User:SDC1974/sandbox

Watford Boys Golf Society is an English amateur golf society based in and around Watford, Hertfordshire. Although thought by many of having a home course of Shendish Manor they play on the local courses around Hertfordshire.

The society started playing sociably in the late 1990's before becoming more formal in the early 2000's and later the creation of an annual tournament "The Major" commencing in 2008.

Members
In order of Major wins:  Trevor Green (6 wins, first win 2008) Charles Weston (6 wins, first win 2011) Peter Jasko (3 wins, first win 2017) Simon Crouch (1 win, 2009) Gavin Ivey (0 wins) Lawrence Willson (0 wins)

The Major
Officially known as the WBGS Masters, but more colloquially known as The Major, it is the signature event of the Watford Boys Golf Society. It is played annually at different courses, predominantly in the South East, adhering to the less than two hours drive from Charles' house rule. The other rules governing course selection are no links courses and no course too difficult such that we get chucked off for not being able to play, with the stipulation that the same course must be used for both days. The requirement for buggies was dropped with the advent of Simon purchasing an electric trolley.

The Major is open to all members although, since 2010, Gavin has been unable to play due to the tournament's scheduling within the cricket season and his continual record breaking feats with Bovingdon Cricket Club (citation required).

The Major has had three formats since it's inauguration: 

2008-2012: Stroke play </P>

<P>2013-2017: Capped (5+, 2013/4, 4+ 2015 onwards) stroke play. <BR />

(The cap was introduced on the Saturday of the 2013 event following the 2009 champion's removal of his veto on the 4th hole, from the right, greenside bunker.) </P>

<P>2018-2023: Stroke play on day 1 matchplay on day 2. This allows any player unable to register a score on the Saturday to still compete on the Sunday. <BR />

(The new format was introduced following the illness of the 2009 champion on the Saturday of the 2018 event.)</P>

Champions Day
Champions Day refers to the round played on the Friday before the Major. Originally played between Trevor and Simon, the original two Major champions, the day became an invitational with Peter joining for most of the Friday rounds since 2010. The "Invitational" became known once again as Champions Day following Peter's victory at The Belfry on the decennial anniversary of the Major.

The Minor
There has long been an idea to play a "Minor" to sit alongside The Major. However, given the challenges associated with organising The Major, and finding mutually convenient available dates, The Minor never became a regular event. To date, there has only been one official Minor championship in 2016. It was attended by all six founding members of the WBGS, played in the winter. Peter was the eventual winner, preceding his Major triumph the following year.

The Si v Trev challenge trophey (sic)
The Si v Trev challenge trophey (sic) was the forerunner of the WBGS Major. The shield and corresponding wooden spoon were competed for between Simon and Trevor, with multiple events throughout the year. Ultimately Trevor reigned victorious, winning the competition 5 times in a row retaining the trophy and thus bringing the illustrious tournament to an end.

Youngest winner of The Major
Trevor

Oldest winner of The Major
Trevor

Most Major wins
6. Charles and Trevor 6 wins each

Most Major wins in a row
3. Trevor from 2012 to 2014.

Most tournaments before first win
9. Peter, winning on the tenth attempt

Most tournaments since last win
13. Simon, last won in 2009

Biggest gap between first and last wins
14 years. Trevor, between 2008 and 2022.

Biggest gap between wins
8 years. Trevor, between 2014 and 2022.

2008 Major
The 2008 Major was contested between Charles, Gavin, Peter, Simon and Trevor. There was no Champions Day for the 2008 Major, with a warm-up nine holes played in the morning instead (10:28 and 10:44 tee times).

The first round proper started in the afternoon with two tee times at 13:48 and 14:04. Sunday's first tee was at 11:16.

