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Coachlines - April 2023

27.04.23 Captain of Golf Graeme Hunt

In the swing of things with the Coachmakers’ golfers

Pictured above: Martin Derrick (centre) presents the Duchess of Gloucester Cup to winners Liverymen Alexander Wrighton (left) & Graeme Hunt

As is usual for the golfers of the Coachmakers, our first event of the season was at the prestigious New Zealand Golf Club in Woking. The fixture has been a longstanding association with the Leathersellers – who first played there in their spring meeting in the early 1970s.

Geoffrey Dove, a Liveryman of both Companies, started the event for the Leathersellers in the early 1970s and through his association with Past Master Robert Croall invited the Coachmakers to join in 1980. Robert has never missed any of these matches and always brings down some chums from the Borders each year.

Past Master Robert Croall with your Captain Graeme Hunt

It’s a very informal day out, with normally 18 holes of foursomes in the morning and 12 holes in the afternoon with a hearty lunch inbetween. Happily, Geoffrey joined us for luncheon and we talked of old times and friends both old and new.

Eight Leathersellers arrived for golf, including their Master Clare Lennon with her husband, son and the family Labrador who wandered around the course for both rounds! Fourteen Coachmakers joined us including guests, and had a very happy day with the course in fine condition and no wet weather was required either, in fact the sun shone on many occasions.

As always there was some fierce competition as well as some extremely good golf. The overall winners of the Duchess of Gloucester Cup, retaining their position as champions, were Golf Captain Graeme Hunt and Golfing Secretary Alexander Wrighton. Runners-up were Robert Croall and Mark Stanley and in the close third place were Lyn Litchfield and Martin Derrick.

Our next match is the Prince Arthur Cup at Walton Heath in June. Our own final match is at Tandridge Golf Club in September with the Leathersellers, Ironmongers and Drapers. Guests are all welcome to this event, which is always a relaxed day with a fabulous lunch.