Captain’s Day

New Zealand Golf Club

Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3QD

Captain’s Day represents a stern test of golf for IPAGs members - a 36-hole individual stableford competition contested over the tricky heathland test at New Zealand Golf Club. The winner goes home with The President’s Trophy - a prize that was first contested more than 50 years ago in 1968.

2024 report

Captain’s Day at New Zealand is always a highlight of the IPAGs season. In common with many heathland clubs, New Zealand has invested in significant tree removal in recent years, resulting in faster and firmer playing surfaces and greens that rival any of their illustrious Surrey neighbours. 

The course might look short on the scorecard, but some tricky pins and the ever-present heather made scoring in the morning a challenge. 

New member Jack Green, representing our 2024/5 sponsor Wunderkind, set the morning pace with a level par 36 points. But with some 15 players within 5 shots of the lead, there was everything to play for after lunch.

A typically indulgent New Zealand lunch saw the field emerge blinking into the afternoon sunshine. Some experienced IPAGs led the charge - Dick Bloomfield adding 33 points to his morning total, a score matched by Ed Clarke and Chris Hyland. 

Defending champion Steve Henderson recorded 35 points in the afternoon, giving him a 36-hole total of 65. 

But the debutant Green held his nerve to rack up 33 points, enough to give him a three shot win over Bloomfield, with Henderson and Hyland a shot further back.

Past winners

• 1968 K.E. Duckett

• 1969 J.K.A. O'Brien

• 1970 R.V. Braddon

• 1971 M. Hopkins

• 1972 M.S. Gedye

• 1973 E. Blair

• 1974 E. Blair

• 1975 M. Gedye

• 1976 N.T. Dolton

• 1977 E. Blair

• 1978 M. Gedye

• 1979 G. Carter

• 1981 M. Gedye

• 1982 P.C. Lagden

• 1983 P.C. Lagden

• 1984 J. Kilty

• 1985 K. McCrea

• 1986 N. Hobson

• 1987 L.R.A. Godfrey

• 1988 A.M. Chapman

• 1989 G. Carter

• 1990 J. Kilty

• 1992 M.J. Franklin

• 1993 Not Contested

• 1994 Not Contested

• 1995 Not Contested

• 1996 A.J. Byrd

• 1997 A. Timms

• 1998 P.J. Lovatt

• 1999 G.D. Carter

• 2000 J. Sheehy

• 2001 P. Bainsfair

• 2002 Peter Hollins

• 2003 Peter Hollins

• 2004 Mike Clearey

• 2005 Mark Young

• 2006 Peter Hollins

• 2007 John Farrell

• 2008 Mark Young

• 2009 Richard Church

• 2010 Geoff Carter

• 2011 Peter Hollins

• 2012 Rooney Carruthers

• 2013 Jim Yorath

• 2014 Paul Bainsfair

• 2015 Peter Lovatt

• 2016 Dick Bloomfield

• 2017 Lionel Godfrey

• 2018 John Parnell

• 2019 Jim Brigden

• 2020 Cancelled Covid-19

• 2021 David Duke

• 2022 Steve Doyle

• 2023 Steve Henderson

• 2024 Jack Green