Alumni Golf Day hosts third consecutive fully-booked year

Read alumnus John Gilbert's (1972) report below for full event details.

What a wonderful day! The sky was blue, the sun shone brightly and the immaculate course and excellent clubhouse provided many memories for the 18 teams contesting the 7th annual Alumni Golf Day played at Worplesdon Golf Club, Surrey.

This year’s Stableford competition winners, following a countback, were the 1990s team of Alex Lawton, Matt Heal, Mike Atkinson and Paul Atkinson, just edging out the mixed 1970s/1980s team of Danny Smith, Jon Whiteley, Dave Millard and Mark Taylor. Both teams scored 84 points.

In third place was the 1970s team of Mike Berners-Price, Mark Taylor, Evelyn Somerville and John Gilbert, scoring 81 points. Mike Berners-Price also took the straightest drive prize, while former golf scholar Dave Corben was the nearest to the pin on the picturesque 10th hole, inches away from holing an ace.

As well as the golf, the day provided a chance to catch up with alumni contemporaries and also to make new alumni acquaintances and meet with the golf scholars. Former 1971 soccer captain Martin Oakes made the longest journey to attend, coming in from Johannesburg.

This year five current golf scholars participated en route to the Stirling University Invitational Tournament. Craig Townsend, Director of Golf, thanked the alumni for their tremendous support over the past six years which has enabled Exeter to climb to fourth in the British Universities Golf Rankings. Exeter now boasts 11 scholars with a handicap of scratch or better compared to just three in 2008.

Following the speeches of thanks, the traditional Golf Day auction took place, brilliantly organised by Rod Alexander. Over the past six years the alumni golf days have raised some £45,000 towards golf scholarships. This year, nearly £11,000 was raised. £1,750 was contributed by the ‘Cutting Edge’ raffle, which was held in memory of Alumni Golf Day joint founder Chris Edge, who sadly died in late 2010.

Next year, the Alumni Golf Day will move to St George's Hill Golf Club following four very successful years at Worplesdon. The date is fixed for Friday 16 August 2013. We hope to host a full house for the fourth successive year. Cost of the day will be £95.

Attendees were also informed of the annual Northcote Trophy Alumni v Students match. Last March the students just managed to hold onto the trophy for the second successive year. Next year's challenge is to field a team of 10-12 alumni to give it a Ryder Cup feel – and regain the trophy!

Photos of the event are available on our website.

Find out more about upcoming golf events.