Club Matches
Club Matches
NAPGC Ballantyne Trophy, National Semi-Final
Richmond Park played their National Semi-Final pairs matchplay against Royal Epping Forest golf club at Haste Hill golf course (neutral venue) and won 3:0. The team now play at the NAPGC National Finals Day at Winter Hill golf club on Saturday September 6th.
Most of the team had a practice round at Haste Hill on the eve of the semi-final, which helped significantly, particularly with the difficult front 9 holes.
Our first pair (Paul Green & Mel Dunn) had a comfortable 6&5 win against their low-single-figure-handicap opponents. Game 2 was a lot closer but was closed out “1up” on the 18th hole by Adrian Wells & Julian James. Our 3rd pair (Gerard Ouattara & Richard Owen) went ahead on the 2nd hole, again against low handicap opponents, steadily built up a 4-up lead over the front 9, and finished on the 16th hole with a 4&2 win.
Round 4, Ballantyne Trophy 2025
On the final day of a heatwave, the Richmond Park team played Wycombe Heights B (last year’s Ballantyne Trophy winners) on Stockley Park golf course – a ‘neutral’ course, as this was the Regional Final. The result was a slow and hard-fought 2:1 win for Richmond Park. The next round is the National Semi-Final, to decide who plays at NAPGC Finals Day.
Our first pair (Paul Green and Mel Dunn) were soon trailing against stiff opposition and the match closed out with a 5&4 win for Wycombe. Our second pair (Adrian Wells and Julian James) were also soon trailing 3 down but gradually reeled their opponents in and finished 2 up. Our third pairing (Richard Owen and Gerard Ouattara) got off to an explosive start with 4 birdies on the first 3 holes and were 4 up after 4 holes. However, by the 10th hole the match was all square and over the back 9 the score alternated between all square and 1up to Richmond Park. Gerard’s par on the 17th took us to 1up (and the ‘half’ secured), and Richard’s long 2 putt par on the final hole secured the win.
Hawtree, Round 3 Regional Final
On a heatwave day, the Richmond Park team played Easthampstead for a place at NAPGC Finals Day in September. It was an extremely close match which Richmond Park won 152:151 combined stableford points.
The away pairings of Sheena Harrington & Paul Green and Susan Smith & Mel Dunn both scored 37 points in their greensomes matches, to their opponents 34 points – so 6up Away (after a very long 5.5 hour round). At Home, on the Duke’s course, the RPGC pairing of Brendan Sullivan & Jayne Maxwell scored 44 points to Easthampstead’s amazing 46 points and in the other match RPGC’s Cheryl Woodhouse & Richard Owen scored 34 points to their opponents 37 points. So now it’s the Final at Winter Hill golf course on Saturday September 6th.
NAPGC Mitchell Thompson Qualifier 2025
Richmond Park fielded a team of 8 players (4 pairs) in this year’s seniors Mitchell Thompson qualifier at Stockley Park golf course, against 5 other teams from Basildon, Huntswood, Brent Valley, Farnham Park and Southsea golf clubs. The format was greensomes and the weather conditions were “heatwave 33 deg. C !!). Richmond Park were represented by Brett Colley & Mike Jones, Paul Green & Chris Jones, Russell Stewart & Adrian Wells and Richard Owen & Gerard Ouattara. Our combined score of 133 stableford points put us in 3rd place with the winners being Farnham Park (140 points). Top scorers for RPGC were Paul & Chris on 39 points, equally the best of the day. Only Farnham Park progress to Finals Day in September.
Round 3, Ballantyne 2025
The Richmond Park team entertained a very strong Tilgate Forest B team on the Prince’s course, on what was at times a breezy but very warm day. The result was a 2.5 to 0.5 win for Richmond Park, who will now play Wycombe Heights B in Round 4 (the Area Final).
Our first pair (Mark Bean and Brendan Sullivan) went 2 down after 9 and were still 2 down after 13. They then won holes 14, 15, 16, and 17 to finish 2&1 winners. Club captain Brendan had a very strong all round performance and was the player of the day.
Our second pair (Ray Esin and Mel Dunn) were also up against stiff opposition. After trailing for long periods of time, they had to dig deep to finally draw their match demonstrating a never give up approach to their game against a strong pairing.
