News Archive

14th October, 2024 - Season Finale of the Race to Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield GC

Seventeen AGS members gathered at Beaconsfield for the 2024 Finale Meeting. Such an uneven number had to be split into three 3 balls and two 4 balls thereby producing two team competitions as well as the individual contest, won by David West with a splendid score of 37 points. The Finale is also the occasion on which the Collers Cup is presented, by Collers himself, to the member who scored the most points in his best three rounds of the season - congratulations to Andrew Beardmore, this year's winner. We were fortunate to have chosen one of the very few dry days in October, at a great golf club, in fine condition for the time of year and offering their excellent, traditional ham, eggs & chips!

4th October, 2024 - Match Vs. ST CATZ, PEMBROKE AND WORCESTER

STUDLEY WOOD GC

The AGS team was hit on the eve of this quadrangular tournament by the absence of inspirational Skipper, Chris Atkinson, laid low by Covid. Nevertheless, Simon Staite screeched into the car park in time for us to set forth intact from the first tee in optimistic mood.

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We found a different Studley Wood to the one presented in August, then firm, long-running and relatively benign. This one was a brute, the fairways absorbing balls with little bounce, the rough covetous, the ponds huge and avaricious, all overlaid with a spiteful crosswind.

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Sadly, our desire to “do it for the Skip” was marginally overwhelmed by a collection of very low handicaps amongst the opposition. The cream of AGS remained resolutely at the bottom, whilst Worcester prevailed, one of its team also winning the individual prize with 36 points.

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Ken Hinkley-Smith unfortunately retired hurt during the round, but there were creditable performances from Peter Lever and Clive Penwarden (both 29 points). We welcomed new boy Ian Taylor (1976) who easily slotted into the banter and vowed to return. David West and Jerry Gray completed the AGS team, which will seek to rise to the top next year.

23rd August 2024 - Aularian Golf Society Summer Meeting & AGM

Studley Wood Golf Club

For a change, we were blessed with fine weather, and the Studley Wood course was in excellent condition for our AGM on 23rd August.

The prizewinners in the individual contest were;​

1st - John 'Collers' Collingwood 38 points

2nd - Chris Atkinson - 36

3rd - Jeremy Charles - 35

4th - Jerry Gray - 34

The winners of the team prizes were;

1st - Jerry Gray, Chris Atkinson, Jeremy Charles & Ken Hinkley-Smith

2nd - David Ashworth, John Dennis, Mike Simmie & John 'Collers'

3rd - Nick Harley, David West, Peter Jones & Chris Hockey

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Following the golf, members retired to the Hall for a re-acquaintance with the Buttery, a fizz reception around The Well and a splendid dinner in the Old Library. The dinner venue was made possible through the support of a Fellow of the College, Jeremy Charles, whom we were delighted to welcome as a new member of the AGS. All present agreed that the whole day had been a highlight of the season.

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11th July 2024 - Match vs Fitzwilliam, Cambridge

Stowe School

This year’s annual match versus FitzBilly (Cantab) was held at Stowe School, near Buckingham on 11th July. The Hall suffered a couple of late withdrawals but one was replaced by a local ringer, Steve Whitby, so we went into battle one light. All players were impressed the layout and fine condition of the new Stowe golf course and some excellent competition took place on an untypical warm and dry summer’s day!

The four-ball-better-ball match was drawn 3 matches each :

• Chris Atkinson beat Pete Bennett & Mike Hammett (Stableford scoring)

• Neil James & Peter Jones lost to John Uwins & Jon Pritchard

• Jerry Gray and Ken Hinkley-Smith beat Andrew Garden & Paul Fairweather

• David Ashworth & David McCammon lost to Graham May & Stuart Lester

• Peter Lever & Simon Staite lost to Colin Dunkerley & Brian Smith

• Nigel Banks & Steve Whitby beat Robin Winckless & Nigel Smethers.

Following the match, a late lunch was served in the glorious State Music Room of Stowe House, the former home of the Dukes of Buckingham - an impressive way to end a very different golfing experience!

19th June 2024   - Summer Meeting

The Richmond Golf Club

The society celebrated the sudden appearance of summer on 19th June, with a gathering of 12 members at The Richmond G C for the Society's Summer Meeting. The course was in fine condition and the hospitality, so generously provided by David Ashworth, was as superb as ever, including as much roast beef as one could consume.

John 'Collers' Collingwood presented the prizes to :

1. Chris Atkinson 36 points - Winner of The Richmond Trophy

2. Peter Smith 35 points - Runner-up on his debut appearance

3. Andrew Beardmore 34 points - AGS's answer to DeChambeau!

The Team Prize went to : Chris Atkinson, Andrew Beardmore, John Collers and Chris Hockey.

'The Longest Drive' at the 18th hole went to Peter Lever 'Nearest the Pin' on the 8th was not awarded - no one found the green!

Everyone expressed thanks to David 'Dash' Ashworth for setting up the meeting and paying for all drinks, including a fine Burgundy to go with the beef. Altogether, a most enjoyable and memorable Aularian occasion.

10th April 2024  - Spring Meeting

The Berkshire Golf Club

The eagerly awaited season-opener at The Berkshire took place on 10th April but was sadly deserted by the usual glorious weather, which affected numbers. It rained all afternoon through a bitter wind and the hot showers afterwards proved so popular that David “Dash” Ashworth was fished out by the RNLI.

Nevertheless, eleven men and true set forth on the long and difficult Red course; sadly, only ten returned, with Mike “Cymbals” Simmie throwing in his soaking-wet towel halfway round after one-too-many “blobs”! They had been joined in the clubhouse earlier for coffee and breakfast rolls by the venerable Richard McCullogh and Gerald Barber and new member Keith Spicer was warmly welcomed.

Nick Harley hosted the day admirably. Sandwiches and prizes were presented afterwards, with Ian Durrans winning the coveted Atkinson Claret Jug for the first time with an unrivalled 32 points in the gruelling conditions. Second and third places were filled by Clive Penwarden and Andrew Beardmore respectively and the team prize went to Clive Penwarden, Nick Harley and Jerry Gray.

21st March 2024  - Match vs St John's, Cambridge

Huntercombe Golf Club

The society's season opener, the annual match versus St John's, took place at the fantastic Huntercombe Golf Club, resulting in a narrow(ish) defeat for the Hall.

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Despite a couple of strong scores on the Hall team (David West and Peter Lever both contributing 38 points), we couldn't compete with St John's strength in depth on the day and they triumphed with 238 points to the Hall's 226.

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The next meeting of the Society coincides with the week of the Masters at Augusta, and a great day's golf is expected at the Berkshire on 10th April.

25th October 2023 FINALE MEETING - Beaconsfield Golf Club

Fifteen Aularians signed up for the 2023 Finale Meeting at Beaconsfield G.C. on Wednesday 25th October. Murky weather on arrival soon gave way to a bright autumnal day and a golf course in excellent condition.

As the AGM in August was rained off, the Finale featured competition for the Aularian Jigger as well as the traditional award of the Collers Cup. The latter being presented to the AGS member who had scored the highest aggregate number of points in 3 out of the 5 qualifying fixtures.