Cavaliers Cricket Club, Colchester, Essex, England

Golf Challenge

16th July 2009

Cavaliers narrowly defeated Stanway Badminton Club in a Ryder Cup style golf match held at the Essex Golf and Country Club on a glorious day.

The first nine holes were played in pairs using better balls scoring using same format as the Ryder Cup. Stanway won two out of the three matches reasonably comfortably, with Carl & Stuart reducing the deficit.

The back nine holes were played in the same pairs but this time both score were to count putting pressure on both players to keep their ball in play. This gives a similar feel to the Ryder Cup format where players alternate shots while allowing everyone to play the full course. Although Simon & Peter were two up with three holes left there was a strong comeback from Vic & Terry who won the final hole to take the match 1 Up. Stuart & Carl won again but despite Paul & Steve P also lost by a single hole to leave the morning scores at 4 - 2 to Stanway.

After a refreshing lunch we went out on the garden course to play singles. Stuart came from two shots down to tie his match with Vic although a magnificent tee shot on the par 3 ninth nearly won him the rubber. Simon beat Mark 2 Up coming strong on the final three holes. Carl and Mark had a tight match with some excellent golf from both players who finished all square leaving the match 5 - 4 to Stanway. As everyone gathered in the bar speculation was rife about the possible results from the final three rubbers but Cavaliers came good with three wins for Steve P, Paul and Peter J to take the inaugural trophy 7 - 5.

Many thanks to Vic Little of Stanway for providing all the players with custom ball markers and the trophy and also to Essex Golf and Country for hosting us.