Golfing Coachmakers achieve third place in autumn fixture

The autumn golf fixture is always played at Tandridge, which is in the top 100 courses in the UK and challenges golfers even with lower handicaps. We share the course with three other Livery Companies – the Leathersellers, Ironmongers and the Drapers

We would normally field two teams for this event, although this year our team only consisted of Assistant Bill Dastur, Rupert Hunt and golfing Captain Assistant Graeme Hunt.

We played in glorious weather, well to be fair it was bright and it didn’t rain – which it had done on the preceding days and after as well.

Each Coachmaker was paired with Leathersellers, Drapers or Ironmongers which made for more interaction with our friends at the other Liveries. As always, the match was played in great spirit whilst a competitive edge was always in the air.

Our gritty players managed to finish third – some of the other Liveries did manage to put out two teams to try and take a place on the rostrum so we did rather well.

After our matches we all retired to the magnificent club house, where a splendid luncheon awaited, and whilst the course is in the top 100 in the UK, the kitchen at Tandridge must be in the top 25 and the three course meal was topped off with its own summer pudding, made from a secret recipe. More hilarity ensued with stories of missed puts and shots which could have been, but weren’t.

After lunch the prizes, arranged by the Ironmongers this year, were handed out by our friend and stalwart, Leatherseller Geoffrey Dove, who initiated this event more than 30 years ago.

In his 90th year, Geoffrey is very supportive of all golfing events, he still comes to our spring meeting at the New Zealand GC each year, as well as the Prince Arthur Cup at Walton Heath.

After the prize giving, players were kindly invited to play another round, although the Coachmakers team, feeling rather fatigued after our morning efforts, declined and journeyed homewards.