Two last green putts at Hever Castle, and a title Shooters Hill last held in 1984 (12 September 2026)
A heavy week of county golf as the season closes. A veterans final settled on the eighteenth green twice over, a senior side that won a southern title with a half point, and a 78 strong field at Rochester and Cobham Park.
Shooters Hill take the Veterans Champion Club, their first since 1984
Shooters Hill beat Tenterden in the Kent Veterans Champion Club final at Hever Castle on 10 September, winning the trophy for the first time since 1984. Tenterden had reached the final with home wins over Eltham Warren, Bexleyheath and Boughton before beating Langley Park in the semi. Shooters Hill did it the hard way, winning away at Rochester and Cobham Park and West Kent, then at home to West Malling, then away again at Ashford.
The final was decided twice on the last green. Tony Davies and Chris Hill were all square with Roy Allan and Ian Slatter after three, six, nine, twelve and fifteen holes before edging ahead on the eighteenth. In the second match Roland Cooper and Simon Brown had built a three hole lead by the ninth, only for Steve Pusey and Phil Bonner to level by the fifteenth and take it on the last, which settled the tie with one match still out. Graham Jordan and Victor Pilipovich won the consolation point for Tenterden on the seventeenth.
Source: Kent Golf, 10 September 2026.
Kent's senior men win the Southern Counties Seniors Foursomes
Kent Senior Men won the Southern Counties Seniors Foursomes final at West Herts on 10 September, finishing on 7 points ahead of Sussex on 6½, Devon on 4 and Bedfordshire on 2½. Four counties, five pairs each, matchplay foursomes morning and afternoon against all three rivals.
They did it a player short of plan. Playing captain Andy Francis was taken ill overnight and travelling reserve Phil Judge stepped in. At lunch Kent trailed Sussex 3½ to 2½. The morning highlight was Martin Farbrace and Mark Haffenden coming back from four down with six to play against Sussex, only for their opponents to hole from 100 yards for an eagle at the last, at which point Haffenden holed his putt for the half.
In the afternoon Kent were up in three matches by the twelfth. Phil Judge and Steve Robson came from two down to win one up, and Farbrace and Haffenden went to the last again, one down this time, and won it, Haffenden holing from four feet for the half point that confirmed the title. Steve Gough and Jim Coventry and Russel Thwaites and Frank Adam won both their games; Jason Morris and Ross Capeling lost in the morning and won 5&4 in the afternoon.
Source: Kent Golf, 10 September 2026.
Oscar Ash Cups: Narinder Gill wins at his home club
Rochester and Cobham Park hosted the men's 36 hole Oscar Ash Cups for the second year running on 11 September, with a field of 78 round the par 71. Home player Narinder Gill took the Scratch Cup on 152 (79, 73), two clear of Jon Miles of Prince's (80, 74), with Sam Vaughan of Pedham Place third on 156 (79, 77).
The Handicap Cup went to Alan Nicholson of Lamberhurst with a nett 140 (72, 68), on countback from Richard Lock of Mid Kent (71, 69) and David Walters of Eltham Warren (70, 70), who were second and third.
Source: Kent Golf, 11 September 2026.
Juniors, families and the county's paperwork
Stonelees hosted the fifth annual Family Disability Golf Day on the weekend of 5 to 6 September, reported on 8 September, with 30 players, the most the event has had. It was played over seven holes of the Executive Course as a Texas Scramble with every family member playing, and the Caulfield family, Toby, Janine, Poppy and Amelia, won the Ford Cup on level par.
Bookings also opened on 8 September for the next Fore for Fours toddler sessions at Poult Wood Golf Centre, on Tuesday 27 and Thursday 29 October, 45 minutes at 10am or 11am, £8 per child, equipment supplied. And the draft minutes of the Kent Golf AGM held on 3 September were posted on 9 September.
Sources: Kent Golf, 8 September 2026, Fore for Fours dates and the AGM minutes notice.