St Patrick's Day
The St Patricks day Stableford went off like an Irish Grand Slam. 97 intrepid men took part, playing on a long and somewhat damp course, and for the most part enduring some pleasant warm spring temperatures, sprinkled with the odd shower. This made conditions extremely challenging to say the least, with only 4 players in the field playing to handicap or better.
So, the winning score of 39 by Dan Murphy, playing off a 2 handicap, was impressive and deservedly took the trophy and the plaudits in the bar afterwards
Men's Section External Competitions - 2023 Season
There are numerous different events in which members represent Bramshaw Golf Club. Participating in these is a privilege with limited availability and hopefully great fun. We hope that representatives of Bramshaw convey the intended perception about the club.
Bramshaw sets out to be a friendly and inclusive golf club and representatives of the club in all competitions should ensure that is apparent, even in the more serious and more competitive events.
This includes:
· Impeccable etiquette
· Fair play
· An actively engaging and friendly manner.
Friendly Matches
For these matches the organiser and team selector is the Vice Captain for the year. He will aim to select members who:
· Meet the player criteria above
· May be new to representative golf at Bramshaw
· Are reliable and prepared to play both home and away, not just selecting the prime venues
· Join in with the friendly atmosphere and hospitality for guests.
· When selected to play, stay for post-match food and are part of the camaraderie.
Each of the friendly matches will be posted on Golf Genius early in the season with ample time to register interest and the team selector will make choices from there.
Competitive External Matches
For these matches the men’s committee will select Captains and give guidance as above and suggest that selection of the teams should be to include those players meeting the player guidelines above who are most likely to contribute to a winning team, and only after this to consider spreading the opportunity for selection as wide as possible.
Bridport Bowl
This is a competition played between Golf Clubs in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire for male members over the age of 50 with a maximum handicap of 24. The format is pairs 4BBB, played in groups, followed by knockout rounds, with the semi-finals and final taking place at Bridport GC. Bramshaw enter two teams with 2023 Captains selected as Tony Daly and Paul Morgan
Beckford Bowl
This is a scratch competition with teams made up of the lowest handicapped golfers at the Club. It is a straight knockout competition with matches played over 36 holes of foursomes and singles match play. 2023 Captain is Ray Nother.
Gales Hockley
This ‘Invitation’ competition is the premier Seniors’ competition in Hampshire and has been held annually since 1971.
In 2022 this Senior Men’s over 50’s knock-out competition, attracted 44 Teams from across Hampshire (and in some cases Clubs from nearby Counties which border Hampshire).
The competition culminates in a final which is held in September each year at Hockley Golf Club (unless the Hockley team is in the final – in which case a neutral venue is found).
The player qualification for the competition is that competitors must have attained the aged of 50 by the date of the draw – which for 2022 was on Thursday 24th February 2022.
Each team will consist of 9 players per side, with a maximum individual handicap allowance of 16, and a total team ‘Aggregate Handicap’ limit of 82 for the 9 players.
2023 Captain is Andy Macey
Hampshire 7s
The County’s premier club team event is open to all affiliated Hampshire Clubs, it is singles handicap match play with 7 players per team and a maximum handicap of 15. This is a straight knockout competition with the semi-finals and final being played on the same day at a neutral venue.
2023 Captain is Nick Thorne
Monty League
Founded in 1966 the following clubs were present: Barton on Sea, Bramshaw, Burley, Highcliffe Castle, New Forest, Romsey and Brokenhurst, when the clubs agreed to form a foursomes league, with each team made up of 5 pairs, with each pair having a combined handicap of not less than 16 and not more than 40. Playing matchplay over 18 holes, with 2 points for a win and 1 for a half on each hole, and the team with the greatest number of points at the end of the season be declared the winners.
The matches are usually played on a Wednesday evening at 5pm, followed by a match meal. Montague Whitworth-Whitlock a Brokenhurst member donated the cup. (Hence the name Monty).
In 1974 the New Forest club won the league for the first time and Peter Swann donated a trophy, with all the teams playing Foursome stableford, with the best 3 scores to count. This competition proved to be very successful and is still played on one day at the end of the season.
Bramshaw were the first club to win the Swann Trophy in 1975. In 1989 the competition was expanded even further, by introducing a “Captains Get Together” at the beginning of the season. Two pairs, selected by each Monty team captain, gathered at the start of the season to play a foursomes Stableford, highest total scores from each club declared the winners. The Monty League over the years has grown from strength to strength and remains as friendly and competitive today as it was at the start.
2023 Captain is Captain of the 2022 winning team, Pete Chase.
Men's Committee
In case of any queries please feel free either to ask the office, email members’ liaison (bgcmensmemberinfo@gmail.com) or just talk to any of the committee.
Mike Burnham (Captain)
Rob Barrington (Vice-Captain)
Nigel Thomas (Social Committee Rep)
Jon Maloney (Hon Treasurer)
Mark Kretowicz (Immediate Past Captain)
Richard Grainger (Competitions Sec)
Mike Evans (Leagues and Matches)
Matthew Thomas (Boards and Trophies)
Tim Lees (Hon Secretary)
Neal Archer (Handicap Sec)
Steve Walker (Members’ Liaison)