The GSR Junior 4somes League |
 League Secretary 07764 474952 |
League History
Foursomes is one of the most important formats in competitive golf, particularly for those aspiring to represent their Club or County. However, there are very few Junior competitions which include Foursomes match-play. Traditionally, Junior matches are 4-ball events, which take up a lot of space and time on Courses hard-pressed to accommodate the amount of golf played on them.
With this in mind, a meeting was held at Knole Park on 21st November 1996 to discuss the formation of a Junior Foursomes League. It was decided to invite Edenbridge (now Kent & Surrey), Knole Park, Lamberhurst, Nizel's, Sundridge Park, Tudor Park, Woodlands Manor, and Wrotham Heath Golf Clubs to become the founding members of what was initially the Kent Junior 4somes League. The first pre-season meeting was duly held on 19th February 1997 when the rules were drawn up and the season’s fixtures drawn.
The problem of a lack of uniformity in regulating Junior handicaps was a key area of concern when the League rules were being drawn up. The format devised, whereby the matches are played in handicap order, alleviated the problem considerably.
The League Trophy was donated by Mrs. Dinah Stoodley, who wanted to contribute to Junior Golf in memory of her late husband, John Stoodley, a long-time member of Knole Park.
1997
Woodlands Manor won the inaugural title and were presented with the League Trophy at a Club function in November. They went on to represent the League in the Saab Junior Championship, a team event for winners of leagues around the country, in the regional Final at Foxhills .
1998
In 1998 the name of the League was changed to the Invicta Junior 4somes League to avoid any clash with Kent County competitions.
Two founding Clubs, Nizel's and Tudor Park, left the League and were replaced by Redlibbets, West Malling, and Wildernesse. This brought the total to 9 to give each Club 4 Home and 4 Away fixtures.
Champions that year were Knole Park - the Trophy being formally presented at the Club's Trophy Dinner, where the Juniors also celebrated two other competition successes in their best-ever year.
They then competed in the Saab Junior Team Championship in the regional Final at Tandridge .
1999
The same Clubs competed in 1999, with Sundridge Park proving invincible, winning every match. They won the Saab Championship regional round at West Byfleet and went on to the Southern semi-Final at Stoke Poges where they finished a creditable fourth. This was the last match of a very successful season during which they also won the Kent Junior Foursomes K/O title.
The team received the league Trophy at a dinner following the Club's Junior Championship.
2000
Following requests from 5 Clubs to join the League, a proposal was accepted to introduce the new Clubs and divide the League into 2 divisions of 7 Clubs, each playing 3 Home and 3 Away matches. The League Champions to be decided by a play-off between the division winners.
The 2000 annual meeting duly welcomed Cherry Lodge, Parkwood, Poult Wood, West Kent, and Westerham Golf Clubs.
Lamberhurst went on to the Saab regional Final which, due to flooding of the venue, had Finalists play on their home courses.
2001
Westerham were not in a position to continue and resigned from the League with Chislehurst taking up the vacancy.
The annual meeting decided to reverse the fixtures from the previous season in order to provide a degree of continuity. It was agreed to have a biennial draw, and to continue to reverse the fixtures in the second year.
The Foot & Mouth crisis caused Knole Park to be closed until well into the season, but, in the true spirit of the League, the Club agreed to play their Home fixtures away.
The Final, hosted by Chislehurst, saw a repeat of the previous season with Lamberhurst successfully defending their title against Sundridge Park. Lamberhurst represented the League in the Junior Team Golf (formerly Saab) Championship regional Final at Burhill.
2002
Park Wood did not feel confident of being able to field a team for this season and so withdrew from the League. Their place was taken by Kings Hill, embarking on their first competitive Junior campaign.
A fresh draw was made at the annual meeting and it was agreed to withdraw from the Junior Team Golf Championship.
Links were established with CLIC (Cancer & Leukaemia in Children) to help raise funds through individual Club-based events.
