Away Trip to Whitefields Golf Course

PRINCES RISBOROUGH MEN’S GOLF TRIP TO DRAYCOTE HOTEL AND WHITEFIELDS GOLF CLUB REPORT – 6-8 MAY 2025

After a significant amount of planning, both logistical and competition organising, 32 golfers, comprising of PRGC members and their guests arrived safely at Draycote Hotel and Whitefield’s Golf Club on 6 May 2025 to enjoy 3 rounds of golf and 2 nights of good food, company and, little did the group realise, an opportunity to generate some funds for the Captains Charity – The On Course Foundation.

The course was challenging at times, all 3 par threes were long, some blind tee shots, tress lining the fairway edges, hard unreceptive greens and more than the occasional expanse of water (don’t mention the 16^th!). In addition we had the privilege of observing Canadian geese and moor hens protecting their young, woe betide you if your ball ended up near them, but as they spent a lot of time on the fairways they were relatively safe!

After 2 days of nearest the pin on the challenging 10^th hole, with no-one hitting the ‘dance floor off the tee, the nearest the pin was moved to the 180yard 5^th hole. Meron Jacyma grasped this opportunity, rolling his approach shot off the tee to about 2 feet from the pin to win the accolade, and yes, I have checked, he did sink the birdie putt!

Steve Bartlett (Guest) was overall 1^st with a final aggregate score of 98 points, finishing with an impressive 38 points in the 3^rd round, following 2 earlier rounds of 30 points and top PRGC member and therefore winner of the TOFFS cup at Whitefield Golf Club in 2025 with a final aggregate score of 88 points was Neil Martin.

The full set of daily winners are included below, Thanks to Al Bowyer’s diligent record keeping

Through your generosity £315 was raised for the Captain’s (Dick Pooley’s) charity - The On Course Foundation. This included ALL of the bets placed on the overall winner, as nobody bet on Steve Bartlett to win.

The trip coincided with the VE Day 80^th commemorations and the opportunity was taken to toast the fallen and the survivors of Word War 2, as well as the King, with port being shared after the meal.

It only leaves a series of thank you messages to be listed, to Dick for leading on the planning, and arrangements over the 3 days. Al for his competition strategy and execution, the Vice Captain, Phil for assisting with the scoring and of course everyone who contributed to make the event such a relaxed and enjoyable event, with new friendships made and everyone prepared to ‘chip in’ when asked. Golf was certainly the winner.

Summary of winners by day and overall.

Al Bowyer’s Competition Update July /Aug 2025

Gentlemen,

Please find below the current overall updated calendar for the months of July & August 2025, a copy of which has been placed on the notice board. Extremely busy months again!

My normal note that all members who have the requisite number of previously registered rounds and a formal handicap, are entitled to play in the club competitions.

MENS & SENIORS SUMMER KNOCKOUTS

The Summer Knockouts are now well on their way and after this weeks matches the next key date is 1st AUGUST by which date the next rounds must be complete. Thank you all for maintaining the programme.

TUESDAY 8th July

SENIORS CLUB MEDAL

All Seniors (over 55’s) are entitled to enter this competition at any time during the day.

Please note this is a WHITE & GOLD TEES competition.

Please contact Steve Williams direct at stevecgs2003@yahoo.co.uk with any related queries.

SATURDAY 12th July

THE MIKE JEFFERSON MEMORIAL TROPHY

This has been carried over from June.

This is a Mixed Bogey Competition.

Please form your own groups for this event.

FRIDAY 18th July

THE FOWLER BOWL combined with the MONTHLY FRIDAY MIXED STABLEFORD.

You can enter this competition at any time during the day.

To enter the Fowler Bowl you must have a formal club H/C of 19 or over.

Please contact John White at: johnwhite2102@googlemail.com with any related queries.

SATURDAY 26th July

THE MONTHLY CLUB STABLEFORD

As usual please form your own groups for this event.

SUNDAY 27th July

THE CALIFORNIA CUP - mixed club championship.

This is being organised by our ladies so if you need more information please contact Jill Peppett at jillpeppett@yahoo.co.uk

By way of an early ‘Heads Up’ Dick Pooley’s Captains Day is on Saturday 8th August so please ensure you have this is in your diary. Dick will issue more details soon.

Many thanks for your continued support

Kind Regards

albert.bowyer@btinternet.com

01494 562862

Mobile: 07807 776461

Lady Captain’s July 2025 Update

P R G C LADIES SECTION

June/July Newsletter from The Lady Captain

June has been extremely busy, and July looks even busier. We have had very good weather so have been able to play lots of golf.

MON 2^nd We started off with a RAGS fixture at North Oxford GC . The weather was good, the course was good, and the golf was not too bad either! If any more ladies wish to join this group, please let Jill, Melinda, myself or any committee member know and we will get your name on the list. It is a good way to play other courses with fellow members.

Wed 4th This was an informal morning, and we played off the gold tees. The winners were Carolyn Dowle and Gill Young so well done ladies.

Thurs 5^thWe played a League Match against the ladies from Chiltern Forest, and the weather was foul as it rained all morning. Unfortunately, Chiltern Forest could not get a full team together so there were only 6 playing in each team. Not only was the weather against us but so were the golfing gods and we lost the match. Better golfing next time ladies.

Wed 11^th Monthly Medal We only had 10 entrants for this event as several ladies were on holiday. There were some good scores, and the winner was Alma Piddington with a nett 66. Second was Jules Bendell with a nett 68. Congratulations ladies.

WED 18^th Lady Captains Day and Dinner Again the weather was great and a very happy and pleasant day was had by all. 18 holes of golf, a great halfway house run by Rosie and Sarah and a lovely lunch served up by Trishia and her staff. We all returned in the evening for a lovely dinner and presentation ceremony for the winners.

