Everyone is starting to get excited - we are fast approaching both Easter and the Masters. Both these events normally signify the unofficial start of the golf season. The team have been hard at work again this week finishing off the course maintenance works, so the course should be in tip top shape by the time Easter comes around. Bizarrely, we actually had to put a bit of water on the greens this week - I never would have thought that 2 weeks ago.
Here at Piltdown we will be running our big Easter Golf Event - The Lewis Taylor Trophies - see the information further into this email, and we will also be running our usual Masters Sweepstake which will be sent out to you in early April.
I know lots of you love the Sweep, and also many of you enjoy Fantasy Football leagues - so this year I have signed us up into a Fantasy Golf League which starts with the Masters. More details at the bottom of the email.
White Tee Roll Up Medal on Sunday - Just book a start time on the normal tee sheet, turn up in the pro shop on the day and pay your £6 to enter. You then need to pop over to the touchscreen and sign up on there before you start. Due to the sand on the greens this will be a non-qualifier, but if you want your score to count for handicap, please let the pro shop know in advance and we will include it.
Jack Langmead Trophy
Over the course of 2024, our Juniors came top of their Sussex Junior League group consisting of Royal Eastbourne, Cooden Beach, Crowborough Beacon and East Brighton and earned their place in the Jack Langmead Trophy final alongside West Hove, Cottesmore and Golf at Goodwood at East Brighton last Sunday.
The team was Sophie Jones, Oscar Tollit, Oscar Reeve and Finlay Willis (not in the picture). The best 3 Stableford scores (Sophie 35, Oscar T 37 and Oscar R 43) were added together to form the team's total and Piltdown lost to West Hove by one point with 115 points. So nearly County champions! Congratulations for a fantastic achievement to all who played throughout the season.
Special mention to Oscar (right), who shot an amazing 3 under par gross on the day.
A Successful Race Night
Last Saturday was great fun. Thanks to all our Race Sponsors, and all of you who bought horses, but especially to those of you who attended and supported the event.
I was delighted to be the owner of the winning horse "Phil's Filly" in the Race sponsored by the Chairman. Here I am wrestling my prize out of his grip.
Josh at TPC Sawgrass
Greenkeeper Josh is part of an army of volunteers from all over the world working at The Players' Championship this week.
He's shared his time between the debris clearing team (in the photo armed with a billy goat), making the course as tidy as possible, and the rough mowing team alongside 19 others.
He's having a great time at this stunning facility, and is really important as part of his ongoing education. We hope he will bring presentation ideas back to Piltdown.
The Race to Piltdown
The new Weekend Men's Order of Merit starts next weekend with the March Cup. Points are awarded based on your finishing position over a series of "Major" competitions through the season.
Any male member can enter the Stableford on the day of the March Cup, but to actually win the March Cup you must have won a Men's Competition in the previous 12 months. For a list of eligible winners, Please Click Here
Easter Lewis Taylor Trophies
Played over 5 days for the ladies, and 4 for the men. This series of events always leads to some great competition. Your best 3 stableford scores out of the 5 events will count towards your overall score.
Thursday 17th April - Ladies Stableford - Enter online. Friday 18th April - Roll-Up Mixed Foursomes. Be in the clubhouse by 8.45 for a partner draw and multi tee start at 9.00am. Saturday 19th April - Fourball Betterball - Any combination. Enter online with your chosen partner. Sunday 20th April - Singles Stableford. 2 separate events for men and ladies. Play at anytime during the day - just pre-register your round before you go out. Monday 21st April - Greensomes Pick-Up. Be in the clubhouse by 8.45 for a partner draw and multi-tee start at 9.00am.
If you are new to the Club, or haven't played any of these events before, don't miss out, pop them in your diary. It's a great weekend of golf. The Friday and Monday events are open to Academy members as long as they have an official handicap.
Rob and Swati, last year's winners of the Lewis/Taylor Trophies, with 2024 Ladies' Captain Wendy
From William King:
Please would you let me know if you are a member of a golfing society – by email to w@wlking.com
My purpose is to see if we have enough eg Hazards, Licensed Victuallers (is it the oldest?), Martlets, Seniors, Transport (I forget the full name – we used to have a match against them), XL Club or whoever to arrange some informal but no doubt fiercely contested matches between societies. Please include school, university and professional societies.
I will make up a list and share it with all who reply, and I propose to share the info with the club if Phil wants it.
Replies by 16 April please.
With best wishes, William King
Fantasy Golf League
For anyone that likes this type of thing, why not register to enter this free to play Fantasy Golf Event. We have set up a Piltdown Mini-League which you can access by clicking the link below:
There are some great prizes to be won, but most importantly there are the bragging rights that come with topping the Piltdown League! Good luck - I've entered - can you beat me?
Thanks to new Piltdown member Nik Hayes who works for Golf Breaks and who has set this up for us.
