Congratulations to Tom Etridge (1985, A) who recently won the President’s Putter annual golf competition contested between former and current Blues golfers from Oxford and Cambridge universities. This is Tom’s third time winning the competition and it took place in challenging conditions with temperatures down to -5°C.
Tom Etridge (second from L) with his semi-final opponent Charlie (L) and members of The Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society in freezing conditions.
Tom Etridge (R), winner of this year’s President’s Putter competition.
A note from Richard Palmer (1956, D):
The President’s Putter (known as ‘the Putter’) is arguably one of the best-known amateur tournaments anywhere in the world. It is played for by the alumni of Oxford and Cambridge Universities who have earned their ‘Blues’ by playing in the annual match between the two universities while undergraduates and becoming members of the Oxford & Cambridge Golfing Society (known as ‘the Society’). It is played at Rye Golf Club early in January each year regardless of the weather conditions. Only once (apart from during WW2), in 1979, was the tournament abandoned due to heavy snow prevailing throughout the week.
The competition format is singles match play, off scratch, with huge fields of competitors ranging from as young as 19 up to the oldest recorded player, Michael Grint, at 85. This means that the finalists will be playing seven rounds in four days and it is emphasised to all that a round of 18 holes should take no longer than three hours (an unknown feat for most modern golfers).
Old Radleians have played a large part in the Putter, since its inception in 1920, when Sir Ernest Holderness (1903, F) won each year for the first four years of the competition: 1920-23 and then again in 1929. Later, Ted Dexter (1948, F) won twice in 1983 & 1985 when he was in his fifties.
Now, Tom Etridge (1985, A), our star OR player, has just won the competition for the 3rd time – at the age of 53, playing all seven rounds in hard, frosty conditions to his 20-year-old fellow finalist Harry Fitzpatrick whom he beat on the 18th green. Etridge has won three times in consecutive decades: in 2002, 2016, and 2025. A remarkable stretch of 23 years, showing his stamina and longevity! Only two other contestants have achieved a win in three different decades, both famed amateur golfers: Leonard Crawley in 1932, 1947, 1951 & 1952 (over 20 years), and Donald Steel (architect of our Radley College golf course) in 1964, 1970 & 1982.
Floreat Radley!
Richard Palmer (1956, D), Former President of the Old Radleian Golf Society
Also at the OCGS Rye meeting, Angus Chilvers (1979, F) and his partner lost the final of the Niblick Foursomes on the 20th hole. A fantastic achievement as well.
Find out more about OR sports on the Clubs & Societies page.
Contact the Old Radleian Golf Society via their website: www.orgs.org.uk