Introducing the County President – Iain MacCaskill

Following the sudden death of Jim Walkinshaw, the Past Presidents met to nominate a new President. Iain MacCaskill was the unanimous choice and Iain was duly voted into Office at the Annual Council Meeting at Maidenhead on 27^th March 2008. Iain was educated at the Albert Road Academy in Glasgow and had a successful career in Sales & Marketing with Unilever and Hallmark Cards. A keen sportsman he represented Glasgow Schools under 12 team football team, was Glasgow Schools Swimming Champion in 1955 and played 1^st XV Rugby and 1^st X1 Cricket. As a golfer he was selected for the West of Scotland Boys Team in 1955 and was the beaten finalist in the East of Scotland Boy’s Championship. He went on to be selected for the Scottish Boys team in 1957 and was semi-finalist in the British Boys Championship of 1957. Later he went on to represent the Scottish Youths team in 1958 and 1960 and finished 3^rd in the British Youth’s Championship in 1960. The highlight of his golfing career was undoubtedly qualifying for the Open Championship at Troon in 1962 won by Arnold Palmer.

He was Club champion at Cowglen Golf Club –  a record 7 times and became Captain at age 37. As a Member of the Glasgow County Golf Union he was responsible for Junior Golf. Having moved South, he joined Denham and later became Captain. He was BB&O Junior Organiser for 5 years – set up coaching schemes and brought success with wins in two successive years in the South East Junior Foursomes. Together with wife Maureen they ran Junior golf at Denham for 6 years and continue to have a real passion to see success in the Junior ranks.

Best wishes for good golfing in 2008

BB & O County Matches

At Temple on 12th April we had a good morning and lead after the singles 3-2. However, the 'wheels' fell off in the afternoon and we only managed two ½ points and lost the singles 1-9 and the match 4-9. 

Team at Temple:), Gregg Blainey (Bearwood Lakes), Matthew Briggs (Stoke Park), Craig Buttivant (Gerrards Cross), Jon Carter (Reading), Andrew Crux (Denham), Adam Glass (Caversham Heath), Tom Lawson (Ellesborough), Tim Newton (Reading), Malcolm Reid (Royal Ascot), Adam Wootton (Oxford City), Dean Wright (Reading).

Another good performance saw the County side win the morning foursomes at Stoke Poges on 4^th May. However the home side rallied in the afternoon to win the match 7-5. We did lend them 2 players though!

Team at Stoke Park: Adam Birdseye (Hazlemere), Craig Hinton (The Oxfordshire), Tim Newton (Reading), Malcolm Reid (Royal Ascot), Tom Wilde (Beaconsfield), Joe Winfield (Woburn), Adam Wootton (Oxford City).

After confusion about how many a side this match was, we ended up 1 short but Warwickshire loaned us one of their players for the day at Finham Park on 11^th May. A good performance in the foursomes gave us the lunchtime lead and this was followed up again in the singles for a 9½-5½

Team at Finham Park: Adam Birdseye (Hazlemere), Brandon Caddow-Young (Royal Ascot), D Forbes (Sonning), Adam Glass, (Caversham Heath),  Spencer Hallam (Tadmarton Heath), John McNally (Stoke Park), Malcolm Reid (Royal Ascot), Tom Wilde (Beaconsfield), Joe Winfield (Woburn). 

BB & O Colts Matches

The Colts had a good win against the Club at Gerrards Cross on Saturday 9^th March. It was close in both the foursomes and singles but the Colts held on to win 5½-3½ 

Team at Gerrards Cross: James Brockington (Henley), Jonathan Hewitt (Gerrards Cross), Nick Joy (Hazlemere), Paul Newman (Buckinghamshire), Tim Newton (Reading), Georg Schultes (Beaconsfield), Joe Winfield (Woburn), Adam Wootton (Oxford City), Dean Wright (Reading).

BB & O Juniors Matches

The Juniors had a friendly match against Wellington College on March 1^st. On the lovely 9 hole layout at the College the boys had a great day and also won the match 5½-2½

Team at Wellington College: James Brockington (Henley), Jake Canning (Stoke Park), Jamie Davies (East Berkshire), Ben Roche (Woburn), Oli Tite (Witney Lakes), Andrew Tucker (Frilford Heath), George Wilson (Woburn), Ben Woolford (Woburn).

A disappointing day at Salisbury & South Wiltshire on 13^th April resulted in a defeat for the Juniors against Hampshire and Wiltshire. However all in all, an encouraging performance from a relatively inexperienced group of lads at this age level. They were proud to be there representing BB&O and really wanted to win. They had a great attitude towards the game and their behaviour and etiquette could not be faulted. For some, it was their first County match and having had a flavour, they all want the chance to represent BB&O again.

Team at Salisbury & South Wiltshire: Chris Aubrey (Hennerton), James Bromham (Richings Park), Steve O’Connor (Tadmarton Heath), Asa Phillips (Goring & Streatley), Joe Richardson (Frilford Heath), Ben Roche (Woburn), James Tobia (Woburn), Sam Williams (Castle Royle), George Wilson (Woburn), Ben Woolford (Woburn).

The Juniors played Surrey at Guildford on 26^th April. This match was played on a comparatively short course defended by small, fast sloping greens. The imbalance between the BB& O under 16s and Surrey under 18s was reflected in the 9 – 3 score that favoured the home county.

