Sirmooree Summer 2015

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Swinley Forest Golf Club – 4 March 2015
To celebrate the Regiment's 200 th anniversary we decided to start the
season on one of the finest golf courses, Swinley Forest Golf Club, rated to
be one of the top 100 golf courses in the world and accurately described in
some reviews:
“Swinley Forest is an absolutely charming golf course on the famous
Surrey/Berkshire sand belt, but it’s a club that is frozen in time, exclusive,
unusual and totally eccentric. There is no Captain and despite being in
existence for over 100 years, no history except in the members’ heads. Only
recently have scorecards been printed, holes allocated par figures, and
competitions been introduced for Swinley’s distinguished members. The fact
that there are no obligatory handicaps and members choose what they play
off, says something of the membership’s attitude to life".
“It is said that ‘members of The Berkshire Golf Club are all gentlemen and
love to play golf; all the Sunningdale members love to play golf but not all
are gentlemen; and all the Swinley Forest members are gentlemen but
don’t give a fig whether they play golf or not!’”.
Richard Kemmis Betty managed to get a great deal with the Club so it was
no wonder that we had a very promising response from members ending
up with 23 players who played in six groups of three or four: Jon Aslett,
Derek & Ann Burton, Willie Bicket (H), Tim Chappell, Nick Cooke (H), Bob
Couldrey (H), Norman & Alison Corbett, Peter Duffell, David Harrison (H),
Rosie Harrop, Nigel Hodges, Bruce Jackman, Alexander Kemmis Betty and
his guest Nigel Baker, Richard Kemmis Betty, Anita Morley (H), Phil Murray,
Mark Pettigrew, Mike & Jenny Roe (H), and William Shuttlewood.
Richard produced an interesting format for the day; an Individual Stableford
Competition that included pairs playing against each other in a Four Ball
Better Ball Competition. He has a cunning way of managing this when there
are only three players in a group!
In keeping with the eccentricity of the Club our start was delayed as we
were obliged by the Club rules to wait for a late Club Member,
accompanied by his dog, to tee off! But we showed some Sirmoor style as
we gathered on the 1 st Tee – especially in attire with Peter Duffell in plus
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