Another year, another fantastic season, another cracking finals day…. oh and another Farleigh win.  Two out of three isn’t bad 🙂  Jesting aside, the Farleigh boys certainly turned it on again this year… despite a slight wobble in the last fixture away at Reigate!

Well done Farleigh

Big congratulations to Tony and everyone who played for Farleigh this year and of course commiserations to Richard’s Reigate team who ran them very, very close.

Just two points decided the league in 2023, the closest I believe for several years when Farleigh pipped Surrey National by a point or two back in 2013 or 2014 I seem to remember. (It was probably raining, it always does for me up there!)

This for me is why the format is so good – everyone contributes in every match.  You win as a team and sadly (and I’m looking at us/SN this year)… we lose as a team.  So if a pairing finds themselves down by 4 with say 6 to play, nicking a hole or two on the way in could clearly decide league positions at the end of the year.

Click here to see the full results for 2023 – click on a result to view each match sheet.

Before I bring up finals day, a big thanks to all the respective team captains and their vices for their efforts in encouraging/cajoling/poking or downright threatening the sometimes sluggish members to either take part… or even turn up on time.

At our end, SN’s Dave sometimes had a fairly tough time getting a team out this year and I always felt a bit guilty when I sold it to him saying “it’ll be fine, hardly anything to do”.   I know it takes time, effort and a huge heap of patience to get 10 often grumpy golfers out each morning for matches home and away.

So I’d like to think “can I get you a pint” is being heard across various clubhouses as thanks for the captain’s solid efforts.  Well done.

Pre match sausage bap and coffee

Thank you Scott and Woldingham

Woldingham hosted finals day on Friday 20th – and eyes on the weather forecast  meant things looked ominous and very wet until a day or so before when it suggested we may stay dry.  We were very lucky, the weather behaved despite the day before and the day after being awful with wind and rain.  Course was very well presented with greenkeepers out in force early doors preparing things for us.   Many thanks to all involved in welcoming 86odd golfers on the day.

Another big thanks goes to Scott, who took up Woldy team captainship after Pat needed a hand whilst he was club captain this year.  Armed with a spreadsheet and I assume more support behind the scenes from Woldy Matt and Pat of course, last minute issues of handicaps and missing players were all managed very smoothly.  Awesome job.  The day went very well and I think everyone had a good social scramble game of golf …. despite some shoddy *cough* performances trying to get in the way.  All good fun.

I didnt make the prize giving but I believe the big-hitting team (and SN’s Greg 🙂 ) took the win with a gross 14under.

On a side note from SN (and it may be the case with other teams) but big thanks to the seniors’ who helped fill our team ranks on the day.  SN’s numbers were looking a little light until our Capt Dave poked the auld boys and the Seniors “weighed in” to help (no pun intended… well maybe a smidge).  The league is all about us playing for our respective clubs coming together for good games of competitive social golf home and away, with a healthy bit of banter thrown in (Harris!) and of course all enjoying finals day in 5balls.   (And of course trying not to take it too seriously – see picture below!)

Does it need a caption – outgoing League Chairman Steve shares his thoughts on another Farleigh win!

Thanks to Steve and welcome Pete as SHL Chairman

Huge thanks to Steve B for his sterling Chairmanship of the Men’s league.  Steve picked up the role after Covid and ran with it for an extra year, one of those years also being Club Captain at Reigate.  He said being Chairman was a doddle but you still need to be available to help ‘steer the ship’ even if things hopefully run fairly smoothly.  Top man.  Thanks from everyone in the league Steve.

Steve has passed the reins over to Mr Pete Crowe from Surrey Downs.

Please offer all the support to Pete when his name turns up on a teamsheet (if selected ofc, oh and Brentford aren’t playing at home, or he’s not travelling).  Although I suspect he’d probably prefer the offer of a pint of Madri rather than ‘support’.

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Next year Surrey National is playing host with our team captain Graham Loveless just itching to get to the microphone.

So another great league year; well done Farleigh for defending the title and big and thanks Woldingham for Finals Day.

Farleigh – Mens League Winners 2023 with team captain Tony… don’t they all look lovely in their pink.  (And Steve managed to fit in Craig’s head into the photo too… bonus)