Dear Harvey: The Richmond Golf Club and Competitions

Dear Harvey,

I recently enjoyed a casual round at The Richmond Golf Club with Bill Boucher. Bill will be the club captain in two years, a well-deserved honour. Bill plays to a single-digit handicap, with a tight draw on most of his shots. I loved his no-nonsense approach to golf. (Not a lot of pre-shot fussing around. He steps up to the ball and plays it towards his target.) He did not play as a kid or even in his early career years, which means single digits can be obtained and maintained by those of us who come to the game later in life. Here’s hoping, Harvey!

As a nominated incoming Captain, Bill spoke at the Annual Member Dinner a few weeks ago, and his comments resonated. He talked about how lucky he feels whenever he comes through the arches that serve as a subtle but beautiful entrance to our club. Bill’s heart-felt remarks reminded me of how I always told our children it should feel like Christmas morning when they go through the gates to Austin Country Club—a real privilege never to be taken for granted.

See my poem, Ode to Harvey (Lucky) here: I knew Harvey Invitational Golf and Dinner.

This year’s member dinner guest speaker was Bernard Gallacher, renowned Scottish professional golfer and former Ryder Cup captain. Known for his consistency and strong match play, Gallacher was a key figure in the Ryder Cup, representing Great Britain and Ireland, and later Europe, in eight consecutive Ryder Cups from 1969 to 1983. He went on to captain the European Ryder Cup team three times (1991, 1993, and 1995), famously leading them to victory at Oak Hill in 1995. Bernard entertained us with first-hand Ryder Cup stories including a fabulous telling of the final stretch of one of golf’s most iconic moments – the Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin 1969 Ryder Cup match, known as The Concession.

One topic I enjoyed discussing with Bill is the many golf competitions at The Richmond Golf Club. There is a steady stream of events, trophies, and ‘board’ spots for which to play. Multiple competitions are consistent across all clubs in the United Kingdom, which is not true at golf clubs in America. I remember we had an annual club championship for men and women at Austin Country Club, a couple of member-guests events, and maybe one match-play event. That was the extent of opportunities to test your competitive skills.

To make my point, here is a list and description of the different events at The Richmond Golf Club.

MENS’ STROKE PLAY COMPETITIONS

• H.M. THE QUEEN MOTHER’S TROPHY: Instituted in Centenary Year. 36 hole medal played for annually by the winners (in the previous January to December) of Monthly Medals and Stablefords (including Mid Week), the Higgins, Barnett, Queen Victoria Memorial and Speaker’s (Selby) Cups, the Cooper Salver and previous winners.
• THE DON MEMORIAL CHALLENGE CUP (Open Competition): Instituted in 1895 in memory of P. R. Don, Esq.
• THE DON CENTENARY SALVER (Open Competition): Instituted in 1995 to mark the Centenary of the Don Memorial Challenge Cup. To be played in conjunction with the Don Cup teams of three players.
• THE HIGGINS’ CHALLENGE CUP (Handicap): Presented in 1927 by S. F. Higgins, Esq. Open to full and five day members. 18 hole handicap.
• GOLD MEDAL (Scratch)
• THE GEORGE BARNETT MEMORIAL CHALLENGE CUP (Handicap): Presented by Mrs Barnett in 1973. Awarded to the player with the best handicap score in the Gold Medal.
• THE QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL CHALLENGE CUP (Handicap): Instituted in 1901. Open to full and five day members. 18 hole handicap.
• SIR SYDNEY CAMM TROPHY: Presented by Hawker Siddeley Aviation in 1974. Awarded to the best RAF score during the Inter-Services Cup.
• THE PAST CAPTAINS’ CUP (Handicap Stroke Play): Presented in 1907 by the Rev. A. Welsh Owen. Played in conjunction with the July Medal.

MEN’S MATCH PLAY COMPETITIONS

• THE STEPHENSON CHALLENGE CUPS (Foursomes): Presented in 1895 by A. R. Stephenson, Esq.
• THE STEPHENSON CHALLENGE CUP (Singles): Presented in 1895 by A. R. Stephenson, Esq.
• THE VETERANS’ CUP (Singles): Presented in 1949 by J. F. Waddington, Esq.
• THE ROBIN CHALLENGE CUP (Handicap Bogey): Presented in 1897 by J. H. Clutton, Esq. 18 hole handicap competition.
• GOLD MEDAL (Scratch)
• THE COOPER SALVER (Handicap): Presented by John Cooper, Esq., Captain 1972. Awarded to the player with the best handicap score in the Medal.
• THE SPEAKER’S CUP (SELBY CUP) (Handicap): Presented in 1902 by Rt. Hon. William C. Gully, later Lord Selby, Speaker of the House of Commons. 18 hole handicap competition.

