Nomads Golf Society 2026

Jon Ager & Simon Howlett v Darren Williams & Steve Morgan – A/S

Stu Perry & Tony Burris v Mark McGirr & Pramod Mistry – Saxons won 1 up

John Essom & Adie Shilston v Gary O’Connell & Matt Bond – Saxons won 2&1

Darren Collier & Guy Greening v James Farley & Andy Alexander – Celts won 1 up

Chris Pulfree & Mark Willicott v Derek Freeman-Jones & Ramesh Mistry – Celts won 8&6

Manny Virdi and Mike Simpson v Jitesh Mistry & Rowland Joyce – Saxons won 1 up.

Score after Morning Greensomes:  Saxons 3 1/2 – Celts 2 1/2

Jon Ager v Darren Williams – A/S

Simon Howlett v Steve Morgan – Saxons won 6&5

Stu Perry v Pramod Mistry – Saxons won 7&5

Tony Burris v Mark McGirr – Saxons won 3&2

John Essom v Gary O’Connell – Celts won 4&3

Adie Shilston v Matt Bond – Celts won 2&1

Darren Collier v James Farley – A/S

Guy Greening v Andy Alexander – Saxons won 2&1

Chris Pulfree v Derek Freeman-Jones – Saxons won 2&1

Mark Willicott v Ramesh Mistry – Saxons won 2&1

Manny Virdi v Rowland Joyce – Saxons won 3&2

Mike Simpson v Jitesh Mistry – Saxons won 5&4

Afternoon Singles score: Saxons 9 – Celts 3

Final score: Saxons 12 1/2 Celts 5 1/2

Regards

Jon Ager

1	John Essom	England	39
2	Andy Alexander	Scotland	37
3	Mark Gardiner	England	37
4	Adie Shilston	England	36
5	Manny Virdi	England	36
6	Darren Williams	Wales	34
7	Mike Simpson	England	34
8	James Farley	Ireland	31
9	Derek Freeman-Jones	Wales	30
10	Darren Collier	England	29
11	Ged Wrench	England	29
12	Stuart Perry	England	29
13	Tony Griffiths	Wales	29
14	Chris Pulfree	England	28
15	Dave Curtis	England	28
16	Gary O’Connell	Scotland	28
17	Simon Howlett	England	28
18	Steve Graham	England	26
19	Alan Jones	England	25
20	Jon Ager	England	25
21	Jitesh Mistry	India	24
22	Mark Graham	England	24
23	Brendan Turbitt	Ireland	22
24	Steve Standbridge	England	18

In a break from the traditions of previous years, Finals’ Day convened on 6th December 2013, at Dewstow GC in Caerwent, near Caldicot. Despite damp, dreary and blustery conditions, which were at least a significant improvement on the previous few days’ of torrential downpours, there was a detectable frisson in the air, with a number of honours yet to be decided.

 

As has become customary, events were led off by the four players still in contention for the ‘guillotine’, with Guy Greening eventually securing the prize with a late surge in an otherwise uninspiring 4-ball, where it seemed some were feeling the pressure with so much, not just the ‘guillotine’, at stake.

 

The remaining pairings teed off roughly according to divisions/positions with an extra Christmas bonus prize for the winner of each grouping on the day.

 

Simon Howlett once again secured the longest drive, but I cannot recollect who won nearest-the-pin? It was probably Guy Greening, as he usually does, and I saw his immaculate drive on the long par 3, but answers on a post-card? Guy and James Farley shared the lowest aggregate score on the par 3’s with 12 points each.

 

Surj Halaith triumphed with a seemingly popular overall 1st place on the day, with 37 pts, which was raucously celebrated, narrowly defeating Gurdeep Litt on ‘countback’, with the ever-consistent James Farley pushing them close in 3rd place, with 36 pts.

 

Divisional honours for the year were picked up by Darren Williams for Division 1 (who also, once again, took the ‘Good Play’ award for the 4th time in 5 seasons), despite his absence; Damian Orton for Division 2, Stuart Perry for Division 3 and Adie Shilston for Division 4.

