This year we gathered at St George’s Hill Golf Club on 8 May for our usual decent lunch and afternoon golf playing for the Fairwater Cup 18 holes stableford (holder Iain Westwater 2015).  In total we had nine for lunch and eleven for golf in the afternoon (unfortunately Mike Turner and Oli Hyland had to pull out through injuries).  It was a great day, the weather was excellent and the golf itself was a mixed bag!  Congratulations to winner of the cup Gary Hector for his score of 33 points, Iain Westwater 32 points (gallantly defending the title) and Andy Horne 29 points.  Once again it was a great effort to those who travelled from Taunton and beyond.

Those attended: G Hector, I Westwater, P Stickler, P Whalley, T Davidge, R Willacy, G Whalley, A Horne, O Hyland, D Murrell, D Morgan, G Boyce

Played Sunday 24 April.

The event this year took place between Tuesday 5 April to Sunday 10 April.  Four rounds of golf guaranteed (possibly more) on some of the best courses in England, and if you are lucky decent weather as well thrown in!

Three of us turned up for the Tuesday practice at Royal St George’s and the rest of the team joined us on the Wednesday.  Our first round was against Bedford, which was going to be tough, and we duly lost 4-1.  However, to give this loss some colour Willacy/Westwater lost on the 17th, Pyke/G Whalley agreed a half on the 17th after it was known Taunton had lost 3 of its pairings and Hector/Stickler also agreed a half on the 18th having just got to all square!  So a good effort.

Next the Plate.  We were due to play Framlingham, however, due to an administration error re start times Framlingham never showed and Taunton had a walk-over.  This was good news and we had a very relaxing 18 holes amongst ourselves.   On the Saturday morning we played St Bees and won 2-1, in the afternoon we played Forest and won 2.5-0.5.  So now we were in the semi-finals on the Sunday morning back at Deal.  This has only been achieved about 3 times in the past and naturally we were excited we were there again, although having started playing golf on the Tuesday fatigue was beginning to creep in!  Sunday we played The Leys and lost 2-1.  The Leys continued to eventually win the Plate competition which is some consolation.

So fantastic week and fortunate to experience all three courses, Royal St George’s, Princes and Royal Cinque Ports (Deal), during this golfing week.

HH Team: R Willacy, I Westwater, T Blood, G Hector, P Whalley, G Whalley, M Pyke, D Higginson, P Stickler, M Jenkins

Plate Team: R Willacy, I Westwater, G Hector, P Stickler, P Whalley, G Whalley

This year’s scratch season started as usual with the Brent Knoll Bowl and we welcomed for the first time Jan Becker to the side.   As we are all a bit rusty after winter, expectations of doing well are low but the practice is excellent timing before the Halford Hewitt, normally a week later.  Unfortunately we lost one of our key players on the Friday practice round, Gary Hector, to a back injury.

Nevertheless excellent weekend with lots of the usual banter that accompanies OT’s golf where ever they go!

First round of the Main competition lost to Epsonians 2-1
First round of the Plate lost to  Wigorns 2-1

Team:  R Willacy, I Westwater, G Hector, P Stickler, P Whalley, T Blood, J Becker, M Jenkins.