“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men/ Gang aft agley“ wrote Robert Burns in 1785. Some 240 years later, intrepid LUGS, OUGS and Peterites found themselves contending with losing organisers and hosts Stuart and Sarah Lloyd to illness on the morning of the event and contestants had to proceed as a shepherd-less flock. Graciously, Tom Lloyd assumed his parents’ mantle as the match proceeded without delay in our traditional triangular foursomes match-play format, sealed with what is always a top-class lunch and a leisurely game after eating.
The rarefied air around New Zealand is often said to have strange effects on the area and some have said that time seems to stand still between the trees. There are few better places in my mind to see in Spring, revisit old friendships, and create new ones. The fixture rumbles on, the score is unimportant (LUGS won their first triangular crown at what must be the fifth time of asking, for what it’s worth) and another great day is in the books as the rest of the 2026 calendar softly steps into view.
London University Golfing Society 