 

Adie Shilston was also awarded the Anglo Cup, with Guy Greening taking the Cymru Cup, with the peculiar twist of the two of them being inseparable for one of these trophies, requiring some further creative use of ‘countback’ to differentiate between them.

 

Despite his comparatively lacklustre form on the day, Adie also did enough to maintain what proved to be an unassailable lead in the Order of Merit, securing the title, with Damian Orton in 2nd place splitting the two form players of the year – Adie, and Guy Greening, who came 3rd.

 

In Gary’s absence, Jon Ager awarded the trophies and prizes over the usual excellent dinner. The familiar distribution of raffle prizes went on long into the night, with, as usual, the last few prizes being foisted on unsuspecting victims (some of whom were absent, and may still have distributions outstanding – lucky them!).

 

Before wending our collective ways into the gathering gloom, Jon finally thanked some of the stalwarts of the committee for their tireless efforts in once again organising an enjoyable and successful season – Tony and Gary in their absence, Steve Graham, Steve Morgan and Simon, amongst others committing their time behind the scenes to make the society the success that it is.

 

Here’s hoping for more of the same in 2014, and look forward to seeing you all at Cottrell Park for the start of the new season.   

 

Well we left Gloucestershire hoping the weather forecasts would be wrong, it was looking promising with bright skies and no sign of the promised heavy clouds. Heading past Ross and Monmouth it was still bright, but it was looking a bit grey as we approached Newport and as the Cardiff junctions came into sight on the M4 the rain began to pour. We had a few late arrivals and no shows due the the M5 closure early in the morning, causing Bristol to be grid-locked.

On arrival at the course the club-house looked great despite the heavy rain and the car park told the story with the members side pretty much empty, – nobody to blame for holding us up once we got started! So after a very tasty bacon roll and coffee it was time to tee off. The course looked really good but with all the rain the puddles were taking over from the grass on the greens. Together with putting through puddles, the other interesting aspect to the round was working out where the next tee was. So as the rain continued it was just a case of looking for the balls amongst the leaves and streams of water across the fairways. We soldiered on and then by the 10th hole the rain stopped and we had 3 or 4 holes of equivalent to Welsh spring weather, before the rain came back again. Anyway after 4.5 hours we were ready to dry off and watch to see if anybody could land a ball on the long par 3 – 18th, which was our closest to the pin hole. Congratulations to Mark Graham who won the prize money for that hole (at 42 steps according to Jitesh) as several others plugged in the fringe on the approach to the green.

Anyway the wet and bedraggled Nomads gradually returned home, most thinking that it would be nice to play the course again in the summer. All in all the scores were pretty good overall, with Stuart Perry excelling, given the conditions, with 38 points and Guy Greening and Mark Gardiner in 2nd and 3rd on count-back  with 35 points. Mark Gardiner won the longest drive and Adie Shilston winning the par 3’s with 14 points. With at least one drop-out from the starting line up for the Guillotine – it is going to be an interesting finale at Dewstow in December.

Anyway, after a tasty steak pie, chips and peas and apple tart and custard it was time to fight the Cardiff traffic once again. Thanks to all the staff at the Glamorganshire who looked after us well.

Note: Jon Ager replaced John Essom in this round of the Guillotine as next best placed reserve.

Scores:

1	Stuart Perry	England	38
2	Guy Greening	England	35
3	Mark Gardiner	England	35
4	Manny Virdi	England	33
5	Adie Shilston	England	32
6	James Farley	Ireland	32
7	Simon Howlett	England	32
8	Damian Orton	England	29
9	Steve Graham	England	29
10	Chris Pulfree	England	28
11	Brian Mills	Ireland	28
12	Gary O’Connell	Scotland	27
13	Mark Willicott	England	27
14	Jon Ager	England	27
15	Derek Freeman-Jones	Wales	27
16	Andy Alexander	Scotland	26
17	Ramesh Mistry	India	25
18	Mark Graham	England	25
19	Gurdeep Litt	India	25
20	Darren Williams	Wales	24
21	Jitesh Mistry	India	23
22	Darren Collier	England	23
23	Rich Crowcombe	England	22