League of Champions – Woodhall Spa, 17/18 Mar 11

The 2011 RAFGA golf season began at Woodhall Spa GC on 17th & 18th March with the League of Champions, sponsored by Charteris and Cassidian. Eight teams of six players gathered eagerly to represent their stations of RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Linton-on-Ouse, RAF Marham, RAF Lyneham, RAF Wyton, RAF Northolt, RAF Shawbury and RAF Coningsby as reward for winning their respective 2010 local golf leagues.

On the first day of this full-handicap team stableford competition the players tackled an initially misty and chilly Hotchkin course. However, playing off the Yellow tees and with some surprisingly firm fairways the course played as short as most players will witness. RAF Coningsby took the narrowest of early leads with their best 5 from 6 scores aggregating 157 points, closely followed by RAF Lossiemouth (156) and RAF Shawbury (155). The perfect shot for a hole-in-one on the 5th by RAF Northolt's Ian Cartledge was the day's highlight and his RAFGA membership came in very handy with £100 covering most of the costs of the obligatory round of drinks in a packed clubhouse. On 37 points, Nat Simpson, from Lossiemouth, was individual overnight clubhouse leader, a solitary point ahead of Lyneham's Chris Wood.

Another chilly start quickly gave way to glorious Spring sunshine for the second day on the neighbouring Bracken course and a large number of players scored well in an effort to give their station the best chance of winning the title. Highest individual scores for the day were posted by Jason Bartup (Coningsby) and Mark Willis (Wyton), both with 39 points. RAF Coningsby’s players tallied 333 points to extend their overnight lead and deservedly earn the crown, 2011 League of Champions winners. A strong second day rally from RAF Wyton saw them move into runners-up position with a very creditable 321 points. Full results.

In presenting the League of Champions Trophy, Gp Capt 'Q' Dixon stated that the 2011 event was likely to be the final holding of the League Champions event which, subject to ratification at the RAFGA AGM on 6 Apr, is likely to be replaced by an alternative format event. Gp Capt Dixon expressed his thanks to Paul Mardon for the impeccable organisation of the competition and to Woodhall GC for their excellent hosting of another RAF event.

We remain extremely grateful to both Charteris and Cassidian for their very generous sponsorship of this significant championship.

Words: Neil Flather