Twenty six of us headed off to Epsom Golf Club for our first Away Day of 2009. We were fortunate with the weather. It was very warm, though there was a stiff breeze that came into play on higher sections of the course from which fine views were also to be had. The traditional Downs course proved a mix of challenges with some holes requiring distance from the tee and others accuracy. However the main challenge was found with putting on the fast and undulating greens.

A morning event was played over 12 holes. Pre-drawn teams competed with the best two Stableford scores by any team member counting on each hole. The winning team comprised Lee Eden, Rick Smith, Gurpal Sekhon and Phil Flanagan with 56 points, just one point ahead of three other teams. The event also had a prize for overall individual winner, which was taken by Julie Smith with a fine score of 25 points.

The main 18-hole Stableford competition in the afternoon delivered up two particularly excellent scores. Overall winner Ian Smith had 41 points from runner-up Paul Doran on 40. Third place was taken by new member Donovan Friel on 37 points from overall fourth Phil Flanagan on 36. There were additional prizes for Nearest the Pin (George Martin on the 3rd and John Morris on the 13th) and for the Longest Drive, with Julian Ratnage both long and successful in finding the relatively narrow fairway on the 18th.

Throughout the day we enjoyed the handsome surroundings of the oldest purpose-built clubhouse in Surrey along with good food and hospitality. The prizes were presented by Captain Richard Owen and we were pleased that PGA Professional Bruce Cuff, a former regular at the Park, was able to join us for the day.

All in all it was a very enjoyable day, though those who came along would have been excused if they found themselves pondering what it must have been like to enjoy a round at Epsom in its founding year of 1899, when some of the roads that run close to parts of the course might have had a bit less traffic on them!

John Morris