Once again the Aero GS enjoyed a fabulous two days at Burnham and Berrow for our West Country Meeting. Having been an Open Qualifying course earlier in the month it was very well prepared and in impeccable condition. Even the weather was kind to us, remaining dry throughout with a fresh breeze on the first day and just a light north-westerly on the second. As usual we were looked after very well indeed by the clubhouse and catering teams which made for an all-round thoroughly enjoyable Meeting.

Although we were a little light on numbers this year (mainly caused by a clash with the RAF Golf Championships at Moor Park) we still had some fierce competition and excellent scores. Unfortunately we did not have sufficient ladies to compete for the Challenge Trophy, so this will be held in abeyance until 2026.

For the other trophies, on day 1 the Jack Bryan Trophy for the over 70’s was won by Alastair Beedie with 33 points, and the Perth Quaich by Anthony King with 38 points. Following overnight adjustments to handicaps (in both directions) the battle for the Ronnie Pew Trophy on day two was won by Keith Dennison with 37 points.

Once again Hayling Golf Club was the venue for our annual match against the RNGS for the “Perfect Green” trophy and this year we could not have been blessed with better conditions. The prolonged dry spell meant that the fairways were hard and the rough less challenging than in previous years.  Nevertheless, even with light winds, good course management and accuracy were still the recipe for a good score.

Once again we were well looked after by the Hayling staff both on and off the course. The Club has strong connections with Sandemans and this year have reintroduced a tradition of offering visiting societies a glass of port on the first tee. I am not sure it helped the golf, but it was a good way to begin the round!

The fixture has always been popular with the Aero GS but this year RNGS had struggled to muster a full side. Therefore two of our members with strong dark-blue connections kindly agreed to represent the Navy.

The match was closely fought with several of the games being decided on the 17th or 18th greens. Thanks, at least in part to our two volunteer sailors, the RNGS came out winners 3-2 and retain the trophy.

We look forward to avenging our defeat next year.

The Early Summer Meeting was held at New Zealand Golf Club on 29 May 25. Although not very long, New Zealand is a tight and challenging test of golf where accuracy and keeping out of the heather is essential if you are to score well. And so it proved! Once again conditions we near perfect with the course in fabulous condition and only a gentle breeze in the afternoon adding a little spice.

With the ground already as hard as you would expect in August, the ball ran for miles (if you hit the fairway) and this was reflected in the scores in both the morning individual Stableford and afternoon Greensomes. The stand-out scores of forty-three points in the morning and thirty in afternoon was a measure of some excellent quality golf.

New Zealand remains a popular fixture and we were very well subscribed again this year. We are always looked after well by the team with a lunch that was once again from the top drawer. And for those of you in the know, their wine cellar is pretty good too!

Chris Taylor was the winner of the Shell-Mex & BP Challenge Trophy for the morning individual Stableford with 43 points. The Jubilee Trophy for the afternoon Greensomes competition was won by Rob Ketzscher and Richard Pierce on countback from Andy Hickmott and Graham Gault, with both pairs on 30 points.

The full results for the day are available here

The President's Meeting was again held at Cumberwell Park Golf Club. For those who have never played at Cumberwell Park, you have missed a treat! With four separate nine-hole courses that can be combined in various ways to make different eighteens, it makes for an excellent day’s golf. It also attracts some key sporting personalities, and for the eagle-eyed among you there on the day you will have spied several Bath and England rugby players enjoying some R&R!

In spite of the exceptionally dry spring, the course was in excellent condition with some tricky greens and pin positions. This was reflected in the scores which were not quite as good as at Swinley or North Hants, but were a fair measure of the challenge.

The format of Greensomes in the morning for the John Waite Memorial Trophy and the individual Stableford in the afternoon for the President’s Putter worked well. With an excellent and swiftly-served lunch in between accompanied by our President’s generously provided wine, it proved popular. 

In the morning Greensomes, played over the Orange course, there were 3 pairs with 20 points, two on 21 points, but the winners of the George Waite trophy were President Keith Filbey and his partner Peter Hamilton on 22 points. The afternoon's competition was a similarly close affair, with Captain Anthony King winning the President's Putter on count-back from Tom Lyons, with both on 37 points.

Cumberwell Park is a challenging course and whilst it may lack some of the history of the more prestigious clubs it is a friendly venue and excellent value for money. Put it in your diary for 2026!

The full results can be downloaded here