Report: Successful return for the prestigious Mothers and Daughters

For the first time since 2019, the fairways of the Pam Barton course at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club in Richmond upon Thames were filled with the happy sounds of women congratulating each other for good shots and commiserating over missed putts.

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, 50 pairs of mothers and their daughters from 39 different golf clubs gathered for the prestigious Mothers and Daughters, a 27 hole foursomes competition first played in 1932.

This year’s competition attracted an impressively strong field with several players off plus handicaps competing alongside higher handicap pairings. The age of the players was equally wide-ranging, spanning several decades. The oldest mother was 85 and the youngest daughter just 12-years-old. Amazingly, both featured on the list of prize winners!

A really close competition

The competition for the top honours, both scratch and handicap, was very close. The main 27-hole scratch competition for the Judy Trophy was won by newcomers, Jo and Lottie Woodham from West Hill Golf Club with a score of 117.

Past winners Ann and Alex Peters from Shifnal took second place on a countback from Angie and Charlotte Brook from Parkstone, both with an aggregate gross total of 120.

The Woodhams also won the Rabbidge Salver for the best 18-hole scratch score (76) and the Frankland Moore Bowl for the best 18-hole handicap score (67).

In the handicap competition, the RMS Trophy for the best net aggregate 27-hole score was won by Vi Dolton and her daughter Diane Oram from Basingstoke with a total of 102. They have played in the competition for many years and were thrilled to have finally taken one of the top honours.

The Meg Kent Trophy for daughters under the age of 16 was won by Holly Justice of Walton Heath, playing with her mother Jenny.

Great to see new faces taking part

Organiser, Sheila Stirling, said:

“We were thrilled to have such a strong entry for the return of this great event after a two-year gap due to the pandemic. Many regular participants returned but we were also delighted to welcome 12 new pairings.

“The Mothers and Daughters is such a unique day, so many old friendships rekindled and new ones made. It is a lovely way for mothers and daughters to spend time together away from the stresses of life and out on the golf course. Happily, the sun shone all day, which made it all the more enjoyable for everyone, even those who didn’t play so well!”

Next year’s Mothers and Daughters competition will take place at Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Report by Jane Bathurst, Surrey Ladies County Golf Association Vice-Captain