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At the lunch which followed, players were joined by six non-playing colleagues who were recovering variously from hip and knee surgery, two of whom had acted as scorers.

Results: 1 John Kember, Rod Montague, Jeffrey Titford & Duncan Wilson 59.5pts; 2 David Chesterfield, John Duffy, Steve Grint & Godfrey Harker 62.3; 3 Alan Benfell, Derek Burgoyne, Mike King & Dennis Upton 65.2; 4 Brian Knight, Brian Pearce, Tony Perkins & Richard Soan 65.9; 5 Dick Fellingham, Neil Gershon, David Kirbyshire & Alex Pioli 66.3; 6 Mike Beningfield, Tony Dougall, Brian Johnston & Peter Ixer 66.4. Twos: 5th - John Humphries; 8th - Richard Stratford; 13th - Mike Beningfield; 15th - Graham Hall.

Finally, cups and prizes were presented to the winners and runners up in the summer competitions. Stafford Walker Cup for the singles knockout: 1 Derek Hinton; 2 Dennis Upton; Hunter Cup for the Foursomes: 1 Richard Soan and Jeffrey Titford; 2 Frank Nickson and Martyn Winn; Graham Bentley Cup for the White Tees Singles matchplay: 1 Peter Slade; 2 John Eley; The Tam OShanter Cup for the best five aggregate Medal scores: 1 Keith Alabaster; 2 Derek Hinton; The 19th Hole Cup for the best five aggregate Stableford scores:1 Peter Slade; 2 Rod Montague. Player of the Year: 1 Peter Slade 75pts; 2 Peter Kewell 73.

Haywards Heath GC: The ladies played in a greensomes stableford competition on November 19. Results were: 1 Alison Hopson & Hester Gemmell 34pts; 2 Clare Strong & Chris Kernohan 33.

On November 26 the first of three Mackie Walder competitions was played. Helen Britton & Irene Kennedy won on c/b with 28pts from Brenda Duncan & Aisling Cloonan.

The last of the organised competitions for the ladies was a Bring and Win played on December 10. Partners were drawn for this greensomes stableford and although it was very cold, everyone was in good spirits. It was followed by lunch and then mince pies and tea. A prize was provided and wrapped by each player and as the results were announced that person chose a gift as a prize.

Seniors Section: The seniors held their annual Christmas competition and lunch on Monday of last week when 90 members and invited guests played the traditional foursomes, followed by the equally traditional Christmas lunch. Invited guests included the club president Brian Hay, management

committee chairman Philip Williamson, club captain Peter Snook, secretary Graham White and club professionals James Verrall and Sam Holloway.

The Seniors played their golf wearing various styles of Santa hats and were sent off from the tee by Santa himself (see picture).

After the traditional turkey lunch the prizes were presented to: 1 Andy Plowright & Peter Stevenson 35pts; 2 Peter Snook & Noel Willis 33; 3 Ron Collie & Derek May 32; 4 Gösta Kullner & Bruce Wheeler 32.

Piltdown GC: Christmas comes but once a year but it occupies much of December at Piltdown. On Saturday December 7 the annual thrash between the two teams known as “Whitbread” and “King & Barnes” took place.

It began with a good old English breakfast, followed by two champagne stops on the course and a filling but sensibly-priced lunch. In between these activities some desultory golf took place, foursomes matchplay, off scratch although the lower-handicappers of Whitbread gave the K&B duffers a six-hole start. Inspiringly led by Roger Osbon, K & B took full advantage to win for the first time for many years.

On Thursday December 12 the ladies played a morning round of 12 holes, with mince pies and mulled wine along the way, after which they sat down to a traditional Christmas lunch – 76 of them, no less, including several Academy members and non-players.

The next evening was the club’s carols singalong. Graham Broadbridge and David Skinner and a lively choir led a hearty 60 members, backed by Wally Lambert’s wonderful accompaniment, recorded, to the club’s eternal gratitude, shortly before he died. It may not have been quite King’s College standard but it was jolly good fun. A splendid curry filled the half-time interval.

Then on Saturday the Over 60s played the Under 60s, a fixture devised three years ago by two of the younger members, Ben Halsey and Anthony Ross. A total of 51 turned up, including Academy members and Juniors – and all were welcome. The younger team won by 10 matches to three. The weather was kind, the course in good shape, and bangers-and-mash afterwards helped to create a warm clubhouse atmosphere.

On Sunday December 15, 10 teams of four braved drizzly conditions to play a Turkey Trot Scramble, a new event. The winners were Brenda Allvey, Grant Horscroft, Nigel Manger and Dennis White. Congratulations to them, and indeed to everyone who put in a soggy scorecard.