2024 Review

Match against the Aularians (St Edmund Hall, Oxford), Huntercombe GC, Thursday 21st March. 

We believe that this is one of if not the longest standing Oxford vs Cambridge College matches, dating back to the 1950's. Indeed one of the Aularian regulars, Ken Hinkley-Smith played in the match at Royal Worlington in 1961. At lunch, John Parker recognised the role played by John Scott and Brian Amor in resurrecting the fixture at Royal Mid Surrey in the 1960's.

As befitting for the second day of spring, we enjoyed glorious weather with Huntercombe being in magnificent condition considering all the recent rain. As always, the match was played in very good spirit and we enjoyed an excellent lunch and a few drinks afterwards. Thanks to Chris Atkinson for his excellent organisation.

I am pleased to report that the St. John's team all performed very well with everyone scoring at least 30 points. With the best 7 scores counting this ensured a narrow victory for the Johnians (despite the Aularians fielding one more player). We look forward to returning to Huntercombe in 2025.

Cambridge Inter-College Alumni Golf Competition, Thursday 25th April

The weather was generally fine and slightly blustery for this year's competition, apart from a brief hail storm. Despite the slightly tricky conditions, there were some excellent scores recorded on the day, and there was one hole in one. It is interesting that the winning scores have improved quite a bit over recent years. The Johnians fielded a strong team and even though we achieved a better aggregate score than in 2022 (when we won) and in 2023 (when we finished second), this year we slipped to 3rd place!

Match against Christ's for the Lady Margaret Beaufort Trophy, Thursday 16th May

A very enjoyable days golf although unfortunately a strong Christ's team retained the Lady Margaret Beaufort Trophy, winning with a score of 7 to 3. 

Cambridge Meeting, Friday 26th July

16 golfers competed for the Marshall-Hall Cup. Although the numbers were slightly down on previous years, the standard of golf was particularly high, helped by the perfect golfing weather. For the second year running and as far as I am aware only the third time in the history of the summer meeting, a hole-in-one was achieved. Also somewhat remarkably, all three hole in ones have been achieved at the same hole, the 4th on John O'Gaunt's Old Course. This time the lucky player was Roger Scarlett-Smith. 

The winner of the Marshall-Hall Cup was a player making his debut, Alan Ford with 41 points. James Fox was runner-up with 36 points on countback from Roger Scarlett-Smith, who also scored 36 points. One point back on 35 points, and winner of the Posnett Salver was Richard Moxon.

There were a number of contenders for The Tile, including Jon Mayer who drove 2 successive par 4's in the afternoon greensomes. However there could only be one winner; Roger Scarlett-Smith for his hole in one.

Roger Scarlett-Smith, Alan Ford, Paul Baker, Peter Taylor, David Cairns, Stephen Munday, George Clarke, Nigel Snaith, Guy Freeman, John Parker, James Fox, Carl Olsson, Jon Mayer, Nick Shaw

Roger Scarlett-Smith having achieved a hole in one at the 4th hole at John O'Gaunt, and later being awarded The Tile for this feat

Winner of the Marshall-Hall Cup, Alan Ford

Runner-up, James Fox

Winners of the afternoon Greensomes, Paul Baker and Peter Taylor