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Watford Boys Golf Society
Full name	Watford Boys Golf Society
Nickname(s)	The Golden Boys
Founded	2008; 16 years ago (As WBGS);
Ground	Shendish Manor

Watford Boys Golf Society is an English amateur golf society based in and around Watford, Hertfordshire. Although thought by many of having a home course of Shendish Manor they play on the local courses around Hertfordshire.

The society started playing sociably in the late 1990's before becoming more formal in the early 2000's and later the creation of an annual tournament "The Major" commencing in 2008.

Members edit

In order of Major wins:

Trevor Green (6 wins, first win 2008)
Charles Weston (6 wins, first win 2011)
Peter Jasko (3 wins, first win 2017)
Simon Crouch (1 win, 2009)
Gavin Ivey (0 wins)
Lawrence Willson (0 wins)

Golfing events edit

The Major edit

Officially known as the WBGS Masters, but more colloquially known as The Major, it is the signature event of the Watford Boys Golf Society. It is played annually at different courses, predominantly in the South East, adhering to the less than two hours drive from Charles' house rule. The other rules governing course selection are no links courses and no course too difficult such that we get chucked off for not being able to play, with the stipulation that the same course must be used for both days. The requirement for buggies was dropped with the advent of Simon purchasing an electric trolley.

The Major is open to all members although, since 2010, Gavin has been unable to play due to the tournament's scheduling within the cricket season and his continual record breaking feats with Bovingdon Cricket Club (citation required).

The Major has had three formats since it's inauguration:

2008-2012: Stroke play

2013-2017: Capped (5+, 2013/4, 4+ 2015 onwards) stroke play.
(The cap was introduced on the Saturday of the 2013 event following the 2009 champion's removal of his veto on the 4th hole, from the right, greenside bunker.)

2018-2023: Stroke play on day 1 matchplay on day 2. This allows any player unable to register a score on the Saturday to still compete on the Sunday.
(The new format was introduced following the illness of the 2009 champion on the Saturday of the 2018 event.)

Champions Day edit

Champions Day refers to the round played on the Friday before the Major. Originally played between Trevor and Simon, the original two Major champions, the day became an invitational with Peter joining for most of the Friday rounds since 2010. The "Invitational" became known once again as Champions Day following Peter's victory at The Belfry on the decennial anniversary of the Major.

The Minor edit

There has long been an idea to play a "Minor" to sit alongside The Major. However, given the challenges associated with organising The Major, and finding mutually convenient available dates, The Minor never became a regular event. To date, there has only been one official Minor championship in 2016. It was attended by all six founding members of the WBGS, played in the winter. Peter was the eventual winner, preceding his Major triumph the following year.

The Si v Trev challenge trophey (sic) edit

The Si v Trev challenge trophey (sic) was the forerunner of the WBGS Major. The shield and corresponding wooden spoon were competed for between Simon and Trevor, with multiple events throughout the year. Ultimately Trevor reigned victorious, winning the competition 5 times in a row retaining the trophy and thus bringing the illustrious tournament to an end.

Major winners and venues edit

Total wins edit

Player	Wins	Years
Trevor Green	6	2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022
Charles Weston	6	2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
Peter Jasko	3	2017, 2020, 2023
Simon Crouch	1	2009

Youngest winner of The Major edit

Trevor

Oldest winner of The Major edit

Trevor

Most Major wins edit

6. Charles and Trevor 6 wins each

Most Major wins in a row edit

3. Trevor from 2012 to 2014.

Most tournaments before first win edit

9. Peter, winning on the tenth attempt

Most tournaments since last win edit

13. Simon, last won in 2009

Biggest gap between first and last wins edit

14 years. Trevor, between 2008 and 2022.

Biggest gap between wins edit

8 years. Trevor, between 2014 and 2022.

Full list of winners edit

Year	Venue	Winner
2008	Farthingstone	Trevor Green
2009	Ingon Manor	Simon Crouch
2010	Abbey Hill	Trevor Green
2011	Tewkesbury Park	Charles Weston
2012	Greetham Valley	Trevor Green
2013	Dorset GCC	Trevor Green
2014	Forest of Arden	Trevor Green
2015	Sene Valley	Charles Weston
2016	Cotswold Hills	Charles Weston
2017	The Belfrey	Peter Jasko
2018	Great Denham	Charles Weston
2019	Bicester Hotel	Charles Weston
2020	Cherwell Edge	Peter Jasko
2021	Shrivenham Park	Charles Weston
2022	Merrist Wood	Trevor Green
2023	Chartridge Park	Peter Jasko

List of venues edit

Year	Golf Course	County	Date	Hotel
2008	Farthingstone	Northamptonshire	13th & 14th September	Local B&B
2009	Ingon Manor (now known as Stratford Park)	Warwickshire	9th & 10th May	Ingon Manor Hotel
2010	Abbey Hill	Buckinghamshire	18th & 19th June	Abbey Hill Hotel
2011	Tewkesbury Park	Gloucestershire	13th & 14th August	Tewkesbury Park Hotel
2012	Greetham Valley	Rutland	14th & 15th July	Lodge on site
2013	Dorset GCC	Dorset	10th and 11th August	Lodge on site
2014	Forest of Arden	Warwickshire	28th & 29th June	Marriott on site
2015	Sene Valley	Kent	21st & 22nd June	Best Western Hythe
2016	Cotswold Hills	Gloucestershire	11th & 12th June	Premier Inn Cheltenham
2017	The Belfrey	Warwickshire	18th & 19th November	The Belfrey Hotel
2018	Great Denham	Bedfordshire	9th & 10th June	Raddison Blu Bedford
2019	Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa	Oxfordshire	20th & 21st July	Travelodge Bicester
2020	Cherwell Edge	Oxfordshire	26th & 27th September	Mercure Whately Manor Banbury
2021	Shrivenham Park	Oxfordshire	3rd & 4th July	Airbnb East Garston, Berkshire
2022	Merrist Wood	Surrey	2nd & 3rd July	Premier Inn Farnborough
2023	Chartridge Park	Buckinghamshire	5th November	N/A