The morning foursomes were closely contested and this was not reflected in the 3 – 1 advantage gained by Surrey. The Woburn pair of George Wilson and Ben Roche had a fine 2 and 1 victory and a fighting comeback from five down by Frilford’s Joe Richardson and Dean Newbold resulted in them having an unsuccessful putt on the eighteenth to square the match but still showed great tenacity and spirit.

The afternoon singles were a struggle with BB & O down in almost all matches at an early stage. However, Joe Richardson showed his class with a 2 and 1 victory and George Wilson and Alex Stubbs from The Oxfordshire both came from behind to achieve square matches on the eighteenth. The final tally in the singles was 6 – 2 to Surrey.

Team at Guildford: Chris Aubrey (Hennerton), James Brockington (Henley), Jake Canning (Stoke Park), Joe Richardson (Frilford Heath), Dean Newbold (Frilford Heath), Ben Roche (Woburn), Alex Stubbs (The Oxfordshire), George Wilson (Woburn).

BB & O Championship & Trophy Meetings

Junior Championship

The BB & O Junior Championship was played at Woburn Golf Club on Tuesday 8^th April 2008. 66 Boys aged 18 and under contested the Championship on the Duchess Course playing over 6,600 yards. After a horrible weekend we were lucky to play on a sunny, but cold day and the boys played well and 15 players had rounds of 77 or better. Leading the way with an outstanding score of 71 (1 under par) was Jake Canning (Stoke Park) who was 1 ahead of England Boys International and defending Champion, Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park). The best performance from the local Woburn players was the 76 from Ben Roche but many of the others were too far behind to challenge the leaders in the afternoon. Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse) and Tyrrell Hatton (Harleyford) had good rounds of 74. Realistically it appeared that only these 3 had a chance of challenging Jake for the Title.

The conditions in the afternoon did not get any better and the scoring went the same way. After 9 holes things had changed quite dramatically with Eddie reaching the turn in 3 under against Jake’s 1 over par. After both players had played 15 holes Pepperell still held the upper hand, but he could not match Canning’s efforts on the closing holes of the back 9 as he came home with a birdie and 2 pars to take the Title by just 1 shot. Jake also took the Under 16 Title with his score of 143. Jonathan Hewitt had an excellent 72 in the afternoon to finish 3^rd and Alex Stubbs (The Oxfordshire) won the Handicap Trophy with net 139, ahead of Tom Snelling (Woburn) and Nick Obergan (Gerrards Cross). Our thanks to Woburn Golf Club for allowing the Boys to play on such a challenging Championship layout.

Jake Canning (Stoke Park), Junior Champion receives the Trophy from Iain MacCaskill

Alex Stubbs (The Oxfordshire) Winner Handicap Trophy

BB & O County Union Annual Dinner

BB & O County Union Annual Dinner

The 46^th Annual Dinner of the County Union was held at the Blue Mountain Golf Centre on Monday 3^rd March Some 320 people had an excellent evening listening to our three Guest Speakers. Roy Case, President of the EGU and David Harrison, Captain of the R&A were the Principle Guests and Dave Lee MBE our final speaker

from left to right:

David Harrison (Captain R&A), David Lane (Immediate Past President), Roy Case (President EGU).

Roy Case was also delighted to present a Commemorative Plate to 2 Club Captains who were celebrating their Centenaries in 2008

Stoke Park Club                                                        Frilford Heath GC

Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse), won the Boddington Trophy in 2007. 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.

Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse receives the Boddington Trophy

Adam Glass (Caversham Heath) was the Captain’s choice to receive the Player of the Year award.

Adam Glass (Caversham Heath) receives the Captain’s Tankard

BB & O County Union Annual Council Meeting

A turnout of over 50 attended the Annual Council Meeting on 27^th March. David Lane stood in as Immediate Past President and spoke of the County’s sadness at the loss of Jim Walkinshaw, but was delighted that Iain MacCaskill had accepted the nomination to succeed Jim and wished him well for his period in Office.

Iain MacCaskill (Denham)

Nomination of Officers for 2008 had been announced at the October 2007 Half Year Council Meeting, but with the untimely death of the President Jim Walkinshaw, they were amended and agreed as follows

i)          President                                       I A Mackaskill (Denham)

ii)         Captain:                                         D M Forbes (Sonning)

iii)       Junior Manager:                             J Hubrecht (Gerrards Cross)

iv)       Seniors Manager:                           D Shaw (Goring & Streatley)

In accordance with the Notice sent to all affiliated clubs in November 2007. Mr C E Tennant (Reading), Mr M Holyoake (Winter Hill), and Mr K J Smith (East Berkshire) were unanimously elected to the Executive Committee.

Lloyd Sussex and Ray Merry (Gerrards Cross Artisans) were the worthy winners of the first 'major' of the year as they took the afternoon Greensomes by 3 points from the chasing pack.

Lloyd Sussex & Ray Merry

And Finally

We lost two great stalwarts of BB&O golf in the first 3 months of the year. Firstly our current President Jim Walkinshaw (Denham) and then Bob Stewart (Burford) a Past President and former Secretary/Treasurer of the County Union for 13 years. Both of these fine gentlemen will be sadly missed by their families, friends and colleagues within the game of golf. It is always sad to lose such great contributors to the game but because of their efforts and enthusiasm others will be inspired to follow.

Jim Walkinshaw                                                                Bob Stewart