Winner – Steve Allen
With temperatures soaring and the fairways firming up nicely, Paul Ames hosted the first home fixture of his year as Captain on the East Kent Masonic Golfing calendar.
Set in the heart of Kent, Tenterden Golf Club provided the perfect venue for this event. Free from the pressures of inter-provincial competition, the day was designed to be a relaxed and enjoyable occasion, with fellowship and good humour taking centre stage.
A total of 33 golfers attended, including two prospective members from Richard Watts Lodge No. 8534. We were also delighted to welcome a team of four from Commemoration Lodge No. 5329.
Following a hearty breakfast and the usual efficient organisation from our Secretary, the players headed to the course, with our Captain taking the honour of striking the first shot from the opening tee — a challenging 170-yard par three. The course itself is a picturesque parkland layout featuring several demanding holes that require careful thought and course management.
Adding to the camaraderie and enjoyment of the day was a special team competition involving the now-famous “Amesy Ball” — a golf ball emblazoned with our Captain’s likeness. Teams rotated the ball throughout the round, recording its score on each hole, with a prize awarded to the team accumulating the most points.
Once the golfing battles had concluded and the scores were counted, the individual honours went to Steve Allen, who claimed first place with an impressive 41 points off a handicap of 17. Close behind was Roger Smith of Commemoration Lodge with 40 points, while Glen Porter of Richard Watts Lodge secured third place with 38 points.
A special award for the “Longest Walk” was presented to Keith Bennett.
Longest Walk – Keith Bennett
Nearest-the-pin prizes on the par threes were won by Keith Hodgson, Derek Reed, Steve Allen, Keith Bennett and Andy Humber, while Nigel Mann claimed the longest drive prize on the 12th hole.
In the team competition, five teams successfully returned their “Amesy Ball,” with the winning team comprising Steve Allen, Tony Calver, Alan Harries and Tony Beaney.
Third Place – Tony Calver
Afterwards, we enjoyed a bumper rolling lunch which incorporated a raffle and an Auction for a 4 ball kindly donated by Tenterden Golf Club. In all this raised another £375 towards Paul Ames Charities of the year which are The Ellenor Hospice and The Butterfly AVM Charity.
Ladies Winner – Ellen Farrant
A wonderful day of golf, friendship and fellowship was enjoyed by all, and our thanks go to Captain Paul Ames for hosting such an enjoyable and memorable occasion.
Competition Report (Full Net Result) – Captains Welcome Day – 29 May 2026
