HISTORY

Foursomes is one of the most important formats in competitive golf, particularly for those aspiring to represent their Club or County. However, there are very few Junior competitions which include Foursomes match-play. Traditionally, Junior matches are 4-ball events, which take up a lot of space and time on Courses hard-pressed to accommodate the amount of golf played on them.

With this in mind, a meeting was held at Knole Park on 21st November 1996 to discuss the formation of a Junior Foursomes League. It was decided to invite Edenbridge, Knole Park, Lamberhurst, Nizel's, Sundridge Park, Tudor Park, Woodlands Manor, and Wrotham Heath Golf Clubs to become the founding members of what was initially the Kent Junior 4somes League. The first pre-season meeting was duly held on 19th February 1997 when the rules were drawn up and the season’s fixtures drawn.

The problem of a lack of uniformity in regulating Junior handicaps was a key area of concern when the League rules were being drawn up. The format devised, whereby the matches are played in handicap order, alleviated the problem considerably.

The League Trophy was donated by Mrs. Dinah Stoodley, who wanted to contribute to Junior Golf in memory of her late husband, John Stoodley, a long-time member of Knole Park.

1997

Woodlands Manor won the inaugural title and were presented with the League Trophy at a Club function in November. They went on to represent the League in the Saab Junior Championship, a team event for winners of leagues around the country, in the regional Final at Foxhills .

1998

In 1998 the name of the League was changed to the Invicta Junior 4somes League to avoid any clash with Kent County competitions.

Two founding Clubs, Nizel's and Tudor Park, left the League and were replaced by Redlibbets, West Malling, and Wildernesse. This brought the total to 9 to give each Club 4 Home and 4 Away fixtures.

Champions that year were Knole Park - the Trophy being formally presented at the Club's Trophy Dinner, where the Juniors also celebrated two other competition successes in their best-ever year.

They then competed in the Saab Junior Team Championship in the regional Final at Tandridge .

1999

The same Clubs competed in 1999, with Sundridge Park proving invincible, winning every match. They won the Saab Championship regional round at West Byfleet and went on to the Southern semi-Final at Stoke Poges where they finished a creditable fourth. This was the last match of a very successful season during which they also won the Kent Junior Foursomes K/O title.

The team received the league Trophy at a dinner following the Club's Junior Championship.

2000

Following requests from 5 Clubs to join the League, a proposal was accepted to introduce the new Clubs and divide the League into 2 divisions of 7 Clubs, each playing 3 Home and 3 Away matches. The League Champions to be decided by a play-off between the division winners.

The 2000 annual meeting duly welcomed Cherry Lodge, Parkwood, Poult Wood, West Kent, and Westerham Golf Clubs.

Sundridge Park, winners of Division A, and Lamberhurst of Division B, played a closely fought Final held at Wildernesse, with Lamberhurst becoming League champions on the final green.

Lamberhurst went on to the Saab regional Final which, due to flooding of the venue, had Finalists play on their home courses.

2001

Westerham were not in a position to continue and resigned from the League with Chislehurst taking up the vacancy.

The annual meeting decided to reverse the fixtures from the previous season in order to provide a degree of continuity. It was agreed to have a fresh draw every other season, and to continue to reverse the fixtures in the second year.

The Foot & Mouth crisis caused Knole Park to be closed until well into the season, but, in the true spirit of the League, the Club agreed to play their Home fixtures away.

The Final, hosted by Chislehurst, saw a repeat of the previous season with Lamberhurst successfully defending their title against Sundridge Park. Lamberhurst represented the League in the Junior Team Golf (formerly Saab) Championship regional Final at Burhill.

2002

Park Wood did not feel confident of being able to field a team for this season and so withdrew from the League. Their place was taken by Kings Hill , embarking on their first competitive Junior campaign.

A fresh draw was made at the annual meeting and it was agreed to withdraw from the Junior Team Golf Championship.

Links were established with CLIC (Cancer & Leukaemia in Children) to help raise funds through individual Club-based events.

The Final, hosted by Lamberhurst , resulted in the title going to Chislehurst , but only after being taken to a 5^th extra hole by Cherry Lodge .

2003

Edenbridge, one of the founding Clubs, were unable to continue and their place was taken by Southern Valley who were embarking on their first competitive season.

The Final, between Kings Hill and Sundridge Park, was held at Chislehurst, and resulted in a comfortable 3-0 win for Kings Hill . Their season was capped a week later when they won the Kent Junior Foursomes K/O title.

The league resumed its place in the Sunday Telegraph Junior Team Golf Championship and Kings Hill represented the league in the regional Final at Farleigh Court.

2004

To enable more Clubs to be involved on the League Final day a Plate competition was introduced for the two Division runners-up to play for, teeing-off just before the main play-off Final.

Wildernesse decided that they would not be in a position to continue and their place was taken by Cray Valley who were entering league golf for the first time.

The Finals were held at Kings Hill and resulted in Cherry Lodge winning the Plate after defeating West Malling 3-0, and the same score was recorded by Sundridge Park against Chislehurst to become Champions. Sundridge Park went on to represent the league in the Junior Team Championship Regional Final at Farleigh Court where they won and progressed to the England Final.

2005

Following Cray Valley’s decision not to continue, and Lamberhurst’s late withdrawal, Sundridge Park entered a ‘B’ team, and Division A was comprised of 6 teams. The league was renamed as The Junior 4somes League.

It was decided to find a neutral venue at a non-League Club for the Final, and Wildernesse kindly offered their course for the contest between Knole Park and Sundridge Park which Knole Park won 2½-½. The Plate was won by Chislehurst who defeated West Malling 2-1.

Knole Park went on to represent the League in the Junior Team Championship Regional Final at St. Augustine’s.

2006

The league welcomed three new Clubs - Broke Hill; Chart Hills; and Shooters Hill – following Poult Wood’s withdrawal.

The Final, hosted by Knole Park, proved to be one of the closest in the league’s history with Sundridge Park clinching victory over Shooters Hill  at the 1^st extra hole. Chislehurst retained the Plate by defeating Cherry Lodge 3-0.

2007

Langley Park joined the league this year when Redlibbets withdrew. The League gained some welcome support from golf clothing company Bunker Mentality and Golf Punk magazine.

Sundridge Park hosted the Finals Day which saw two closely-fought Finals. Wrotham Heath became the new Champions after defeating Shooters Hill 2-1. The Plate was won by West Kent who defeated Cherry Lodge on the 1^st extra hole of a play-off.

Wrotham Heath represented the League in the Regional Final of the Junior Team Championship at West Malling.

2008