Challenge Matches 2011

Format

Revived after an absence of several years, this is a three-way competition on a mutually agreed course. Each society submits a team of 8 players. 18 holes of medal play are followed by an 18-hole Stableford competition. Total points from the Stableford are subtracted from the nett medal score (A score of nett 70 in the morning and 36 Stableford points in the afternoon results in a total of 34.)

Team selection

Players are invited by the captain to play based on their current performance in the Strokeplay Competitions. The 2011 team comprises:

Match Report

Teams of 8 from the Basingstoke, Hursley and Surrey/Sussex golf societies contested a rather soggy match at Sandford Springs on 25th August. The course was very good, considering all the rain (including during the first two hours of the match), and the clubhouse and catering were excellent.

Morning Stableford scores are deducted from afternoon medal scores to give each player a total with the lowest six scores counting. After the morning Stableford, Basingstoke and Surrey/Sussex were level pegging with Hursley 5 points behind.

The afternoon medal proved decisive with Surrey/Sussex storming through to win the match by 9 points. Final scores were Surrey/Sussex - 264, Basingstoke - 273 and Hursley - 287.

After an excellent meal David Tulloch presented the trophy to Surrey/Sussex captain John Slater and congratulated him on an excellent win. It was a very enjoyable competition and everyone commented on how good the course and catering had been.

BGS Player of the Day goes to Ken Crookes who, after locking his keys in the boot of his car along with all his golf equipment just before the start, had to borrow another car, drive home to Odiham, collect his spare keys and get back before the last group started. He then proceeded to play excellent golf, both morning and afternoon, to post the best Basingstoke scores by a long way. Well done Ken.

The trophy

A stunning silver cup (click image to enlarge).

The holders

In 2011, Basingstoke's score of 273 defeated Hursley's 287 but Surrey & Sussex won the cup with 264.

Format

An annual Ryder Cup style match with the two societies alternating as host. The host society chooses the location. Each society submits a team of 12 players. The captain chooses the pairs for the morning doubles and the lineup for the afternoon singles.

Team selection

Players are invited to play based on their current performance in the Strokeplay Competitions.

2011 Match Report

Coffee and bacon rolls at Ladbrook Park set the teams up nicely for the morning 4-ball betterball matches that kicked off the annual competition on 21st September..

The BGS handicaps were quite a bit lower than those of the Warwick team which meant we were giving them lots of shots in most of the games. The result after the morning round was concerning as BGS only won one of the six matches and halved another, giving the Warwick team a lead of 4 1/2 to 1 1/2 points; but we were sure we would claw it back in the afternoon singles.

After lunch we set off on the singles matchplay games with BGS players giving shots to all but one Warwick player. The BGS team played well in the afternoon, winning 4 of the matches and halving two, but once again the Warwick team proved to be the stronger, eventually winning by 7 points to 5.

The result was a fairly convincing win for Warwick: 11 1/2 points to 6 1/2, and their name on the Tourist Trophy for another year.

The trophy

A special trophy is played for: a cut glass racing car on a wooden plinth.

The holders

Warwick stole the trophy, edging out BGS 11 1/2 to 6 1/2.

Format

An annual Ryder Cup style match with the two societies alternating as host. The host society chooses the location. Each society submits a team of 12 players. The captain chooses the pairs for the morning 4-ball better ball, and the lineup for the afternoon singles Stableford..

Team selection

Players are invited by the captain to play based on their current performance in the Strokeplay Competitions.

The trophy

The trophy is difficult to award because the top part always falls off! However, it is a nice glass relief on an engraved wooden base.

The holders

North Harbour declined to contest the trophy, so BGS retained it in 2010.

Format

An annual Ryder Cup style match two teams competing in 9-hole doubles in the morning followed by 18-hole singles in the afternoon.

Team selection

The Captain's team is chosen from past captains of the Society. The President's team is drawn from this year's committee and event organisers.

2011 Match Report

» Download President Terry Wall's full report

The trophy

A beautiful etched-glass trophy on a wooden plinth of a golfer about to strike.

The holders