Richard Owen
Richard Owen
Shaw Cup (Men’s Top Dog 3 of 7)
A blisteringly hot day with very little breeze made for tiring conditions, however the Prince’s course was in good condition and the scores were good overall.
This year’s winner of the Shaw Cup is Brian McMahon with a solid 39 points (18 out and 21 back) with a birdie on the 14th. Brian’s win was on countback, from both Allan Boyd (last 3 holes) and Richard Back (last 9 holes). Allan amassed his 39 points notwithstanding 2 blobs on the front 9, and Richard Back’s excellent gross 69 included 4 birdies. Best women were Bella 4th on 38 points (no sweep entry) and Deborah 5th on 37 points (did enter the sweep !).
The status of this year’s men’s Senior and Junior Top Dog, after 3 rounds, is shown below. In the Senior Division, Allan Boyd (20 points) leads from Richard Back (18 points); in the Junior Division, Robin Thomas (18 points) leads from Mike Shabani (16 points) – but it’s still early days in this competition.
Rickmansworth – Home Leg
We played the home leg of our annual match against Rickmansworth on Saturday 20 June on the Duke’s course. This encounter has been a feature of the club’s fixture list for some sixty years or so.
The stand out performance of the day was from Gerard Ouattara and Mel Dunn with their convincing 6&5 win (and an impressive 51 stableford points in our internal better ball competition). Nick Rogers and Russell Stewart (8&6), Alan Treacy and Craig Johnstone (3&1), and Peter Harrison and Richard Back (7&6) were our other victorious pairings. Julian James/Richard Owen and Joe Goncalves/Paul Green couldn’t quite help us repeat the whitewashes we sometimes manage at home. It is always hard for the away team in these matches, so a 4-2 victory for RPGC leaves us a bit of work to do in the away leg in September.
NAPGC Ballantyne Round 3
The Richmond Park B team played their 3rd round match against Portsmouth on a very windy and occasionally wet day on the Duke’s course. All the games were close against determined opponents, however Richmond Park won 2:1 and move to the Area Finals next.
Our first pair of Richard Back & Peter Harrison were looking good at 2up with 3 holes to play but Portsmouth birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th to win 1up. Our second pair of captain Richard Owen & Angus Robertson went 1 down on the first and couldn’t get back to evens until the 8th hole, courtesy of a Par by Angus. Richard then won the 10th, 11th and 12th, and Angus won the 13th, so 4 up with 5 to play. Richard then halved the 14th and 15th holes to give the team a 4&3 win. Our final pair of Iker Lanzagorta & Aiden Hurley also went 1 down on the first and stayed 1 or 2 shots down until Aiden won the 14th to make it All Square. The team then won the 16th and 17th holes to give a 2&1 win.
NAPGC Ballantyne, Round 2
Following a concession by Addington Court in Round 1 (couldn’t raise a team !) the Richmond Park B team played Tilgate Forest B at Richmond Park (Duke’s) on a hot Saturday afternoon and won 2:1, to move to Round 3 (for the 3rd year in a row). The match was played in a friendly, but very competitive atmosphere, and was anyone’s match till the 17th hole of the final group’s game.
Richard Back and Peter Harrison were Richmond’s first pair out and took complete control early on, finally winning out 7&6 with 3 birdies on the front 9 and a level par score for the 12 holes played. Our second pair (Richard Owen and Gerard Ouattara) went 2 down after 3 but were back level after 5 holes. However, the Tilgate captain, playing off 13, only dropped 3 shots to par on the front 9 and so they were back to 2 up after 9 holes and the match was closed out on the 16th green as a 4&2 loss. Our third pair out (Iker Lanzagorta and Nick Rogers) had a close match all the way, level after 14 holes but securing a 2&1 win on the 17th green.
NAPGC Siemens Bowl
Richmond Park’s progress in the Siemens Bowl has rarely been straightforward, and our opening two rounds of the 2026 competition offered further evidence that this competition seldom grants comfort. It serves only to show that perseverance, more than anything else, carries teams forward.
Hennerton 3rd May — A Narrow Win in Heavy Conditions
The opening tie against Hennerton was shaped long before a ball was struck. Torrential rain the previous day had left the course soft underfoot, the greens holding but unpredictable, and the fairways offering little run. It was a day for patience rather than panache.
Away from home, Alex and Sean produced a measured performance, edging their match 40–39. It was the sort of away result that matters in this format — not spectacular, but valuable. Alongside them, Julian and Cuneyt, it was a match that never quite broke free, settling at 43–43 — an impressive result for both teams, and an outcome for a contest defined by the smallest of margins. Back at Richmond Park, conditions were marginally kinder. Tony and Richard controlled their match from the outset, winning 40–33, while David and Jonno were edged out 35–32 in a fixture that turned on a handful of putts.
Once the arithmetic was settled , Richmond emerged with a narrow but deserved 155–150 win — a reminder that we had been tested, and had just about done enough to come through.
Brent Valley 30th May— Heat, Pressure and a Strong Away Showing
If Hennerton was a study in resilience, Brent Valley was a test of endurance. The heat was unrelenting, the air heavy, and the fairways firming by the hour.
