Fitzwilliam Golf Society
Golf for Alumni /ae of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
News:
Who we are
Fitzwilliam Golf Society is the golf society for alumni/ae and members of Fitzwilliam College Cambridge.
We organise golf days and short tours - about 11 events annually . We try to visit good quality courses - mainly in the South East and around the UK on our tours. We have some matches against other Oxbridge colleges The Fitz Open in early September is always played near Cambridge and finishes with a dinner in college, biennially coinciding with the Fitz Sports Alumni Dinner.
Ability levels vary from scratch golfers (only one!) to high handicaps. New members will be made very welcome. We have no annual subscription.
Fitz GS exists for Fitz alumni/ae to get together to play golf on good courses. We're proud to say we're the largest and most active alumni golf society of any Oxbridge college.
If you're interested in joining in, you'll be given a warm welcome. Please contact the Secretary, Colin Dunkerley on fitzgolfsoc@gmail.com
Fitz wins 2023 Inter College Tournament
The six man Fitz team won the annual Cambridge Inter College Alunmi Golf Tournament by one point from St Johns on 18 April at Gog Magog GC. Graham May was top sorer with 41 points.
2023 Season begins on 30 March
Brian Smith hosted the Season Opener at West Surrey GC on 30 March. Graham May had the best individual score.
See report and photos.
End of Season, Studley Wood October 2022
The last outing of the season was a pairs competition incorporating an inaugural mini match v St Catharine's which Fitz won.
See report and photos.
Leeds Tour October 2022
Richard Newport narrowly triumphed at Alwoodley to become the Autumn Tour Champion. There was a warm up game at Headingley and a pre tour round at Shipley.
See reports and photos.
Nigel Smethers is 2022 Fitz Champion Golfer
In a very tight finish at Saffron Walden, Nigel Smethers won the 2022 Fitz Open with a record 34 competitors. Dinner followed in College
South Coast Tour May 2022
Mike Hamment led another enjoyable tour, with a warm up game at Brokenhurst Manor then Barton on Sea where Andrew Garden triumphed to become Tour Champion. See report and photos.
Ashridge Season Opener March 2022
The first main event of the year saw the team of Nigel Smethers, Bryan Pickup, Harry Coe and Keith Galama (guest) winning on countback in the rain at Ashridge. See report and photos.
Fitz Local matches kick off 2022 Season
A series of Local games have been taking place around the country to start our season.
See reports and photos.
Bookings now being taken for 2022 Fixtures
Another attractive set of events is in prospect with some excellent courses reserved. Members are being asked to book up for all of this season's events - particularly the Mini Tours. Payment in advance secures a place!
See 2022 Events page.
Fitz come 3rd in Inter Collegiate Tournament
A selected Fitz team of 6 secured a very creditable 3rd place in the Cambridge Inter College Golf day at Gog Magog. Captain Mike Hamment was our top scorer with 37 points.
Bob Barltrop is Tour Champion in Norfolk
At the impressive and challenging Hunstanton course, Bob Barltrop triumphed with a fine 35 points. On the previous day at Brancaster, the foursomes match was won by Mike Hamment's team. 24 players took part in a very enjoyable tour.
Martin Dinkele is 2021 Fitz Champion golfer
With a remarkable 42 points at the Fitz Open at Bourn GC, 14 of them on the last four holes, Martin Dinkele became this year's Fitz Champion Golfer. Ray Jones and Steve Tapping took 2nd and 3rd places. See full report.
Matt Hignell triumphs at Tandridge
On one of the most picturesque but challenging courses we have played this year, Matt Hignell won with an outstanding 42 points at Tandridge. Our August Summer Round was played in beautiful weather. See full report
Fitz Golf goes International!
The first Fitz Golf event overseas was played in August near Geneva. In our our first international Fitz Local event, Andrew Garden convened a Fitz fourball including Graham Beesley, Rod Keech and Chris Barnes. See full report.
Christ's match halved - again!
The annual match v Christ's at Henley in August resulted in a draw for the second year running! Mike Hamment and Graham May were the best Fitz pair. See full report.
Fitzhall trophy retained
The FitzHall match against St Edmund Hall was played for the first time in three years at Sandy Lodge on 14 July 2021. In a close match, decided on the 18th hole of the final match, Fitz retained the trophy.
Fitz Local Golf 2
The second round of local matches took place in June - mainly in good summer weather. See reports and photos.
Leeds Tour - All's well that ends well!