With weather, a challenging course, and the sense of occasion getting the better of everyone, the scoring wasn't great. The final results were as follows: <OL> <LI>Trevor: 241 (117 & 124)</LI> <LI>Simon: 251 (128 & 123)</LI> <LI>Charles: 252 (130 & 122)</LI> <LI>Peter: 296 (133 & 163)</LI> <LI>Gavin: retired hurt</LI> <LI>Lawrence: Did not enter</LI> </OL>

2020 Major
The 2020 Major was played at Cherwell Edge golf course in North Oxfordshire. Following delays due to Covid-19, the Major eventually teed off on 26th September, at the start of autumn, with fallen leaves and light becoming a factor with lost balls. This was the second latest date the Major had been held. Only the decennial event at the Belfry being later.

Despite the conditions, solid scores were achieved by all players in the Saturday stroke play, with Charles Weston ultimately leading after day one, closely followed by Trevor Green and Peter Jasko.

The Sunday Matchplay was a close affair with Simon Crouch, Peter Jasko and Trevor Green all making solid starts. Ultimately though, it was Peter who maintained the high level of performance, surviving a late rally from Charles from the seventh (16th hole as the back nine was played first on both days), to achieve victory.

Had the course been played with the front nine first, then the Matchplay format, with each player playing both the person below and above them, would've resulted in the oddity of Peter beating Charles on the 13th, but not winning until the 14th, when he would've knocked out Trevor.

Testifying to the close nature of the match, Trevor only beat Simon 1 up and drew with Charles all-square on the 18th.

Day 1 strokeplay: <OL> <LI>Charles: 88 (5 pars)</LI> <LI>Trevor: 95 (5 pars & 1 birdie)</LI> <LI>Peter: 96 (5 pars)</LI> <LI>Simon: 111 (2 pars)</LI> <LI>Lawrence: Late withdrawal</LI> <LI>Gavin: Did not enter</LI> </OL>

Day 2 matchplay: <OL> <LI>Peter beat Charles 4 & 3</LI> <LI>Peter beat Trevor 5 & 4</LI> <LI>Peter beat Simon 5 & 4</LI> </OL>

2021 Major
An element of uncertainty surrounded the 14th Major. With Covid-19 restructions continuing into 2021, golf courses were closed when the event was scheduled and accommodation booked. The Major was earmarked for Berkshire, with Hadden Hills and the West Berkshire anticipated for Champions Day and the Major respectively. However, following lack of availability at the West Berkshire, Shrivenham Park was chosen as a late replacement venue for the Major. It meant a return to Oxfordshire for the third year in a row.

Shrivenham Park proved to be a short course with tight fairways. With slow greens, and holes on top of each other - attested by Trevor being struck on the derriere from the group behind, whilst waiting on the 9th tee box, and Charles driving the 15th green ...from the 8th tee - it proved to be the antithesis of Hadden Hills played the day previously, which was arguably a much nicer course.

The aforementioned grumbles, and failure to pickup a scorecard to explain applicability of OOB posts, led to more than a few dropped shots by everyone. A two shot penalty for Peter playing the wrong ball (Simon's, whilst Charles and Trevor played their own balls) precipitated another grumble. Despite everything, Saturday's scores were reasonable, with Charles just beating Trevor on countback, followed by Peter and Simon.

With the threat of rain not materialising on Sunday, except for a brief shower on the 15th, Charles and Peter were able to continue their form (somewhat) from Saturday, with Simon improving. With Peter 5 up on Trevor after 6 holes, the matchplay was a two-sided affair, albeit Simon was only 2 down on Peter at the same stage. There was never more than two holes in it between Charles and Peter, with both leading at stages, until an unfortunate OOB on the 17th meant Charles went dormie before winning on the 18th.

With England winning their Euros quarter final against Ukraine, and amazing steaks in the local pub, it proved to be another great weekend. Congratulations to Charles, taking the outright lead in Major victories (6) from Trevor for the first time in Major history!

Day 1 strokeplay: <OL> <LI>Charles: 90 (5 pars)</LI> <LI>Trevor: 90 (2 pars, 2 birdies)</LI> <LI>Peter: 99 (4 pars)</LI> <LI>Simon: 118 (1 par)</LI> </OL> Day 2 matchplay: <OL> <LI>Charles beat Peter by 1</LI> <LI>Peter beat Trevor 5 & 4</LI> <LI>Peter beat Simon 5 & 3</LI> </OL>