Alex and Sean, again on the road, found themselves 3 points down at the turn, their opponents adapting more quickly to the pace of the greens. But as the temperature rose, so did Richmond’s resolve. The pair steadied, then surged, turning deficit into a 4‑point victory as Brent Valley faded late on.
Cuneyt and Tony were more assured, winning 43–36 with a performance built on consistency and some impressive shot making.
At home, Julian and Rob delivered a masterful 10 point win, while Jonno and David held their nerve for a narrow 2‑point success.
The final margin, 153–130, brought a sense of tired relief more than anything else, though a win by thirteen points in this competition is no small feat. It reflected a long, draining day in which Richmond simply kept going and were rewarded for it.
Wycombe Heights Awaits — 4 July
We now move on to Wycombe Heights, where the challenge will be different again. The margins will tighten, the pressure will rise, and the competition will demand more of the same resolve that has carried us this far.
Midweek May Plate
Another hot and sunny day made more more pleasant by a cooling breeze. The ground is still dry and running and the scoring was good.
Two players topped the leader board with 37 points with Chris Rudkin edging out Julian James on countback by having scored 20 points on his back nine. Peter Fisher in 3rd scored 36 points but could only manage 15 on the back nine after scoring 21 on the front. Tom Simpkins and Brian Ransom each scored 34 points but Tom won on countback with 17 on the back nine to take 4th place.
Spring Bank Holiday Plate & Women’s Committee Cup Rd2
Committee Cup
Congratulations to Ellie for winning her first major comp with us – I’m sure there will be many more to come Ellie! and to Jenny for her 34 points yesterday and only losing out by 1 point overall… total scores 66 to Ellie & 65 for Jenny.
It is fair to say that no one apart from Jenny shone in the sun with scores being somewhat surprisingly low.
But there were 3 birdies yesterday which is probably our best day for them for some time.
Unusually this leg was held in conjunction with the plate so all playing today figure in the plate results below.
Plate
Unusually for a Bank Holiday weekend the sun shone but it didn’t inspire many to great things.
Rannesh with his 38 points took over the lead from Kerry on 37 and as more of the scores from the following 3 games were entered, his confidence in a win increased and he left sure of it. If he’d waited another couple of minutes he would have seen PaulK’s 39 points going into the system.
So Paul won the plate, but Rannesh was still a winner as Paul doesn’t enter the sweep.
Founder’s Cup – J Hume (3 of 6)
No excuses with the weather, apart from a gentle to moderate breeze. The greens were fairly true. The fairways were patchy but it’s still preferred lies, so no excuse there either. Off the fairway, not always so easy.
For the men, scoring overall seems fairly equitable across white or yellow tees, but its noted the top two scores were white. One such score being from Martin Hay, who wins the day by a fairly comfortable 3 points. Really well done.
Ellie Rhodes and Gina Jillett were also at the top, although it was Gina with the rare eagle, on 18, and banking 5 points in the process. The assumption has to be an exquisite short wedge hole out.
In the Founders Cup series, after 3 rounds, Gina leads by one from Ellie, and they are both well clear of the rest, and will take some catching. – see attached.
Men’s Summer Cup & Women’s Committee Cup Rd1
Women
The author feels she inspired her playing partners today! With a healthy 3point lead to take into the 2nd leg of the Committee Cup, Ellie leads the way with 38 points. Niamh is in second place on 35 with Alison a further 2 back on 33.
Ellie started with a birdie and her score could have been so much better without the 2 pickups on 3 & 4.
It’s true to say there was a healthy range of scores out there today.
Men
A largely cloudy, overcast day but periodically warm, when the sun broke through. The Duke’s course was in generally good condition (except for the bunkers!), with slightly faster greens than of late and had clearly benefited from the rain over the past few days.
Although starting with a double bogey, Alan Treacy won the Summer Cup with a very solid round of 39 points (19 points out, 20 points in), with birdies on the 6th and 8th holes. Mark Bean’s 2nd place (also 39 points) was 20 out and 19 in, so very close. Three points back were Will Balakkrishnan (3 birdies) and Lee Frost. The remaining sweep winners were Nick Rogers, 5th (35 points) and Brian McMahon 7th (34 points).
NAPGC Ballantyne Trophy
Richmond Park entered two teams in the 2026 competition and the “A” team played their first (Round 2) match away at Bird Hills golf club. This is a 4 ball better ball matchplay format competition with 6 players (3 pairs from each team).
Our team captain Russell Stewart reported on the match, as follows:
“It has to be said that the course was in excellent condition and has undergone significant investment recently. The course benefits from improved drainage and tree surgery to open up airflow across the course and present a much dryer course in winter and during wet spells. A number of the greens are two tier and generally the course was interesting and enjoyable to play.
The RPGC A team players made up the following pairings – John Perkins & Russell Stewart (captain) , Alan Treacy & Craig Johnstone, with the last pair being Alan Boyd and Simon Russett.
Our first team out dominated their game losing the honour on only 1 of the 18 holes and eventually winning 5&3.
The second team were not so fortunate and the home advantage was exploited. Some long putts and taking advantage of handicap advantage, the Bird Hills team won 3&2.
Unfortunately it was a similar result for the last pairing who lost 4&3. The home pairing also clicked with one of them confessing to have played his best round since last year.
Our hosts were very friendly and the games were played in good humour, on a beautiful day for golf.”