OB Golf: Halford Hewitt Cup (April 2022)

In April, the Old Brightonian Golf Team completed their annual pilgrimage to Kent (Deal and Sandwich) to compete in the Halford Hewitt Cup which is a scratch foursomes event for teams of 10 former pupils of 64 public schools. We were without Ben Roberts (Al. 2009-11), Freddie Pett, (Ha. 1999-2004) and Mike Mudie (Ha. 1998-2001) from the previous year, but welcomed back Riaz Rattansi (Ch. 1985-90) and Mark Budd (Du. 2004-09).

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Old Brightonians Golf Round-Up: 2021

The Old Brightonians Golf Society is going from strength to strength and has had a great year - including some giant-killing in the Halford Hewitt Cup...

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Nigel Dearsly (L 1960-65)

Nigel Dearsly (L 1960-65) died over Easter as a result of Covid-19, aged 72.

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OB Golf Society beats Stowe at Halford Hewitt

The Old Brightonian Golf Society played in the Halford Hewitt in April.

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Old Brightonians tied with Lancing in the Sussex Cup

In the annual quadrangular fixture against Hurst, Lancing and Eastbourne the OB’s recorded 8 points out of 12, with 3 wins, 2 halves and 1 loss.

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Report: The Solstice Cup 2017

We met at Ashridge 26 June 2017 to play for the Solstice Cup. Six of us Justin Wash (B/C. 1979-84), Joey Appleton (Du. 1979-84), Duncan Shaw (D.1979-84), Ben Stott (R. 1979-84), Alan Chesterfield (D. 1973-78) and Mark Green (A. 1972-78).

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Report: the Secretary's Cup at West Sussex, 19th March 2017

Sixteen OB's of different vintages and abilities assembled into two teams in a friendly match which pits the Secretary against the President. Only on this occasion our Hon. President Chris Pett, had more important business to attend to as he is currently leading the Seniors on tour in Australia. Geoffrey Bush kindly agreed to provide Locum cover.

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Stories from the Archive: The Return to the 9th Hole

Malcolm McVittie recently wrote a letter to the Head Master, describing his father’s experiences after leaving school. This letter recounted a story of bravery and perseverance.

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Annual Golf Match: Brighton College vs Old Brightonians Sept 2016

Last Thursday, 8th September, the College travelled to The Dyke Golf Club for the annual match against the Old Brightonians. The sun shone, but a fierce wind was blasting across the downs, making conditions tricky for all parties.

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OBs Claim the Sussex Cup

Old Brightonians are delighted to report an emphatic victory in the Sussex Cup held at Walton Heath on Sunday 30th August. In the annual quadrangular fixture against Hurst, Lancing & Eastbourne the OB’s recorded 11 points out of 12, with 5 wins, a half and no losses.

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The OB Golf Society at the Cyril Gray Tournament (2015), Worplesdon GC, 25-27 June 2015

The Cyril Gray tournament is a scratch foursomes School team event for over-50s with 32 schools playing and 6 players making up each team. Owing to there being a good chance of 36 holes having to be played on one day, it is desirable to have a squad of players. This year we went into the main event with a group of seven players, ably supported by Watson Failes who lives nearby and was able to play if needed. Watson turns out to be our secret weapon for the Super Seniors event on Saturday 27th June which requires two golfers with a combined age of 140, with both being over 65.

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OB's secure a place at the Grafton Morrish Finals

After last year’s chastening performance 6 OB’s set off for Knole Park ,Sevenoaks more in hope than expectation. The top 7 out of 16 schools from the South region would qualify for the Grafton Morrish Finals, to be held 24-27 September at Brancaster & Hustanton, Norfolk. The format, on a tight and windswept course was 3 scratch stableford foursomes, all scores to count.

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REPORT: OBs at the Halford Hewitt

The Old Brightonian Golf Society made their annual pilgrimage down to Sandwich in April for the Festival of Foursomes that is the Halford Hewitt. Early confidence in the team was rocked by the unfortunate withdrawal of reinstated pro Michael Mudie (Ha. 1998-2001) due to work commitments. However this was viewed as the strongest squad we had assembled for many years and there was a sense that we might be able to pull off a shock by beating last year’s champions Merchiston.

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MATCH REPORT: OBGS vs BC Masters, 10th June 2014

The Society took on the Brighton College Masters in the Inaugural Event staged at the West Sussex Golf Club on Sunday 10th June.

