Under glorious March sunshine at the magnificent Royal St George’s, London University Golf Society (LUGs) welcomed their friends—and increasingly familiar foes—from Queen’s University Golf Society (QUGs) on the 20th of March 2026. With the course presented in stunning condition and the Kent coast behaving more like the Riviera than Sandwich, spirits were high and expectations—at least in the LUGs camp—were cautiously optimistic.
The first drama of the day arrived before a single tee shot had been struck. Porky Kershaw, long touted as a cornerstone of the LUGs line-up, made the late and somewhat theatrical decision to withdraw—finally succumbing to the mounting psychological burden of a looming shoe shine match against the ever-relentless Al Dick. Whether this was gamesmanship or self-preservation remains a matter for debate, but his absence was keenly felt (and quietly understood).
Undeterred, LUGs set about the morning foursomes with purpose and, for a time, impressive composure. Matches ebbed and flowed across the sun-drenched links, and by lunchtime LUGs had secured a 3.5–2.5 lead. On paper, a solid advantage. In reality, given LUGS’ well-documented habit of leading at lunch, it handed QUGs what many observers described as “a very comfortable position indeed.”
Lunch, as ever, was where LUGs truly found their rhythm. With Royal St George’s hospitality doing its finest work, plates were cleared with conviction, glasses were not left unattended, and confidence swelled accordingly. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the afternoon golf.
Enter QUGs captain Dan McCrae—once again delivering a masterclass in leadership, psychology, and light tactical sorcery. With deft pairings, inspired selections, and stirring team talks, McCrae once again outfoxed and outmanoeuvred his opposite number, Captain Dennis. Momentum shifted, matches turned, and what had been a narrow LUGs advantage began to slip away under the Kent sunshine.
LUGs, perhaps still digesting both lunch and their early success, found themselves increasingly outmuscled as the afternoon wore on. QUGs seized control and never looked back, accelerating to a 7–5 victory—clinical, composed, and, in the end, somewhat predictable.
Despite the result, the day was played in excellent spirit, and it was—as always—a genuine pleasure to host the QUGs contingent. Rivalry aside, fixtures like these remain a highlight of the calendar.
We now look ahead with anticipation (and perhaps a touch of apprehension) to 2027, when the two sides will once again lock horns—this time at Royal County Down. One suspects QUGs will arrive confident, whilst the LUGs will arrive thirsty.
| LUGS | QUGS | |||
| 1 | Sean Dryden/Joe Park | Halved | James Dowling/Jack Mc Cann | Halved |
| 2 | Ian Raisbeck/Tom Biddle | Win | Josh Clements/Al Dick | |
| 3 | Colin Rae/Sam Campbell | Win | Dan McCrea/Paddy McCullough | |
| 4 | Sam Baker/Alex Modgill | Jonny McDowell/James Millar | Win | |
| 5 | John Dennis/Scott Stanley | Win | Philip O’Sullivan/Danny Graham | |
| 6 | Kaihan Mobed/Wallace Wilson | Owen Flynn/Peter Murray | Win | |
| Morning Score | 3.5 | 2.5 | ||
| 1 | Ian Raisbeck/Wallace Wilson | Win | Danny Graham/James Dowling | |
| 2 | Kaihan Mobed/Sean Dryden | Dan McCrea/Philip O’Sullivan | Win | |
| 3 | Scott Stanley/Alex Modgill | Jonny McDowell/Paddy McCullough | Win | |
| 4 | Sam Baker/Sam Campbell | Halved | James Millar/Peter Murray | Halved |
| 5 | John Dennis/Colin Rae | Al Dick/Jack McCann | Win | |
| 6 | Joe Park/Tom Biddle | Josh Clements/Owen Flynn | Win | |
| Afternoon Score | 1.5 | 4.5 | ||
Result: QUGS beat LUGS by 7-5
London University Golfing Society 