The shocking wet weather last autumn sadly took its toll on our planned Centenary celebration golf day at Sandy Lodge in September 2024, but with the kind assistance of our hosts we managed to rearrange for Thursday 22nd May 2025 to get the event played.
Sandy Lodge was always a very fitting location for this event, in part because of their close association with County golf since inception. The Mens Union was formed at a meeting at Sandy Lodge and the Executive Committee of the Mens Union held all their meetings at Sandy Lodge for many years.
The excessive rain that fell last autumn in the South East of the UK is a far cry to our 2025 spring weather, the driest in a generation! As such, although the conditions made our host venue play very firm and fast, this wouldnt stop us getting the event played and completed on this occasion.
39 of our clubs were represented on the day, most sending their respective male and female winners from selected club designated qualifying events played in the 2024 spring/summer period, but if unavailable were replaced by suitable substitute players.
The event was played as a shotgun start from 10am with a mixed fourball betterball stableford format, using 85% handicap allowance.
Our winners on the day were Matt Phillips & Julia Bashford of Aldwickbury Park with an amazing 48 stableford points. In 2nd were Gary Fidler and Genny Hill from Mill Green with 44 points and in 3rd, beating 2 other pairs on 43 points with a better back 9, were the pair from Hanbury Manor of Dan Brillus & Claudie Whatmore. County President Jane Walter gave an interesting history lesson in terms of County golf for all present prior to handing out the prizes.
One of the competitors on the day achieved the perfect shot – 2 handicapper Ross Snowdon of Batchworth Park aced the short 100 yard par 3 8th hole – a day to remember for him!
The day appeared to be a great success, with lots of positive feedback received all round.
We now look forward to the next 100 years of Hertfordshire Golf!
Our thanks to our hosts Sandy Lodge for their hospitality and efforts on the day.
