The County, under the Captaincy of Craig Buttivant, had an intensive week of coaching in Portugal during March. A group of players from each of the Junior, Colts and 1^st Team were put through their paces by coaches Ian Godleman, Paul Cook and Alasdair Barr. Junior Manager - Brian Roake and Colts Manager - Jon Carter were also in attendance to ensure that the programme ran smoothly. All the players worked extremely hard on their games and we hope to see the benefits over the coming months.

Ashley Walton receives the 2004 Order of Merit trophy from Tim Clutterbuck

BB & O County Matches

As usual the teams open up with some Friendly fixtures and our first County match was against Hampshire A near full strength Hampshire team just got the better of the County side 6½-8½ at West Berkshire on Sunday 3^rd April. It was a good lesson for some of the younger players to experience the standards set at 1^st team level. The Captain was pleased to see Steve Barwick (East Berkshire) back after a year break from County golf.

Team at West Berkshire: David Addison (Donnington Grove), Steve Barwick (East Berkshire), Matthew Briggs (Donnington Grove), Craig Buttivant (Gerrards Cross), Laurence Eltham (Goring & Streatley), Mark Hall (Oxford City), Andrew Mason (Tadmarton Heath), Ashley Walton (Frilford Heath), Adam Wootton (Oxford City), Chris Wiggins (West Berkshire).

The Team at West Berkshire

The County played their second Friendly match against Surrey on 10^th April. A close match between some excellent players at Woodcote Park resulted in Surrey taking the match by 9-6. Shot of the day was Matthew Briggs left handed effort from 100 yards to 25 feet on the 14^th. Kevin Freeman enjoyed a win over Adam Gee, an England Elite Squad member. Birdie, par, birdie finish by Gee was bettered by Freeman with eagle, birdie, eagle to take the game 1up. Good stuff!

Team at Woodcote Park: Steve Barwick (East Berkshire), Matthew Briggs (Donnington Grove), Craig Buttivant (Gerrards Cross), Robert Christian (Beaconsfield), Kevin Freeman (Stoke Park), Adam Hinkins (Chiltern Forest), Tom Lawson (Ellesborough), Andrew Mason (Tadmarton Heath), Ben Smith (East Berkshire), Ashley Walton (Frilford Heath).

The Team at Woodcote Park

BB & O Colts Matches

The Colts played their first Friendly match against Gerrards Cross on 6^th March. An excellent performance in the morning foursomes gave them a big lead. They were able to hold on to that throughout the afternoon to take the match 9-6.

Team at Gerrards Cross: Adam Birdseye (Gerrards Cross), Haydn Brooks (Woburn), Gavin Frost (Winter Hill), Adam Hinkins (Chiltern Forest), Andrew Mason (Tadmarton Heath), Lloyd Notley (Castle Royle), Ben O’Dell (Henley), Paul Raines (Buckinghamshire), Mark Rubber (Maidenhead), Dean Wright (Reading).

The Colts have played their second warm up Friendly match and took on the Club at Temple on Saturday 26^th March. After a close series of morning foursomes the Colts took the afternoon fourballs to win the match. This match was invaluable practice for our first League game in May against Middlesex at Temple.

Team at Temple: Adam Birdseye (Gerrards Cross), Kristian Branum-Burns (Reading), Gavin Frost (Winter Hill), Andrew Mason (Tadmarton Heath), Paul Raines (Buckinghamshire), Matthew Rendell (Reading), Mark Rubber (Maidenhead), Adam Wootton (Oxford City).

The Colts have played their third Friendly match against the Club at Stoke Park on Saturday 2^nd April. After trailing by 4 points at lunchtime, the Colts staged a great fight back in the afternoon singles to draw the match 6½-6½.

Team at Stoke Park Club: Gavin Frost (Winter Hill), Adam Hinkins (Chiltern Forest), Andrew Mason (Tadmarton Heath), Lloyd Notley (Castle Royle), Chris Tellett (Woburn), Lee Wanklyn (Sand Martins), Adam Wootton (Oxford City).

BB & O Juniors Matches

Matthew Rendell (Reading) won the Boddington Trophy in 2004. This award, given by the Honourable Company of Oxfordshire golfers is to the most improved Junior in BB&O. The Honourable Company also make a substantial donation to the County each year to help fund Junior golf within the Union.

Matthew Rendell receives the Boddington Trophy from Roger Longshaw

The Juniors played Hampshire and Wiltshire in a three way match at High Post on 20^th March. The Juniors had a disappointing day. After a week of coaching in Portugal some of the players were understandably tired and this reflected in the result, as we went down in both matches.

Team at High Post: Kristian Branum-Burns (Reading), Lee Frame (Donnington Valley), Mark Hall (Oxford City), Robert Hart (Stoke Park), Adam Hinkins (Chiltern Forest), Matthew Rendell (Reading), Chris Tellett (Woburn), Lee Wanklyn (Sand Martins), James Weight (Woburn), Adam Wootton (Oxford City).

The Juniors played their annual match against the BB & O Seniors at Caversham Heath on 29^th March This fixture, pitching youth against experience, once again proved the old adage wrong. The Seniors must try once more to find a format that will get them a win.

Team at Caversham Heath: Adam Birdseye (Gerrards Cross), Lee Frame (Donnington Valley), Gavin Frost (Winter Hill), Robert Hart (Stoke Park), Adam Hinkins (Chiltern Forest), John McNally (Stoke Park), Paul Raines (Buckinghamshire), Lee Wanklyn (Sand Martins).

