The annual fixture with West Hill took place today, on Friday the 6th June. The 10 Gentlemen representing the Forty Club arrived in good time for the customary bacon baps and coffee and, on this occasion, an unwelcome rain shower… By 08:30 we were all on the tee, decked out in rain gear and with umbrellas at the ready.
Fortunately, it was not long before the weather took a turn for the better and. by lunchtime, we were enjoying the sunshine and admiring the condition of the golf course: some beautiful green turf and greens showing few signs of having suffered in the dry weeks of May.
An excellent three-course lunch was enjoyed by all, as were a number of bottles of West Hill’s finest… and the fact that the XL Club had logged a 3-2 lead at the halfway point helped to make the meal that bit more enjoyable.
Having consumed a fine repaste, the golfers headed out to the course for the second round of Foursomes matches. It was soon clear that the hosts had either imbibed more than their guests or were less able to hold their drink, as the Forty Club soon took control of the match.
The West Hill Captain – imperious in the morning fixture – had lost some of his sureness of touch and by the second par three even had to suffer the embarrassment of recovering his trolley from the greenside bunker… his playing partner was much amused!
When all was said and done, the match result was a 6-4 win for the Forty Club, with contributions from all players. This represented a welcome return to winning ways after a few years of West Hill winning the fixture.
Over drinks on the terrace afterwards, we were delighted to hear that we would be welcomed back for a return fixture in 2026!
Representing the Forty Club were:
Mike Johnson-Hill (Capt.)
Bryan Pickup
Alan Ewart
Nick Ray
David Knight
Peter Newman
John Morrissey
Tim Cork
Stephen Baker and
Martin Lawrence (Match Manager)
