The latest good news golf stories from the world of the club golfer. No achievement is too small.
From hole-in-ones to club championship victories, open days to centenaries, scroll through our good news stories from around the world.
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Longcliffe Junior's Success - Gabby Crowfoot
9th December
Thanks to Longcliffe Golf Club's Lady Captain Amanda Morgan for sharing news about one of their junior stars Gabby Crowfoot.
Having considered that this season would be a write-off because of GCSE commitments, Gabby's golf has in fact gone from strength to strength.
In 2024 Gabby was a semi-finalist and Buckingham Trophy winner (for the lowest junior gross) in the Leicestershire and Rutland Ladies County Golf Association Championships. Then she made her first appearance for the county 1st team at England Golf county week. Gabby is the LRLCGA Girls Gross Champion and the EG Midlands North Region Girls Gross Champion and one of the team gross shield winners.
Gabby finished in the top 15 at the EG Girls Champion of Champions and then capped off her astonishing year with a Top 10 finish at the European Junior Open last month in Spain.
Here at Longcliffe we are as excited as she must be to see what 2025 brings .... she is already named as Longcliffe Junior Captain for next season. Congratulations Gabby!
Happy 90th Birthday to Anne Kilby!
17th November
Anne Kilby joined Longcliffe in 1979 and became Ladies’ Captain seven years later. This also signified the first Lady Captain to join the Men’s Captain for the drive-in on New Year’s Day. Anne has served on the Ladies’ committee for a total of 14 years and was President of the County Vets in 2013/14.
Anne's name is on all of the Ladies’ Trophy Boards in the Clubhouse and several of the Mixed ones too, including being Ladies’ Club Champion. Anne has been an inspiration to everyone at Longcliffe over many years and still plays three times a week (she's even been known to carry her bag during winter), regularly posting great scores.
At the November Stableford last week, the competition was played as the 1934 Anne Kilby Salver and this will become an annual fixture. On this occasion, our Greenkeeper had organised a personalised flag for the first hole. Happy 90th Birthday Anne!
What a fantastic story! Wishing Anne a very Happy 90th Birthday, long may she continue to inspire everyone at Longcliffe.
Liphook Scratch Cup 2024
18th July
The 32nd Liphook Scratch Cup took place on Thursday July 18th. This was a new date for this prestigious 36 hole event on the England Women’s Amateur circuit, it having previously taken place at the end of August. This new date did not deter the entries, and 50 players took to the golf course on the hottest day of the year in this part of Hampshire. Handicaps ranged from below scratch to eight, and players came from all over the country.
This year it was the turn of the slightly older generation to prevail and the cup was won by Kelly Travers (b.1986) playing off 2 from Alresford with rounds of 74,77 total 151 on countback from Darcie West (3) from Sandy Lodge (68,83). Third scratch was Rafi Dyer (+1.5) (Hayling Island/Liphook) on 152 (78,74). And in fourth and fifth the teenage Peaford twins from Walton Heath who claimed the top two spots last year -- Emily (+1.2) on 153 (75,78) and Annabel (+2.1) on 155 (77,78).
The worthy winner began golf at age 11, encouraged by her golfing parents, joining Alresford in Hampshire and coming under the knowledgeable eye of Tim Barter, at that time coaching the England squads. Kelly took to the game seriously aged 16, and in 2005 was runner-up in the Hampshire County Championships to Liz Young. She turned pro at 20, working at East Horton Golf Club but after eight years fell away from golf.
Re-gaining her amateur status in March 2014, she returned to playing golf for Hampshire and was in the winning team at county finals at Belton Park. After another break she took the game up again in 2022, broke the course record at Alresford twice and it was only this year 2024 that she really got back into tournament golf, coming in the top ten at the Hampshire Rose and making the cut at the English Amateur at Stoneham.
It was while supporting players at the Hampshire County Week at Liphook in May that Kelly, very impressed with the course at Liphook, decided to enter the Scratch Cup herself. “It is certainly the best course in the county at the moment… presentation outstanding, layout, cutting and overall condition of the course and certainly the greens are one of the best I have ever seen. The consistency from tees, to fairways and greens was perfect.”
When not at her day job in the hospitality industry, Kelly’s hobbies are five labradors!
The moral of the tale: “Results this year have given me the confidence and belief that you can go back to something you love at any point you want to – as long as you enjoy it.”
Well done to Kelly! What a story!
