At the Toffs End of Season Dinner, it is the practice of the Toffs Captain to present awards earned by players during the year. These mainly refer to misdeeds and accidents, although occasionally reflect more successful performance.

The narrative used when these were presented for 2019 follows, together with the individual awards involved.

Mark Garrod

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

AWARD

For the Awards this year, I am indebted to a great extent to the match reports so expertly written by Mark Garrod which have supplied a great deal of information.

So, I might as well start with Mark, who gets the journalist of the year award.

George Palouri

SHORT GAME MASTERCLASS

AWARD

George Palourti has always been renowned for his short game and to quote Mark again from his report on the match against Berkhamsted in March. George pitched over the moat on the 18th to within 3 feet of the flag for a conceded par and then holed from off the green- close to the wall, in fact at the fifth.    George wins the Short Game master Class award.

RICHARD ZELLI

LONGEST DRIVE AWARD

23rd September 2019 Home match v Knebworth- drove to Harpenden

Organising Seniors golf has been likened to herding cats and we’ve had 2 outstanding examples this season:

On 23/9, we were playing Knebworth at home: On 30/9,we were due to play Harpenden Common away; Richard Zelli somehow mixed them up and decided to go to Harpenden on the day of the Knebworth fixture before returning to Old Fold. Richard gets the award for the Longest Drive.

NIGLE WHITLEY

GARMIN SAT NAV AWARD

Monday 30th September

For the match at Harpenden Common, Nigel Whiteley had problems with his sat nav, which somehow took him to Hammonds End, where for some unaccountable reason, Nigel deposited his change of clothes. Nigel, gets the Garmin Sat Nav award.

RICHARD DAVISON

HITCHHIKERS’ GUIDE AWARD

The travelling awards don’t stop there; For the match at Dyrham in May, Richard Davison found that his car woudn’t start and had to hitch a lift with his nextdoor neighbour, Francoise Lewis. Two awards stem from this incident; To Richard, the Hitchhiker of the year award and for Francoise, the Top Chauffeur award.

MIKE BISHOP & TONY RUSSELL

MOLINARI/FLEETWOOD AWARD

8 & 7 WINNERS v SOUTH HERTS   APRIL 2019

Another meritorious award reflects the match against S Herts at home in April, where both Mike Bishop and Tony Russell made their Toffs debuts. What a start! They chalked up an 8/7 victory similar to that recorded by a particular pairing in last year’s Ryder Cup. So they get a joint award- the Molinari/Fleetwood Award.

RICHARD PACEY

BRIDESMAID AWARD

Richard Pacey has proved what an excellent golfer he is on a number of occasions; trouble is he can’t quite seem to produce his best form in finals and was a runner up once again this year. Richard receives the Bridesmaid Award.

BRIAN ADAMS & JOHN CONNELL

JEAN VAN DE VELDE CHOKER AWARD

At Hadley wood in April, John Connell & Brian Adams were coasting to victory – 3 up with 4 to play: They lost! And receive the Jean van de velde Choker award.

RICHARD STELL

SEVE BALLESTEROS AWARD

SHOT OF THE YEAR

On a more positive note, Richard Stell was in good form in the home match v Verulam: I’ll let Mark take up the story: When you are left of the fairway and short of the ditch on the 9th, with a tree blocking the way and then a bunker to carry, most would be delighted just to reach the green. Richard was not even sure that he managed that but with an opponent saying that the ball had disappeared from view, the temptation to look in the hole was too great- and there it was. Richard gets the Seve Ballesteros Award for Shot of the year.

RAB BUTLER

PLAYING WRONG BALL AWARD

Now we come to an incident where the wrong ball was actually played in the home match with Bush Hill Park last week. The culprit was Rab Butler- I wouldn’t have minded so much but it was my ball he creamed down the fairway- better than I would have done.  Rab gets the real Playing the Wrong Ball Award.

PHIL KITCHEN

EAGLE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Before, this award is actually presented I am sure you would like to join me in congratulating Phil Kitchen on his election as Vice – Captain. Phil’s award stems from his performance in the match v Stocks at home in May. Phil’s eagle on the 8th involved a 240 yd drive, followed by a delightful chip from 138 yds. Phil gets the Eagle of the Year award.

ERIC WEINRABE

IDEAL PRE MATCH ROUTINE AWARD

On a less happy note, the same day saw Eric Weinrabe make his debut. Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, Eric was unable to locate his clubs nor his golf shoes until immediately before his tee time. Not the most ideal preparation which is reflected in Eric’s Ideal Pre match routine award.

TONY BLACKHURST

BEN HOGAN COURSE STRATEGY AWARD

Quoting again from one of Mark’s reports, v Brookmans Park at home in April, Tony Blackhurst’s playing of our 11th hole was described as a thing of rare beauty. His drive went left- and not very far. His second shot hit the big tree and his third found the pond. Allowing for the penalty drop, Tony’s tally had reached 5 after his approach shot finished short of the green. He finished with a 7. Not particularly unusual, you might think but Tony’s score won the hole, with everyone else having an 8. Tony gets the Ben Hogan Course Strategy award.

TERRY BARNES

RULE 18.2a AWARD

WYBOSTON LAKES

Terry Barnes has already been presented with a trophy of sorts for losing the most balls at Wyboston Lakes.  However, I thought he ought to have something to keep as a reminder so Terry receives the Rule 12a Lost Ball award to remind him how to proceed when it happens again

RAY LOVELL

BELT & BRACES AWARD

WINTER LEAGUE ENTRY

The winter League is a sort of joint venture with the Rabbits and, for that reason, entry forms were placed on both boards. Ray Lovell was so determined to secure his place he put his name down on both, and, so receives the Belt & Braces award.

LES SINKINS

SCUBA DIVING AWARD

When playing the picturesque 16th hole at Mill Green in August, Les Sinkins was very grateful to his playing partners for risking life and limb to rescue his ball from the pond. Impressed, Les managed to dump his next shot back in there and was a little disappointed when they refused to go scuba diving to get it again. Les gets the Scuba Diving award.

                 

                         

JOS LEWIS

ANTONIO GUTERRES AWARD

FOR DIPLOMACY

We’ve already recognised one half of the Lewis family- It’s now Joslin’s turn. This is about his embarrassment during the home match against Dyrham which coincided with the Chairman & Lady Captain scooting round the course in their 100 – hole challenge. Jos took up the challenge with Anne- Marie when he incorrectly accused her of playing his ball. Joslin gets the Antonio Guterres Award for Diplomacy.