New fixtures, new members for 2025 season

January 2025: With no golf being played at present, the focus at WIGS is on finalising the fixtures for the coming season and membership renewal.

Over 70% of the existing membership have signed up so far and pleasingly we have already been joined by a small number of former Insurance Golf Society members following the invitation extended to them when that Society wound up at the end of last season.

The fixture list to date shows minimal changes from last season but Captain’s Day is being held at Banstead Downs – a new venue for the Society – as is a potential visit to Ashridge in Hertfordshire following a very recent invitation.

Anyone interested in playing golf with WIGS this coming season should contact Bill Bower.

Longstanding competition takes a final bow

John PhilIips Trophy

September 2024 The curtain was finally lowered on a series of matches between WIGS and the Insurance Golf Society golf that has been played every year since 1996 (with the exception of 2020) at Worplesdon GC. This follows the decision by IGS to wind up at the end of this year.

There was a large turnout with 24 members from both sides taking to a course which provided an excellent test for all participants with all matches keenly contested to their individual conclusions.

Following limited success in recent years for the John PhilIips Trophy, the Insurers ensured that their involvement would finish on a high with a decisive 5-1 win.

As is customary both sides enjoyed an excellent lunch and post match drinks with both Captains Nick Hughes and Richard Bucknall making short speeches to highlight the various contributions made by both teams to ensure such an enjoyable event.

The positive outcome prevailed again in the following week as we secured an honourable draw against our strongest opponents from Lloyd’s thanks to the efforts of Messrs Charteris-Black, Newman, Martin and Smith.

New trophy for 2025 season

August 2024 WIGS golfers can look forward to playing in 2025 for the Beckett Plate which has been kindly donated by our current President and past captain Bob Beckett .

Following the return of the Frank Morgan and GW Bridge trophies previously lent to the Society by the Insurance Institute of London, WIGS was looking for a replacement for the popular internal knockout competition which will be relaunched next season. This will now be for the Bob Beckett Plate.

On the playing front, WIGS played the Lutine Society at the end of July at Beaconsfield GC on one of the hottest days of the year - a complete contrast in weather conditions for their last outing.

Captain Nick Hughes led from the front, ably supported by Dave Matcham and their respective playing partners to secure an honourable draw with our strong opponents.