May 2026
May 2026
Mitcham Friendly – 1st leg
Played on what turned out to be the last of the mini heatwave days the match was the away leg at Mitcham. The Mitcham bounce was in evidence after this period of dry weather so there was also a lot of run on the ball.
Richmond came away with a 2-1 lead with victories for Alison & Kelly (2&1) and Donna & Nida (5&3). The pairing of Sheena & Doreen lost on the 18th. It was good to see Mitcham able to field a team of 6 again after last year when they could only find 3 to play.
As ever it was played in a very friendly spirit and we were supplied with sandwiches & chips afterwards but the hot weather suppressed many appetites!
NAPGC Ballantyne, Round 2
Following a concession by Addington Court in Round 1 (couldn’t raise a team !) the Richmond Park B team played Tilgate Forest B at Richmond Park (Duke’s) on a hot Saturday afternoon and won 2:1, to move to Round 3 (for the 3rd year in a row). The match was played in a friendly, but very competitive atmosphere, and was anyone’s match till the 17th hole of the final group’s game.
Richard Back and Peter Harrison were Richmond’s first pair out and took complete control early on, finally winning out 7&6 with 3 birdies on the front 9 and a level par score for the 12 holes played. Our second pair (Richard Owen and Gerard Ouattara) went 2 down after 3 but were back level after 5 holes. However, the Tilgate captain, playing off 13, only dropped 3 shots to par on the front 9 and so they were back to 2 up after 9 holes and the match was closed out on the 16th green as a 4&2 loss. Our third pair out (Iker Lanzagorta and Nick Rogers) had a close match all the way, level after 14 holes but securing a 2&1 win on the 17th green.
NAPGC Siemens Bowl
Richmond Park’s progress in the Siemens Bowl has rarely been straightforward, and our opening two rounds of the 2026 competition offered further evidence that this competition seldom grants comfort. It serves only to show that perseverance, more than anything else, carries teams forward.
Hennerton 3rd May — A Narrow Win in Heavy Conditions
The opening tie against Hennerton was shaped long before a ball was struck. Torrential rain the previous day had left the course soft underfoot, the greens holding but unpredictable, and the fairways offering little run. It was a day for patience rather than panache.
Away from home, Alex and Sean produced a measured performance, edging their match 40–39. It was the sort of away result that matters in this format — not spectacular, but valuable. Alongside them, Julian and Cuneyt, it was a match that never quite broke free, settling at 43–43 — an impressive result for both teams, and an outcome for a contest defined by the smallest of margins. Back at Richmond Park, conditions were marginally kinder. Tony and Richard controlled their match from the outset, winning 40–33, while David and Jonno were edged out 35–32 in a fixture that turned on a handful of putts.
Once the arithmetic was settled , Richmond emerged with a narrow but deserved 155–150 win — a reminder that we had been tested, and had just about done enough to come through.
Brent Valley 30th May— Heat, Pressure and a Strong Away Showing
If Hennerton was a study in resilience, Brent Valley was a test of endurance. The heat was unrelenting, the air heavy, and the fairways firming by the hour.
Alex and Sean, again on the road, found themselves 3 points down at the turn, their opponents adapting more quickly to the pace of the greens. But as the temperature rose, so did Richmond’s resolve. The pair steadied, then surged, turning deficit into a 4‑point victory as Brent Valley faded late on.
Cuneyt and Tony were more assured, winning 43–36 with a performance built on consistency and some impressive shot making.
At home, Julian and Rob delivered a masterful 10 point win, while Jonno and David held their nerve for a narrow 2‑point success.
The final margin, 153–130, brought a sense of tired relief more than anything else, though a win by thirteen points in this competition is no small feat. It reflected a long, draining day in which Richmond simply kept going and were rewarded for it.
Wycombe Heights Awaits — 4 July
We now move on to Wycombe Heights, where the challenge will be different again. The margins will tighten, the pressure will rise, and the competition will demand more of the same resolve that has carried us this far.
Midweek May Plate
Another hot and sunny day made more more pleasant by a cooling breeze. The ground is still dry and running and the scoring was good.
Two players topped the leader board with 37 points with Chris Rudkin edging out Julian James on countback by having scored 20 points on his back nine. Peter Fisher in 3rd scored 36 points but could only manage 15 on the back nine after scoring 21 on the front. Tom Simpkins and Brian Ransom each scored 34 points but Tom won on countback with 17 on the back nine to take 4th place.
Spring Bank Holiday Plate & Women’s Committee Cup Rd2
Committee Cup
Congratulations to Ellie for winning her first major comp with us – I’m sure there will be many more to come Ellie! and to Jenny for her 34 points yesterday and only losing out by 1 point overall… total scores 66 to Ellie & 65 for Jenny.
It is fair to say that no one apart from Jenny shone in the sun with scores being somewhat surprisingly low.
But there were 3 birdies yesterday which is probably our best day for them for some time.
Unusually this leg was held in conjunction with the plate so all playing today figure in the plate results below.
Plate
Unusually for a Bank Holiday weekend the sun shone but it didn’t inspire many to great things.
