The West Hove Junior Open took place on Sunday the 16th October which was an amazing success. This was down to the whole club pulling together, from the President and Captain, to everyone in the office, the catering team, the club professionals, the pro shop, the green staff, the bar staff, the volunteers and my team, Annika, Abigail & Thierry. I cannot thank everyone enough for making this the best Junior Open in the south east if not the country.

We were very lucky to get 15 of our holes sponsored for the Junior Open. The sponsors were: James Ross Jewellers, KEW Electrical Distributors, Green Insurance Brokers, 1Villas, Sussex Tech Support Ltd, Freshmill Serviced Offices, Underground Gym, and Scream Signs & Graphics, Brian Robinson, the Shi Family, David Jessup and A Star Gardening Services, With the help of these sponsors we were able to offer amazing prizes, totalling £1,000.

The weather was mostly fantastic with light winds and clear skies with rain and wind coming in later.
The results of the day are:

1st Place Gross – Morton Bailey, West Hove with 74, winning the Don Thatcher Cup.

1st Place Nett – James Robinson, Cottesmore with 66, winning the Brian Hazelgrove Salver.

2nd Place Gross – Joseph Byrne, Cottesmore with 75.

2nd Place Nett – Jack Lang, West Hove with 67

3rd Place Gross – Billy Gray, ESN with 76.

3rd Place Nett – Kade Fullarton, Cottesmore with 67.

Nearest the Pin, Hole 17 – Ruby Fisher, Chartham Park.

Longest Drive Girls, Hole 18 - Ruby Fisher, Chartham Park.

Longest Drive Boys, Hole 18 – Ben Sands, Knole Park.

The icing on the cake for me was to be told by the two England South East Regional boys that this Junior Open tournament was the best they had ever played in and also on par (pardon the pun) with any of this year’s big national events!

Thank you to all who took part.

Chris Bailey
WHGC Junior Organiser

Congratulations to this year's Club Champion, 16 year old, junior member, Morton, who has been offered a place in the England Golf South East Regional Squad. He made it into the last 16 boys and had a trials day on Saturday. He was the only new player invited in this year and joins the other 6 South East Regional players. We would like to wish Morton all the best going forward in what promises to be an exciting chapter of his golfing journey.

An amazing day of golf at Mid Sussex Golf Club on 28 September saw West Hove ladies win the SCLGA Morrice Foursomes Cup.

In the morning a hard fought semi-final match against Littlehampton saw the ladies win 3 - 0 which took them into the final in the afternoon against Slinfold. Each pair found a different route to team victory - Lilah and Megan playing an almost faultless round of golf and winning with almost embarrassing ease. Julie and Bernice fighting it out on the 18th hole for the half and Michele and Natalie, with a beautiful 30 putt from Natalie, also winning on the 18th hole for victory, 2.5 - 0.5.

This is the first time West Hove Ladies have won this competition since it began in 1954! Well played ladies and enormous congratulations, you have done us proud.

Well done to one of our youngest lady members, Lilah Sinclair who played in the Liphook Scratch Cup on 27 August. This is a 36 hole AM/PM Scratch/Handicap event playing off the yellow tees making it a very long course for any lady. Lilah, who plays off 7 won the 36 hole handicap prize shooting a brilliant 80 and 83. 54 players including many of the best lady golfers in the country entered the event which shows what a great, young player Lilah is. Huge congratuations, Lilah.

On Wednesday 24 August in the intense afternoon heat at Rye, an amazing team effort saw West Hove ladies beat the mighty Ifield to progress to the semi finals of the Morrice Foursomes. Huge congratulations to Vicki, Megan, Lilah, Lynne and Bernice. Littlehampton at Mid Sussex await at the end of September. Good luck ladies!

On Saturday 20th August 2022 West Hove beat Royal Eastbourne in the Wellesley Plate Final in dramatic fashion 6.5 to 5.5 points.
West Hove dominated the morning foursomes matches wining 3.5 to 0.5 and therefore taking a commanding lead into the afternoon singles matches. The team managed to get to the magic 6.5 points by winning two late matches to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat – wouldn’t be us without some drama!

So many people to thank: Keith Fender, Team Manager, the players, caddies, the team sponsor J&R, the supporters, the host club, Sussex County Golf Union and event sponsors Wellesley Wealth.