The weather was fine and course conditions good for the CDWS Annual Golf Day on 27th August.
Ten members turned out for the event at our usual venue of Oaklands Park Golf Club.
For the team competition players were allocated to three teams of three, each with a similar aggregate handicap. They were led by a lady captain, namely Kate Picton, Margaret Broomby, and Pam Britton.
The team scoring was the tried and tested Chris Thomas system, though the man himself was unable to be with us on the day. The Stableford points of all three players counted on the par-3 holes, the two best scores counted on the par-4 holes, and only the one best score counted on the par-5s.
All players competed for the best individual score including the tenth player, Brian Evans, who accompanied the final team on their round. As he went around on his golf-buggy he also played a useful role as a ball spotter for his playing partners.
To their consternation, the visitors found their usual handicaps cut, as Oaklands is rated as an easier than average course under the new World Handicapping System.
Oaklands members played off their usual course handicap, with the exception of Colin Thomas. He claims that his official handicap is now 29, but we all remembered that he returned the top score last year playing off 24. Unsurprisingly there was unanimity that he should score off the same 24 handicap this year. He still managed to return the second highest score!
It has to be admitted that the players’ performances did not match the excellence of the conditions.
With one notable exception. Pam Britton was in superb form and her 41 points was much the highest individual score on the day. With her in such good form her playing partners, Ralph Broomby and Gwyndaf John, only needed to make a modest contribution for their team’s shared victory.
The strong hitting trio of Kate, Rob Britton and Alan Longshaw made up the first three to tee off, and they returned a team score of 65 points. They also claimed a record for the number of “Blobs” on the team scorecard after much time spent searching for lost golf balls.
Oaklands is a tight course that rewards accuracy rather than length. As was found out by Ralph and Brian as well as Alan, all players more used to the long open fairways on the courses of Gerrards Cross and Harewood Downs.
Pam led the way in the second trio with low straight shots that ran on for a decent length down the fairways and avoided the trouble that lurked in wait for any loose shot. Her team scored 80 points.
Margaret Broomby’s team of her, Colin Thomas and Rob Brett all played consistently. They put up a fight to finish a close second with 76 points.
As ever with a round of golf everybody experienced highs and lows during their round. But everyone was very pleased to be out on the course together once again, and enjoyed the event.
After our morning’s exertions the players enjoyed a light lunch in the open air.
Rob Britton has won two veteran’s competitions at Wexham Park in recent months. On this occasion however the honours were well and truly deserved by his wife.
Pam was presented with a bouquet of Agapanthus flowers for her team’s victory and also scooped the bottle of wine for the best individual score.
Gwyndaf John
A fine selection of able-bodied chaps gathered at Peter & Beth’s home on Saturday morning to put up the gazebos for Sunday’s Summer Lunch. The garden looked like a team of gardeners had been at work, but Beth assured us that they did all the work themselves.
discussion about positioning of the gazebos in the garden. It didn’t take too long, and by midday, we were able to sit under the canvas to enjoy a well-earned drink and biscuit.
Colin thanked David for his chairmanship over the past 3 years and went on to introduce our speaker – Neil Rees, an IT professional who is also a keen amateur historian and writes for the Bucks Free Press and has some fascinating facts about Aneurin Bevan.
The old farmhouse came with just over 50 acres, plus farm buildings, and 2 cottages. The farm manager and cowman were kept on, together with the herd of Guernsey cows and 60 hens. Nye became an enthusiastic farmer. He built up the herd to 60 cattle, and also started to keep pigs. 
On Thursday 29th April Gwyndaf and Janet John organized a Spring Walk around the woods at Hedgerley.
The plan was to meet at the pond in Hedgerley at 10:30, book our meals at the pub and then set off covering very similar walks but at different times and in different directions. However, when parking the cars, people were so pleased to see each other again, that in true CDWS fashion, they stopped to chat and soon it was 11:00.
This year our St David’s Day Dinner was a bit different. There was no dinner!
welcome from our Chairman, followed by two 10-minute breakout sessions where we were able to chat to about half a dozen other members and catch up on local news.
Dr. Williams told us about the early church in Wales and how there was a surprising amount of movement of people and ideas between Wales, Ireland, Cornwall and Brittany. The Christians of the time (500 to 700 AD) thought themselves the successors of the Roman tradition, as opposed to the largely pagan influx of Angles and Saxons. Gravestones of the time frequently contain complex Latin verses and Hebrew Christian names.
There were very many Saints in Wales, and one of the reasons for this was that at the time, there was no central control from Rome and sainthood was determined locally in Celtic churches and was often given to the founder of an ecclesiastical settlement (llan). It wasn’t until the middles ages that there was a central role in determining sainthood.
We finished off the evening with Jonathan Pegler playing the National Anthem and a selection of hymns.
As we moved into the final round Team Goch put on a late spurt, but it was too late, Team Gwyn (appropriately consisting of Gwyndaf and Janet John, Bill Jones, Ruth Huckle and Ann Brown) were too far in the lead.
Due to Covid restrictions rules were changed to allow for social distancing. Conditions were good, with sunshine and a slight wind.
The supporters returned to the course at 12:30 to find the first group at eighteenth hole and accompanied them for refreshments at the 19th hole.
Some 30 minutes later the last group arrived – and when their scores were compared – proved to be the winners! Gwyndaf looked quite pleased.
Chairman David Powell presented the prizes to the winning team.