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Golf Report: Secretary’s cup – West Sussex, 23rd March 2014

The OBGS annual Spring meeting was held at West Sussex golf club as an early preparation for members of the Halford Hewitt squad. 

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Golf Society Autumn Meeting 2013

This year's Autumn Meeting was held at The Royal Ashdown Golf Club. A strong OB presence was guaranteed with the influx of the "Class of '84" comprising, Duncan Shaw (D.1979-84), Justin Wash (B/C. 1979-84), Tony Nash (S. 1979-84) and Ben Stott (R. 1979-84). The Class of '84 were made most welcome, showed true class by staying away from the winners' enclosure, clearly had a great time and promised to come again with increased numbers! 

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OB Golf Victory over Hurst, Lancing and Eastbourne

Dear Old Brightonians

At Walton Heath on Sunday 22nd September, Brighton College once again prevailed in the annual competition between Hurst, Lancing and Eastbourne.

The Cup was retained in dramatic fashion in a putt-off against Hurst as dusk was settling. The OB Team comprised your Secretary, Roly Ainsworth (D 1992-97), Julian Tate (D. 1982-87), Petri Hitches (A. 1984-86) , Freddie Pett (H. 1999-2004) and Michael Mudie (H. 1998-2001).

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Tom Hayward (D. 2002-06) is looking for sponsorship to continue his professional golf career

Tom Hayward (D. 2002-06), former Brighton College pupil and first class honours graduate is entering his second year as a tournament professional. Having only been playing the game since Oct 2010 his progress to date has been impressive, competing upon The UK's developmental tours and in Asia. In 2012 Tom recorded six top 25 finishes, three of which were top 5 positions.

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Old Brightonian Golf Society vs Brighton College

Last week the senior golf team took on the Old Brightonians at East Brighton Golf Club. Exams knocked out a few of the pupils so a depleted BC team of 4 pupils took on 5 OBs - with Mr Sperring making up the numbers.

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Golf Day in aid of the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion

We couldn’t have asked for better weather for the Brighton College Golf Day Friday 30th September 2011. With a back drop of the beautiful Albourne Countryside, Old Brightonians and parents headed to the fairway for a day at Singing Hills Golf Course.

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Golf Society Autumn Meeting 2011

This year’s Autumn Meeting was held at the beautiful Mannings Heath Golf Club. We were greatly indebted to local member Tom Hayward (D. 2002-06) for organising an excellent day at a heavily discounted rate.

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The OB Golf Society at the Cyril Gray Tournament (2011)

In this year's Cyril Gray Trophy (team scratch matchplay foursomes for the more mature golfer) Brighton faced a tough battle against regular finalists Stowe in the 1st Round. So it proved. Warwick Sabey (B. 1959-65 )and Geoffrey Bush (H. 1965-70) played first pair and lost to some very steady par play. Nigel Dearsly (L. 1960-65) and Robin Colbourne (H. 1960-65) played second and went down quite close to home. Chris Pett (H. 1962-67) and newcomer Adrian Wood (A. 1971-76) played well and were all square after 17 and called it a half when the top two games had gone. 2½ - ½ to Stowe.

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Halford Hewitt 2011

Arguably the strongest OB team ever assembled were in boisterous spirits during the practice days. There were strong grounds for optimism that we would win our first round for many a year.

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REPORT: OB Golf Society Play the College

The Brighton College golf team took on the Old Brightonians Golf Society last Thursday. The event was held at the Dyke Golf Club. Both sides fielded a slightly depleted team - as a result of injuries or important cricket fixtures.

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Secretary’s Cup

The inaugural “Secretary’s Cup” was held on Sunday 3rd April in glorious spring sunshine at the beautiful West Sussex Golf Club. The event has been created in honour of Chris Pett (H. 1962-67) who has been Secretary of OBGS for 32 years having been handed the position from his father-in-law. Unsurprisingly the event was very well supported containing many generations of OBs. The delight of OBGS golf is that every generation of OB can participate and this creates a super atmosphere within the Society.

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The OB Golf Society at the Cyril Gray Tournament (2009)

In this scratch, foursomes team match-play competition for three pairs of golfers over the age of 50, played at Worplesdon, Brighton were scheduled to meet Ampleforth in the opening round, followed by either Chigwell or Framlingham in the main event or the plate.

