OGC News

Tuesday August 18 saw the welcome return of an Open event to OGC, with the hosting of the August Men’s Senior Pairs.

The weather was good, the rain stayed off, and the course was in great condition as 75 teams set out from the 1^st tee from 08.10 am onwards.

The top ten better ball scores were all on 42 points or above, with the outright winners being David Round and Bill MacIntosh of Hagley Golf Club with a score of 47 points. Richard Higham of Ellesborough G C made sure of the Hole-in-One prize by holing out at the 13^th and a bottle of whisky has been put behind the bar there, courtesy of OGC. A complete list of the prize winners is in the Opens section of the website.

All those who helped will be pleased to know that we received many compliments on the course, the food and the hospitality in general, both on the day and in writing subsequently.

Seniors Section

August 19, 2020

Congratulations to Phil Haine for his performance in the Birkett Barker Shield with a first round score of 71 followed by a 67 for a total of 138 to pip George Taylor by 1 shot and John Hart by 2.

Phil's performance also meant over the two Birkett Barker competitions his four rounds of golf, 68, 73, 71 & 67, totalling 279, gave him first place in the prestigous President's Salver.

Well done Phil

Andy Watkinson

Hon Match Secretary

Olton Golf Club’s top player, Joe Macilwraith, broke the course record in June’s Monday Medal with a stunning Gross 63 only to break his own record 18 days later with a Gross 62. Joe's card recorded 2 bogies, 1 Eagle and 8 birdies.

We didn’t even have time to get his first card framed and hung in the clubhouse!!

Well done Joe

Olton Golf Club's Joe Macilwraith, broke the two year old gross 65, course record set by Michael Pell. Joe's card recorded 2 bogies and 9 birdies for a gross 63.

Well done Joe

I am very sorry to have to report that my father, Eric Hopton, passed away peacefully at Knowle Gate Care Home on 8 May. Whilst Dad had been resident in the home with progressive dementia for over 3 years, he remained physically strong and continued to demonstrate so many of the social skills so integral to his life, but sadly this was eclipsed by the onset of COVID 19 like symptoms in recent weeks. He had recently reached his 90th birthday although the celebrations sadly had to be put on ice due to the lock down.

Following the tragic & unexpected loss of my mother, Sheila, in 2004 following a very happy 50 years of marriage, Dad was very fortunate to meet Maureen Yardley at an OGC Fish Night Supper and she has been his devoted partner & companion ever since splitting much of their lives between Plymouth & Portugal. Maureen has remained at his side daily in the care home right up to the complete ban on visitors at the start of the lock down. Whilst the change of circumstances meant that Dad was a rare visitor to OGC in the past 15 years, the club was an integral part of his life for nearly 50 years. He was a popular B Team Captain, a regular member of the West Midlands League Team and was OGC's senior living Past Captain, an office he held in 1977. He never lost his competitive spirit honed on the rugby pitch during his first class amateur career initially at Bristol Rugby and subsequently at Bath Rugby.

Like so many others who have also lost loved ones during this cruel and unprecedented crisis , we have felt so helpless that we could not visit Dad in person for the past seven weeks or be with him to comfort him at the end . Whilst the last few years have been difficult at times, Maureen, my brother Jerry and I all draw huge comfort from the thought that Dad lived a long and fulfilling life and brought joy to us all. I hope Dad will now be at peace and have the opportunity to be reunited once again with Mum

Mark Hopton