Majors by county edit

County	Majors	Years	Winners
Warwickshire	3	2009, 2014, 2017	Simon, Trevor, Peter
Oxfordshire	3	2019, 2020, 2021	Charles (2), Peter
Gloucestershire	2	2011, 2016	Charles (2)
Buckinghamshire	2	2010, 2023	Trevor, Peter
Northamptonshire	1	2008	Trevor
Rutland	1	2012	Trevor
Dorset	1	2013	Trevor
Kent	1	2015	Charles
Bedfordshire	1	2018	Charles
Surrey	1	2022	Trevor

Majors by month edit

Month	Majors	Years	Winners
May	1	2009	Simon
June	5	2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018	Trevor (2), Charles (3)
July	4	2012, 2019, 2021, 2022	Trevor(2), Charles (2)
August	2	2011, 2013	Charles, Trevor
September	2	2008, 2020	Trevor, Peter
November	2	2017, 2023	Peter (2)

Noteworthy competitions edit

2008 Major edit

The 2008 Major was contested between Charles, Gavin, Peter, Simon and Trevor. There was no Champions Day for the 2008 Major, with a warm-up nine holes played in the morning instead (10:28 and 10:44 tee times).

The first round proper started in the afternoon with two tee times at 13:48 and 14:04. Sunday's first tee was at 11:16.

With weather, a challenging course, and the sense of occasion getting the better of everyone, the scoring wasn't great. The final results were as follows:

Trevor: 241 (117 & 124)
Simon: 251 (128 & 123)
Charles: 252 (130 & 122)
Peter: 296 (133 & 163)
Gavin: retired hurt
Lawrence: Did not enter

2020 Major edit

The 2020 Major was played at Cherwell Edge golf course in North Oxfordshire. Following delays due to Covid-19, the Major eventually teed off on 26th September, at the start of autumn, with fallen leaves and light becoming a factor with lost balls. This was the second latest date the Major had been held. Only the decennial event at the Belfry being later.

Despite the conditions, solid scores were achieved by all players in the Saturday stroke play, with Charles Weston ultimately leading after day one, closely followed by Trevor Green and Peter Jasko.

The Sunday Matchplay was a close affair with Simon Crouch, Peter Jasko and Trevor Green all making solid starts. Ultimately though, it was Peter who maintained the high level of performance, surviving a late rally from Charles from the seventh (16th hole as the back nine was played first on both days), to achieve victory.

Had the course been played with the front nine first, then the Matchplay format, with each player playing both the person below and above them, would've resulted in the oddity of Peter beating Charles on the 13th, but not winning until the 14th, when he would've knocked out Trevor.

Testifying to the close nature of the match, Trevor only beat Simon 1 up and drew with Charles all-square on the 18th.

Day 1 strokeplay:

Charles: 88 (5 pars)
Trevor: 95 (5 pars & 1 birdie)
Peter: 96 (5 pars)
Simon: 111 (2 pars)
Lawrence: Late withdrawal
Gavin: Did not enter

Day 2 matchplay:

Peter beat Charles 4 & 3
Peter beat Trevor 5 & 4
Peter beat Simon 5 & 4

2021 Major edit

An element of uncertainty surrounded the 14th Major. With Covid-19 restructions continuing into 2021, golf courses were closed when the event was scheduled and accommodation booked. The Major was earmarked for Berkshire, with Hadden Hills and the West Berkshire anticipated for Champions Day and the Major respectively. However, following lack of availability at the West Berkshire, Shrivenham Park was chosen as a late replacement venue for the Major. It meant a return to Oxfordshire for the third year in a row.

Shrivenham Park proved to be a short course with tight fairways. With slow greens, and holes on top of each other - attested by Trevor being struck on the derriere from the group behind, whilst waiting on the 9th tee box, and Charles driving the 15th green ...from the 8th tee - it proved to be the antithesis of Hadden Hills played the day previously, which was arguably a much nicer course.

The aforementioned grumbles, and failure to pickup a scorecard to explain applicability of OOB posts, led to more than a few dropped shots by everyone. A two shot penalty for Peter playing the wrong ball (Simon's, whilst Charles and Trevor played their own balls) precipitated another grumble. Despite everything, Saturday's scores were reasonable, with Charles just beating Trevor on countback, followed by Peter and Simon.

With the threat of rain not materialising on Sunday, except for a brief shower on the 15th, Charles and Peter were able to continue their form (somewhat) from Saturday, with Simon improving. With Peter 5 up on Trevor after 6 holes, the matchplay was a two-sided affair, albeit Simon was only 2 down on Peter at the same stage. There was never more than two holes in it between Charles and Peter, with both leading at stages, until an unfortunate OOB on the 17th meant Charles went dormie before winning on the 18th.

With England winning their Euros quarter final against Ukraine, and amazing steaks in the local pub, it proved to be another great weekend. Congratulations to Charles, taking the outright lead in Major victories (6) from Trevor for the first time in Major history!