A healthy turnout of 14 JBGS members arrived at Hawkstone Park Golf Club on Wednesday 10th September to kick off the Shropshire tour. Play was a society individual/team stableford over the Hawkstone course – a course redesigned in 1930 by James Braid. On Thursday there was a match against the club played on the Championship Course at Hawkstone Park which was designed by Brian Huggett, opened in 1995. Following this, on Friday members played a match against the members at Oswestry GC – an original Braid course laid out in 1929. Click here for the full report on all the events.
Day 1 Wednesday 10th September
Conditions for the day were tricky with occasional showers and the some blind shots to deal with.
The format for the day’s play, due to the number of players, was 2 x teams of 4 players and 2 x teams of 3 players with 1 player dropping back after 9 holes from the 4 ball teams to the 3 ball ones. As well as the Individual Stableford, the format of the team game was aggregate stableford with all scores to count.
Is it all clear or is it Ahoy there!
Day 2 Thursday 11th September
The morning brought some very heavy showers to the course and the start of the match was delayed by 20 minutes to allow the worst of the weather to pass through. The Championship course offers a more open feel and provides a fun challenge with its use of water and varied features. This was a 12 aside 4BBB match with JBGS member Steve Lawson (the match organiser), playing for the opposition to balance numbers.
having fun in the club house
The Hawkstone GC Captain
Following the post-match meal in the clubhouse, the JBGS Captain thanked Mr Ken MacGillivary (Hawkstone Park GC Captain) for agreeing to the match and to JBGS member Steve Lawson for coordinating the visit. Both were presented with wine glasses while Hawkstone Park GC team members each received a tot glass along with the proceeds from the bunnet collection for their junior section, as a memento of the day. And the result of the match, a 4 -2 win to Hawkstone Park GC.
Day 3 Friday 12th September
Our numbers for the day were back to our full quota of 14 as we arrived to a warm welcome from the Oswestry members. Following introductions to our opponents we gathered around the 1st tee in anticipation of a close match against our opponents. Format for the day was a better ball stableford so that each match was guaranteed to play the full 18 holes.
On completion of each match, the participants enjoyed lively conversation over lunch in the clubhouse before the formalities began with the Oswestry GC Captain welcoming the JBGS to the club. In response, the JBGS Captain thanked the club for agreeing to the fixture and congratulated Oswestry Golf Club on a convincing 6.5 – 0.5 points victory. The day concluded with the presentation to the Oswestry Golf Club team members of tot glasses and the proceeds from the bunnet collection for their junior section.
So it’s good bye, happy golfing and looking forward to seeing you all again in 2026.