The long awaited tour to Yorkshire started very wet in Alwoodley but finished in the sunshine at Moortown. Andrew Garden won the Tour Trophy with 36 points. See full reports.
Fitz Local Golf 2021
Eight Fitz Local Golf matches took place around the country in the week of 20 April in our first event. Small local groups met together hosted by one of the group members from Essex to Devon.
Reports and Photos from each group on Fitz Local Golf 1 page.
2021 Season schedule - Alterations
Our early season programme has been affected by golf clubs not accepting visitors. The Members and Guests Day on 20 April and the Alumni Invitation Day on 2 June have both been postponed until next year - but replaced by other events. Our May Tour to Leeds goes ahead - a day later than originally planned!
See full list on 2021 Events Schedule page.
Alan Wood wins the new Tour Trophy - Autumn 2020
In very wet conditions at the Oxfordshire, Alan Wood scored 33 points to become the first recipient of the new Mike Hamment Tour Champion Trophy. See full report of two days of the Autumn Tour
Martin Holmes is 2020 Fitz Champion Golfer
The winner of the 2020 Fitz Open at John O'Gaunt GC on 11 September was Martin Holmes with 34 points, with Mike Hamment second on 32 points. See full match report and results
2020 Season starts in earnest with Match v Christs
Our first full match of the delayed season was a match v Christs at the magnificent setting of Guildford GC. The weather was glorious but the result less so - with a 4-2 win for Christs. See Match Report
Fitz Golf is back!
Fitz golf restarted post lockdown with an informal day at Harpenden Common GC, on 16 July, hosted by Matt Hignell. His team triumphed narrowly over Mike Hamment's team. It was good to be back. See Match Report.
2021 Season
Eleven events (fourteeen rounds of golf) are programmed for 2022.
Our Captain, Mike Hamment has organised two mini tours which take us to some fine courses including Brokenhurst Manor and Barton on Sea on the South Coast in May then Headingley and Alwoodley in Leeds in October (the latter as a rerun of the washout in 2021!) We also have Society outings to Ashridge and Studley Wood (nr Oxford).
Our Oxbridge matches continue with our Alumni Invitation Day (June at Berkhamsted and fixtures against St Edmund Hall (July at Beaconsfield) and against Christs (August at Farnham).
The popular Members and Guests Day is in April at Bramley (near Guildford). Hopefully our third attempt to play this will be successful!
The Fitz Open in September is our biggest event of the year and we visit Saffron Walden followed by a Golf Society Dinner in Fitzwilliam College. we continue the day after with a round at Brampton Park.
Bookings (and advance payment) for all events are invited from January 2022. We hope for a clear season following the restrictions and frustrations of the last two years.
As well as our scheduled events, we encourage informal small scale matches bewteen Fitz GS members at their own clubs. We set aside a couple of dates for these but hope that they take place at other times as well.
We thank all our hardworking Match Organisers, not least the Captain and the Treasurer!
Mike Hamment retires as Captain of Fitzwilliam Golf Society
.. and becomes our new President
At the end of 2022, Mike Hamment gives up the Captaincy after eight years in the post. During that time, he has organised and run 10 golf tours and numerous Society days with his own brand of infectious humour, drive and innovation. He has led us to become the premier Oxbridge College golf society.
From 2023, Mike will become our new President, still organising tours but stepping back a little from the running of the society. Our new Captain will be Brian Smith, who will take office for 2023.
In the meantime, to mark Mike's successful and enjoyable eight years as Captain, please see the dedicated web page which includes messages of appreciation from society members plus some photos of the Hamment years.
See the page "Thank You, Mike"
Brian Smith is new Captain of Fitzwilliam Golf Society
We are pleased to welcome Brian Smith (1971) as the new Fitz Golf Society Captain for 2023. Brian is one of the society's longest standing members and one of our most regular attenders. He has been a Match Organiser on several occasions as well as arranging some Fitz Local events. Brian is a member at Gog Magog GC near Cambridge.
Brian says "I’m very much looking forward to leading the Society in 2023. We have another excellent programme lined up and I hope I will have the opportunity to welcome every member of the Society at one or more event. I’m also hoping we can attract even more Fitz alumni, so please encourage any contacts you know to get involved.”
It has been agreed that the post of Fitz GS Captain should become an annual one. The succession is already in place and we are also pleased to announce also that Stuart Lester becomes Vice Captain in 2023 in anticipation of succeeding Brian as Captain in 2024.
