Let battle commence The first requirement good weather, fulfilled in every way, warm sunshine and a blue sky awaited everyone at Stover Golf Club. Despite some friendly advice, from some senior members of Stover, that the greens were slower than they had been a few days prior most people were more than happy with the course in all aspects. I think the improvements, over the past few years, at Stover have been very well received by us visitors both in tactical and visual effects. Mike Badcock, well known and respected in Devon golf, has served golf and his club tremendously over the years and has consequently had this service acknowledged … [Read more...]

  TEAM & RESULT SHEET V. DEVON JUNIORS   A new match season always begins with our match versus Devon Juniors, this year at the friendly and homely Okehampton GC. Beverley Lawson, the popular and vivacious club Secretary, even came in on her day off to ensure everything was in place for our day's golf. Somehow she had also managed to arrange the weather, some wind and fresh but accompanied by sunshine. I've heard it said that "Okey" is like Marmite, personally I have a great affection for the course. Rodney Beer and I both did a course rating some years ago, when we were both on the County Course Rating Team, and we … [Read more...]

The Somerset fixture always marks the halfway point of the match season and of the Captain's year. Enmore Park the venue, often used in recent years, and the Captain was to enjoy the company of past Captain Lew Easter. The Captain of Enmore not available meant that Martin Clapp of Enmore proved to be a very able substitute. Once again Devon fielded four subs. from the original team selected, thank goodness for their support and availability. Enmore, is in some places, quite a physical golf course and local knowledge provides a reasonable advantage. The course was in very good conditions, relatively lush compared with some Devon courses, … [Read more...]

  This fixture two years ago was not played at Tavistock, Gloucester could not raise a team, so as a token to the host club we gladly returned to honour our fixture. Previously a friendly game was organised between DGC Captains to support Tavistock GC. Gloucester arrived one man short so the final game was played as a singles between the three players whereupon John Smith secured a half and Bob Webber went down 3/1, slightly skewing the final result. Teams announced, soup and sandwiches consumed the players, with the usual four subs. included, teed off with some threatening clouds over Dartmoor. Unfortunately the Tavistock Captain … [Read more...]

The venue Libbaton GC, very much a hands on club operated by the Herniman family. Fortunately Gerald Herniman, Past Captain and owner, was on hand and readily filled the space created by Ben (I thought it was on Thursday) Lynch ! There's something about Libbaton some of you may remember "Easter" was a little late in 2009! Sorry Ben it had to be mentioned, we have all been there and this match, unusually scheduled for a Tuesday rather than the Thursday, was forgivable therefore but many thanks to Gerald. With the inclusion of four home members confidence within the mens team was optimistic, we were hoping to reverse last year's drubbing at … [Read more...]

  The venue Launceston Golf Club the opponents "The Old Enemy" Cornwall Captains, so basically an international match! Although the rivalry is keen the spirit and humour is always first class the matches seem, in recent times, heavily in favour of the home side. There were several of us that were new to Launceston, or as our cordial Captain announced "Lanson" and much appreciated by our hosts, thereby the first timers were heavily reliant on advice and lines from our helpful adversaries. The great disappointment experienced by everyone was to find that the club were in the middle of their maintenance week, this meant five temporary … [Read more...]

    St. Pierre is always a difficult venue for us Devon boys to get a good result, mainly nowadays because the original fixture, versus South Wales Coastal Captains, has now morphed into St Pierre Captains. This of course means that all our opponents are playing their home course, the team this year included some "future past Captains" because the full list of Captains were not available for this match. The match however is always a joy to play in, the course in excellent order and the Chepstow boys generally very good company. The regnant Captain, not available, was ably substituted by 2015 Captain David Bailey. St … [Read more...]

  This eagerly anticipated fixture, sometimes referred to as " Members versus Staff", is always played with the usual banter and competitive "edge".  The venue this year, Clevedon GC, is celebrating it's 125th anniversary with a number of events tailored to reflect it's long history. Amongst other features of the course the scenic vantage points around the course are particularly worth a mention. John E Morgan, Sky pundit and former European and PGA Tour member, also a former member of the club. The course was in very good condition but to some of our more "senior" members a physical challenge as well as a test of golf. A while ago … [Read more...]

It was not surprising upon arrival at Thurlestone that our visitors initially spoke of little else than the previous day's soaking at Bigbury. If not dried completely the lovely blue skies overhead, with warm sunshine, would soon complete the job for our guests. Lowering skies overhead of faraway Torbay and a pursuing wind seemed to indicate all would be well at our venue. Our learned Doctor David Grieve pronounced that thunder clouds advanced against the prevailing wind, and so it came to pass. Unbelievably as play commenced the ominous clouds menacingly approached, they could well have been underscored by the theme music from the film … [Read more...]