DUGS v LUGS on 30 & 31 Jan 2025 @ PGC – Match Report
| Thursday 30th January | PM | |||||
| 1 | DOG (7.9) & Murnane (1.0) | Bull (5) & Berryman (2.3) | 0 | |||
| 1 | Neill (0.6) & NPD (4.1) | Kershaw (0.1) & Fragnelli (4.9) | 0 | |||
| 1 | Jameson (7) & JP Conway (8.3) | Beattie (5.9) & Holt (+1.3) | 0 | |||
| 1 | Bryce (10.3) & JS Conway (8.0) | Falconer (7.0) & Raisbeck (+0.9) | 0 | |||
| 1 | King (9.5) & POS (14.1) | Lavelle (8.7) & Mark Conway (10.0) | 0 | |||
| 0 | Fleming (9.9) & Grundy (19.1) | Yeandle (13.0) & Page (5.9) | 1 | |||
| 5 | 1 | |||||
| Friday 31st January | AM | |||||
| 0.5 | Neill (0.6) & Murnane (1.0) | Raisbeck (+0.9) & Holt (+1.3) | 0.5 | |||
| 1 | DOG (7.9) & NPD (4.1) | Bull (5) & Kershaw (0.1) | 0 | |||
| 0.5 | Jameson (7) & Bryce (10.3) | Beattie (5.9) & Yeandle (13.0) | 0.5 | |||
| 1 | JP Conway (8.3) & Fleming (9.9) | Falconer (7.0) & Lavelle (8.7) | 0 | |||
| 1 | POS (14.1) & JS Conway (8.0) | M Conway (10) & Page (5.9) | 0 | |||
| 0 | Grundy (19.1) & King (9.5) | Berryman (2.3) & Fragnelli (4.9) | 1 | |||
| 4 | 2 | |||||
| 9 | OVERALL RESULT | 3 |
It is no exaggeration to say that the entire DUGS team was in trepidation when we saw the handicaps of the LUGS for the 2025 fixture. This was the strongest squad ever to take the field in the 36 year history of the event.
The combined handicap of the 12 LUGS players was 60.2. Two members of the team boasted a plus handicap. The combined handicap of the DUGS team was 99.8! It was clear that the new match manager – Mike Kershaw – was adopting a very aggressive strategy in the pursuit of victory. One might also say that he was taking a somewhat cavalier approach as he eschewed the opportunity of a practice round on the links.
The 2-day format was an experiment, which was dictated by the limited daylight hours. It would not be possible to play 36 holes and enjoy a good lunch in the time available. Captain Kershaw had clearly planned a Navy SEAL-like extraction operation: swoop in by air on the first morning of the fixture, secure the trophy and disappear by nightfall on the second day. The concept was impressive. But the execution fell short.
The members of the DUGS team were not overawed by the difference in handicaps. Showing extraordinary mental fortitude, they established a virtually unassailable lead on the first day, leading by a margin of 5 – 1. While the valiant captain Kershaw exhorted his troops at dinner with a rousing speech, sadly for LUGS a Medinah moment was not at hand!
The Day 2 matches were closely contested with two matches halved and two more going to the 18th green. The points split was 4 – 2 in favour of DUGS. So, the overall result over the 36 holes was a DUGS victory by a margin of 9 points to 3.
The weather in late January can be highly unpredictable, but we were very fortunate to enjoy benign conditions on both days, with sunshine and light breezes. Undoubtedly, this helped the DUGS’ cause as did the additional strokes received by the DUGS pairings which resulted from the mapping of the WHI handicaps to the course playing handicaps. The 2-day format was generally well received – and perhaps worth trying again.
As always, the true winner was the camaraderie which continues to flourish among the participants.