64 Somerset Captains arrived at Saltford Golf Club under clear blue skies and a strengthening Easterly breeze for the first meeting of the 2026 season.
The day began with coffee and bacon rolls before the main event got underway. Thanks to 2026 Captain of Captains Marcus Woodward, there were starters and marshals on duty to welcome the players and keep the field moving.
Despite Keri Allchurch and Steve Taylor trying to change in the Ladies Changing Room (!), the warm welcome we received was much appreciated. Our thanks to Michaela Coles and the Saltford GC team for their brilliant service and support throughout the day.
The competition format was a four-ball pairs stableford, which forms the first of the two-legged Griffith Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the player with the best combined score from the Spring and Autumn Meetings. (The Autumn Meeting will be at Bath GC on Wednesday, 7th October.)
Captain of Captains Marcus Woodward and partner Rob Hirons led the way, with partners Somerset Golf Captains Captain Elect Steve Parker and Mike Morfitt. The current Saltford Captain, Christine Harris, and incoming Somerset Golf Captains Secretary, Maddie Casson, followed with playing partners Mark Tidcombe and Bill Bailey.
Behind them, another 28 pairs completed one of the best fields we have seen for several years. Perhaps holding the Spring Meeting later than in previous years was a good decision, or was it Marcus’s persuasive calls that generated entries?
The fine weather and the excellent condition of the course promised some good scores, but would the stiffening breeze turn out to be too much of a challenge? Early indications suggested that the players managed the conditions well, and scores in the 40s began to mount up.
Despite a slight hiccup, which led to the organisers reverting to the old-fashioned way of checking the cards, the scores rolled in, whilst the players enjoyed their food and banter as usual.
Kicking off the post-round presentations, Home Club Captain Christine Harris welcomed Somerset Golf Captains to Saltford and thanked her partners for an enjoyable round. The prizes were presented by Marcus Woodward assisted by Maddie Casson.
The overall results were:
Winning pair: Mark Tidcombe (Stockwood Vale) and Bill Bailey (Stockwood Vale) with 47 points
Runners-up: Steve Parker (Clevedon) and Mike Morfitt (Clevedon) with 42 points
3rd pair: Marcus Woodward (Saltford) and Rob Hirons (Wheathill) with 41 points
4th pair: Christine Harris (Saltford) and Madeleine Casson (Cannington) with 40 points (CB)
5th pair: Kevin Blakely (Stockwood Vale) and Dave Wilkins (Stockwood Vale) with 40 points (CB)
NP in 1: Colin Davies (The Mendip)
NP in 2: Bob Acland (Mendip Spring)
Finally, Somerset Golf Captains President, Iain Robertson, thanked everyone for their support and wished them a safe journey home.
Our thanks to the outgoing SGC Secretary, Clive Stilwell, for organising this, his final SGC event. Clive is now looking forward to teeing up for the Autumn meeting.
Madeleine Casson
secretary@somersetgolfcaptains.co.uk
