Two days. Two trophies. One champion’s legacy.

The Spirit of the Weekend

Each season, the CGS Weekend Away is the crown jewel of the golfing calendar — a finely balanced mix of serious competition, social camaraderie, and a touch of indulgence. The committee once again delivered, selecting Hawkstone Park Hotel & Golf Club in Shrewsbury, where first‑class facilities included an overnight hotel stay and two distinctive golf courses: The Hawkstone and The Championship.

Twenty‑eight players arrived, bags in hand, eyes on the prize in beautiful sunshine ready for a gripping two-day battle for two of the CGS’s biggest prizes. The reigning weekender champion, Dale Bromfield, had swept both the Chairman’s Plate and the Charlie Sifford Memorial Trophy the previous year. The question on everyone’s mind: could anyone stop him?

 

Day One – The Hawkstone Course & The Chairman’s Plate

Players arrived to postcard‑perfect golfing weather. The Hawkstone, a course that blends beauty with guile, was in pristine condition, with fast, true greens and clever hole layouts. Those unfamiliar with its blind tee shots quickly realised club selection and course management were as important as raw distance.

Standout features of the day:

Hole 9: A picture‑postcard par‑3 requiring pinpoint accuracy.                                            

Hole 10: One of Hawkstone’s most scenic holes facing the follies. A sweeping par‑5 that temps the bold to go for it in two,

Highlight of the Day: Mick Taylor’s eagle on the 10th was pure theatre. After a perfect drive and a crisp iron, he found the green in two. The gallery — well, his playing partners — watched as he calmly drained a 6‑footer for eagle.

Day One Leaderboard – Chairman’s Plate  

Place Player Points
🥇 1st Errol Murray 35
🥈 2nd Dale Bromfield 33
🥉 3rd Keith Salmon 32

Nearest the Pin Winners:

Hole 9 (in 1): Paul Ramsey                                                                                                   
Hole 12 (in 1): Elford Douglas                                                                                             
Hole 16 (in 2): Landis Brooks                                                                                                
Hole 10 (in 3): Mick Taylor (also Birdie Hole winner)

Congratulations to Errol Murray on winning the Chairmans Plate.
That’s stage one completed. All eyes were now on him to see if could he complete the double.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Two – The Championship & The Charlie Sifford Memorial

The Championship course offered a different challenge — more traditional in layout, with slightly slower greens but equally well‑kept fairways. It was a course that rewarded steady play and punished lapses in concentration.

The standard of play went to another level. Dale Bromfield produced a flawless performance, matching the day’s top score of 38 points and piling on the pressure. Eleven players combined for 18 birdies, with Andy Mack, Roan McLeod, and Dale Bromfield each carding three apiece. Andy and Roan both posted rounds of +3 gross, a testament to their consistency and control.

Round Two Standings:

Place Player Points
🥇 1st Dale Bromfield  38
🥈 2nd Linton Bell  38
🥉 3rd Raphael Richards  38

Nearest the Pin Winners:

Hole 9 (in 1): Mick Taylor                                                                                                    
Hole 16 (in 1): Carlton Tomlinson                                                                                        
Hole 17 (in 2): Mick Taylor                                                                                                  
Hole 8 (in 3): Roan McLeod

Charlie Sifford Memorial – Final Two Day Totals
The trophy is awarded for consistency over both days, and this year’s contest was as tight as they come — only three points separated the top three.

The final results were as follows:

  Place     Player Total Points
🥇 1st Dale Bromfield – Retains Title 71
🥈 2nd Errol Murray 70
🥉 3rd Raphael Richards 69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order of Merit Standings

1st – Andy McDonald (616 pts)
2nd – Linton Bell (548 pts)
3rd – Roan McLeod (512 pts)

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all the players for bringing great golf, camaraderie, and plenty of laughs. Special recognition goes to Hawkstone Park’s bar and catering staff for their warm hospitality and to the greens teams for presenting two superb courses.

Looking Ahead

Next year, the CGS weekender will be held at The Vale Hotel & Spa in Cardiff to once again contest the Chairman’s Plate and the Charlie Sifford Memorial Trophy. The big question: can anyone break Dale Bromfield’s grip on the silverware, or will his reign continue?