Golf

Golf can played throughout the year by those who are members of Tiverton Golf Club and the more serious golfers can take it as an activity in the Autumn and Easter Terms as well.

Sixth Form and Year 11 pupils have an opportunity to play throughout the year and golf is a main stream games option in the Summer Term. The school enjoys an excellent relationship with Tiverton Golf Club, which is 1/2 a mile up the road and some thirty pupils take up Junior Membership there each year. This is a full membership and gives pupils the opportunity to play at any time outside their school commitments and they can get handicaps and play in competitions.

Captain of Golf 2009: Ollie Clarke P

Captain of Golf 2008: Richard Carroll OH/W

2008 was always going to be a tough year with only Captain, Richard Carroll playing off single figures. However, some early promise was shown at the West of England Championships at Burnham & Berrow in March. Burnham is a championship course and is a stiff test of golf for players of any handicap, particularly off the white tees. Ollie and Tom Clarke have both worked hard at their game and competed very well against opponents with much lower handicaps; their experience of links golf at their home course, St Enedocs, stood them in good stead. Richard and Andrew Longstreet, once again, both showed what we are missing by them being full-time A team cricketers. Debutant, Wilhelm Plutat found the vagaries of links golf tough to handle but he will have learned much from the occasion. Although we did not progress to the final day, the inexperienced team did not disgrace themselves at all.

With a small cadre of players in the Summer Term we, yet again, failed to upset the OBs at Tiverton GC. Despite a strict training programme and work on 'sporting psychology', several pupils fell foul of the old 'kummel' trick at lunch, which rendered them unable to produce their best in the afternoon. After many years in the team, our captain should have known better; obviously thinking that at the grand old age of eighteen, he would be able to cope with the mysterious clear liquid offered up on a silver tray, he soon discovered he was not immune to the poisoned chalice, playing like a 16 handicapper instead of the 6 he normally claims. Putting practiseHarry Ackfield showed real promise for a relative rookie by winning his first ever match but overall the OBs proved too strong for us. Guy Durant has also made great strides forwards this year and we will miss his good natured enthusiasm next year. Harry McDowell also graced us with his presence again but his cavalier approach did not pay dividends this time against a wily OB. Will Carrick-Smith has also filled in from time to time and his game improved significantly once he managed to find size 15 golf shoes and to get an extra two inches on the shafts of his clubs; for such a 'big lad' he has a good touch around the greens.

With the ever increasing burden of examinations, work experience, exam leaves etc it is getting harder and harder to find slots for friendly school matches. We lost 4-2 to two different Millfield teams, once at Tiverton (the first time they have triumphed on our home patch) and again away at Oake Manor. The best contest of the term proved to be the evening game against Exeter School at Tiverton, where every game was halved; a very rare result indeed. It was a great pleasure to see both sides interreacting so enthusiastically in the 19th, retelling their tales of woe and the ups-and-downs within their matches. We will do everything we can to find dates for a home and away next year.

We must thank the OB's Golfing Society for continuing to support the boys in every way they can; the regular supply of second hand balls is always most welcome, especially with so many being dispatched to the Tiverton canal on the third hole. The pupils really appreciate the efforts of the regular group who travel back each year to entertain them so royally for the sunday OB game, and we are extremely grateful to them for covering the costs of professional lessons each week.

Captain of Golf 2007: Richard Carroll OH/W

School v OBs May 2007

Afternoon Singles 2007
OBs       School  
Richard Hine W 72-76 Won v Richard Carroll OH/W 03-08
William Moberly OH 52-56 Won v Tom Clarke P 05-
Richard Swarbrick M 77-82 Won v Hugh McDowell SH/FH 03-
Martyn Grose FH 47-52 Lost v Harry McDowell SH/P/W 00-07
Peter Crews M 70-75 Won v Xaver Muller OH 06-07
Dougal Lyon FH/W 99-04 Lost v Richard Longstreet OH 01-08
Tony Ward FH 65-69 Lost v Will Seamer SH/P/W 00-07
Nick Swarbrick Ex-Staff Lost v Andrew Longstreet SH/FH 03-
Graham Howe M 67-72 Won v Oliver Clarke P 05-
Simon Waddington M 71-75 Won v Luke Sansom SH/OH 02-07

Captain of Golf 2006: George Lyon P/W

Captain's Report on School v OB Match May 2006

The nine Blundellians set out on a misty Sunday morning with the day promising sunshine, drama and glory for those who would simply reach out and grab it. The morning foursomes, played with an Old Blundellian, saw Richard Carroll come up trumps, winning the much-coveted putter by ill-advisedly beating his captain by a single point.

In the afternoon, the nine Blundellians went out again to do battle with the OBs, however, this time the expectations were far lower, many of them having been well Kummelled at lunchtime (if only we had listened our coach!). Tom lockwood proved the surprise package, having played like a camel in the morning, the roast lunch did his swing the world of good, aiding him to a 3 & 2 victory. Will Seamer was another to have been boosted by the lunch break, winning his match 1 up on the last. Oli Steer-Fowler employed some extraordinary matchplay tactics, losing the first six holes and then proceeding to win the next seven. The psychological damage this inflicted on his opponent proved decisive as he also won 1 up on the last.

Richard Carroll was the Captain's 'man-of-the-match' for beating his older brother Dougal also 1 up on the last. Unfortunately the scores then took a turn for the worse with the remaining Blundellians, Charles Durant, Harry McDowell, Sam Mildren, Rob Parker all being beaten. Even the Captain slumped to one of his only defeats whilst representing the school, losing on the last to opposing Captain Simon Waddington. Once again the OBs proved that experience and Kummel could overcome our youthful enthusiasm and they went on to win by 5 to 4. A special thank you goes to Tony Ward of the OBs, who volunteered to play for the school at the last minute, but as he lost we haven't counted his match!

George Lyon P/W

Afternoon Singles 2006
OBs   School  
Richard Maunder P 78-83 Lost 4 & 3 v Tom Lockwood SH/OH/W 99-06
William Moberly OH 52-56 Lost 1 down v Will Seamer SH/P/W 00-07
Richard Swarbrick M 77-82 Won 7 & 6 v Charles Durant SH/FH 01-06
Martyn Grose FH 47-52 Lost 1 down v Oli Steer-Fowler OH/W 01-06
Peter Crews M 70-75 Won 5 & 3 v Harry McDowell SH/P/W 00-07
Dougal Lyon FH/W 99-04 Lost 1 down v Richard Carroll OH 03-
Chris Gibson M 69-73 Won 4 & 2 v Sam Mildren SH/OH 01-06
Alex Howe OH/W 00-05 Won 4 & 3 v Robert Parker SH/FH 01-06
Graham Howe M 67-72 Won just! v Tony Ward FH 65-69
Simon Waddington M 71-75 Won 1 up v George Lyon SH/P/W 98-06

Driving Net: We have recently invested in a new outdoor driving net, which can be found on Big Field by Old House. It is already proving to be a popular facility and only one window in OH has suffered from a diabolical swing. so far!

Parkway Driving Range: The driving range is used primarily during activity sessions for beginners and coaching is given. The range is five minutes drive away.

Video facilities for swing analysis and coaching are now available for use in conjunction with the driving net.

Autumn Term: Golf is only available as an activity for members of Tiverton Golf Club, unless special permission is granted by the Director of Sport and the Head Master for someone who is a very serious player.

Spring Term: Golf is available as a games option only to the very serious players, who are not required for hockey.

Summer Term: Golf is usually available as an activity for all age groups and as a full time games option to Years 11-13.

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