Scottish Universities Golfing Society (est 1906)

SUGS v LUGS - Muirfield - Friday 23 February 2024

 

This years SUGS v LUGS match took place at Muirfield on Friday 23 February 2024. It was a brisk but dry day and the SUGS arrived confident in their ability to hang onto the Falconer Ball. So confident in fact that Fraser had omitted to bring the original ball with him, which has now etched a deep groove for itself on his mantlepiece, having been there for the last 10+ years.

 

On the night before the match, a full house attended the informal dinner held at the Old Clubhouse following informal golf at a combination of Luffness, North Berwick and Muirfield.  We were fortunate to be joined by immediate past Captain Gordon Simmonds.  With George Yeandle back in attendance for the LUGS, the wine list was perused with more care than normal as, one by one, we drank the restaurant dry of our preferred and second choice white wines. 

 

The morning foursomes pairings were announced in the usual manner. For the first time in the fixture's history, we were delighted to introduce two senior’s matches. And a happy toast was raised to the first SUGS / LUGS wedding following the engagement of Nicola Taylor and Jonny Calder who will be married in the summer. 

 

Unfortunately, the Mallard or the Watchman (as it is now known) was shut for renovation and so the SUGS were billeted across Ewan Cameron’s house and two Air BnB’s on the High Street in Gullane. The LUGS were staying in the Royal Apartments in North Berwick.

 

The morning foursomes saw a dominant display by the LUGS, with LUGS emerging 4-1 up at lunch.

 

Callum Connacher and Dave Greenshields, the smallest SUGS pairing in history, did emerge victorious against Captain John Dennis and Joe Park. But otherwise, it was all LUGS on the Board. Our own Captain Cameron and Vice Captain Simpson lost to debutant Hugh Jackson and Alex Modgill. Jonny Calder and Andrew Jessop lost to Nick Holt and Jimmy Bull despite Jonny holing his shot from the fairway of their opening hole (the 10th hole at Muirfiled) to promptly go 1 up.  Simon Holt and Mark Kernaghan lost out to Sean Dryden and Gorm Neilson whilst Nicola Taylor and the returning Porky Kershaw triumphed over Sandy Reid and debutant Ross Finlay.  

 

The seniors played a friendly 9-hole match in the morning before a competitive foursomes game in the afternoon. That way they could play with different members of the opposition whilst still have a competitive match. 

 

3 years ago, at Sandwich, a 4.5 v 1.5 lead at lunch was insufficient for the LUGS to get over the line. That memory was heartening to the SUGS, possibly because it seemed to loom so large in the LUGS consciousness. Could the LUGS snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. Surely not…. 

 

Much revelry was had over lunch with an electric atmosphere in a packed clubhouse. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers deserves much acclaim for serving up more than 140 lunches on Friday. Being the day before the Calcutta Cup, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers was packed with some rugby greats including the likes of Bill Beaumont and Andy Irvine, but the SUGS resisted the temptation to enlist the help of any Scotland greats for a half time team talk to raise their spirits.  We might need to reconsider that next year as in the afternoon session the LUGS triumphed 4 points to 3 – running out overall winners by 8 points to 4.  

 

Callum Connacher and Captain Cameron went down to Hugh Jackson and Joe Park. Dave Greenshields and Mark Kernaghan lost out to Gorm Neilson and Jimmy Bull and Simon Holt and Sandy Reid were not enough resistance for Nick Holt and Alex Modgill. Andrew Jessop and Ross Finlay earned a point over Nicola Taylor and Sean Dryden and Jonny Calder and Dave Simpson also got some blue on the board as they triumphed over Captain Dennis and Porky Kershaw in the shoe-shine match.  

 

The seniors' fixtures ended in a point apiece with Fraser McCluskey and the newly elected R&A man Mike Morrison winning against Nick Kershaw and Hugh Maurice whilst former Secretary Iain Crawford and President Nigel Watt lost out to Neil Falconer and George Yeandle. 

 

On the Friday night the dinner was held in Gullane Golf Club which served us very well with a fond welcome and some delicious food. We were fortunate to be joined by Secretary Keating who had broken his hand a few weeks before and so could not play in the fixture.  

 

Captain Cameron gave a fine address and congratulated the LUGS on their victory.  In a break from tradition, Captain Dennis spoke rather than our founding father Falconer.  John was adamant this was the first win in a "decade of dominance" for the LUGS and that next year he would be dawning a DOD tattoo.  Match organiser Jessop just about survived a motion of no confidence having offered his resignation to Captain Cameron and Vice Captain Simpson after a tough defeat. 

 

The debutants of Jackman and Holt as well as Finlay for the SUGS were asked for their reflections on the match.   Jackman and Holt reflected that they had both played in the fixture before but their contributions were obviously forgettable given they have been referred to as debutants throughout.  Finlay recalled what a fine day it had been albeit that after a few drinks and with a relatively strong west coast accent Jessop had to offer a brief translation for some of our LUGS friends.  

 

All were heartened to hear that Doc Wells was now home after some 8 months in hospital and we wish him well with his recovery. He is missed.

 

The evening adjourned with Cameron regaling us with his fine rendition of a Wee Doc and Doris.... 

 

Thankfully for the Scots licking their wounds their rugby team continued their march to a decade of dominance against England on the Saturday. We hope revenge can be had in Sandwich. Nicola Taylor has the trophy and Fraser will work out how to get the original Falconer Ball south.

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Results: 

 

SUGS 4 - 8 LUGS

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SUGS (Seniors) 1 - 1 LUGS (Seniors)

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