Hartsbourne simply the best
GOLF Hartsbourne justified their billing as pre-tournament favourites to lift the Glancy trophy.
The Glancy tournament is the jewel in the crown of the Association of Jewish Golf Clubs & Societies Golf calendar. And the spirit espoused in 1934 by the founder, Dr Louis Glancy, “to have a competition with participating clubs from all over the British Isles where we will meet as friends and brothers” was embodied in the 2017 tournament held at Dunham Forest. Nineteen affiliated clubs and societies entered teams of eight male golfers to challenge for the famous trophy.
Played over two rounds, the foursomes format sees partners play alternate shots. Early morning cloud gave way to clear blue Manchester skies with a testing breeze. This meant a tough course became even more difficult, making the score of 74 returned by the partnership of Barry Green and Stewart Block of Abridge exceptional, and it won them both the Coombe Hill Trophy for the best gross score and the Whitefield Cup for the best nett score.
In recent years, Hartsbourne have dominated the team competitions. In the foursomes format, these are decided on the aggregate of the best three of four scores.
Once again, Hartsbourne came to the fore as they won both the Sydney Orbrart Cup for the best nett aggregate and the Dyrham Park trophy for the lowest gross aggregate.
The conditions were again generally kind for the singles round on day two. Green continued his fine form returning the best score of 78 to win the Hartsbourne Cup. Kiki Cahen of Edmondstown finished a shot behind, taking home the Glasgow Trophy.
In the nett division, The Potters Bar Bowl was won by Hylton Gilbey of WAGOS on a card playoff after his score was matched by Robert Jacobs of Whitefield who received the Sussex Cup.
The aggregate team competitions combining the foursome and single scores are split by reference to handicap into Divisions A & B.
Sussex JGS lifted the Southport Trophy for the best gross combined for a Division B team. North West London JGS
secured the South Essex Trophy for the best nett combined. They complemented this success with the Abridge Cup as runnersup in best nett over both divisions.
The best nett category was extremely close with Edmondstown emerging victorious by a single shot and winning the aptly named Edmondstown Trophy.
Hartsbourne continued their years of success by lifting the Glancy trophy for the best combined gross aggregate scores with a total of 737, a comfortable margin ahead of Whitefield who took home the Shirley Trophy as runners-up.
Away from the course, members of Dunham Forest hosted all the visiting players, and supporters were made to feel at home with the club hosting a Shabbat dinner for more than 70 guests. The hard work of the tournament chairman Leslie Kay was reflected in the wellattended informal Saturday-night party where the home club won the song contest.
The prize presentation followed the golf and Heather Raynes, wife of Dunham captain Jeff Raynes, presented the bulk of the awards. Robert Glancy QC, grandson of the founder of the tournament presented the Edmondstown Cup and the Glancy trophy. He also expressed the spirit that has ensured the competition has endured for 83 years since his grandfather presented the trophy.
This year’s Glancy also saw Lance Pomerance of Abridge continue his remarkable run of playing in successive tournaments, which now stretches to 44 years.
The AJGCS is aware of the changing face of Jewish golf and understands the new dynamic of many Jewish golfers playing outside of the affiliated Clubs.
Updates regarding the Association’s work together with news of the newly introduced competitions to accommodate the current and projected future landscape that have been incorporated into the calendar can be found at ajgcsgolf@gmail.