Mid-September brought a brilliant weekend of golf for Burgham Ladies.

On Saturday, the Easton Award Trophy Bogey Competition was played, with Dot Lowes just edging the win on +14. Hot on her heels were Lindsey Bruce and Vanessa Browning, who finished second and third respectively on +13. It was a lovely afternoon of competitive golf with these great scores  considering the season is starting to draw towards its close, with cooler temperatures setting in and the fairways softened by rain.

Dot’s weekend didn’t end there. On Sunday she teamed up with Morpeth Ladies player Jan Kincaid to win the Pairs Trophy with an impressive 43 points against a strong field. Ever modest, Dot was quick to praise her partner, saying:

“I have to give the credit to Jan – she played beautifully – but I was pleased to chip in with a couple of 3-pointers along the way.”

Also on Sunday, Sam Allen, one of Burgham’s newer members, represented the club in the Northern Golfer’s Champion of Champions at Longhirst Golf Club. On a challenging course she had little experience of, Sam produced a fantastic performance, finishing 11th with a gross 81 – a superb achievement that continues to show Sam's great golfing skill.

Sam now heads into the England Golf County Finals Weekend with Northumberland. The event brings together six counties who qualified from their regional groups (North, Midland North, Midland South, East, South, and South West). Over three days, each county plays the other five in a round robin format, with matches made up of two foursomes and three singles. Sam will be taking on teams from Norfolk, Surrey, Lincolnshire, Buckinghamshire, and Somerset – and we all wish her the very best of luck.

What a fantastic weekend of golf for Burgham Ladies – both at home and further afield.

It’s been an outstanding summer for our two junior members Harry and George Ovenden. They have enjoyed success on county, regional and even national stages. Their performances have been nothing short of remarkable, and their dedication and skill continue to make everyone at the club proud.

For Harry, the highlight came when he won both the local and regional qualifying events for the Faldo Futures Series in his age category. That triumph earned him a place in the national final at the iconic Belfry during British Masters week — an unforgettable experience where he not only competed at the highest level but also had the chance to see professionals in action.

He also represented Northumberland under 14s at Wearside in July, competed in both the North of England and Scottish under 14 championships, and crowned his summer by winning the County Junior Summer Open (gross).

George’s season has been equally impressive. Back in May, he teed up for Northumberland under 18s against Yorkshire and halved his singles match with three birdies on the back nine — no mean feat against such a strong county. June brought further success as he won the Burgham Park Junior Open (gross), before continuing his form in July with a superb 71 in the County Championship to qualify for the matchplay stages, ultimately finishing as the under 16 County Champion.

Alongside this, he came runner-up in the Gullane Junior Open with a fantastic 69 and represented Northumberland under 18s in matches against Durham, Cumbria and Lancashire. His progress has now earned him an invitation to the England Regional Squad assessment day on 14th September — a huge honour and recognition of his talent.

There were also some brilliant moments when the boys competed together. On 7th July, George and Harry paired up in the foursomes for Northumberland under 16s against Durham, showing their strong partnership on the course. Both have also proudly represented Burgham men’s teams this season — George in the scratch team and Harry in the handicap team.

Between them, they’ve taken in a packed schedule of junior opens at prestigious venues such as North Berwick and Troon, gaining invaluable experience and showcasing their talent on a wide range of courses.

It has truly been a summer to remember. With county titles, national finals, and now even England recognition, George and Harry have shown what can be achieved through hard work, commitment and passion for the game. Burgham is immensely proud of both boys, and we can’t wait to see what they go on to achieve next season.

The Ladies Section at Burgham enjoyed another wonderful day of golf in late August, this time for the Finlay Trophy — a season-long strokeplay competition. Warm and calm conditions made for perfect scoring weather, and there were plenty of standout moments. A special mention goes to Mandy Scott and Liz Davies, who both carded superb birdies on the 5th hole.

With conditions in their favour, the scoring was strong across the field, with our top three players all coming in at net par or better. Leading the way in style was our Lady Captain, Mandy (pictured with Vice Captain, Vanessa) posting a brilliant net 69. Hot on her heels, Christine Hall secured second place with a solid net 72, while Vicky Olney claimed third on net 74.

Next up for the Ladies is the 36 Hole Challenge, alongside the 18 Hole Sweep — fingers crossed the sunshine sticks around for more great golf and more great scores!

Club Champion 2025 - Ian Paxton

Over two Sundays at the end of July, Burgham Park Golf Club held its annual Club Championship, with players battling it out for top honours on the course — and in the weather.

After the first round, the leaderboard was finely poised, with both Guy Nixon and Graeme Hewitt carding impressive rounds of 73, setting up an exciting final day the following week.

The second round proved far more challenging, as wind and rain moved in during the later stages, testing both skill and stamina. But despite the conditions, Ian Paxton rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion. With a brilliant gross 69 in round two (following a solid 76 in the first), Ian took the Club Championship title — his third time lifting the trophy.

Notably, Ian was also the very first winner of the championship in the club’s inaugural year, making this a fitting reminder of his golfing skill.

In second place, Guy Nixon held steady with two excellent rounds of 73 and 76, showcasing his reliability and calm under pressure.

Rounding out the top three, Andrew Gudgin edged out George Ovenden on countback after a close finish.

Many congratulations Ian on a great win.

Burgham Shield Glory for Hewitt

The Burgham Shield was also contested at the end of July, and this time it was Graeme Hewitt who took the honours. His impressive gross 73 translated into a nett 69, a superb effort on a testing day — and a well-deserved win.

Well done Graeme on such a solid round!