London Amateur Foursomes & Ladies London Foursomes 2024
Moor Park Golf Club 10th to 13th October 2024
Congratulations to Eoin Leonard and Reggie Fear from Wentworth for winning the 2023 London Amateur Foursomes at the Berkshire Golf Club
2023 Results – Click Here
ANNOUNCEMENT – 26th October 2023
I am delighted to announce after some months of discussions, we have formed a London Amateur Foursomes Committee, combining both the London Amateur Foursomes (LAF) and Ladies London Foursomes (LLF) and secure the organisation and smooth running of both events for years to come.
The Berkshire, Walton Heath and Moor Park Golf Clubs have all agreed to host the LAF alongside the LLF, going forward from 2024.
Sue McKeon and Denise Fiori have kindly assisted with the smooth running of the LAF and LLF events over the last few years and along with myself have formed the first London Amateur Foursomes Committee.
The new Committee will organise both tournaments side by side. There will inevitably be some subtle changes to both Terms of Competition, but these will not impact the different catchment areas and number of entries.
Moor Park will be the venue in 2024 for the first of what will be the new association of these two wonderful tournaments, dates confirmed October 10-13. The following year 2025 Walton Heath will host, October 9-12 and in 2026 The Berkshire, October 8-11. Thereafter the tournaments will follow the three year cycle.
The first and second rounds of the ladies tournament will be held on the Thursday, the men’s first and second rounds on the Friday, with the third, fourth, semi-finals and final rounds of both being played together on the Saturday and Sunday.
I would like to thank the LLF Committee and host Clubs in supporting the initiative of hosting two events together and creating a clear pathway for the future success of both events.
Further communication will come in Summer 2024 as entries open for both events.
Wesley Cooper
Mens Background
The London Amateur Foursomes is a Foursomes Scratch Knockout Competition open to Golf Clubs within a 40 miles radius of Charing Cross (WC2N 6NS). The event comprises of 64 teams, played across 6 knockout rounds over 3 days, Friday to Sunday.
At present the club rotates around three 36 hole members clubs, Moor Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey and The Berkshire Golf Club in Berkshire.
History
In 1906 a competition called the London Foursomes was held for golf clubs within 30 miles of London. It was open to amateurs or combinations of amateurs & professionals and Herbert Fowler and James Braid from Walton Heath were beaten by Fry and J H Taylor from Royal Mid-Surrey.
Herbert Fowler, designer, secretary and then Gen. Manager of Walton Heath deplored the tendency towards 4 ball golf which he considered did nothing for golf and at the first opportunity he struck a blow for foursomes golf and declared that the competition would be played annually but by amateur golfers only. So in 1907 the professionals were excluded, “Amateur” was added to the competition title and the event became purely amateur. The limit for entry was extended to 40 miles and the directors of Walton Heath put up a shield for competition which they purchased from Mappin & Webb for £25. And so in 1907 the LAF was born with Bernard Darwin and H Mitchell from Woking being the first winners of the shield, which is probably the biggest, and almost certainly the heaviest, trophy played for in amateur golf.
In 1957, the 50th anniversary of the event, the field was extended to 64 clubs and was played for the first time at a two course club.
Interestingly, the final that year between Walton Heath and Wentworth played on Sunningdale Old Course went the full 18 holes and was reported in Golf Illustrated as follows:
“the final was a fine match, amateur golf at its best – excellent scoring –
2 ¼ hours for the round”
Future players please note !!