The Final, hosted by Lamberhurst , resulted in the title going
to Chislehurst , but only after being taken to a 5th extra hole by Cherry Lodge .
2003
Edenbridge, one of the founding Clubs, were unable to continue and their place was taken by Southern Valley who were embarking on their first competitive season.
The Final, between Kings Hill and Sundridge Park, was held at Chislehurst, and resulted in a comfortable 3-0 win for Kings Hill . Their season was capped a week later when they won the Kent Junior Foursomes K/O title.
The league resumed its place in the Sunday Telegraph Junior Team Golf Championship and Kings Hill represented the league in the regional Final at Farleigh Court.
2004
To enable more Clubs to be involved on the League Final day a Plate competition was introduced for the two Division runners-up to play for, teeing-off just before the main play-off Final.
Wildernesse decided that they would not be in a position to continue and their place was taken by Cray Valley who were entering league golf for the first time.
The Finals were held at Kings Hill and resulted in Cherry Lodge winning the Plate after defeating West Malling 3-0, and the same score was recorded by Sundridge Park against Chislehurst to become Champions.
Sundridge Park went on to represent the league in the Junior Team Championship Regional Final at Farleigh Court where they won and progressed to the England Final.
2005
Following Cray Valley’s decision not to continue, and Lamberhurst’s late withdrawal, Sundridge Park entered a ‘B’ team, and Division A was comprised of 6 teams. The league was renamed as The Junior 4somes League.
It was decided to find a neutral venue at a non-League Club for the Final, and Wildernesse kindly offered their course for the contest between Knole Park and Sundridge Park which Knole Park won 2½-½. The Plate was won by Chislehurst who defeated West Malling 2-1.
Knole Park wnet on to represent the League in the Junior Team Championship Regional Final at St. Augustine's.
2006
The league welcomed three new Clubs - Broke Hill; Chart Hills; and Shooters Hill – following Poult Wood’s withdrawal.
The Final, hosted by Knole Park, proved to be one of the closest in the league’s history with Sundridge Park clinching victory over Shooters Hill at the 1st extra hole. Chislehurst retained the Plate by defeating Cherry Lodge 3-0.
2007
Langley Park joined the league this year when Redlibbets withdrew.
The League gained some welcome support from golf clothing company Bunker Mentality and Golf Punk magazine.
Sundridge Park hosted the Final Day which saw two closely-fought Finals.
Wrotham Heath became the new Champions after defeating Shooters Hill 2-1. The Plate was won by West Kent who defeated Cherry Lodge on the 1st extra hole of a play-off.
Wrotham Heath represented the League in the Regional Final of the Junior Team Championship at West Malling.
2008
Pedham Place were a late replacement for Chart Hills and had a successful debut season by winning the Plate following a concession from Knole Park.
The Final at West Malling saw Shooters Hill emerging as victors defeating Southern Valley
3-0.
Bunker Mentality continued its support and were joined by Srixon.
2009
Pedham Place fielded a ‘B’ team, following the loss of Langley Park, and it was that team which went on to defeat West Kent in a very close Final at the 1st extra hole at Southern Valley.
The Plate was won by Shooters Hill who defeated Wrotham Heath 2-1.
Bunker Mentality and Srixon continued their much-appreciated support.
2010
Dartford joined the league and made it through to the Final where they were defeated by Shooters Hill 2 – 1.
The Plate was won by Sundridge Park who defeated Broke Hill 2½ - ½.
The Finals Day was hosted by Wrotham Heath, and Bunker Mentality once again supported our prize table.
2011
Dartford became Champions after winning a close Final against Sundridge Park 2 – 1. Royal Blackheath won the Plate by the same score following another tight match against host Club Shooters Hill.
Pedham Place and Cherry Lodge left the league.
Srixon provided some much-appreciated products for the prize table.
