Company Golf Day, Tandridge
11th June 2018Past Master Derek Harris has organised the Company Golf Day at Tandridge Golf Club for as long as I can remember and so it was a great honour to be invited as Master to join the event for the famous lunch and to present prizes to the players in the tournament. Arriving at around midday, the Mistress and I joined Derek and Sheila on the sun-drenched terrace and we sipped cooling drinks as the 19 players steadily made their return. We passed some of the time admiring the red caps commissioned for the occasion, bearing the Company's crest and the year of our first formation - 1619. These were for Company members only, we were told.
Amongst the early arrivals at the 18th was red-capped Liveryman Mike Colley accompanied by his guest who seemed familiar. Debonnaire with a lithe carriage, this man's identity became clear as other golfers extended welcomes interspersed with cheeky calls of 'Seven!'. It was Len Goodman! We were in for a treat.
With all players counted in, scrubbed up and scorecards handed to Derek, the assembled party made their way to lunch. Sitting in the spacious and sunny dining room overlooking the magnificent course amongst the burble of light-hearted chatter, there is little to beat such an occasion. A splendid meal ensued with delicious wines, concluding with a good helping of Tandridge Pudding. The lunch lived up to its hype.
Retiring to the Lounge for coffee, with tension rising, it was soon time to recognise the best of play. I was invited to present the winner of each category with their generous prizes which I noted were generally of the alcoholic liquid kind. Time to take up golf, I think. I am delighted to report that the Trophy went to Liveryman Jeff Jeffrey accompanied by another large bottle, this time champagne. A hearty well done to Jeff!
Before the proceedings drew to their end, Past Master Derek Harris had one more prize to announce. It was the gift of one of the hallowed Livery Company red caps to Len Goodman. For that performance Derek, you get a 'Ten!'.