Did watching the Ryder Cup inspire you to want to enjoy your golf more. With birdies flying everywhere and emotions running high it certainly showcased how exciting golf can be. Justin Jones was there watching as was Mike Tiplady pictured. Perhaps I should organise a member's trip to The Ryder Cup in 2020 at Whistling Straits on Lake Michigan!!!!


 

The golf course is looking amazing, the greens are putting superbly and the weather is great, but with the chillier mornings and cooler winds, come and look at our new Autumn ranges of clothing and make sure you are prepare to enjoy your Autumn and Winter golf.




I'm sure you will all join me in congratulating Mark Turner following his election to become Captain following Kevin Young in 2017/18. We wish him all the best and look forward to an enjoyable year with him in 2018. 

With the Presidents Cup being the last counting event towards the West Hill Order of Merit, the winner of The Curzon-Smith Armada Plate is Paul Reeves who finished with 27 points with Tim Cleminson second with 22 points. Points are awarded for finishing in the top 6 of the singles events or the top 5 of foursomes events. Of the eight counting events Paul and Tim Scored in two and only one member, Chris Smith, managed to score order of merit points in three of the eight events. Congratulations to Paul. 

Here is a report from Brian Terry. 

'With ideal playing conditions (both the weather and the course) perhaps it was not surprising that it took a score of 41 points to win the Captain's Roll-up on Wednesday, 28th September. George Fergusson was the winner although he defended himself by saying that if putts inside the leather had not been conceded his score would have been much worse!! Players coming 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th all had 37 points and were separated after various countbacks. Rod Curry was 2nd and Chris Barber 3rd. 

This leaves the eclectic competition on a knife-edge with George Fergusson on 15 points, Alastair Wooster on 14, Neil Blick on 13 and Mike Phillips on 12. 

The October competition, on 26th, will be the final competition during David Alvis's captaincy so that is when the victor Ludorum i.e. the player whose name will be inscribed on the Alan Gorvin Captain's Roll-up trophy and candidate for next year's Old Aldenhamians' competition, will be decided.'

A European team including West Hill members David Wilkinson, Mel McCrum, John Slater and Graham Methold took on the US at Pinehurst, North Carolina, in a Ryder Cup- style match last week. Here they are, pictured beside a statue of the late Payne Stewart, who won his second US open at Pinehurst in 1999. The US edged a narrow victory, despite a late European charge in the singles! 


 

We have some very exciting news for one of our juniors, Joseph Wood, who has been selected for the England Regional under 16 squad. He is absolutely delighted. Well done Joseph on a fantastic achievement.




The Captain played brilliantly as we defeated Alex Forbes and George Fergusson in a Steak and Claret Captain/Pro challenge last Friday - although the Pro did abstain from the claret as he was taking very strong painkillers for an inflamed lower back! With only two matches remaining against Champion & Bolton, and Coulson and Davies the Race to Saunton is all set for a showdown finish! Watch this space.


 

Well done to Rod Curry who won the Vets Cup with 43 points. Second was Mike Coulson with 39 and third Peter Oakes with 38. The Over Sixties Putter winner is Adrian Cotton with 35 points on countback from Tony Heather with George Fergusson third with 34 points.




Here is a report from our Ladies Captain, Marjory Horsman 

"The ladies invitation was won by Helen Atkinson and Karen Johnson and their guests. Sian Thomas and Liz Hooper are playing the final of the Surrey Centenary Foursomes at Effingham G C on Sunday 9th October against Cilla Shaw and Natasha Cheeseman. The Foursomes Cup was won by Janet James and Marjory Horsman playing Sylvia Sands and Liz Hooper." 

Three out of four competitors Surrey finalists from West Hill - well done ladies!!! 




Tuesday 11 October - Members Day Out to Sunningdale GC 
Friday 14 October - Weekday Stableford 
Sunday 16 October - Old Aldenhamian's Salver Medal 
Wed/Thur 19/20 October - The Race To Saunton Captain/Pro Final 
Saturday 22 October - Club Stableford 
Wednesday 26 October - Captain's Roll Up and Lunch 
Saturday 29 October - Ladies' AGM 
Sunday 30 October - Buchanan Trophy - AGM 
Tuesday 6 December - Members Day Out to Royal St Georges