The
Alan Potter Trophy
Highpost Golf Club - March 11th 2026
Our first meeting of the year
was at Highpost, and other than it being a wee bit windy and there being about ten minutes of rain, glorious sunshine!; so a great start to the season.
To preserve the grass, Highpost issued us with mats from
which to play our shots off the fairways [which was something of a novelty] [do take that either way you wish!], but overall I thought the course was in great condition. And maybe because Tony 'had
words' re catering last time we were there, certainly no complaints this time.
Some of us definitely struggled with the wind [well that's
my excuse anyway], but certainly others didn't. Some excellent winning scores guys!
Wooden spoon came in at 19 points, but
3rd place Martin Hollis with 33 points, 2nd place Andy Evans 35 points and no 1 - Sean Canham - with 37!!
Nearest the pins were won by Nick Hopson-Hill, Robbie
Robison and Andy Evans, and longest drive Richard Hookings. We had 3 players all with 9 points for the par 3's - Alex Moody, Nick Hopson-Hill and Jeff Brown, and with it being our first
meeting, not a clue how to resolve and feeling particularly generous we gave prizes to all 3. And last but definitely by no means least, a 'chip in' from Tony Ford! Well done
everybody.
Good to see our 1st guest of the year Richard, and hopefully
you enjoyed yourself sufficiently to join us again at our next meeting which is 23rd April at Test Valley. For those who played there last year, holes 1 and 2 have been modified with
a possibility for the big hitters to drive the 1st green, - a challenge for you Adam!? We had just 18 players at Highpost; maybe for this event change that 1st number
from a 1 to a 2?
The 1st AGS charity day for 6 years will be
at Leckford on the 10th June where we have exclusive use of both courses for the afternoon. Nick Hopson-Hill, Mark Hyson and Tony Ford have done a brilliant job in getting sponsorship
for the event, and Andy Evans has persuaded no less that 10 golf clubs to give us vouchers to auction. So far, and with 12 weeks to go, we have 16 teams registered. Space for 3 more so if you
are available .......
Hopefully see you at Test Valley
Jerry
AGM
Texas Scramble
Tidworth Golf Club - December 11th 2025
Good to see so many members and our guest
James Hollis at Tidworth for our final meeting of the year; I hope you all enjoyed it at as much as I did. So sorry Andy and Jeff your car let you down Andy [next time buy a Toyota?] but no doubt you
will tell us all about it at our 1st meeting next year.!
We had Sam and Dierdre from Andover Young
Carers join us for breakfast and they did a great presentation on how the charity functions, the important work they do and why the fund raising is so important. Sean then presented a hastily
prepared 'cheque' for £2500 which was very gratefully received .
After a fortifying breakfast [but just
possibly not a too healthy one], Sean and Tony did their usual excellent job of presenting accounts and general housekeeping. Thank you guys, I am definitely going to need you next
year!
And then the baton of captaincy was passed
onto myself, and I am in no doubt at all that you will join me in thanking Ray for his excellent work over the last 2 years and wishing him a full and speedy recovery from his operation.
Golf course was playing very well and we were
incredibly lucky with the weather; great decision making there Tony on which day to play!
As mentioned, after what will be an absence of
6 years, the famous Andover Golfing Society Charity Day will be back! Please see attached flyer. The two 9 hole courses that we will play make for some great golf, and with 18 teams should generate a
substantial donation for Andover Young Carers. Yes, it is 6 months away, but lots to do before then and 3 months before we meet up again in March. So do please advise your teams [or part teams] ASAP
and if you are able to provide anything for the raffle and auction, again, please let us know .
So one way or another Ray, Sean and Tony have
left the society in great shape and ready for the New Year, venues for March to July will be advised as soon as possible into the New Year.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year
and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in March
Jerry