Winter Meeting

Worsplesdon Golf Club

Heath House Road, Brookwood, Woking. GU22 0RA

Thursday 19 February 2026

2025/6 report

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

Benjamin Franklin wrote those famous words in 1789, and little has changed in the 236 years since. Save perhaps, for the final event of the 2025/6 IPAGs season.

Firstly, the weather. The first six weeks of 2026 has seen day after remorseless day of rain, so it was a blessed relief that a field of 47 IPAGs assembled under largely dry skies, and a miracle that Worplesdon’s sandy soil allowed playable surfaces and smooth putting greens.

Secondly, of course, there is John Farrell. Like Scottie Scheffler in a crushed velvet blazer, the indomitable Farrell dominated proceedings on the course, cruising to a gross score of 73 and 41 Stableford points. Not content with sweeping both the scratch and net prizes, his score also sealed a handsome victory in the season-long Scorange, which is awarded to the golfer with the highest average Stableford score from their best four rounds across the year.

Rupert Garrett and Rob Fenton took second and third with 37 and 36 points respectively, with four players a further shot back. Dan Barnett took the runner up spot in the scratch competition with a solid round marred by four dropped shots in his final three holes.

After presenting Mr Farrell with his spoils, captain Niel Bornman presented trophies to winners of the matchplay competitions. Congratulations to Dan Hocking and Nick Smith, who won the Royds Trophy, and to Royds Plate specialists Jim Brigden and Andy Stephens, who took the title for the second time in three years.

Past winners

• 2003 Mike Spicer

• 2005 Dennis Kerslake

• 2006 Ian Woodhouse-Easton

• 2007 Greg Martin

• 2008 Peter Hollins

• 2009 Andrew Edwards

• 2010 Richard Church

• 2011 David Seabrook

• 2012 Robin Frewer

• 2013 Rooney Carruthers

• 2014 Robin Shuker

• 2015 Robert Senior

• 2016 Robin Shuker (count back from Steve King)

• 2017 Mark Palmer

• 2018 Paul Lawson

• 2019 Dan Smith

• 2020 Cancelled Covid-19

• 2021 Nick Carter

• 2022 Paul Lawson

• 2023 Chris Hyland

• 2024 Matthew Sheppard

• 2025 John Farrell