Afternoon Golf

The 13^th Fitz Open was the largest ever Fitz-only event with 36 golfers taking part. We returned to Girton – the venue for our very first Open in 2011. The weather was sunny and particularly warm for a September afternoon.

Many of the Fitz GS regulars were there plus several who often join us for the Open – including Chris Coyne, Andy Makin and Andrew Williams. We were pleased to welcome a group of 2010 matriculants including Caitlin Warden Hodge and her husband Kiran Vora plus debutants, Tom Tryon and Jacob Hooper. The influx of younger players is a very pleasing trend. Another debutant was John Bradshaw (1968) who was a junior member at Girton in the 1960s – when it was just a 9 hole course.

Girton is not a long course and the fairways were running well after dry weather. The greens were running even faster. It was very easy to overhit a putt – sometimes with punishing results. Coupled with several tree lined fairways, there were many opportunities to go wrong! But with such a large field, it was also great social occasion and many of us were happy to be out playing with old and new friends.

General scoring was low with only three scores exceeding 36 stableford points. Countback separated most of the placings, including first and second place. After an excellent and very steady round of 39 points, on countback, the winner and Fitz Champion Golfer for 2023 was Harry Coe.

Narrowly pipped into second place with an almost equally steady round was Martin Dinkele. Our most senior regular player, Dave Castell, claimed third place with 38 points.

Our President, Mike Hamment, came fourth, on countback from our Captain, Brian Smith – both on 34 points.

Winners of the Feature Hole competitions were: 

Nearest the Pins on the 4^th  – Clive Makin 

Nearest the Pin on the 17^th Andrew Garden.

Nearest the Pin in 2 on the 13^th (with a sharp dog leg) – Gavin Dolling (Girton member)

It’s a standing joke that the Longest Drive competition is rarely much of a competition because it is won regularly by the same person. This time was no exception! John Uwins hit a monster drive he claimed was with a 6 iron! 

The tight time schedule meant there was limited time for drinks in the clubhouse before the players made the short drive to college for Dinner.

Sports Dinner at Fitzwilliam College

Pre-Dinner drinks were served on the College lawn in the fading light of a pleasant evening before moving up to the Upper Hall – the area many of us still recall as the Library!

About 40 guests were served an excellent meal of seared tuna, beef loin and chocolate fondant. After Dinner, Colin Dunkerley, as Match Organiser, presented most of the prizes. The Cup for the Champion Golfer was presented to the winner, Harry Coe by our former President, Henry Croft-Baker, who kindly donated the cup in 2011. 

The Captain, Brian Smith, related Fitzwilliam’s glorious victory in the annual Cambridge Inter College Alumni Golf Tournament earlier in the year at Gog Magog. Fitz GS had decided to commission a cup for the event which was presented to the victorious team of Brian Smith, Mike Hamment, Andrew Garden, Graham May, Nigel Smethers and Richard Newport – all of whom were present. The presentation was made by Dave Castell as “Father of the Society”.

In the absence of a “big name” speaker, the evening was rounded off by our very own Mike Hamment giving a quite excellent talk and slide show entitled “The Scottish Munros my way – 45 years of Hurt” This marked his recent completion of climbing all 282 Munros. Most of us knew the time and effort that Mike had put in to his lifetime challenge but the slides brought home not only the fantastic scenery and changeable weather but the sheer hard work, determination and perseverance necessary to complete this remarkable achievement.

The only negative aspect to the evening was the lack of attendees other than Fitz Golfers and our regular supporters including Henry Croft-Baker, Mark Somerset, Gerry Tucker. We largely turned it into a Golf Dinner and a good time was had by all. However, it was apparent that the event had not been very positively promoted among the wider community of Fitz Sports Alumni. The matter is being taken up with College with a view to improving attendance at the next Sports Dinner.

Colin Dunkerley, Match Organiser and Secretary