The Glancy tournament is the jewel in the crown of the Association of Jewish Golf Clubs & Societies Golf calendar and the spirit espoused in 1934 by the founder, Dr Louis Glancy,’ to have a competition with participating clubs from all over the British Isles where we will meet as friends and brothers’ was embodied in the 2017 tournament held at Dunham Forest. Nineteen 19 affiliated clubs and societies entered teams of eight male golfers to challenge for the famous trophy.
Played over two rounds, the foursomes format sees partners play alternate shots. Early morning cloud gave way to clear blue Manchester skies with a testing breeze. This meant a tough course became even more difficult, making the score of 74 returned by the partnership of Barry Green and Stuart Block, Abridge, exceptional and winning them both the Coombe Hill Trophy for the best gross score and the Whitefield Cup for the best nett score.
In recent years Hartsbourne have dominated the team competitions. In the foursomes format these are decided on the aggregate of the best three out of four scores and once again Hartsbourne came to the fore as they won both the Sydney Orbrart Cup for the best nett aggregate and the Dyrham Park trophy for the lowest gross aggregate.
The conditions were again generally kind for the singles round on day two. Barry Green continued his fine form returning the best gross score, 78, to win the Hartsbourne Cup, one shot better than Kiki Cahen of Edmondstown, who took home the Glasgow Trophy.
In the nett division, The Potters Bar Bowl was won by Hylton Gilbey of WAGOS on a card playoff after his score was matched by Robert Jacobs (Whitefield) who received the Sussex Cup.
The aggregate team competitions combining the foursome and single scores are split by reference to handicap into Division’s A & B with the Southport Trophy for the best gross combined for a Division B team being won by Sussex JGS and the South Essex Trophy for the best net combined awarded to North West London JGS who complemented this success with The Abridge Cup as runners up in best net over both divisions.
The best nett category was extremely close with Edmondstown emerging victorious by a single shot and winning the aptly named Edmondstown Trophy.
Hartsbourne continued their years of success by lifting the Glancy trophy for the best combined gross aggregate scores with a total of 737, a comfortable margin ahead of Whitefield who took home the Shirley trophy as runners-up.
Away from the course, members of Dunham Forest hosted all the visiting players and supporters were made to feel at home with the club hosting a Shabbat dinner for over 70. The hard work of the tournament chairman, Leslie Kay, was reflected in the well-attended informal Saturday night party where the home club won Song Contest.
The prize presentation followed the golf and the Heather Raynes, wife of Dunham captain Jeff Raynes, presented the bulk of the awards with Robert Glancy QC, grandson of the founder of the founder of the tournament presenting The Edmondstown Cup and the Glancy trophy and expressed the spirit that has ensured the competition has endured for 83 years since his grandfather presented the trophy
Perhaps the ongoing uniqueness of the Glancy is demonstrated by reference to some of the competitors. The Land family were represented by three generations - Ian and his son Oscar,14, played for Moor Allerton. Ian's brother, Robert played for NEJGS whilst the patriarch John, father of Ian and Robert and grandfather of Oscar competed for the Society of Jewish Golf Captains. Moor Allerton featured in a further remarkable occurrence in that there was an age gap of 69 years between Oscar and his fellow team member Seymour Borlant aged 83.
Finally Glancy 2017 saw Lance Pommerance, Abridge continue his remarkable run of playing in successive Glancy tournaments which now stretches to 44 years.
The Association is aware of the changing face of Jewish golf and understands the new dynamic of many Jewish golfers playing outside of the affiliated Clubs.
Updates regarding the Association’s work together with news of the newly introduced competitions to accommodate the current and projected future landscape that have been incorporated into the calendar can be found at: ajgcsgolf@gmail.
2017 GLANCY TOURNAMENT ROLL CALL
Glancy Trophy - Winners: Hartsbourne 737, Runners-up: Whitefield 752
Edmonstown Cup – Winners: Edmonstown 692, Runners-up: NW London JGS 693
Southport Society Trophy – Winners: Sussex JGS 791
South Essex Trophy - NW London JGS 693
David Fox Memorial Trophy – Barry Green/Stuart Block (Abridge) 152
Dunham Trophy - Barry Green/Stuart Block (Abridge) 143.5
Moor Allerton Trophy – Whitefield 497
Lee Park Trophy - NW London JGS 456
Executive Cup - NW London JGS 456
Hartsbourne Cup - Barry Green (Abridge) 78
Glasgow Trophy – Kiki Cahen (Edmonstown) 79 (CPO Jonny Ellis MA)
Potters Bar Bowl – Winner: Hylton Gilbey (WAGOS JGS) 72
Sussex Cup – Robert Jacobs (Whitefield) 72
Sidney Obrart Cup – Hartsbourne 226.5
Blackpool & Fylde Trophy – Sussex JGS 230.5
Coombe Hill Trophy – Barry Green and Stewart Bloch (Abridge) 74
Whitefield Cup - Barry Green and Stewart Bloch (Abridge) 69.5
