OBGS - Heads Cup 2024

A great turnout of 19 players competed in the OB Golf Society Heads Cup at Cradoc Golf Club on Friday 28th June. The weather was fine and held good, even if a slight blustery wind did add an extra challenge to the beautifully presented course.

An extended early meeting time did wonders in generating a solid buzz of the usual catchups and banter in the bar and over coffee and bacon rolls; even if my administration was pleasantly interrupted by catch-ups and revisions due to late, and some surprise, arrivals. Then again, who, by now, would expect me to be organised?

Where was Peter Owen when organisation was needed, I hear you ask? As it happens, Peter was away with family and sent his apologies. This is the first meeting I can remember attending where Peter hasn’t been there! Several other stalwarts also sent their apologies this year, including Hugh Philips, due to on-going family illness, and Martin Like, who was racing a ridiculous distance down the Yukon River in a canoe for charity. Our best wishes are with them all.

There was a good turnout from ‘younger’ OBs, dropping the usual average-age profile of the event by a decade or two; with leaving dates being spread from 1971 to 2020! There was also a contingent of current staff and a non-playing guest appearance from John Williams too.

Group ‘captains’ were appointed and tasked with corralling their groups on the first tee and confirming the playing handicaps for each player ….. I accept that experienced attendees of golf society days may feel that this approach might be seen as foolhardy, but this is an OB event after all and, surely, we are all trustworthy …..

The groups were:

Gwyn Jones, Jonathan Spencer, Charles Spencer, Kevin Noble

Rhodri Parry, Rhodri O’Reilly, Rhodri Jenkins, Ryan Williams (a ‘Rhodri’ for the day)

Rob Calcaterra, James Davenport, Gerwyn Williams

Mike Clarke, Simon Hill (staff), John Patterson (staff & OB), Ryan Meredith (staff)

Des Lally, Adam Evans, Andrew Marshman, Huw Jones (All class of ’93)

This was first OBGS event to tee off from the newly CCB sponsored first tee.

The standard of golf turned out to be quite exceptional; the lowest score being 27 points, the average score being 34 points and 36 points being only good enough for a tie for 6th place!

The ‘nearest the pin’ competitions were competitive, with three of the five groups posting contenders. Both were, however, ultimately won by the same player; Simon Hill, the sole single-figure handicapper in the field showing his quality.

Third place was decided on countback between Gwyn Jones, Rob Calcaterra and Mike Clarke on 37 points. Rob pipped it by virtue of a fantastic 22 points for the back 9, which tempered his disappointment in self-deducting a point for the front 9 when signing his card.

The winner and runner-up came from the gang of contemporaries rustled up by Des Lally, who scored an incredible average of 39 points between them (incredible as in ‘magnificent’ not ‘difficult to believe’!); Andrew was the ‘underperformer’ with 32 points, playing off 10, and Des scored 36 points, off an entirely correct 28! Both Adam and Huw played off 20 on the day and it is easily tempting to take a cynical view of the turn of affairs but mine is purely tongue-in-cheek, as the clear delight, pride and surprise at their performance shown by both Adam and Hugh, and even by Andrew and Des, was compelling; that, together with a total absence of any sign of any remorse!

As it was, Adam’s brilliant 43 points wasn’t good enough to beat Huw’s even better 45 points. Congratulations both and well-done Huw.

Opposing views could be taken of the fact that they signed for incorrect scores, with Des depriving them both of an additional point (or even, in actual fact, that they didn’t sign for any scores at all !!!); but to detract from their joy at what were obviously extraordinary  rounds would be, by common consensus of those present, churlish in the extreme and entirely contrary to the spirit of the day – and would also deprive us of merciless mickey-taking until next year, by which time the handicap committee will have taken all necessary action !

Huw’s pride and joy is clear for all to see the morning after:

Thank you to all who attended for making it such a great day.

I would also, once again, like to thank all the staff at Cradoc for presenting a beautiful course in fantastic condition, providing great food and service, and for their unwavering helpfulness and good humour throughout in giving us a fabulous welcome and another fantastic day at the club.