Author Archives: neilfalconer

Andrew Westmore, match manager for 40 years now, writes of this marvellous fixture which started as a ‘Blasters’ match and became a central part of LUGS life 2025 marked 40 years since the inaugural fixture and it was celebrated in a style that LUGS do to perfection…… not only were the breakfast accompaniments of portContinue reading “Berkhamsted Golf Club v LUGS Saturday 18 October 2025 at Berkhamsted”

Representing the LUGS, Ian Raisbeck and Mike Kershaw flew the flag admirably at this year’s Alba Trophy, held at the delightful and welcoming Woking Golf Club on Saturday 7th June 2025. In a high-quality field of 38 teams, the LUGS pair battled through the classic heathland test to finish a very creditable 8th place, combiningContinue reading “LUGS at Woking Golf Club for the Alba Trophy – Saturday 7th June 2025”

As the drama of Rory McIlroy’s march towards the Grand Slam was beginning to unfold at Augusta, what more consequential venue for this match could there be than Portrush, where, in the Summer, the young hero of Holywood will hope to right the wrongs of 2019? The other man attempting to right a wrong onContinue reading “QUGS v LUGS Friday 11 April 2025 at Portrush”

Ian Raisbeck reports: On 8 March 2025, the New Zealand Golf Club hosted the annual triangular match featuring the London University Golfing Society, the Old Uppinghamians and the Old Peterites.  This event has become a cherished tradition created by the Lloyd family who host us with class, grace and delightful stories, with previous encounters highlightingContinue reading “LUGS v Old St Peters and Old Uppingham  Saturday 8 March 2025 at New Zealand Golf Club”

LUGS was established in 1988 when Ian Smith, the SUGS (Scottish Universities Golfing Society) captain of the day, suggested to the Old Purple he was comfortably trouncing on the links at North Berwick that he raise a team to play against the SUGS on the eve of the Calcutta Cup. That match proved a greatContinue reading “LUGS Spring Meeting Friday 7 March 2025 at Sandwich”

Perhaps it’s something to do with that incomprehensible space-time continuum, but doesn’t time fly these days? It seems like only a year ago when John Dennis, our captain, stood before the match dinner promising a ‘decade of dominance’ by the LUGS. Only 12 months later, that promise, along with his golf game, lies bent andContinue reading “LUGS v SUGS Friday 21 February 2025 at Sandwich”

Match result: PUGS won 6½ – 5½ Our resident poet, Prof Tom Fahy has set the encounter to verse A COMIC BALLAD OF LUGS AND PUGS Upon the links of St George’s fair, Two teams arrived with skill (and flair!). The LUGS stood tall with clubs in hand, While PUGS had tactics finely planned. TheirContinue reading “LUGS v PUGS Friday 7 March 2025 at Sandwich”

Fixture debutant, Ian Raisbeck, writes: Purgatory at Portmarnock As I stood on the 15th tee, rental clubs on my shoulder, having suffered a humbling 6&4 defeat, a smile crept over my face—all was not yet lost, I realised. This message, however, may not have reached either British Airways, who couldn’t locate my golf clubs, orContinue reading “DUGS v LUGS Thursday and Friday 30 and 31 January 2025 at Portmarnock GC”

As far as results go, our first fixture of the year marked our highest point. A glorious late February day found the LUGS at Muirfield trying to secure our first win against the SUGS since 2012. Having led going into lunch in both 2022 and 2023, we entered the afternoon matches with our noses inContinue reading “Review of 2024”

For the last fixture of the year, LUGS headed to Huntercombe to play the current London University side in what is, in many ways, our most important match of the calendar. The future of the LUGS depends, in large part, on the introduction of new blood from the university ranks; and so forging closer linksContinue reading “LUGS v London University Sunday 3 November 2024 at Huntercombe GC”

With the arrival of October comes the annual fixture against Berkhamsted – The Club was formed in 1890 with Willie Park Jnr laying out a 9 hole course; Harry Colt was instrumental in it’s expansion to 18 holes but the current layout is very much the work of James Braid.  The world amateur ranking BerkhamstedContinue reading “LUGS v Berkhamsted GC – Saturday 19 October 2024”

Stars of their university sides and then the LUGS, Alison and Nicola Taylor made very fine debuts in their first meeting at St Andrews. Mother Alison (Royal Free 1980-85) and daughter Nicola (Imperial 2009-13) were elected to the Royal & Ancient on the same day earlier this year and played their first medal in theContinue reading “Taylors star in St Andrews debut”

April in the golfing calendar bring the Masters and the QUGS. And while the quality of golf in Georgia might be of a superior class, there is little doubt that Kent edges it on geniality levels. The QUGS arrived in good time for lunch on Thursday, clearly resolved on taking back the claret jug thatContinue reading “LUGS v QUGS Friday 19 April 2024 at Sandwich”

7 LUGS gathered on the forecourt of St Pancras International at 7am on the Ides of March 2024. We were prepared to catch the 8.01 train to Paris Gare du Nord where we were due to face a PUGS team for a two day fixture at the St Germain club 20 miles to the westContinue reading “PUGS v LUGS match report 15/16 March 2024 St Germain”

The third playing of the Triangular at New Zealand GC resulted in a joint LUGS and Old Uppinghamians’ team playing the St Peters Old Pupils.  The match is an 8 a side fixture and planned as a three way match. However, due to last minute drop outs and substitutions the format this year was changedContinue reading “LUGS/Old Uppinghamians v St Peters 9 March 2024 at New Zealand Golf Club”

After reversing a decade of Scottish dominance in the SUGS fixture earlier in the year, LUGS came to Sandwich hoping for a continuation of the fine form shown at Muirfield. In spite of the late withdrawal of ‘steady and straight’ Nick Page, there was a degree of anticipation that we might, with a fair windContinue reading “LUGS v DUGS Friday 8 March 2024 at Sandwich”

The world seemed a kinder, gentler place back in 2013. With the glorious summer of the London Olympics just behind us, the winds looked set fair for years of steady economic growth and benign international cooperation. How differently things have turned out. And what of 2013’s golfing expectations? After a relatively comfortable victory against theContinue reading “SUGS v LUGS Friday 23 February 2024 at Muirfield”

Our final fixture of the year, against the current London University side, looked in some doubt as temperatures dropped and snow fell in the days before the match. But it takes more than a sharp fall in the level of the mercury to shut Huntercombe and the teams assembled bright and cheery in the comfortableContinue reading “LUGS v London University Sunday 3 December 2023 at Huntercombe GC”

The annual fixture at Berkhamsted was the quintessential calm against the background of storm Babet and in some aspects dedication to LUGS reached new heights. Leo was moving house on the day of the match and true to his southern European roots delegated the arrangements to his girlfriend ………..perhaps the fact that he is applyingContinue reading “Berkhamsted v LUGS 21 October 2023 at Berkhamsted GC”

The all too short major season is now behind us and there is much to reflect on. Yet, while much of the golfing world muses on distance reduction and mergers, LUGS golfers can rightly celebrate the appearance of one of their own at the British Women’s Open at Walton Heath in August. There is aContinue reading “LUGS Salutes its Major Star!”