The Martini Professional Foursomes was a series of regional and national professional foursomes golf tournaments played in the England and Scotland between 1956 and 1960.
A Midland Professional Foursomes had been held between 1907 and 1939 but was not restarted after World War II. It was revived in 1956 as the Martini Midland Professional Foursomes. The event was a 36-hole stroke-play event, played in a single day. Players entered individually with the pairings randomly drawn. Total prize money was £300. David Snell and Charlie Ward won the event.
The Midland event continued in 1957 and a second event was added, the Martini Southern Professional Foursomes, held at Hill Barn Golf Club near Worthing. Both had prize money of £500. A third event was added in 1958, the Martini Northern Professional Foursomes, held at Pannal Golf Club near Harrogate. In 1959 four events were run, extended to cover all the PGA sections. A new event for the combined Scottish and Irish sections was held, while the Midland event was extended to include the Welsh and East Anglian sections and the Southern event was extended to include the West of England section.
In 1960 the same four regional tournaments were held but they also acted as qualifying events for a 72-hole national event which was held at The Berkshire club in late August, with prize money of £3,000. The tournaments were discontinued after 1960, Martini sponsoring a new event in 1961, the Martini International, with prize money of £6,000.
Winners
Midlands section In 1959 and 1960 this included the Welsh and East Anglian sections Year Winners Score Margin ofvictory Runners-up Venue Ref 1956 David Snell & Charlie Ward 140 3 strokes Bob Hastelow & George Maisey Sutton Coldfield 1957 Bill Firkins & Ralph Moffitt 142 2 strokes Ken Dodsworth & Don Smart Blackwell 1958 Frank Miller & Ralph Moffitt 140 5 strokes Jack Cawsey & Bob HastelowLen Smith & Maurice Youngs Little Aston 1959 Bill Firkins & Malcolm Hill 141 4 strokes Dennis Fitton & Dick Kemp Jr.George Johnson & Norman Roffe South Staffordshire 1960 Bryon Hutchinson & John Wiggett 138 3 strokes George Bell & Jack Hargreaves Wollaton Park
Southern section In 1959 and 1960 this included the West of England section Year Winners Score Margin ofvictory Runners-up Venue Ref 1957 Ken Bousfield & George Low 134 7 strokes Jimmy McGhee & Arnold Stickley Hill Barn 1958 Dick Burton & Jimmy Hitchcock 139 1 stroke Fred Boobyer & Eddie WardArthur Harrison & Ross Whitehead Hill Barn 1959 Peter Alliss & Norman Sutton 139 Playoff George Low & Brian White Seaford 1960 Roger Mandeville & Dave Thomas 138 Playoff Fred Boobyer & Maurice Moir Parkstone
Northern section Year Winners Score Margin ofvictory Runners-up Venue Ref 1958 Brian Allen & Bryon Hutchinson 139 11 strokes Tony Coop & Ray Wilkinson Pannal 1959 John Jarman & Eric Lester 143 2 strokes John Burton & Bill HancockKen Geddes & Bill McHardy Hillside 1960 Brian Allen & John Easey 147 1 stroke Tom Fairbairn & Malcolm LawJohn Fallon & Bill FergusonEric Lester & Hedley Muscroft Pannal
Scottish and Irish sections Year Winners Score Margin ofvictory Runners-up Venue Ref 1959 Harry Bradshaw & Jim Henderson 143 3 strokes Alex Fox & Jimmy Hume Longniddry 1960 Norman Drew & Willie Watson 151 2 strokes Jimmy Henderson & Peter McQueen Prestwick
National Year Winners Score Margin ofvictory Runners-up Venue Ref 1960 Bill Hector & Brian Wilkes 276 1 stroke Norman Drew & Keith MacDonald Berkshire
References