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Halford Hewitt 2009

A first round draw against Canford offered some ground for optimism that we would progress this year.  As is usual, there were some players unavailable that we might have liked to include, though we still raised a fair team of mostly middle single-figure players.  Unfortunately, hopes were dashed again.  In a very stiff north-easterly wind that made maintaining rhythm extremely difficult and the front nine at Royal Cinque Ports seriously testing (many a good drive failed to reach the third and fifth fairways), we went down 5-0, though not without some individual heroics.  The fact was that Canford's highest handicap was lower than all but one of ours!

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Autumn Meeting 2008

The Autumn meeting last year was held in October at Puttenham Golf Club, a little gem full of glorious autumnal colours tucked away near Guildford and where one of our longer-standing and loyal members has held just about every office a Golf Club can offer.  We don't think (and hope he hasn't) been Head Chef, but that is about all!

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Old Brightonian Golf 2008

Hopes of a win through to further rounds in this year's Halford Hewitt were dented early by knowledge of a 1st Round draw against Uppingham, a team in recent years on the up. This proved to be the case when we met them on the ground and lost by 4 matches to 1 on a very pleasant day at Royal St. George's, Sandwich.

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Golf Letter to Editor 2007

The following letter is in response to comments made by Christopher Pett (H. 1962-67) in his golf report of the Summer of 2006.

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Dear Editor,

Please remind young Christopher Pett that Aldrich House had plenty to shout about in 1962. We had recently moved from the anterooms of the Hall into the main body of the College, and under Geoff Lees’ “really” canny guidance, Aldrich was proving it could challenge the dominance of the boarding houses in all aspects of school life.

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Old Brightonian Golf 2006

After last year's success, we sadly failed to qualify for the Grafton Morrish Finals this year. We again played in the Cyril Gray Cup at Worplesdon in June where we lost 3-0 to a strong Whitgift side containing two former county players, and the first round of the Plate competition was lost 2-1 in a much closer game that could have gone either way against Framlingham. None of these setbacks has dented our resolve to try to get back to more successful ways in 2007.

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Old Brightonian Golf 2005

The OBs qualified at Knole Park for the Grafton Morrish Trophy finals, for the second time in three years. These will be held at Hunstanton and Brancaster at the end of September. It is a great weekend and competition for places in the team will be keen. Hopefully we won't meet last year's winners in the 1st Round (like last time)!

The over 50s lost their 1st Round match in the Cyril Grey Cup at Worplesdon to Wellingborough 2-1, but won the 1st Round of the Plate event, beating Epsom 2-1. They then lost a nailbiter of a 2nd Round against Greshams 2-1, with every game finishing on the 18th green. This is the first 1st Round we've lost in six years - we hope to get back to winning ways next year.

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Old Brightonian Golf Spring 2005

In the 2005 Halford Hewitt, the fates conspired to prevent us fielding our best side and we went down 4-1 in the first round to Aldenham, who are enjoying something of a resurgence with some new talented young golfers. Julian Tate and James Bell picked up a point, and two of our pairs lost only on the 18th green, so the score belies the closeness of the competition.

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Old Brightonian Golf Autumn 2004

A year that promised slightly more than was achieved but greatly enjoyed by all those that took part.

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Old Brightonian Golf 2004

We have had a busier year than usual with four main events. In the 1st round of the Halford sadly Hewitt on a lovely bright and breezy day at Royal St. George’s, Sandwich we went down to Mill Hill 3½ - 1½. In the ensuing Plate competition we went down to Sherborne 3—0, though all the matches were tightly fought. Our 2004 campaign sees us start up against St. Paul’s at Sandwich at 8.00am on Thursday 1st April.

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Old Brightonian Golf 2003

The Old Brightonians played Mill Hill in the first round of this year's Halford Hewitt, losing by 3.5 to 1.5. In the ensuing PLate competition, we lost to Sherborne 3-0, although the games were closer than the scoreline suggests.

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San Francisco Reunion 2002

The 2nd OBA US Dinner was held in the Pacific Room at the Carnelian Room which is in the City's Bank of America building. Ingram Losner (D. 1973-1978) organised a sensational dinner in an extraordinary setting. The Pacific Room was for those of us not used to eating dinner on the 52nd floor of a skyscraper quite the most wonderful experience! The view alone was worth the trip...

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