Michele Some memories of the fun we used to have at our annual golfing tournament, which is sadly no more. However, at one time, it would travel round the country in association with our Annual Card Convention, teeing off at the nearest course, or any particularly unusual one in the environs to where we have located. and being played some time in the week prior, most usually the day before.
The event was a very friendly one, with players meeting up some time before for breakfast, most usually along the lines of a bacon butty and mug of coffee. Once that was digested, we head out to the links for eighteen holes of golf. When all balls were struck, or lost, and we had totted up our scores, we relocated to the club house or a local restaurant for a two course meal, which non-playing partners of the golfers were welcomed to attend. Then, after dinner, the trophy was presented to the winner.
There have been numerous winners over the fourteen years and as many as twenty-four players, but before we go too much further on our round, we need your memories too, so if you took part in a past event please send us your stories so we can add them here.
As for the story, that begins in
2005 - at Scarborough
This event was teed-off as a one off, at our Annual Convention in Scarborough in 2005. David Stuckey, whose idea it was, presented the original trophy, which was called the ‘Card Times Golf Society’ shield, named after his magazine. It was to primarily be a social event and, briefly it was played as "nearest the Pin’" with a Stapleford scoring system. The first winner was C.J. Brown, off a 5 handicap.
2006 : Nottingham :
C. J. Brown was again the winner
2007 : Worcester :
C. J. Brown was again the winner. We banned him after this... joking... because seriously we would love to hear from him again, he was a really good golfer unlike most of us.
2014 :
When Card Times ceased publication in 2014, Tim Davidson Auctions became the sponsor.
2019 : Wollaton Park Golf Course : Nottingham :
Paul Lynch was the winner, on his local course.
2020 : covid stopped play
2021 : Salisbury and South Wiltshire Golf Course : Salisbury
This year there was a new trophy, with a poignant story. Every year that Tim Davidson could not present the trophy his helpmate Julie Hale stepped up and did it. Sadly she passed away in 2021, so it was decided to initiate a new trophy in her honour and her memory, which was called the ‘Julie Hale Golf Trophy’. It was again sponsored by Tim Davidson.
The winner this year was Colin Fawcett.
2022 : The Whipsnade Park Golf Club : Hemel Hempstead
This year`s tournament took place on Friday the 29th of April at The Whipsnade Park Golf Club, Studham Lane, Dagnall, Berkhamstead HP4 1RH. We were competing for the Julie Hale Memorial Golf Trophy, sponsored by Tim Davidson Auctions, and last year`s champion Colin Fawcett was defending his trophy, but secretly hoping to take it home again. The cost this year was just £50 per head for golfers.