Rannesh with his 38 points took over the lead from Kerry on 37 and as more of the scores from the following 3 games were entered, his confidence in a win increased and he left sure of it. If he’d waited another couple of minutes he would have seen PaulK’s 39 points going into the system.
So Paul won the plate, but Rannesh was still a winner as Paul doesn’t enter the sweep.
Founder’s Cup – J Hume (3 of 6)
No excuses with the weather, apart from a gentle to moderate breeze. The greens were fairly true. The fairways were patchy but it’s still preferred lies, so no excuse there either. Off the fairway, not always so easy.
For the men, scoring overall seems fairly equitable across white or yellow tees, but its noted the top two scores were white. One such score being from Martin Hay, who wins the day by a fairly comfortable 3 points. Really well done.
Ellie Rhodes and Gina Jillett were also at the top, although it was Gina with the rare eagle, on 18, and banking 5 points in the process. The assumption has to be an exquisite short wedge hole out.
In the Founders Cup series, after 3 rounds, Gina leads by one from Ellie, and they are both well clear of the rest, and will take some catching. – see attached.
Men’s Summer Cup & Women’s Committee Cup Rd1
Women
The author feels she inspired her playing partners today! With a healthy 3point lead to take into the 2nd leg of the Committee Cup, Ellie leads the way with 38 points. Niamh is in second place on 35 with Alison a further 2 back on 33.
Ellie started with a birdie and her score could have been so much better without the 2 pickups on 3 & 4.
It’s true to say there was a healthy range of scores out there today.
Men
A largely cloudy, overcast day but periodically warm, when the sun broke through. The Duke’s course was in generally good condition (except for the bunkers!), with slightly faster greens than of late and had clearly benefited from the rain over the past few days.
Although starting with a double bogey, Alan Treacy won the Summer Cup with a very solid round of 39 points (19 points out, 20 points in), with birdies on the 6th and 8th holes. Mark Bean’s 2nd place (also 39 points) was 20 out and 19 in, so very close. Three points back were Will Balakkrishnan (3 birdies) and Lee Frost. The remaining sweep winners were Nick Rogers, 5th (35 points) and Brian McMahon 7th (34 points).
Women’s Invitation
Eight mixed teams played the Women’s Invitation on the Duke’s course on a dry but sometimes windy day. The winners were Jayne Maxwell and Richard Back, scoring 40 points off their combined handicap of 10. Runners up were Alison Chadwick and Paul Green on 39 points followed by Ellie Rhodes and Maher Sharma on 37 points. Everyone enjoyed the American Greensomes format, staying dry and the pizza and chips afterwards.
NAPGC Ballantyne Trophy
Richmond Park entered two teams in the 2026 competition and the “A” team played their first (Round 2) match away at Bird Hills golf club. This is a 4 ball better ball matchplay format competition with 6 players (3 pairs from each team).
Our team captain Russell Stewart reported on the match, as follows:
“It has to be said that the course was in excellent condition and has undergone significant investment recently. The course benefits from improved drainage and tree surgery to open up airflow across the course and present a much dryer course in winter and during wet spells. A number of the greens are two tier and generally the course was interesting and enjoyable to play.
The RPGC A team players made up the following pairings – John Perkins & Russell Stewart (captain) , Alan Treacy & Craig Johnstone, with the last pair being Alan Boyd and Simon Russett.
Our first team out dominated their game losing the honour on only 1 of the 18 holes and eventually winning 5&3.
The second team were not so fortunate and the home advantage was exploited. Some long putts and taking advantage of handicap advantage, the Bird Hills team won 3&2.
Unfortunately it was a similar result for the last pairing who lost 4&3. The home pairing also clicked with one of them confessing to have played his best round since last year.
Our hosts were very friendly and the games were played in good humour, on a beautiful day for golf.”
Midweek May Medal (GM 3 of 8)
Rain, strong wind, hail, dead calm, sun, rain, hail, thunder, roughly in that order, then repeat…x 4. It was warmer in Helsinki, according to the Evening Standard.
The greens, at times, were slow to drain, and if unable to drop somewhere, required 62 degree wedges. The large puddle at front of 16 was particularly troublesome for otherwise good tee shots. Putting over a picturesque bed of hail stones was also taxing. Difficult to practice that one.
The early groups may have had it a bit easier.
Anyway, the two standout scores, overcoming the above, which comfortably beat the rest of the field, and both from the top division, were from Angus Robertson (lowest gross) and Sheena Harrington. Very well done. In the Grand Medal, Angus has a commanding lead (200 points) from a chasing pack of 3 players on 207 points (Julian James, Sheena and Richard Owen).
Top Net Scores as follows:
Division 1:
Angus Robertson: 65 (from 7)
Sheena Harrington: 65 (from 19)
Russell Stewart: 68 (from 12)
Toby Hunt: 68 (from 15)
Division 2:
Peter Fisher: 72 (from 24)
Graham Cull: 73 (from 22)
Peter Miller: 73 (from 26)
Iain Barbour: 74 (from 29)
Martin Hay: 77 (from 21)
Well done all…..for completing the round.