Not quite the Ryder Cup. September 26th 2023. Report via Mike Healey

Seniors - Keeping fingers crossed over the weekend seemed to do the trick with the weather gods. The showers did not show and breezy warm conditions were the order of the day. Our "Not Quite the Ryder Cup" event has once again been held at the end of the golf competition season with resounding success. Ernie Williams (Wales) and Chris Jacques (RotW) were this year's team captains and did a splendid job leading from the front at the first tee, for their respective teams. Dave Palferman selected the RotW team but unfortunately had to step down and Chris stepped up. Pairs selection was drawn up by the captains but even better, the selection was not revealed until just before the individual matches started. Don Wraight's special "Ryder Cup" trophy was once again on show both for the photograph prior to the matches and the presentation at the end.

48 team members were selected but unfortunately 2 members were unable to play on the day. We had a contingency plan and a singles match kept the matches going and supplemented consequent results. My thanks go to Ray Griffiths and Chris Blazdell for playing without partners. On the steps of the clubhouse, both teams were resplendent in their reds and blues and a special prize was (only) considered for Dave Nicholson's blue check trousers! All arrived on time for the team photograph and pairs announcements. The banter was free flowing and there was enthusiastic, somewhat nervous chatter before the first ball was struck, however, there was also a serious side and a Cup to win. The competition was intense throughout the 12 matches, with stories being swapped across the fairways and then the results started to come in. The team captains oversaw the pairs results back in the clubhouse and Senior Captain, Chris Jacques gathered the troops together for the overall presentation. There are too many individual winners to name, but the best organiser in the world could not have predicted the final result. As last year - the captains tried to find a balance in their selection, in order to influence the final scores. It was an identical result to 2022 - Wales (5 matches won), two matches halved and RotW (5 matches won). It couldn't have ended any better. There were minor prizes purchased for the winning side and because of the result, it was agreed that these would be presented to every winning pair. Everybody said that the event created a buzz and when asked if the event should appear again in 2024, there was a unanimous seal of approval. I would like to thank all who helped with the event and a big thank you to everyone who participated on both sides. Roll on "Not Quite the Ryder Cup 2024". I will put out feelers for staging it in Rome!