Our third pair was made up of Justin Wildman and Russell Stewart. They found themselves 2 down after 2 holes and despite one of the opposing players losing the head of his club on the second, his tee shot still ran to the back of the green from where he managed to win the hole. Hanging on until the 7th Justin, got one back, then Russell got another back at the 8th. From that point it was tight and the low handicap player from Tilgate had 4 birdies. However taking advantage of the shots given the Richmond park pair closed it out on the 18th, winning by 2 holes.
The games were played in a very competitive but convivial atmosphere and the teams enjoyed drinks and pizza together on the veranda after play.
Hawtree, Rounds 1 and 2
The Richmond Park team met Portsmouth in Round 1 of this mixed greensomes competition and had a narrow win by 3 points (156 vs 153). The away team was Sheena Harrington & Paul Green and Joan Mulcahy and Joe Goncalves and the home side Cheryl Woodhouse & Justin Wildman and Jayne Maxwell & Brendan Sullivan. The home side both scored 40 but still lost by 2, but the away team outscored their opponents to see us through.
In Round 2 we played against Hoebridge and had another win, this time by 5 points (159 vs 154). Our ‘away’ team of Sheena Harrington & Paul Green and Caroline Stilwell & Mel Dunn scored a very creditable 77 points (to Hoebridge’s 79); at home, on the Duke’s course, our team of Cheryl Woodhouse & Richard Owen and Joe Goncalves & Joan Mulcahy scored 82 points (to Hoebridge’s 75). The matches were played in a very competitive but friendly spirit on a gloriously warm day.
Kelso Hamilton Quarter Final
Richmond Park B (Adrian Wells and Julian James) were beaten 2 up by Reigate Heath on the Prince’s course. The Reigate Heath team went up early then we came back and were two up and looking good, however then they worked to three up. By the 18th tee we’d got them back down to 1 up, but they had the better final hole. Good match played in good spirit.
NAPGC Ballantyne pairs matchplay
Following a bye in Round 1, the Richmond Park team played South Bucks (The South Buckinghamshire) on the Prince’s course, on a breezy and occasionally showery Bank Holiday Monday. The result was a 2:1 win for Richmond Park, who will now play Tilgate Forest B in Round 3.
Our first pair (Paul Green and Richard Owen) started with a birdie win on the first hole but then exchanged holes and it was all square after the 10th. Richard then birdied the 11th and won the 12, making it 2up and the match was closed out by Paul on the 16th, for a 3&2 win.
Our second pair (Justin Wildman and Mel Dunn) were up against stiff opposition playing well (and had to give shots), losing on the 14th hole, 5&4.
Our third pair (Russell Stewart and Adrian Wells) gradually piled the pressure on their opponents during the front 9, being 5up at the turn. They then went on to be 6up after 11 holes and closed their match out 5&4 on the 14th. Our star player was Russell, who had a fantastic day on the greens.
The games were played in a competitive but convivial atmosphere and the teams enjoyed drinks and pizza together on the veranda after play.
Surrey Fives Round 3
Reigate Hill came to Richmond Park and played a close match against us, unfortunately beating us 3:2. The match was played in a good spirit.
Kelso Hamilton 2025
RPGC entered 2 teams in the Kelso Hamilton East 4BBB knockout in 2025. The Richmond Park 1 team comprised Richard Owen & Alan Treacy; The Richmond Park 2 team comprised Adrian Wells and Julian James.
The Richmond Park 1 team had a bye in the first round but lost 4&3 away to Walton Heath Artisans in Round 2.
The Richmond Park 2 team beat Dulwich & Sydenham 2 in Round 1 (on Prince’s); it was a tight match until the 17th and we won 2&1. The team then beat Surrey Downs 2 in Round 2, which we chose to play away although drawn at home. It was one of those days when our putts went in, particularly Julian’s, while theirs didn’t and they accepted defeat with very good grace.
In Round 3, Bill Norman (standing in for the injured Julian James) and Adrian Wells beat Surbiton 1 4&3, playing at home on Prince’s. The team built a 5 hole lead by the 10th and were never really threatened, thanks in large part to Bill’s good play in what was his best round ever.