REVIEW
In this year’s Bernard Darwin competition at Woking GC, Rugby drew Eton. The sides were evenly matched on handicaps, and so it proved in the contest. We were up in all three matches, into the back nine, but whilst one went our way comfortably, the other two gradually declined until both were alive on the 18th hole. A chance to seal it was missed in the top match which then went down the 19th, alas to a defeat. The other close encounter lost the last few holes to lose the match on the 18th. Such are the margins in matchplay foursomes, sometimes!
The team was subject to the late withdrawal of Simon Maisey, through sudden illness. At very short notice, David Swanston made himself available, for which we are grateful. The pairings were:
- Clive Pickerill and Jamie Clark
- Robert Lyons and Peter Stanbrook
- Nigel Cadbury and David Swanston.
This was a match we could/should have won, but perhaps it was just Eton’s moment. They were themselves despatched in the second round.
On a brighter note, Rugby then went on to win the Bernard Darwin Goblet, for the Plate competition.
Rugby could do with additional players coming up to the qualifying age of 55, with a single figure handicap. Searches so far have unearthed just a few reasonable golfers off 9/10 handicap. Some of these may well come into the side, especially if they are good foursomes players, like Nigel Cadbury. But we are desperately short of good (5 or less) handicap players. There are few coming through. Alex Fletcher (6) will reach the qualifying age this winter, so will be eligible for 2017. Other than him, we know of no other strong contenders for many years to come. So, our prospects in the Darwin are the opposite of those in the Senior Darwin. Thus are the cycles of strength in these competitions.
Peter Stanbrook (T, 62-67)
Captain
2016 FIXTURES
March 2019
Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd
ORGS v Rye Golf Club
Rye
Tuesday 12th
ORGS v The School
Woking Golf Club
Monday 18th
South West v The Rest
Burnham & Berrow Golf Club
Friday 22nd
ORGS v London Solicitors
Woking Golf Club - info
Saturday 30th
27 Hole Foursomes
Royal Worlington
April 2019
Thursday 11th - Saturday 14th
Halford Hewitt Cup
Cinque Ports & St George's
Tuesday 16th & Wednesday 17th
ORGS v Royal North Devon
Royal North Devon
Sunday 28th
ORGS v Marlborough
Rye (Rye Members only)
May 2019
Thursday 9th
Spring Meeting
Huntercombe Golf Club
Sunday 12th
Grafton Morrish Qualifying
Royal Wimbledon
Thursday 23rd
ORGS v Blackwell Golf Club
Blackwell
June 2019
Friday 7th June (PM) & Saturday 8th
Scottish Meeting
Gullane 3 & Muirfield
Tuesday 18th & Wednesday 19th
The Senior Darwin
Woking Golf Club
Wednesday 19th
The Veteran Darwin
Woking Golf Club
Wednesday 26th
Midlands Public Schools Meeting
Little Aston Golf Club
July 2019
Thursday 4th & Friday 5th
Bernard Darwin
Woking Golf Club
Thursday 11th July
Northern Meeting
Notts Hollinwell Golf Club
More info......
August 2019
Sunday 18th
ORGS v Malvern
The Berkshire Golf Club
TBC
ORGS v Uppingham
Luffenham Heath
September 2019
Monday 2nd & Tuesday 3rd
ORGS v Royal Portcawl
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Friday 13th & Saturday 14th
Autumn Meeting & AGM
Rye Golf Club
October 2019
Wednesday 23rd
ORGS v Royal North Devon
Rye Golf Club
November 2019
Saturday 2nd
ORGS v The Meteors
Royal St. George's Golf Club
December 2019
Monday 2nd
Informal Advent Meeting
Burnham & Berrow Golf Club