the catering which was superb.
LSGC v Scottish Seniors
The match between LSGC Seniors and Scottish Solicitors Seniors for the Adam Kirkwood Trophy had not been played since 2021 so there was some anticipation at it’s renewal. All in all this was , as usual , a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships . The Scots had laid on 3 wonderful courses at Kilspindie, Royal Burgess and Dunbar. For the most part , the weather was kind to us. On the first day we found ourselves on the Lothian side of the Firth of Forth looking towards Edinburgh and were trailing 3 – 1 by the end. The second day saw us travel in to Edinburgh to play at the magnificent Royal Burgess. Tom Frollo, a past Royal Burgess Captain, pulled some strings and got us very reduced rates. We thrived on the course with everyone contributing to a thrilling 3 1/2 to 1/2 win. This was followed by a marvellous meal in the member’s dining room, never to be forgotten . Back to the Firth of Forth and Dunbar for the last day when we managed another tight win by 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 to leave us at 7 to 5 overall.
Pictured is a very happy LSGC Vice Captain receiving the trophy from their captain, Tom Bell.
LSGC v Scotland
The Match vs the Scots was a lovely reminder of just how much pleasure the LSGC can provide. Great company and indeed camaraderie with reasonably competitive golf. And having gone 2.5 to 1.5 down on the first morning and with 2 each that afternoon and Friday morning we edged the Friday afternoon 2.5 to 1.5 to conclude a Tied Match.
We were looked after very well by all the staff at Slaley (perhaps in part because of the close connection through John Lee who kindly stepped into the breach caused by Philip’s poorly hand). The Hotel rooms were very good and the food better than anticipated at such a large venue. But the main feeling from those present was in relation to the warmth of the welcome. So a good start to my tenure as a Match Manager I suppose. Am now working on the venue for 2025 in England (or perhaps North Wales) and am going to stay in contact with Stewart Robertson over next year in Scotland which is, from looking at the Salver, 40 years on from the first fixture vs the Scots.
ELTC Dinner
The dinner was held at Royal Lytham and St Annes Gc on the evening between our 2 rounds of golf at the Spring Meeting. This is not an annual event, only taking place in a year when the European Team Championship is to take place. It served as a good opportunity to mark significant changes within the club, not least the retirement of David Barker as Club Secretary after 42 years of wonderful service to the Club. Nic Stones, who was also retiring as the Club President, paid a full and well-deserved tribute to David. The photograph below shows (l-r) Simon Doyle, Peter Logue, David Barker, Nigel Law, Nic Stones and our Club Captain Bernard Hodgson. Thanks go to Nigel Law who made the Dinner and Meeting possible in his capacity as Captain of RLStA.
Spring Meeting
This year’s Spring Meeting of The Law Society Golf Club took place on 16th and 17th April at Royal Lytham and St.Annes Golf Club. About 36 golfers assembled at this Club steeped in history.
One can’t help but be impressed by a club that sticks to standards, a sign at the front door says NO mobile phones in the clubhouse or on the course. How pleasant for lawyers to be free from contacts from their clients ( and possibly family). Although slightly drizzly, the saving grace was the lack of a breeze which is usually the biggest defence a links course has to offer. Lytham is an unusual links course in that you can’t see the sea from anywhere on the course. Their web site mentions being able to see Blackpool Tower but these days that makes people think of Strictly Come dancing.
There is a link between British and Irish Rugby Football and golf through Lytham (more later).
To the golf. The LSGC played its Spring meeting over two days. Sunday was foursomes for the John Folley Salvers. Scoring was modest as befits a competition where members play alongside others who they rarely partner. Modesty prevents a mention of the 3rd placed team but the salvers were won by Michael McCabe and Paul Richards. On Monday in the singles competition, the course was vulnerable to the better golfers due to the lack of wind. That is to take nothing away from the fine performance of the winners. Paul Richards with 40 points won the Blackheath bowl and Mike McCabe had the best scratch score, despite celebrating his 60th birthday the day before. Many congratulations to all the winners.
There was a black tie dinner on Sunday night enjoyed by most of the golfers and some of their partners during which the outgoing President Nic Stones took the opportunity to heap praise and thanks to our outgoing Secretary David Barker. David has been an LSGC stalwart member and the Secretary for over 40 years. He is going to be a tough act to follow. Many congratulations to David and best wishes from those who have had the good fortune to have him as their Secretary when they have been Captain.
So what are the Great Britain and Ireland golf and rugby connections. The last time GB and I played Ryder Cup without our great European colleagues was 1977 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes and Sir William Blackledge (Bill) Beaumont, captain of the 1980 British and Irish Lions in South Africa was golfing at Lytham, his club, on Monday afternoon.
LSGC v Bench & Bar
HUNTERCOMBE GC
On Sunday 26th of March, a day when the weather forecast had not been favourable, we actually enjoyed mainly dry but cold conditions. Despite initial confusion as to the team (particular apologies to Robert Ackroyd who was left out) we assembled at Huntercombe. If you have not been to this course, it is in South Oxfordshire and a very pretty and challenging venue. It has an association with a former Wimbledon champion (revealed later).The morning foursomes ended with a 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 lead to the Bench and Bar. However, in the afternoon the team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Everyone got on the score sheet so it was a particularly strong team effort by the happy few. Particular mention goes to Colum Murray who bagged two victories with his partners and a special mention goes to “Captain Marvel” Bernard Hodgson who confirmed my faith in him by bringing home a point on his own when Nick MacLeish was too ill to play in the afternoon (Hope you’re well now Nick).Sadly the Bench and Bar, either because they were overly confident or simply because they forgot, did not bring the Trophy. The only photograph is of me (match manager) and Bernard Hodgson trying not to look too smug.
The answer to the Wimbledon link is that Boris Becker completed his sentence at nearby HMP Huntercombe.Philip RowlandsCAPTAIN’s FAREWELL: April 2023
Good news and bad news! We have started playing matches again but we also had the clocks moving forward to herald the start of Spring and a new season of matches for the LSGC. The major bad news (for me personally anyway) is that, given our own calendar of fixtures, these are the last matches to be played during my Captaincy.
I have had a wonderful year representing the Club as best as I can and meeting up with lots of members at our various fixtures, and the good companionship of our opponents. It has been a real honour and privilege to have been Captain, for which I am truly grateful.
As to the matches, the first was against the Circuit Judges (yes, your honour, your honour) played at the wonderful New Zealand Club. We were fortunate enough to have a lovely day weather wise. Arguably the highlight at New Zealand GC is always the splendid carvery lunch which was much enjoyed (to the extent that a number of our opponents decided in advance not to play in the afternoon foursomes). There were however, two rounds of golf played (not quite over 18 holes in the afternoon!) and the result was a halved match.
Next up was our annual fixture with the Bench and Bar at Huntercombe GC. Again, an excellent carvery lunch divided two rounds of foursomes. I’m delighted to say we ran out winners by one point so ending my season of matches on a high note.
In keeping with my experiences throughout the year, both matches were played in a wonderful and convivial spirit to the credit of all involved.
I now very much look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Spring Meeting at Lytham.
Bernard Hodgson, LSGC Captain 2022-23.