2012
Knole Park edged out Sidcup 2 – 1 in a close Final, hosted by Dartford, to become Champions. Langley Park, returning to the league, won the Plate with a 3 – 0 victory over Shooters Hill who left the league after 7 very successful seasons. Also leaving the league were Woodlands Manor, one of the founding member Clubs and the very first winners of the league.
The new league sponsors, Srixon/Cleveland, provided an excellent prize table.
Chislehurst ended this season as Champions after defeating Sundridge Park 2 – 1 at Knole Park, with Royal Blackheath taking the Plate by defeating Dartford by the same score.
Srixon/Cleveland continued their generous sponsorship with a superb supply of prizes.
Nizels, who won the first ever match played in the league, showed just how well they had rebuilt by claiming the league title, defeating West Malling 2 – 1, and Kings Hill won the Plate by defeating West Kent 2ö - ö.
The Finals were hosted by Chislehurst, and Srixon/Cleveland provided their usual array of prizes, with something for all 24 competitors.
Redlibbets returned to the league after several years absence to replace Eltham Warren.
Nizels hosted the Finals Day, where a bbq was on offer to allow the parents and supporters the chance to get more involved, and Dartford emerged as Champions after defeating Broke Hill 2 – 1, and West Kent won the Plate after defeating Sundridge Park 2½ – ½.
Srixon/Cleveland once again provided a generous prize table.
2016
Littlestone presented a Course in great condition as hosts of the Finals Day where Dartford defended their title after being taken to a 3rd extra hole by Sundridge Park. Chelsfield Lakes held off Sittingbourne, in their first season, to take the Plate 2 – 1.
Srixon/Cleveland continued their very generous support.
2017
The League saw a big change with the creation of East and West divisions to cover the whole County.
Kings Hill GC hosted the Finals Day and proved to be very popular with its position, course condition and hospitality. North Foreland's coastal golf experience proved to be an advantage as they coped better as the weather deteriorated, and they took the Championship by defeating Langley Park 3 - 0. Likewise, Sheerness, another Club with an exposed course, overcame Sittingbourne to win the Plate 2 - 1.
Srixon/Cleveland's continued support was appreciated by everyone involved.
2018
Once again, Kings Hill GC hosted the Finals Day which saw mixed weather conditions to test the players. Royal Blackheath GC overcame Boughton GC 3 - 0 to become League Champions. In the Plate Final, Dartford GC defeated Sittingbourne GC 2 - 1 in a close match.
The continued support provided by Srixon/Cleveland was most welcome.
2019
It was decided that the Finals Day would be held at the previous season's Champions Course irrespective of whether that team made the Final. Therefore the event was hosted by the historic Royal Blackheath GC.
A repeat of the 2018 Final saw Royal Blackheath GC used their Home advantage in fine sunny conditions to defeat Boughton GC 3 - 0 and take the Champioship. The Plate was won by Langley Park GC who overcame Tenterden GC 2 - 1.
Srixon/Cleveland kindly continued their generous support for the competition, and their prizes and medals were presented by Alfie Plant, a Srixon Tour player, who was himself a member of Shooters Hill GC's winning team back in 2009.
2020
There was no Competition this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2021
The league bounced back strongly after C-19 and produced two good Finals hosted by Royal Blackheath GC.
Langley Park emerged as League Champions after a 2-1 win over Boughton 2 – 1 who were competing in their third straight Final, and Rochester & Cobham took the Plate after their Final went to an extra hole against Littlestone.
2022
With continued support from Srixon, the Finals Day was hosted by Langley Park GC.
Chelsfield Lakes took the Championship title with a 3-0 victory over Canterbury.
The Plate was successfully defended by Rochester & Cobham defeating Faversham 2-1.
The 25th anniversary of the league was marked with an auction in aid of Young Lives versus Cancer which raised over £1000.
2023
After 11 years of their generous support, the Srixon era ended fittingly with two superb Finals, both won with birdies on the first extra hole.
Sundridge Park were crowned the new league Champions after defeating Canterbury, while North Foreland took the Plate with victory over Rochester & Cobham.