Nomads Golf Society 2026

Links Pairs – September 7th 2012

Twenty four members turned-up at Peterstone Lakes for the annual Pairs competition on a glorious late summers day.

The Best Pair prize went to Chris Pulfree and James Farley while the best individual round of the day was by Guy Greening with a score of 40 points in only his second outing with the Nomads. Captain Steve Graham was second just ahead of Vice-Captain Gary O’Connell on 37 points beating Rich Allen on countback.

Scores

The 2012 Tour event was played over two rounds (Moorland and Priory courses), with the average score seeing Mark Willicott take the Tour Trophy for the second year running.

At last summer arrived over the rolling fairways of the green swathed fairways of Dewstow. Twenty six members enjoyed a day-out with a 9 hole Texas Scramble as a warm-up on the Valley course before the main event of the day, the Stableford competition over the road on the Park course.

A stunning even par round of 69 saw Ziggy Niblett take the spoils with a Stableford score of 38 points, closely followed by Surj Halaith with 37 points and Darren Williams winning a three-way tie on 33 points to take 3^rd place on countback.

The divisional winners were; Gary O’Connell (Div 1), Chris Pulfree (Div 2), Wayne Stewart (Div 3) and Tony Burris (Div 4), whilst the nearest the pin was won by Ziggy, the longest drive by Luke Sandford and the Par 3 competition by Carolyn Griffiths.

The event saw two new members; Guy Greening and Nick Phillips, welcome lads, and the day was completed with a meal of fish and chips washed down with beer, and the prize presentation by captain, Steve Graham.

Members of the committee also came to a decision on the vice-captaincy for 2013, which was offered and accepted by Jon Ager. Jon will lead the Saxons team in the 2013 edition of the Newton Cup.

Scores:

Friday, 22nd June 2012

2012 NOMADS SOCIETY CHAMPIONSHIP

On a dreary windswept day, 31 of the societies finest teed-it up on the Crown Course at Tracy Park near Bath.

The players arrived early to tuck into the Bacon Baguettes and coffee, some fortitude to brave the elements. Three newcomers to the society were on parade, John Gauci, Paul Meaker and Mark McGirr’s young son, Matthew. Despite the conditions, I think they all enjoyed themselves and hopefully they will be returning for more fun.

On the scoring front, the conditions kept the scores down and it was former captain and scorer, Simon Howlett came out on top with 32 points, just beating on count-back, Derek Freeman-Jones and Bob Hale. The Divisional winners saw Tony Bourne (Div 1), Chris Pulfree (Div 2), Wayne Stewart (Div 3) and Matthew McGirr (Div 4), take the money. There were also other prize winners; Nearest the Pin (Darren Williams), Longest Drive (Paul Meaker) and a share of the Par 3′s (Tony Bourne and Dave Curtis).

The meal was simple but effective, Ham, Egg and Chips followed by Sticky Toffee Pudding was enjoyed by all.

Scores:

BEN GREEN MEMORIAL TROPHY – Friday, 18th May 2012

Round 5 of the Nomads Order of Merit event was held at a new venue for the Society – South Cerney, just outside Cirencester in Gloucestershire.

Twenty-four members started the event which saw a win for the popular Tony Bourne  with 39 points, just pipping Rich Crowcombe on count-back. Third place was taken by the ever consistent, Darren Williams.

The other prizes went to; Nearest the Pin, Darren Williams, Longest Drive and Par 3′s, Steve Graham, while the divisional prizes went to; Derek Freeman-Jones (Div 1), Jitesh Mistry (Div 2), Mike Simpson (Div 3) and Mike Woodman (Div 4).

The day was rounded off with a fine meal of chicken and leek cheese followed by Apple Crumble.

Scores:

27th April 2012 – Forest Hills
SAXONS 14½ – CELTS 6½

The 12th edition of this friendly, but fiercely competitive event was held at Forest Hills in the Royal Forest of Dean.

The day started very wet and was in danger of being cancelled but the hardy souls of the Nomads troupe donned waterproof’s and headed out on to the first tee.

There was much banter exchanged about the number of shots the ‘Celts’ were gaining (not that it done them much good) before the first ball had been struck.

The weather cleared-up after and the ‘Saxons’ came-in for the lunch break with a 4½ to 2½ lead, so after filling-up on sandwiches and chips it was back-out for the afternoon singles.

It was more of the same after lunch, despite giving away lots of shots the ‘Saxons’ came-in with a resounding score of 10 to 4 from the singles making the final score, 14½ to 6½.

The after match presentation followed a meal of pork and vegetables, with chocolate gateau for dessert, where Nomads 2012 Captain, Steve Graham took the stage.

Following the recent sad death of Ben Green, Steve led a one minutes applause for the popular member and announced that the next competition at South Cerney will be held in his name, and a trophy will be played for every March afterwards as a fitting tribute.

Steve Morgan achieved a landmark of 100 events and was awarded a Nomads cap as a momento.

Apart from the matchplay event, there were other prizes on offer for all the par 3′s and longest drive for both rounds. Nearest the Pin winners were Peter Horlock (3), Mark Willicott, Steve Graham and Adrian Jones. The Longest Drives winners were James Farley and Rich Allen.