Sue Henderson from Dunston Hall wins senior championship
13th July
The Norfolk Ladies’ County Golf Senior Championship was this year held at Royal Norwich Golf Club on Thursday 11th July.
This 18-hole stroke play competition was played for by 37 ladies from across the county aged over 50, with a handicap range of + to 24.
The winner was Sue Henderson from Dunston Hall with a gross 82, only one shot behind her was Kay Bailey from Eaton with 83.
Henderson, who has been involved with Norfolk Ladies County Golf Association for many years as a captain and player, said “winning this championship has to be one of my proudest moments”
She will now go on to play in the English Senior Women's County Champion of Champions at Woodhall Spa on September 7th.
Other winners were:
Sue Fage from Wensum Valley, Handicap Cup
Jackie Luetchford from Royal Cromer, Judith Mackinnon Trophy for the over 65s
Wensum Valley, Moneypenny Team Trophy
For full details visit norfolkladiesgolf.co.uk
Congratulations Sue!
Norfolk Ladies are East Region Champions
2nd July
Teams from Bedfordshire, Cambs & Hunts, Essex, Herts, Norfolk and Suffolk played for the East Region inter-county team trophy over three days at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club, Suffolk. Matches against each county consisted of three singles and two foursomes.
Norfolk County Captain Jo Herd has been part of the Norfolk team since 2014 when her job brought her to Norwich. Now a regional manager for M&S she juggles a busy working schedule with her golfing life. “It’s always been a privilege to be part of the Norfolk team and as captain I wanted the team to have the great experiences I’ve had”.
The team selection was one of youth and experience with 40 years separating the youngest and oldest members. This included three new players Amelie Marling, Ruby Paterson and Sharon Allen and, returning after a 17-year break, Rebecca Shubrook.
Norfolk started with a strong 4-1 win against Hertfordshire. The afternoon then saw a narrow 3-2 defeat to last year’s winners Essex. However team spirits weren’t defeated as they knew there was still much golf to play.
Day two: a magical day for Norfolk, beating the hosts Suffolk 3.5-1.5 and then following up with a convincing win against Cambs & Hunts 4-1. With every player having contributed at least a point the team was in a strong a position to win back the trophy. Norfolk’s last victory was back in 2019.
The line up for the final day against Bedfordshire was Harriet Allsebrook, Tracey Williamson and Tiffany Mills for the singles and the foursomes pairing of Ruby Paterson and Amelie Marling with Jo Herd and Rebecca Shubrook taking up the helm.
The matches were tight throughout with twists and turns. Bedfordshire got the first point on the board with a win in the singles. This was soon levelled with a win for Herd and Shubrook for Norfolk in the foursomes.
Within minutes the final 3 points were decided. Both Allsebrook and Mills closed their matches out on 18 to give Norfolk the winning 3 points whilst the remaining foursomes match was narrowly lost giving a 3-2 scoreline and victory to Norfolk both in this match and the overall competition.
“To be a winning Captain is my most special golfing moment. We came as the smallest team, but we showed that with team spirit, lots of grit and determination anything can be achieved. Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club delivered a great event and as a team we are so appreciative of all the support we had during the week - we couldn’t have done it without the caddies and all the supporters. We look forward to doing Norfolk proud later in the year at the National Finals.”
The team: Playing Captain Jo Herd (Royal Norwich) Harriet Allsebrook (Hunstanton), Sharon Allen (Eaton), Amelie Marling (Barnham Broom), Tiffany Mills (Ryston Park), Ruby Paterson (Royal Cromer), Rebecca Shubrook (Royal Norwich) and Tracey Williamson (Sheringham).
The team now travel to the England Golf National Finals at Stover Golf Club (Devon) in September.
Well played and good luck in September!
Kingsdown Golf Club raise over £14,000 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance
6th March
The Ladies' section at Kingsdown Golf Club raised an excellent contribution towards last year's Captain's charity, Wiltshire Air Ambulance. Arranging a tremendous make-up demonstration evening, coffee mornings with raffles, Christmas & craft fairs, and Christmas pudding stir-up session.
As a club, they raised over £14000k and were very proud to present this to the Team at Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
The club will now be committed to raising money for this year's Captain Charity, Jamie's Farm, which supports disadvantaged young people at risk of academic and social exclusion.
Well done to everyone involved at Kingsdown Golf Club, here's to another successful year ahead.
Do you or one of your golfing buddies have a story to share? Please do get in touch by dropping me an email [email protected] with a brief overview and a picture. We look forward to hearing from you.
