1st team earn draw in friendly battle with the Armed Forces
14 April, 2025
1st Team Friendly Match
Venue: Tadmarton Heath (yellow tees)
Date: Sunday 13 April 2025
Result: Oxon 4.5-4.5 Armed Forces
The team of Laura Watkins (Bicester), Nikki Halsall (Kirtlington), Sarah Clarke (Hadden Hill), Tracy Roberts (Frilford Heath), Phoebe Simons and Caroline Johnson (Tadmarton Heath) played the Armed Forces in this annual friendly fixture. Comprising morning foursomes, and afternoon singles, a cold but well turned out Tadmarton Heath provided a real challenge for all.
Oxfordshire got off to a disappointing start with only Johnson and Roberts scoring for the team in the morning foursomes. They claimed a half point on the 18th hole. Heads never went down though, and a determined team tee’d off for the afternoon singles session.
By close of play, the match finished all square, with four well won matches, and two narrow defeats in the afternoon session. Special mention to our only junior player on the day, Phoebe Simons, out third on the team sheet. She recorded a 4&2 win against a strong player with a significantly lower handicap. Admitting to pre-match nerves only after the game, she was clearly delighted to have secured the victory and the point.
Special thanks must go to Tadmarton Heath for hosting us. We received a wonderful welcome, assistance and support from Club, the Ladies’ Captain and the Club’s County Delegate. We and the Armed Forces are grateful.
Being part of Oxfordshire’s County Squad may sometimes sound glamorous, but it requires commitment, dedication and a willingness to prioritise training sessions and matches over more relaxing weekend pastimes. The season is short, and between February and August, the squad fit in five squad sessions, five matches, and County Match Week (where five matches are played on one course, against other counties, in two and a half days).
On match days, early nights before early morning rises are required, and are often followed by long drives to venues for a 7.30 or 8am start. When lucky, it's a glorious morning, but often it is cold and wet! A bacon roll and coffee with teammates and opponents usually awaits everyone on arrival, and then its warmup, match focus, and foursomes golf.
Always match play format, the dream is a quick win to enable a longer rest before heading out for the afternoon singles match. The reality is matches are often closely fought and can go down to the last putt – meaning a quick sit down and bite to eat must be enough to replenish mind and body – before repeating warmup, match focus and the second match of the day.
Whatever the result from the morning session, all players need to reset and battle hard in the afternoon. After the games some closing remarks, perhaps with a cup of tea and piece of cake, complete the day around 6pm (sometimes later), and the players head home.
Everyone selected to represent Oxfordshire appreciates what an honour it is to be chosen to play for their County, and how fortunate they are to be given opportunities to compete against other talented golfers. What often goes unseen are the many hours they dedicate to getting ready to compete, not just practicing aspects of their game by themselves or with their coach, but in the gym, and sometimes with the physio too. And how much delivering a good result matters, not just for themselves, but for their teammates and their County.
If there are budding talents in your ladies' section, who enjoy competitive golf, and who possess single figure handicaps, then please let me know. OLCGA is everyone’s Association, and we are keen to extend our pool of talented and committed female squad members from Oxfordshire Clubs.