Roger Halls of Forest Hills Golf Club was the winner of this year’s Dean Hills Challenge which is played against Coleford neighbours Forest of Dean, writes Geoff Norris.

The competition is an Individual Stableford, that was first instigated in 2005 by the respective Senior Captains, Peter Mellor and Roy Powell, and is played, at each club on alternate years

This year’s event at Lords Hill attracted a total of 49 entrants with Dave Donoghue, as Forest of Dean Golf Club Seniors Captain, hosting the event.

The final result was in jeopardy, right up until the penultimate four ball scores were registered, as the Forest of Dean Seniors Handicap and Competitions Secretary, John Plews was in the lead on countback, with 37 points, but, he was gazumped by his Forest Hills counterpart, Roger Hall, who registered a four under par score of 40 points.

Mr Plews was in second on 37 with Forest Hills taking third and fourth places as Kev Greening finished ahead of Bob Gibson, with Peter Hoare, from Forest of Dean fifth with 36.

The Seniors competition on Thursday was an Individual Yellow Tee Stableford.

Only four of the 48 players managed a score better than par 36, with the greens speeding up and a swirling wind to contend with, half the field failed to reach 30 points.

Terry Davies won Division One with a level par 72. Darren Page was second with 38, and Andy Shenton third with 37.

Countback was required in Division Two to determine the top two, as Colin Baird and Mike Connon each returned 31.

Martin Shipley won Division Three with 39 points, Paul Taylor was second with 33.

The top three in Division One of the Saturday Stableford were Gary Reddan, 39, Charlie Thomas, 38 and Colin Hindle on countback from Steve Goode.

Chris Belfitt won Division Two with a best of the day score of 40 points. Niall Rosser was second on 38. 

In the June medal Divison One was won by Paul Gibson, with a level par 72, Philip Evans was second with 72.

There were 38 pairs entered into the 2024 Forest Hills Mixed Open and the winners were Sally Meek and Michael Simmonds, with their tremendous 11 under par for 47 points.

Amanda and Steve Jones who finished in second, Carolyn & Nigel Thompson, third, and Angela and Colin Horton in fourth all returned 41.

Neil James won Division One of the Seniors’ Monday Yellow Tee Stableford with 39. Andy Shenton was second with 38, and Geoff Pearson third on countback, from David Gardiner on 37.

Countback was required to determine the winner of Division Two, and Ken Lawrence pipped Chris Hobbs. Ashley Drew was third with 34.

The top score of the day was in Division Three by Paul Taylor with 41, seven better than Mike Nicholas, who was one shot ahead of Adrian Vines and Colin White.