OTHER TROPHY COMPETITIONS CLUB

• CHAMPIONSHIP SILVER MEDAL: Presented in 1984 by R. F. Seddon, Esq. 36 holes scratch stroke play. Open to full members with handicaps 9 and below.
• THE CENTENARY TROPHY: Presented in 1991 by the Past Captains. Awarded to the scorer of the highest number of points during the year attained by being placed in nominated competitions.
• THE EDGAR POHLMAN CUP: Instituted in 1989 in memory of Edgar Pohlman. Scratch stroke play competition. Open to members handicapped 10-18.
• DAVID WHITE VASES (Better Ball Stableford): Presented by D. White in 1937.
• HALSBURY CUP (Medal): Presented in 1902 by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Halsbury, Lord High Chancellor. Re-designated as a Medal round to be played annually in April.
• LOMAX CUP (Stableford): Presented in 1981 by W. M. Lomax, Esq. 9 hole competition for members 70 years of age and over.
• THE CAPTAIN’S PRIZE SALVERS (Better Ball): Houghton Memorial Salver presented in 1971 by Major D. C. Dobie. Seddon Salver presented in 1971 by R. F. Seddon, Esq. Awarded to the winners of a better ball competition (format at the discretion of the Captain).
• THE PURDEY BOWL (Stroke Play): Presented in 1937 by C. O. Purdey, Esq. Awarded to the winner of the June Mid-week Medal.
• THE CLAYTON CHALLENGE CUP (Putting): Presented in 1955 by Mrs E. S. Clayton. Played over 36 holes.
• THE ROBERTSON MEMORIAL CUP (Better Ball Bogey): Instituted in 1938 by W. A. Robertson, Esq. Each pair to consist of a senior player (handicap 13 or below) and junior player (handicap 14 or above). The top eight pairs from the qualifying round enter the match play competition.
• THE PRINCE ARTHUR CONNAUGHT CHALLENGE CUP (Medal): Presented in 1931 by H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught. The top 16 players from the qualifying round enter the match play competition.
• JAMES SOUTTER SALVER (Veterans’ Foursomes): Presented in 1986 by J. Soutter, Esq. Open to full and five day veteran members.
• DAVIS-DORLING CUP (Mixed Greensomes): Presented by R. H. Davis, Esq. and W. Dorling, Esq. in 1982.
• ARTHUR CHARLESWORTH TROPHY: Presented in 2003 by Mrs A. Charlesworth. Awarded to the best Veteran in the September Mid Week Stableford.

LADIES’ COMPETITIONS

• THE MOORE CUP: Presented in 1973 by Mrs M Moore. Presented for the Knock-out Singles Match play.
• THE WELCOME TROPHY: Presented in 1990 by Mr F Masson. Presented for Match Play Knock-out for higher handicap players.
• THE PAIRS TROPHY: Presented to the winning pair – Greensomes
• THE LADY GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Presented in 2016 by the Richmond Golf Club Ladies. Presented for the most points accumulated thoughout the year.
• THE LADIES’ CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SALVER: Presented in 2002 by Mrs K Lyons. Presented to the player with the lowest gross score over 36 holes.
• THE LADY CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE TROPHY: Presented in 2009 by Mrs E Chesman.
• IRISH DAY LADIES CUP: Presented by Mr and Mrs M Lanigan. Presented for the best Stableford score over all divisions for Irish Day.
• THE MARGARET HESPE TROPHY: Presented in 1996 by P Merry. Presented for the Ladies v Men Annual Match.
• SPRING MEETING SCRATCH TROPHIES: Div. 1 – Presented in 2001 by Mrs C Harrison; Div. 2 – Presented in 2004 by the Richmond Golf Club Ladies.
• THE CANN TROPHY: Presented in 1993 by Mr H Cann. Presented for the best net score in any division in the Spring Meeting.
• THE NEW ZEALAND TROPHY: Presented in 1988 by Mrs B Bray.
• Presented for the best net score June Medal: THE SUDBROOK MEDAL. Presented to a Div 2 player with the lowest net score in July Medal.
• THE CHRISTIE SALVER: The Past Captain’s Trophy. Presented in 1987 by Mrs R Christie.
• AUTUMN MEETING SCRATCH TROPHIES: Div. 1 – Presented in 2001 by Mrs J Derville; Div. 2 – Presented in 2017 by the Richmond Golf Club Ladies.
• THE FRY SALVER: Presented in 1982 by Mrs J Fry. Presented for the best aggregate net score in Spring and Autumn Meeting Medals.
• THE MAGUIRE TROPHY: Presented in 1979 by Mrs G Maguire. Presented for the November Stableford Competitions.
• THE BEAGLEY TROPHY: Presented in 1981 by Mrs H Beagley. Presented to the Lady Golfer of the Year 65+
• THE CAMBRIDGE BOWL: Presented in 1995 by Mrs E Pearce. Presented for the highest aggregate of four scores in Stableford Competitions.
• THE LYONS CUP: Presented in 1991 by Mrs K Lyons. Presented to the winner of the Winter Knock-Out Competition.
• THE WINTER SCRATCH TROPHY: Presented in 1991by Mrs R Lovett 1.

In addition to these annual events, there are monthly Stableford competitions for men and women and informal rollups you can enter at your discretion. The net result is you end up playing with hundreds of different members throughout the year, both men and women, which contributes to the social aspect of the club since more people genuinely get to know each other.

I think this is exactly what you meant, when you first said, ‘If you play golf, you are my friend!’

All the best,

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