The members trundled out of the golf club, some 12 hours after arriving there tired, but all had had a good day.

Scores (Saxons names first):

Greensomes

1 – Steve Graham and James Farley beat Gary O’Connell and Steve Morgan 1up

2 – Peter Horlock and Simon Howlett beat Wayne Stewart and John Thomas 3 & 1

3 – Jon Ager and Damian Orton lost to Adrian Jones and Tony Griffiths 2 & 1

4 – Manny Virdi and Rich Allen beat Ajay Misra and Jitesh Mistry 8 & 7

5 – Chris Pulfree and Ged Wrench beat Derek Freeman-Jones and Pramod Mistry 2 & 1

6 – Mike Woodman and Mark Graham lost to John Essom and Gurdeep Litt 4 & 3

7 – Rowland Joyce and Mark Willicott halved with Darren Williams and Surj Halaith

Singles

1 – Steve Graham beat Gary O’Connell 3 & 2

2 – James Farley beat Steve Morgan 5 & 4

3 – Peter Horlock lost to Wayne Stewart 3 & 1

4 – Simon Howlett beat John Thomas 1up

5 – Jon Ager lost to Adrian Jones 3 & 2

6 – Damian Orton beat Tony Griffiths 1up

7 – Manny Virdi beat Ajay Misra 1up

8 – Rich Allen beat Jitesh Mistry 5 & 4

9 – Chris Pulfree beat Derek Freeman-Jones 2 & 1

10 – Ged Wrench lost to Pramod Mistry 3 & 2

11 – Mike Woodman beat John Essom 1up

12 – Mark Graham beat Gurdeep Litt 5 & 3

13 Rowland Joyce beat Darren Williams 2up

14 Mark Willicott lost to Surj Halaith 3 & 2

I have just been informed of the sad death of one of our members, Ben Green.

As you may be aware Ben was not very well at Castle Combe and was admitted to hospital shortly afterwards.  He went downhill rapidly and there was nothing they could do for him and he passed away late Monday night.

No further details are known at present and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Ben has been playing with the Nomads on a regular basis over the last couple of years, and I am sure that you had found him a funny and lovable man, and a great joy to play with.

Mark Graham is attending a celebration of his life at Forest Hills Golf Club next Wednesday and will be representing the Nomads Golf Society.

The society, I am sure will dedicate a fitting memorial to him.

RIP Ben

Round 1 – Golf Inc Trophy (16th March 2012)

The third event of the 2012 season was held over the parkland course of Llanwern in Newport. Another good turn-out for the first round of the Golf Inc Trophy saw 32 players take to the tee.

The event saw a first win for Ajay Misra whose score of 38 points just pipped the 37 scored by Ged Wrench into second. Third place was decided on count-back with Adrian Jones getting the decision over Derek Freeman-Jones who both scored 36 points.

The other prizes went to Derek Freeman-Jones (Nearest the Pin, a share of the Par 3 competition and Division 1 winner), Jon Ager (Longest Drive), Adrian Jones and Mark Willicott (share of the Par 3 competition), Damian Orton (Division 2 winner), James Farley (Division 3) and Dave Curtis (Division 4).

The day ended with a meal and the presentation of the prizes which included the monthly raffle prize of a club cleaning kit, which was won by Gary O’Connell.

Scores:

On a cold but dry day, the second round of the 2012 season was played over the magnificent Manor Golf Course at Castle Combe, in Wiltshire.

The event was won by Mike Simpson whose 39 points just edged out Manny Virdi on countback with Mike Woodman in third position with 37 points. The society welcomed two new members in Paul Irwin and Steve Keable and it was a welcome back after a few years for Rob Eadsforth. Paul got into the prizes by taking the Nearest the Pin award, with the Longest Drive won by Damian Orton and the Par 3′s competition was headed by Gary O’Connell. The divisional prizes were won by Darren Williams (Div 1), Damian Orton (Div 2), James Farley (Div 3) and Dave Curtis (Div 4).

The day ended with a meal of pork steak in peppercorn sauce and vegetables, and the first place raffle prize of a nights stay at the Manor Hotel, with breakfast and dinner for two was won by Steve Keable, with the second prize of a ball retriever won by Paul Irwin.

Scores:

Over the stunning hill-side course at Woodlake Park near Usk, with magnificent views over the Llandegfed Reservoir and the distant snow-capped mountains of the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains, the first event of the Nomads season took place.

Thirty players braved the treacherous slopes on a sunny day on this magnificent course which proved a stern test for the golfers, with only one player breaking the 30 point mark.

That achievement went to Rowland Joyce whose 30 points was just enough to beat Michael Griffiths on 29 who was second on countback from Darren Williams.

The divisional winners were: – Derek Freeman-Jones (1), Mark Willicott (2), Wayne Stewart (3) and Dave Curtis (4).

Other prize winners were for Longest Drive. Gary O’Connell, Nearest the Pin, Derek Freeman-Jones and Par 3′s, Mark Willicott.

The day was ended with a nice meal of Leek and Potato soup, followed by Gammon and Chips. The monthly raffle was won by Mark McGirr.

Results