The final event of the year for the Paviors’ Golfing Society, as always, was at Tandridge Golf Club in Kent. The event attracted 30 keen golfers, both members and guests, on what was a bright sunny day with a cool breeze. This event is always popular, not only for the challenge of the course, but also for the superb carvery lunch that the Club provides and the friendly staff that make us most welcome. The winner of the Autumn Trophy for Paviors was none other than the Club’s Secretary, Gordon Harris, who fought of a stiff challenge to win this trophy for the first time.
The Paviors’ golfing year started in April, with the Spring Meeting at West Hill Golf Club – a challenging heathland course with plenty of long carries over heather. Gordon Harris achieved a life-time ambition and had a hole-in-one at the 13th, which all participants celebrated at lunch. Gordon was the winner on the day, on count-back, from the Vice-Captain Paul McCracken.
The annual charity golf challenge match against the Royal Marines’ Band at Camberley Heath was held in April and was a close affair with the Paviors coming out the eventual winners. After a hearty lunch and prize-giving, the Captain of the Marines’ team was handed a cheque for £600, raised on the day, for the Royal Navy and Marines Charity.
Ian Lumsden, this year’s Society Captain, held his Captain’s Day in May at Moor Park Golf Club. There were 24 participants taking on this picturesque and undulating parkland course. Despite their best efforts, nobody could beat Damian Tiernan, who won both the prize for winning on the day, but also the Master’s Prize of a cut-glass decanter for his efforts. The lunch is always held in one of the very ornate dining rooms, which makes the prize-giving a special occasion. To mark his year as Captain, Ian presented all Pavior golfers present with a golf cap bearing the Pavior’s logo.
The Early Autumn event was held in September at Burnham Beeches Golf Club. This is again an undulating parkland course, although the number of Paviors was low on this occasion, with only 12 in total. This enabled the Society to invite six members from The Association of Consulting Engineers’ (ACE) Golfing Society to join us for the day and make the event more challenging. The steak lunch was superb, with the ACE providing the after-dinner port. The clear winner on the day was Jim Cook.
The Paviors’ golfing year again proved to be an enjoyable and very sociable time. Thanks are due to the Club Secretary, Gordon Harris, for organizing the events.