The worst September storms in Britain for 30 years, according to the Met Office, delivered lashing winds and horizontal rain for the SJA’s seventh annual Autumn Golf Day at Muswell Hill GC last Monday.
In total, 15 hardy souls (10 SJA members and five guests) braved the elements over the first nine holes of the north London parkland course before beating a hasty retreat to the comfort and warmth of the clubhouse.
Even though discretion got the better of valour, it did not prevent a rash of good scores despite the almost impossible playing conditions. Most of the better scores, it should be pointed out, came from the guests, who clearly have more time to hone their games than the hard-working journos.
The best score over the nine holes played was 21 Stableford points by Peter Luck’s guest, Simon Mason, who is destined to attain a much higher level of achievement in the game than his current handicap of 22.
Mason scooped the guests’ prize – a litre bottle of Laphroaig whisky kindly donated by snapper Hugh Routledge.
Runner-up in the guests’ section with 18 points was hardy perennial Don Cave while Routledge’s guest, Peter Nunn, and Ben Trow tied for third on 17 points.
The winner of the Phil Sheldon Trophy, contested by SJA members in memory of the late golf photographer who died in 2006, went to the day’s co-organiser Paul Trow, who was somewhat fortunate to finish top of the pile after accumulating only 15 points. Joint second, one point behind, were defending champion Pat Mooney and another former winner David Jacobs, while a trio of football writers filled the next three spots on the leaderboard – Gerry Cox (fourth), Chester Stern and Nick Callow (joint fifth).
Trow was presented with the trophy by Phil’s widow Gill and also received two bottles of French white wine donated by SJA member Graham Morrison, who, like Gill and SJA chairman Barry Newcombe, also attended the lunch following the round.
UPCOMING SJA EVENTS
Thu Dec 6: 2012 SJA British Sports Awards. An Olympic year extravaganza at the Tower of London. Click here for more details, news of members’ discounts and a booking form.