Status: Completed
Welcome to the MTGS President's Cup match. A team selected by the President plays a team of members.
MTGS entry open to all members. All inquires to the match manager, Paul Newman.
It is a 2/3 day event based at Gullane Golf Club ( West Links Road, Gullane, East Lothian, EH31 2BB)
Sunday 1st September
14:40 1st tee on No 2 Course - Full Stableford social round
Monday 2nd September
14:00 1st tee on No 1 Course - 4 Ball Better Ball, 90% difference of club handicap. All holes have to be played.
Tuesday 3rd September
8:06 1st tee 10:40 No 3 Course, 2 ball, full golf club handicap difference. All 18 holes must be played.
The President's team is the current holder of the Cup
News and information from this event
Day 1 Sunday
After a logistical challenge, 16 intrepid individuals, travelling from Bristol, Luton, Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton on flights, plus others under their own steam, arrived and assembled at the Gullane Links clubhouse. After a meet and greet with our President, Gerry Lynch, we all settled into the usual banter and stories about our journeys and what laid ahead over a warm, welcoming lunch.
Unlike previous years, when we have a limited number on the Sunday for golf (with others joining later in the evening or even next day), this year, we had a full compliment of 16, which was great to see. Gerry mixed up the two teams to put together a friendly match of 4 x 4 balls. Then off we went to play on the No2 course. It was reasonable weather - dry, a bit chilly and windy - but we all wrapped up and got on our way.
After the game we all yomped off, over the junior’s course from the 18th green to our hotel the Mallard. It's a most wonderful place to stay and a recommendation for any others who wish to visit the area in the future. We checked in then gathered in the lounge for a champagne welcome. After a few obligatory toasts, we settled down at our table for our evening meal, which as you would expect from Gerry was fine fayre complimented by free-flowing excellent wines. This got us all feeling good about ourselves.
I presented the results of the day. Only 5 points between the 4 teams, but it was the 4 ball of Gerry, Frank, David Potts and Roger who triumphed on the day and took the money. Moving on, I announced the pairs for the first 18 holes of the match for Day 2 to a chorus of ooohs and arrrs, cheers and jeers, but in the end, all was done and the scene was set. More wine flowed until everyone had had their fill, and people in varying states set off up the wooden hill to bed.
Day 2 Monday
We all awoke to a dreadful Scottish morning, with lashing rain and a visibility of 70 yards. This was going to be a difficult day. When most of our golfers arrived for breakfast ( with others who didn’t due to sore heads), we thought we may have to postpone the pairs event. As tee off was not until the afternoon, we kept looking at the forecast, and prayed for a change. Unfortunately this was not the case, so 16 miserable faced golfers then yomped back over the rain soaked juniors course again, this time to the Members Clubhouse ( yes Gullane has 2 clubhouses ), to gather for a lunch which was the usual Gerry Lynch quality. We gazed out of the window, over the No 1 course, venue of the 2015 Scottish Open, and the visibility and rain was not getting better. We felt we just had to go for it, so we donned the wet weather gear and huddled up under our brollies at the first tee, until the starter said we could tee off. We learned during the round, from regular visits from the course rangers, that other local courses, including Muirfield, had been closed due to the fog being a health and safety issue. We were lucky to have been allowed to play. To our complete surprise, after all four groups had made it to the 4th tee' miraculously the rain eased. We still couldn’t see much in front of us, but it made things a little easier, although we missed the stunning views Gullane No1 usually has to offer. Amazingly all matches were completed! We all showered and dried off, thankful to change into dry clothes for dinner. Next it was upstairs to the bar for pre dinner drinks. I would like to personally applaud all the players for making the round.
Back in good moods and dry clothes we all sat down for dinner, again the usual Gerry show with top quality wines.
I announced the results of the day which all were waiting for. I was pleased to report my Members team had won the day, carving out a 3-1 lead. This was followed by the naming of the singles matches for the following morning. Again the usual noise followed, but with that job done we were ready for the final day's event.
Another yomp back over the course in the dark, back to the hotel for nightcaps. As you would expect, the mandatory whiskey sampling and histories started to flow, with a very friendly and competitive atmosphere going round the group, all anticipating the next day.
Day 3 Tuesday
What a difference a day makes. A glorious sunny morning, clear blue sky’s, and I thanked the man above, on behalf of all of us, for not subjecting us to another assault on our mental wellbeing. A higher headcount arrived for breakfast on this day which was no surprise. There were a lot of determined faces on golfers who were going to go for their match winning point on the day. Things were now to get serious.
We all gathered up our things for the final walk back to the clubhouse from our hotel. We settled down for a pre match refreshment at the Links Clubhouse, then off to Gullane No 3 tees for the final event, and what an event it was. As the singles matches started to come in, it was plain to see the Presidents were smarting from the previous day's defeat. When the final pair came of the 18th green, we had a situation where the overall event had produced a draw, with both teams having a total of 6 points each from the Day 2 and 3 results. With nothing to separate us, we then had to look at how many holes up each side had managed after the completion of each match. After a couple of recounts (to be absolutely sure), it emerged that the Presidents had triumphed with one hole to their favour. Well done the Presidents. A fitting end to a tournament played in good competitive spirit. Eventually the best team won.
That’s about it all. I just want to say at the conclusion of this year’s event my sincere thanks to Gerry, for organising three great courses, accommodation, food, beverages and logistics, to Roger for making sure all accounts get settled and to Paul Healy for confirming the format, adjudication and checking of all results. Can I also thank Peter Featherstone, who stepped in for an unwell Martin Derrick at the last minute for the Presidents team, and finally to sixteen worthy individuals who turned up and gave it their all in this prestigious event. It was a privilege to manage the match again this year.
I hope to see some of you next week at Walton Heath, and to everyone else I’m sure we will see each other again soon.
Note: In case you wonder who represented who the teams are listed below.
Presidents.
Gerry Lynch
Derek Allen
Gordon Watt
Roger Prowting
Peter Featherstone
Graeme Hunt
David McCluskey
Bill Honeyball
Members.
Paul Newman
John Smith
David Manchester
Rupert Hunt
Paul Healy
Frank Whiffen
David Potts
Ian Hill
Kind regards
Paul Newman
Match Manager