Nearest the Pin was Donna Convery. Nearest the String was Val Bate.

Front Nine Chris Hallett with 22 points. Back Nine Pauline Allen with 23 points.

The Winner of the Lady Captains Trophy was Gill Young with 47 points. Well played and congratulations to all these ladies.

My thanks must also go to Alan Austin who came along yet again to run our competition for nearest the string. His help is very much appreciated.

Sat 21st and Sun 22^nd The Club Championships The weather was very good on both days. This year was a much reduced field. I think again a lot of people were on holiday. However it did not stop those who were there enjoying themselves and playing good golf. The Handicap Winner was Donna Convery with a nett 66. The Club Champion was Jill Peppett with a nett 65. Very well done to both these ladies.

Wed 25^th Ladies Morning No competition was held. It was very hot and too few ladies were available to play.

Events in the Calendar for July

Wed 2nd Ladies Morning plus we have a Friendly Match at IvinghoeGC

Fri 4^th League Match at Whiteleaf GC

Mon 7^th League match at Oakland Park GC

Wed 9^th Ladies Morning

Sat 12^th The Mike Jefferson Memorial Trophy. A Mixed Bogey Competition. Ladies play off the Bronze tees. Allowance is 95%of Course Handicap. See poster in Ladies Locker Room for more info.

Mon 14^th League Match v Aldwickbury Park at Home

Wed 16^th Sullivan Cup

Fri 18^th The Fowler Bowl This is a Mixed Stableford competition for members with a HI of 19 or higher. H/C Allowance is 95%of Course Handicap. Ladies play off the Bronze tees. For more info see the poster in the Ladies locker room.

Sat 19^th W/E Summer Stableford

Wed23rd^h M/W Summer Stableford

Thurs 24^th BCLGA Ladies Competition for 30+Handicap

Fri 25^th League Match at Chartridge Park

Sun 27^th California Cup Mixed Competition

We have 10 couples entered at the moment. If you want to participate but have no playing partner, get in touch with Jill Peppett and she will find one for you.

Wed 30^th Ladies Morning

Thurs 31^st Friendly Match v Huntswood at Home

As you can see, lots of opportunity to play lots of golf this coming Month. Please take advantage of what’s on offer. The people who organise these events put in a lot of effort for our enjoyment, so my thanks go to them, enjoy the Summer months and here’s to happy Golfing.

Liz France. The Lady Captain.

The Barcilon … PRGC Club Championship Winners 2025

Shining a Light on Special PRGC People

Very sad news – Pete Boland has passed away

Dear All,

I am very sorry to report that I have been advised that Pete Boland, a previous long serving member of PRGC passed away this week.

For those who knew Pete he was very much the ’joker in the pack’ and we will remember with great affection his brilliant stories particularly on previous away weeks.

He will be missed and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

If and when I hear of any further information, I will of course pass it on.

Kind Regards

albert.bowyer@btinternet.com

01494 562862

Mobile: 07807 776461

Bill Cleere MBE – Sad news of his passing – Funeral dates

Mark and Dave’s epic 72 Holes for Macmillan Nurses – the pictures

Wow, what an achievement - starting at the crack of dawn, Mark Collins and David Thomas played 72 holes straight to raise thousands for Macmillan nurses.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/macmillan-nurses

It is events like this that show PRGC in its greatest light - people willing to give of themselves for amazing causes; the team rallying around them to support in any way possible, golfers giving way to allow them through...

A massive well done to Mark and Dave - simply fantastic achievement for a fantastic group of nurses.

And from Mark and Dave to Sarah and Luke "many thanks for all your support, not only did you facilitate the day, you made it fun, thank you"

Amazing Marathon Golf Day for Prostate Cancer – The Pictures

A Fun Day Out with the RAGS! Massive Thanks to John Stephenson

Fellow RAGS,

A beautiful day and beautiful golf course what more could we want for our first RAGS day in 2025 …….. better golf in my case.

21 players amassed at the North Oxford Golf Club for the customary bacon baps at 9.45 am before commencing the round at 10.45.

It was a pleasure playing on this 118 year old parkland course maintained in immaculate condition. Everyone remarked how tragic it is that such an attractive course with its mature tree-lined fairways is going to be dug up after it closes in October to make way for the new Oxford United football ground. Most of us were glad to have been able to experience the course before it closes.

As we viewed the nice wide fairways before embarking on the round, perhaps some of us took it too much for granted that this attractive, flat course was one on which we were going to return a good score. However, the quality of the scores did not match the quality of the players, with, of course, some exceptions as usual.

An additional trophy has been introduced for the winning lady this year, conditional upon 6 or more ladies playing. Fittingly it was won by the new lady captain, Liz France.

Results: The prizes were awarded by captain Dick

Overall winner – Steve Williams with 34 points and taking the RAGS trophy
Ladies winner – Liz France with 31 points and taking the lady’s trophy

Winner front 9 – John North with 20 points

Winner back 9 - Tony Taylor with 17 points on count back against Adam Zaziemski

Nearest the pin – Malcolm Dodds – Great to see Malcolm back with us before his pending retirement from golf.

Thanks to everyone for participating in this perfect day.

The next outings are as follows:

July 7^th – South Bucks Golf Club
August 4^th – The Springs Golf Club
September 22^nd – Studley Wood Golf Club

Finally, RAGS best wishes go to Mark Collins and Dave Thomas, both great RAGS supporters, for their marathon golf epic on Monday, 9^th. Most of us have been touched by cancer one way or another and what they are doing to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan deserves a great deal of support from club members.

To find out how you can support them in this incredible endeavour - simply click here
Best wishes,
John

Tel: 07774 203 193
Risborough Awayday Golf Society