NEWSAutumn Meeting of Old Citizens Golf Society at Royal Cinque Ports Deal Golf Club – Tuesday 10th October 2023Autumn Meeting of Old Citizens Golf Society at Royal Cinque Ports Deal Golf Club – Tuesday 10th October 2023

Tuesday, 10/17/2023

Despite holding this event a couple of weeks later this year, we were blessed with glorious weather, 24C, a warm moderate wind and a course that was in very fine condition. Royal Cinque Ports has been adding bunkers to the course in order to more closely match other championship courses in the UK and this has been done in a most aesthetic way despite adding yet more hazards for the golfer! Word of this must have got around because our numbers were modest this time with just sox playing on the day.

We met up before noon for a light lunch and refreshments and then teed off from 12.45pm. We played three 2-balls and given that most of the outward 9 holes were downwind we were expecting to witness some good scoring. This was generally the case and at the drinks hut John Featherstone had acquired 20 points as had Alex Bennett. However, the sting in the tail was the back 9 holes which are always challenging into the wind and both John and Alex struggled to match their early prowess, possibly weighed down by the excellent fruit cake at the hut! In the end 31 points was sufficient for Alex Bennett to emerge the victor with John Featherstone and Mark Stockton tied on 29 points. John’s guest and brother-in-law Geoff Lewis also secured a creditable 31 points on his first visit to the course. Paul Stockton and Alex Tapp played second pair, thoroughly enjoyed their day and were only a few points further back.

We had some relaxed drinks on the balcony in the late afternoon sunshine until the cooler wind encouraged us reluctantly to move inside where the Centurion Trophy, looking resplendent after a full polish by yours truly, was presented to Alex Bennett along with a sleeve of OCGS balls. Geoff also received three OCGS golf balls as a winning and popular guest.

Do please get in touch if you would like to join us for one of 2024 meetings (the next one will be in May 2024 at Hadley Wood Golf Club) at [email protected]

Mark Stockton

Hon Secretary - OCGS