Hennerton AwayDay - Oct 2024

Not the easiest place to get to when there are roadworks all over Oxfordshire, but 19 golfers eventually made it to Hennerton Golf Club to be greeted by much needed coffee and bacon rolls.

We headed out into the mist and on to the practice range or putting green and then onto the first tee for the traditional pre-game tipple. Jamaican spiced rum (in St Lucia they call spiced rum the "baby maker"...) kindly provided by last months Away Day winner Colin Bulpin. 

Then it was onto the course in five groups 4 balls for our individual and team competition.

Hennerton is a regular course on our calendar and it provides some very different challenges including 8 par 3s and cardiac hill.  Another challenge on the day turned out to be mud after the recent rains.  By the time we all finished shoes were twice as heavy and trolley wheels twice the size.

I would say the course was in ok-ish condition, a lot of the tee shots were off mats and the mud was a challenge with all the hills.  Probably note to self (or to Lee) would be to play this one earlier in the season if we decide to go again.

Fortunately the weather stayed dry for us.

The results (see full link below) were as follows. 

Chris Barclay

Most golf played (with 23 points and winning a bottle of wine (supplied by Hugh) was Chris Barclay).  Alex gets a dishonourable mention for his 25  points.  Chris gets to supply the bottle of wine for next time.

Rob & Graham H.

Nearest the pin – 8 par 3 holes and the prize fund being in a healthy state meant we could run two NTP competitions.  The short downhill 7th was won by Graham Harding and the mid length 11th was won by myself.  Each of us winning £10 and a sleeve of balls. 

Overall Stableford Competition

Only three golfers scored 36 points or more (if we exclude the missing man Pete Saunders) giving a final result:

Andy - Graham H. - Simon

Graham Harding – 41 points

Simon Jones  – 38 points

Andrew Shepheard - 36 points 

So Graham wins £20 plus a sleeve of balls, the TOFS trophy and a beautifully printed winners certificate (to follow). Graham joins Colin Bulpin, Chris Smyth, Andrew Shepheard, Alex, John Smythe and myself as winners so far each receiving a 2 handicap reduction for the remaining Away Days for this year and he also gets to supply the tipple on the tee for next time. 

Seven Away Days have produced seven different winners - as it should be.

Team Competition

In the Team Competition it was again close (apart from last place) with just 6 points between the top four.

Overall Results

Team Shepheard

Team Shepheard (Andrew, Dave B, David R and Mark) - 92 pts

Team Lindley (Rob, Brian W, Chris Sm and Derek) - 90 pts

(joint second) Team Wooldridge (Lee, Graham H, Steve G and Colin) - 90 pts

Team Strain (Arthur, Simon, John Smythe, Chris B) - 86 pts

Team Plested (Graham P, Alex, Jim, man with no name) - 78 pts (36 thanks for coming in - again)

So Andrew and his team walked away with the 4 ball voucher to return to Hennerton.  Assuming you will want to leave it until Spring / Summer to use that.

The day was rounded off by absolutely delicious steak and ale pie and chips supplied by the team.

Hope you all had a good day and a slightly better return journey than Colin and I had. 

Next Away Day is Tuesday 19th October at Kirtlington Golf Club rescheduled from March.  Hopefully we have a dry spell between now and then.  I won't be attending that one so assuming Vice Captain Lee will be in charge.

Rob Lindley