Page 188 - Bugle Autumn 2014

The Rifles Golf Society (TRGS) 2014
The RIFLES Golf Society Committee met in Winchester on 30th April to discuss the issue of player commitment, encouragement for serving Riflemen to play, Fixtures, the 2014
better coordinated than previous seasons and match managers were expecting enhanced support from the serving element. The importance of maintaining these links
with the community and promoting The Rifles emphasised the need for the serving element to become more involved and
as the operational commitment reduces it is hoped that more
Riflemen will be available to participate. The way ahead was agreed. Some traditional fixtures appeared to have run
their course and were unsustainable. The Bar GS played at Sunningdale Golf Club,
may go from next year while the need to promote golf within the Serving Element was recognised. The possibility of matches, sponsored by Battalions close to their locations was agreed as a way in which more of the Serving Element could become involved thereby underpinning TRGS future.
To generate these initiatives a more dynamic approach was required and a new committee structure was elected: President: Brig Tom Copinger-Symes OBE Chairman: Maj Al Field
Secretary: Maj (Retd) Trevor Stipling Treasurer (& Chairman RIFLEs Sports
Club) – Lt Col (Retd) Tim Lerwill OBE Match Managers Representative:
Cameron Reeves
Regimental Secretary: Lt Col John Poole
Season and TRGS
Governance. Maj
(Retd) Trevor Stipling,
TRGS Sec, chaired
the Meeting attended
by representatives of
the Serving Elements,
Maj Al Field, Match
Managers, Cameron Reeves, the RIFLES Sports Club Fund, Lt Col Tim Lerwill and the Rifles, Lt Col John Poole-Warren, Regimental Secretary. An apology was received from the outgoing Chairman - Brig
The 2014 season was already looking better coordinated than previous seasons
David Homer
The 2014 season was already looking
Match Reports
The Season is half way through: 9 matches played with 5 Drawn and 2 Lost including the Northern Ireland Tour fast becoming both an annual trip and a flagship event. The Golf Society entered also the Army Officers Golf Society Championship for the Argyll & Sutherland Bowl while the Farmer’s Boy GS (DERR) held their annual Meet and played a match against the Infantry Battle School and the RGJ GS held its annual Meet at Littlestone GC. There was also a C4C Charity Golf Day at Lanhydrock GC coordinated by TRGS Secretary Trevor Stipling in July. So at the Half way mark much has already happened.
Eton Boys
Julian Byng managed a team in a Drawn match against the Eton Boys on Thursday, 27th February at The Berkshire Golf
Club. During a break in the weather an “experienced” Rifles team ranging from
55 to 75 years old took on a team of
young talented golfers, mostly single figure handicappers, who proceeded to outdrive them by 50 yards on every hole. Julian and Hugh Dumas led from the front in winning their match with Cameron Reeves and Karl Frearson (Master i|c Eton Golf) holding on
to Halve their game which placed Geoffrey Burnand and Michael Phillips under pressure to win. Sadly that pressure got to them and they narrowly lost in a brave effort to youngsters with handicaps of 2 and 4 respectively. Following the match, The Rifles treated the boys to “high tea” on completion of the match.
The team was grateful for Karl stepping in at the last minute to replace Jack Francis and the boys enjoyed both the banter and a tough encounter. It would be good and more appropriate to have serving officers more involved in this fixture in the future.
for example, had become cost prohibitive and difficult to get course time – and others
Liphook
Cameron Reeves raised a full quota of players but reports, with regret that it was an embarrassing 5-0 Loss. Little more to add really ...
Wykehamists
Peter Littlehales managed the match against the Old Wykehamists at The Berkshire on 11th May and was confident of having a full team. Sadly illness struck down a player at short notice and, unable to find a substitute, fronted four matches in the morning and only three in the afternoon. Against a strong Wykehamists team the TRGS put up a valiant scrap eventually losing 5-2. A debut for Christopher Cornell, who did not realise how much fun these matches were and is eage to support more matches in the future.
TRGS was represented by: Peter and Tim Littlehales, Simon Booth-Mason, Jack Francis, Robin Thorne, Christopher Cornell, Alastair Maxwell and Hugh Dumas who unfortunately could only make the morning match.
Old Etonians
Alistair Maxwell struggled to raise a full Team to play the Old Etonians at Swinley Forest on 31st May. Of the eight players who supported the event two could
only play in the morning competition thereby placing pressure on the afternoon foursomes. Having lost the morning match 2.5 to 1.5 the team managed to win 2 of the 3 fixtures after lunch thereby Drawing the match 3 all. The OE’s, having won in 2013 therefore retained the honour.
TRGS was represented by: Alastair Maxwell, Tom Copinger-Symes, Cameron Reeves, Henry Hughes, Will Libby, Michael Phillips, Michael Robertson and Val Powell.
Warren
The Wine Trade
Val Powell, managing the TRGS Team against The Wine Trade GS at Swinley Forest on 14th June found himself afflicted as Peter Littlehales and Alistair Maxwell, the previous Match Managers, in finding that there were players who could only play one of the rounds and, with Peter Chamberlin struck down at the last minute, the match was reduced to 3 matches before and 3 matches after lunch: an evenly balanced programme and one that allows the more “accustomed” drinkers to overturn a 3-0 deficit at the break into a “credible” 3-3 Draw.
TRGS was represented by: Simon Toynbee, Michael Phillips, Val Powell, Hugh Dumas, Paddy Croft, AM Collett and John Curtis.
Guards GS
Henry Hughes managing TRGS side against the Guards GS at The Berkshire GC on 13th July found that his energy in inviting players stopped the epidemic of players’ foreshortened availability as he arrived to play with a full side which remained all day.
The Rifles drew 4-4 but having been 3-1 up at half time it was disappointing not to secure a victory. In the morning some tidy and at times accomplished golf from the Rifles side dominated, but in the afternoon the Guards fought back. The fourth pair saw an exciting climax to the match: having been dormie 6 down, they won the next four holes and it took a very fine up and down from 160 yards to secure the Guards’ victory on the 17th and with it a half in the match. The Rifles fielded a blend of youth and experience, and plans are already underway to wrestle back a Rifles victory for 2015.
186 RIFLES SPORTS
THE RIFLES