The Boys Under 14 Team played Bedfordshire at The Bedfordshire on Thursday 7^th April. They got off to a great start to the season with an emphatic win. They must have been inspired playing between rounds of the Europro Tour Final Qualifying taking place on the same course.

Team at The Bedfordshire: Adam Batty (Hazlemere), Sandy Bolton (Frilford Heath), Jonathan Hewitt (Gerrards Cross), Mathew Johnson (Chipping Norton), Tom Obergan (Gerrards Cross), Eddie Pepperell (Frilford Heath), Andrew Tucker (Frilford Heath), Christy Whelehan (West Berkshire), Harry Whittle (Woburn), George Wilson (Woburn).

The Under 14 Team at The Bedfordshire

BB & O Seniors Matches

The Seniors lost their match against the Juniors as reported earlier by 5-3

Team at Caversham Heath: Bob Clarke (Mentmore), Rod Crisp (Ellesborough), Ian Disney (Frilford Heath), Duncan Forbes (Sonning), Roger Gaudoin (Mentmore), Robert Gill (Gerrards Cross), David Stevenson (Ellesborough).

BB & O Championship & Trophy Meetings

Junior Championship

Played at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club on Wednesday 6th April, 60 Boys aged 18 and under contested the Championship on a wonderfully prepared course playing over 6,800 yards. In extremely difficult conditions, with heavy rain and strong winds, it was not surprising that the Par of 72 was not threatened in the morning round. Standard Scratch went to 75 and Carl Norman’s (Sand Martins) round of 73 off 8 handicap was the outstanding performance of the day. He held a three shot lead from Lee Moore (Winter Hill) and Adam Wootton (Oxford City) with Matthew Hawkes (Royal Ascot) and Richard Webb (Woburn) close behind after very creditable 77’s. Everyone who had broken 80 in the morning was in with a chance in the afternoon as the weather calmed down somewhat. First to set the pace was Mark Hall (Oxford City) on 154 after an excellent 75 before Gavin Frost (Winter Hill) lowered the mark by one. Minutes later Matthew Hawkes completed his round with two very solid pars to score 74 and set a total of 151. With Richard Webb unable to find a birdie in his last five holes he had to settle for a total of 152. Carl Norman meanwhile, was continuing his excellent progress and reached the turn just three over par. A slight hiccup over 10, 11 and 12 saw him fall off the pace but he held his nerve and he played the last 6 holes level par and tied Matthew on 151. With the light fading it was agreed to decide the Championship by sudden death and a large crowd saw Matthew birdie the first hole to claim the Title. A fantastic performance from Carl enabled him to take the Under 16 Title from Mathew Johnson (Chipping Norton) and to win the Handicap Trophy by 8 shots from Ben Willoughby (East Berkshire). Bearwood Lakes kindly presented the top 6 finishers with a voucher to come back and play their magnificent layout with a friend. A superb gesture.

Matthew Hawkes (Royal Ascot) receives the Junior Trophy from David Lane

Carl Norman (Sand Martins) winner of both the Under 16’s and Handicap Trophies

BB & O County Union Annual Dinner

The 43^rd Annual Dinner of the County Union was held at the Blue Mountain Golf Centre on Monday 7^th March. Some 343 people had an excellent evening listening to our three Guest Speakers. Fred Caröe, President of the EGU and Richard Cole-Hamilton, Captain of the R&A were the Principle Guests and Ian Irving our final speaker, ensured everyone went home laughing!  

from left to right:

Fred Caröe (President EGU), Tim Clutterbuck (President (BB&O), Richard Cole-Hamilton (Captain R&A).

BB & O County Union Annual Council Meeting

The Annual Council Meeting of the County Union took place on 30^th March at Maidenhead Golf Club. The Council comprises the Secretary or Manager of each of the 122 affiliated clubs, together with provision for each club to nominate a ‘second representative’ who may attend.

A very good attendance gathered to go though the business of the meeting, with the President’s Report followed by written reports from the Captain and Team Managers. The Finance report was presented by the County Secretary/Treasurer and he advised that the English Golf Union fee for 2006 would reduce to £3.50 per member from £5.50. The BB&O fee would remain at £4.00 for 2006 as agreed at the half Year Council Meeting October 2004

Nomination of Officers for 2005 had been announced at the October 2004 Half Year Council Meeting and these were confirmed as follows:

(1)   President:                                             D G Lane (Goring & Streatley)

(2)   Captain:                                                C Buttivant (Gerrards Cross)

(3)   Colts Manager:                                     J Carter (Reading)

(4)   Junior Manager:                                    B Roake (Gerrards Cross)

(5)   Seniors Manager                                  R Gill (Gerrards Cross)

In accordance with the Notice sent to all affiliated clubs in November 2004. Mr R Crisp (Ellesborough) and M Reid (Royal Ascot) were unanimously elected to the Executive Committee.

Tim Clutterbuck hands over to David Lane

David Lane (Goring & Streatley) took over the Presidency from Tim Clutterbuck (Beaconsfield) on Wednesday 30th March. With some 40 years as a BB&O player, David has represented the County over 200 times and been County Champion on 4 occasions.

Jeff Hazelgrove (Captain) & Joe Dunne (Secretary)

Jeff Hazelgrove & Joe Dunne (Captain & Secretary) of Wexham Park carried off the prestigious Greensomes Title at Maidenhead after the Council Meeting. They just pipped the Host Club Captain and Secretary by one point with the outgoing President and his Club Secretary in third place.