Old Stoic Golfing Society

Grafton Morrish 2025 Qualifying at Worplesdon:
Stowe came second in their qualifying round with an excellent 90 points from the 3 pairs in the scratch stapleford format.
The pairs were:
Elliot Strickland & Miles Dickinson
Chanel Fontaine-Geary & Sean Morris
John-Michel Hall & Peter Jarvis
The Finals are at Hunstanton and Brancaster from 3rd October

The Spring Meeting change from Saturday to Wednesday reduced the numbers but not the quality of the golf. Nick Luddington ran the meeting in his unique style and the course was in excellent condition given the weather challenges. In the singles William Hill scored 77 to just beat Captain Greg Choyce to win the Nigel Stern Salver. Greg however won the Stableford Memorial Vase and Arthur Fenwicke-Clennell the Foster under 30s salver. In the afternoon foursomes the Woking members scored well to win the Celebration Tankards with 35.5 points.

James Gartside organised an excellent Northern Meeting at Formby with the courses in great condition and great value accomodation in the refurbished Dormy House. On Friday afternoon David Sabberton scored a superb 38 points to win the David Hadfield Salver. Charlie Consett scored well for 34 points once the first two holes got the M62 out of his swing. More sunny but cold conditions were ideal for the Saturday Ladies Course challenge with Peter Simmons winning the Tankard from Mark Jenkyn Jones.
This sociable meeting deserves a larger turn out from Northern and Southern Old Stoics

Peter Comber organised a fantastic gathering of Old Stoic golfers and friends for a celebration of Stewart McNair's year as Captain of Sunningdale Golf Club. Golf on the Old & New courses was followed by a superb lunch with presentations to Stewart by Peter, OSGS Captain Greg Choyce and Mark Flawn-Thomas. Stewart was re-awarded his Stowe Golf Colours and presented with a draft copy of the limited edition Stowe Centenary book.

The 2025 early season fixtures are:
- Match v The School at Sunningdale 23rd Feb
- Northern Meeting at Formby 14/15th March
- Match v The School at Woking 18th March
- Birkdale Bucket at Woodhall Spa 24/25th March
- Halford Hewitt at St Georges/Deal 10-13th April
- Spring Meeting at Woking 23rd April
Contact the Match, Meeting or Team Managers.
Message if you need information

We start 2025 with the sad news that Perry Hunt passed away in December. Perry was a stalwart of the OSGS for 7 decades. In recent years Perry revived the Summer Meeting at Aldeburgh, was President from 2020 to 2023 and in 2022 masterminded the Society's re-organisation to get more people involved in its management.
Perry and Bunty were fantastic supporters of the Stowe team at the Halford Hewitt, Grafton Morrish and Dick Watson Trophy.
A Memorial Service is taking place at Aldeburgh Parish Church on Monday 13th January (1.30pm) with the reception afterwards at Aldeburgh GC.

A Christmas message from the new Society Captain, Greg Choyce:
'As your new Captain, I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a successful New Year. The level of participation and interest in the Society's events is as good as I can remember (and I go back a long time!). The recent survey supports this and it is also encouraging to see the number of under 30 members taking part increasing. The trick for us will be to continue to hold events which are attractive to members and potential members, by combining good courses with reasonable costs and accessibility. As the experience of my own club (Woking) shows, this is becoming harder!

The 2024 season came to an end with a loss to Haileybury at Sunningdale. Team Captain, Peter Comber, was so distressed at handing the trophy to the opposition that he suffered a medical scare requiring an ambulance call out, fortunately after the dessert course. You will be delighted to know that Peter has fully recovered and was back playing golf today.
It was also great to see Charlie Dimpfl at the post match lunch.

Peter Comber captains the team of 12 taking on Haileybury at Sunningdale this Sunday. Encouragingly the team includes 5 players under 30 continuing the 2024 trend right through to the last fixture of the season. Stowe are looking to retain the trophy won in 2023

Last weekend Jeremy Scowsill Captained the Old Stoic team in the Dick Watson Trophy. William Hill, Nigel Wright and Arthur Fenwicke-Clennel were the other team members. Despite getting the worst of the weather morning and afternoon the team scored well in the foursomes stableford format finishing day one in 7th place of 15 teams. In the 7/8th place play off on Sunday they lost to a strong Ampleforth team. The overall winners were Greshams who beat Uppingham in the play off having been runners up for the last two years.

Tim Maynard organised a superb Autumn Meeting with great weather and an excellent dinner at Hunstanton GC clubhouse.
7 under 30s attended and won every trophy they qualified for.
Lucas Langley Foursomes: Jack Nesbitt & Monty Fenwicke-Clennell beat David Ewbank & Nick Luddington.
Secretary's Scratch Salver: Toby Stocks winner (77), Tom Youds runner up (79).
Nigel Chittenden (Stableford): Tom Scott (39)
St Andrews Putter: Toby Stocks (31)
Piper Salver (Over 50s): Nigel Wright.
However in the Sunday Morning Under 30s (+Hugo Douglass) v 'the More Mature' match experience told with a 3-0 win
At the AGM Greg Choyce was appointed Society Captain to succeed Peter Jarvis and Tom Scott takes on the Under 30s Coordinator Role. Peter Jarvis presented the results of the Members Survey and the plans for new events in 2025.

The Autumn Meeting is a sell out at Hunstanton on 5/6th October.
7 Players under 30 are attending with 5 on debut at the meeting with 18 players overall.
The Saturday night dinner is at Hunstanton Golf Club and any local Old Stoics are welcome to attend - just contact Meeting Manager, Tim Maynard.