March/April 2026 update
The society held its AGM at Tandridge GC on Monday 13th April. The day started with golf for some, and four teams (two 3-balls and two 4-balls) ventured out in what turned out to be ‘changeable’ conditions (it hailed on us at one point). The best two stableford scores counted on each hole, and the 3-balls had a ‘ghost’ player’s score to attempt to even things out between them and the 4-balls. The eventual winners were Peter Gale, John Gould, Martin Down and (a very welcome) new member, Yatin Patel, scoring a total of 86 points. John set the tone by personally registering four points on both the 1st and 2nd holes!
The AGM itself was attended by 28 members and guests, among them the school’s new headmaster, Toby Seth, and three past presidents of the society, Mike Wilkinson, Mike Spanswick and Dudley Thompson. The headmaster addresses us all at dinner and told us of the hopes to upgrade the golf practice facilities at the school, and various presentations were made; the Challenge Cup (knockout trophy) was presented to Mark Chatham; the Walker Cup (for achievement in and contribution to school golf) was presented to Callum Dalby (who scored six birdies in his round in the earlier golf); and Hewitt centenary books were presented to the guest presidents, by the existing president (Pip Burley).
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Whitgift fielded ten pairs of foursomes in the Thompson Tankards, boosted in terms of numbers and quality by the presence of the Hewitt team, who were preparing for the Halford Hewitt opening match the following day. It was a typically blustery day at Princes and the scores generally reflected that. Stuart Hollins and Carl Hills finished in top spot, with a commendable 34 points; probably not enough also to win the Peter Kenyon Bowl (which is the foursomes competition organised by the Hewitt committee for participants from all 64 Hewitt schools), but we will see when all the results are in!
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The new society golf season gets under way at Prince’s on Thursday, 9th April with the Thompson Tankards, a foursomes competition run as part of Halford Hewitt week. Alongside four or five pairs of ‘fully handicapped’ society members, many of the school’s scratch Hewitt team are expected to take part, since they will not be playing their first round match in the Hewitt itself until Friday 10th, when they take on Wellington in an early start at Royal Cinque Ports, Deal. Martin Hayes captains the side for the first time. We wish them all the very best of luck.
The day after the Hewitt is completed, the society’s AGM and annual dinner takes place at Tandridge GC on Monday 13th April, with golf beforehand for those who cannot wait to get started.
