Twelve OEGS golfers gathered at midday on Friday 25 April for the first round of foursomes at Hunstanton GC, on the North Norfolk coast.  After lunch we set out with one Hunstanton member in each of our foursomes, kindly organised by local OE, Andrew Sherwood. Playing this  championship links course for the first time was somewhat daunting and certainly not made any easier by a keen North wind ! As expected, some fared better than others, with Peter Henley and Mike Fuller claiming victory with 36 Stableford points. We all gathered later at The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe for dinner and a very convivial evening was had by all.

The following day, golf took us to the familiar surroundings of Royal West Norfolk GC (Brancaster) where we played for the Peter Robinson Salver, again the wind had not abated but the sun did come out which provided us with spectacular views of the Wash. The format was foursomes again, albeit with different pairings, including a Brancaster member in each of our groups, to enable us to benefit from significantly reduced green fees. We all gathered afterwards in the clubhouse for a well-earned lunch and swapped stories of on course challenges, lost balls and the remarkable skill of ball finding dogs! The eventual winners of this year’s trophy were Ian Henley and Brancaster member, Paul Freeth with 35 points. After lunch a few of the hardier members set out for a further 8 holes in the afternoon, which ensured we beat the incoming tide, which floods the approach road to the course.

Dinner on Saturday night was at The Nest Farmhouse, near Docking, providing very good food, which was devoured by all and again made much easier by our Treasurer, Ian Henley, who for the second night running, not only advised each of us which course we had ordered, but the cost too!

The last round of our tour on Sunday was at Sheringham GC ,which is a little further along the coast. The sun was out and the wind had died down so everyone was set for the four-ball competition. Again Andrew Sherwood persuaded other Sheringham members to join us. Fantastic coastal views, as well as the steam trains running alongside the course, were enjoyed which lessened the pain of the odd poor shot as we navigated our way round the course. Not overly surprising, Peter Henley, along with his partner Sean Dempster (Sheringham member), made it a weekend clean sweep for the Henley brothers rewarded by applause and groans from the other OEs.

We all departed for home with fresh memories of three fantastic Norfolk courses, great company and a dry weather tour. Being my first tour, some 40 years after I left the College, I was made to feel very welcome from the outset and am looking forward to the next one, All of us were hugely grateful to our Secretary David Burt for organising the tour which ran like clockwork.

Will Hawes

Brancaster 2025 winners L to R Paul Freeth and Ian Henley with David Burt

Norfolk 2025 tour party at Sheringham GC

Sheringham, L to R Peter Henley, David Burt and Mike Hutchinson