Littlestone Golf Club – Wednesday 22 July 2026
The Old Dovorian Golf Society descended upon Littlestone on Wednesday with a sense of optimism, relief, and—after the M25 and M20—deep gratitude for the restorative powers of coffee. A gentle breeze and a blanket of cloud greeted us on arrival, sparing everyone from the full force of Littlestone’s usual coastal sunburn package. Spirits were high, breakfast was demolished with impressive efficiency, and the day’s golf began in earnest.
Despite the ongoing national drought, the championship course was in remarkable condition. Fairways were crisp enough to send even the most modest drives scuttling along like startled meerkats, and the famously sloping greens remained as mischievous as ever. A few fairways were receiving some much‑needed watering, but even so, Littlestone looked superb.
A Strong Turnout and Two Competitive Groups
Thanks to an excellent response—particularly from our alumni members—we were delighted to field two groups of four. Our hosts for the day, Nigel Tubman and Littlestone member Simon Stonard, kindly welcomed six ODGS players and ensured the day ran smoothly.
Nigel, ever the strategist, elected to accompany our alumni “big hitters”: Louis, playing off 2, Zac and Josh
A trio of youthful confidence, low handicaps, and the sort of swing speed that makes the rest of us instinctively step back.
Meanwhile, Simon, Howard, Cameron, and I formed the second group—armed with higher handicaps, local knowledge (in Simon’s case), and the faint hope that guile might triumph over raw power.
Golfing Highlights… and a Few Lowlights
The dry fairways offered generous roll, but this blessing came with a curse: Littlestone’s bunkers were in play more often than anyone would have preferred. Several balls found themselves settling into sandy craters with the smugness of golfers who know they’ve won.
Still, there were moments of brilliance from every player—mixed, naturally, with moments best left unrecorded. The Stableford scoring reflected a competitive field, and the Turner Plate was tightly contested.
Individual Stableford – The Turner Plate
Nigel, in a reversal of fortunes from previous encounters, edged out my hard‑earned 37 points with a steady and well‑crafted 38. His consistency across the round secured him the prestigious Turner Plate—much to his quiet satisfaction and my equally quiet frustration.
Team Competition – A Narrow Victory
The team prize was decided by the best two scores on each hole, and it proved a close-run affair.
Howard led our team with a masterclass in controlled golf: long, straight drives, delicate pitches, and a putting stroke smoother than a Littlestone sea breeze. His nine single bogeys provided a strong backbone to our scoring.
Cameron, meanwhile, produced tee shots of such altitude and distance that Nigel may need to reconsider who the true “big hitters” are. Even with his Specsavers glasses, Cameron’s drives were often last seen disappearing into the horizon.
Simon contributed a superb 35 points, aided by a few helpful member bounces and some well‑timed local knowledge. Together, our team total of 90 points was just enough to pip Nigel’s group to the post.
Top Individual Scores
- Nigel Tubman – 38 points
- Author – 37 points
- Simon Stonard – 35 points
- Howard – A superb contribution to the team victory
Anecdotes of the Day
- Howard’s golf clubs are officially older than every alumni member present.
- With our alumni joining us, the average age of the event dropped to 36—the lowest in ODGS history (excluding College days). A refreshing injection of youth, energy, and swing speed.
Our Thanks
A huge thank you to Nigel and Simon for hosting us so generously at Littlestone. Their hospitality, organisation, and good humour made the day a tremendous success. The course was a joy to play, the company even better, and the competition exactly what ODGS golf should be—friendly, spirited, and full of stories we’ll be retelling for years.
Gilbert Thompson
Old Dovorian Golf Society Captain
Some pictures from the day at Littlestone Golf Club
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Old Dovorian Club Registered Address – HMS Wellington, Temple Stairs | Victoria Embankment | London WC2R 2PN