Sussex Martlets Extra Golf Day

Match Report

Each year, The Sussex Martlets Golf Society hold a reciprocals day. The Clubs we play during the course of the year send representatives to enjoy our hospitality and the golf course at West Sussex, our nominal home and of course the location of the Gilligan Putter which is played for between the Sussex Martlets and West Sussex Golf Club.

2020 and Covid-19 have of course put paid to most of our golf season but rather than let the day go, Sussex Martlets Chairman Stuart Ritchie turned the day into an extra golf day for members of the Golf Society and sixteen players competed in a Foursomes Stableford winners takes all format, winning the prize of some aged claret from the Chairman’s cellar!

The hospitality at lunch time was exceptionally good and looking out over the practice ground to the South Downs, the hope existed that the weather forecast might prove unfounded. Sadly that turned out to be not so and those playing got thoroughly drenched for a couple of holes before the effect of a stiff breeze and the South Downs ameliorated the rain to periodic showers.

Playing off the white tees and the conditions however put paid to any stellar scores and in the final analysis, James Goddard and Peter Jones ran out as winners on the day with 28 points.

The Chairman gave thanks for the service of Adrian White who had stood down as Hon. Sec. of the Golf Society in March and wished his successor Robert Forster well in the role. He also thanked the players present for the support they had given to him in what would be his final year as Chairman of the Sussex Martlets. In response, Peter Jones, a Martlet and also Captain of West Sussex Golf Club this year, responded generously.

All was good and our players meandered away from the golf course thoroughly satisfied with the experience of the day.