LUGS v OUs v OSPs 19 March 2022 – Match Report

LUGS v OUs v OSPs Saturday 19 March 2022 New Zealand Golf Club 

While many of the rugby loving LUGS were stocking fridges in preparation for the last three games of the Six Nations, an inspired group of golfers made its way to the New Zealand Golf Club to contest a brand new fixture. The buzz around the clubhouse at the end of the day was clear evidence of golfers having made the right choice of what to do with their Saturday!

The New Zealand Golf Club is located a little to the north east of Woking and in the heart of the marvellous Surrey/Berkshire heathland belt. Although firm in its understatement, the quality of the course and the clubhouse make it a favourite among the golfing cognoscenti. The club has a rich history dating back to its foundation in 1895 with its distinctive name coming from the family ties of the landowner, Hugh Locke King, to the distant land.

Credit for this marvellous new fixture goes to Stuart Lloyd. Stuart captained the London University undergraduates in 1981-82, was at school at Uppingham and sent his own boys to St Peter’s School in York. A committed enthusiast of bringing on young golfers, Stuart was able to field young teams from each of these institutions for 36 holes of enjoyable and competitive foursomes. 

Covid reared its ugly head in side-lining a few players at the last minute, but the LUGS, represented by Stuart, Matt Wilcox, Oliver Ricketts, Subhy Hakim, Fred Horton and Kaihan Mobed, more than held their own. One of the many highlights of the day was a hole in one by one of the St Peter’s team. 

With a virtually empty course, delicious lunch, fine weather and great company, there was little that could have been bettered. The plan for next year is to field three teams of eight.

The match is a very welcome addition to the LUGS calendar. It is particularly good to see a fixture at a new course to LUGS, with a team full of young LUGS and a format that breaks the norm.