Old Stortfordian Golf Society

Halford Hewitt – April 9-14 2024

The Halford Hewitt has been described by the golf writer Nick Tremayne as ‘the greatest of all truly amateur tournaments’.  Founded in 1924 it is competed for today by the old boys of 64 English and Scottish public schools which each field five foursomes pairs, making 640 competitors in all.The sheer size of the “field” – plus the hundreds of supporters who routinely turn up – is part of what makes the “Hewitt” a unique sporting event. 

As usual the Old Stortfordian Golf Society’s year kicked off with the Halford Hewitt scratch foursomes tournament in Kent. This year we were drawn to play King Edward VI School, Birmingham in the first round at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal. This is a team that we have played 3 times in the last two years, twice in the Princes’ Plate and once in the Cyril Gray Plate at Worplesdon, winning on all three occasions.

This year’s OS team was probably the strongest we have ever been able to field with combined handicaps of approximately 30.
They were:

Ed Terre (GH, SH, 87-94) and James Sandford (RPH, 05-10)

James Bakelmun (WH, RPH, 99-10) and Charles Waples (MJH,RPH, 06-12)

Charlie Evans (WH,HH, 15-22) and Hugo Lennie (RPH, 13-18)

Matthew Precious (NH,HH, 12-20) and Michael Precious (NH,HH, 13-17)

James Daniels (PP,GH, CH, 03-17) and Christian Wall (WH, SuH, 12-23)

Given that not so long ago we were fielding teams with combined handicaps of 80+ this is a big step forward for Bishop’s Stortford. The prognosis for a successful campaign was therefore good and the team duly delivered with a 3-2 victory which put us through to the 2nd round of the main competition for the first time since 2006, and only the 6th time since we first competed in 1949. Sadly the second round match was against Haileybury, one of the stronger teams and a 1-4 loss resulted with the last two matches being deemed a half, despite both pairs being up, once the top three matches had been lost.

Special mentions to James Sandford for organising branded team colours, Christian Wall who was undefeated in his first Halford Hewitt and Peter Lennie (SH,72-75) for his on course Whatsapp commentary keeping supporters on the course and around the world enthralled with his frequent updates on the progress of the matches. The team are already looking forward to the Grafton Morrish later in the year and the 2025 Halford Hewitt.

To be notified of future Old Stortfordian Golf Society events like this one please email osgolfsociety@gmail.com.

James Greenall (GH,AH, 65-74)

OSGS Secretary

April 2024

The 2024 OS Halford Hewitt team (left to right):

Hugo Lennie (RPH, 13-18)
James Daniels (PP,GH, CH, 03-17)
Michael Precious (NH,HH, 13-17)
Matthew Precious (NH,HH, 12-20)
Charles Waples (MJH,RPH, 06-12)
James Sandford (RPH, 05-10)
Ed Terre (GH, SH, 87-94)
James Bakelmun (WH, RPH, 99-10)
Charlie Evans (WH,HH, 15-22)
Christian Wall  (WH, SuH, 12-23)