Balfour Trophy & Haddow Trophy

BALFOUR TROPHY & HADDOW TROPHY

(Inc. the Sir Ernley Blackwell Trophy and the Donald Tutt Cup)

Thursday/Friday25th/26th May 2017

Hawkstone Park, Shropshire

Match Report

Having paid considerable attention to what was reported through player feedback at the 2016 event it was with high expectation that the event was convened this year. Considerable effort had been given to ensure groups of 3 rather than 4, a two tee start, earlier serving of meals and high quality golf courses. As a bonus the weather was truly stunning for the entire duration of the event, possibly too much so as many players became at risk of dehydration during play!

The number of handicap teams in the 2017 Haddow competition was up one at eight making for a highly competitive event,and included a welcome lady player for the first time! It was quite saddening however to only have four teams in the Balfour competition, one of which was greatly reduced through several unfortunate late withdrawals. Added to this was the late replacement (due to work reasons) of Phil Ridden in the HMRC team. Currently playing off +5 he was expected to make a significant contribution to the HMRC team score. It really threw things back into the mix when his replacement couldn’t be expected to make such a notable contribution. This switch was really in favour of rival team HASSRA although they themselves struggled for team members and, thanks to an earlier change in the Balfour rules, they were able to play on the Thursday with a man down and have him join the team for play on the Friday.

The two courses at Hawkstone Park werein superb condition and yet could hardly have been more different in layout. The Hawkstone course being more traditional and quirky requiring much imagination and shot making, while the Championship course was a more modern “American style” layout with lots of water to contend with. Both courses, being maintained by the same staff, were in first class order and it was difficult to pick a favourite.

Balfour (Scratch – Teams of 6) – Day 1

Competition this year was just the four teams of which the BEIS team, due to desperately late player losses, played but regrettably with only three players couldn’t compete. In similar manner the MOD team suffered with the absence this year of many of its low handicap players. Unlike the BEIS team however it did manage to field a full team of 6 players even if not at full strength. While the HMRC team had originally been expected to romp home to victory, the late loss of Phil Ridden opened up the possibility of competition from the HASSRA team. As a result the following two days of play would prove to be a lot closer than first imagined.

Day one was during the afternoon of Thursday25th, and was played from the white tees where the Hawkstone course measured 6,497 yards with a SSS of 71. While the weather was fantastic the players found the course pretty tough and at the end of day 1 Graham Bell was 2 shots clear on 73 with a couple of 75’s hot on his heels. Of the teams HMRC were, as anticipated out in front, but by just 3 shots from the HASSRA team. Day 2 promised to be very interesting indeed!

Haddow (Handicap – Teams of 4) – Day 1

Further to feedback from players at the 2016 event the format of scoring for day 1 was changed to stableford as this seemed easier for all to understand and otherwise made no difference. The handicap players started over the Championship course which at just 6258 yards long off the yellow markers (SSS 71), and fairly straight forward, was intended to give them the easiest of starts to their competition. Rather surprisingly only 4 players out of a field of 32 managed to break 36 stableford points. Of these, special mention has to go to Carlo Barbieri (HASSRA SE), who recorded a wonderful 41 points with 25 points on the back 9. He had to be thinking he was right up there for the Sir Ernley Blackwell Trophy only to subsequently be beaten into 2nd place on the last 6 holes by Paul O’Donnell of MOD who had the game of his life and finished with a couple of 4 pointers in the closing holes.

3rd place also went to a countback with a tie on 37 points between Mike Dring (HMRC) and John Nash (BEIS). Commiserations to Mike as John took this on the back 9 holes.

During the evening all players came together and took welcome opportunity to relax and, following dinner and a few “light refreshments”, enjoyed an overnight stay prior to the 2ndand final day of play. Players awoke the next morning to yet another day where the sun split the glorious blue sky.

Balfour (Scratch – Teams of 6) – Day 2

Different day and different course, this time on the 6,472 yard Championship course (SSS 72). While it was expected that players would find the layout of the course slightly easier to score this certainly wasn’t evident from the cards as players struggled. Maybe because of the unrelenting heat, maybe because of a few light refreshments the night before. Either way scoring was difficult and the honours for leading team changed hands several times through the morning. Despite what was at times a spirited fightback from the HASSRA team the HMRC team held on to win by 6 shots in the finish. Many congratulations to the HMRC team of Alistair Mason (Captain), David Wylie, Martin Davies, Dean Sleight, Paul Hulmston and Paul Smith on their winning the Balfour Trophy for a fifth year in a row. Can no-one challenge them?

Thankfully the HMRC players didn’t have quite such a hold on the individual prizes and best individual scratch score went to Graham Bell (HASSRA) with 73+73=146. Runner-up was Alistair Mason (HMRC) with 76+74=150, and 3rd was Dean Sleight (HMRC) with 76+79=155. Prizes were also awarded to Colin Sawyer (MOD) for a 75 on day 1, and Phil Kane (HASSRA) for 78 on day 2.

Haddow (Handicap – Teams of 4) – Day 2

Playing over the undulating terrain of the Hawkstone course at 6,116 yards (SSS 70) scoring was never going to be easy, and so it proved. At the start of the day this was a very close contest with only a single point separating the 1st and 2nd teams. As the mornings play progressed however the MOD team forged ahead to finish some 13 points ahead of their nearest rival. Very impressive stuff especially considering the MOD have never previously won this event. The full MOD team was Paul O’Donnell (Captain), Warren Meekings, Sean Boxall and Allan Martin. A fantastic achievement guys – Well done! (Hopefully there will be further MOD teams in the Haddow supported by the DSRA in future and that rumours of them withdrawing financial support are unfounded.)

The Donald Tutt Cup (Stableford) was the main individual event on day two and this was won, on a 3-way countback, by MOD player Warren Meekings with 35 points. On the same score but just missing out on the back 9 holes was Chris Stokes (DEFRA), and in 3rd place was Peter Brown (DVLA) who, despite getting a stroke at each of them, didn’t score a single point over the last 2 holes!

The individual accumulator (day 1 plus day 2) produced a clear winner in Paul O’Donnell (MOD) with 73 points (41 points + 32points) and this was some 3 points clear of 2ndand 3rdplaces who were tied on 70 points and had to go to countback. 2nd place was subsequently awarded to Sean Boxall (MOD) with 36 points + 34 points, and 3rd was John Nash (BEIS) with 37 points + 33 points.

Very well done to all the prize winners, and huge personal thanks from myself to Mike Cox for all his help throughout and for the great support given by all the players and their departments. This year has been particularly challenging for organisers in putting teams together. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by both myself and all the players. Thank you.

This year at Hawkstone Park I felt that the Balfour and Haddow were staged really well. The Haddow continues to receive welcome support yet the Balfour seems to be in need of some help if it is to survive. In the fullness of time comments from the players will be evaluated and every effort will be given to trying to present an even better event in 2018.

Phil Thelwell

CSGS