Results/Review by Andy Lucey

6 teams, 24 players, a new experimental golf format.

We have strokeplay, matchplay, doubles and handicap, would there be room for another format - team golf?

For some who like the 'individualism' of golf, this may not appeal. However, judging by the reaction of those who put their faith in the TDs and turned out at Del's course for a weekend of singles and doubles play with a twist, this fixture will be on the tour calendar to stay.

The format was simple- 5 rounds of 12 holes, each round comprising a 'match' between each team followed by an 18 hole final decider. Each player had to play 3 rounds of doubles (1 with the every player in your team) and 3 rounds singles. 2 points for a win, 1 for the draw, bagel for a loss.

Before the first disc was thrown, you had to decide which pair would be playing doubles and singles in each round. Tactics were important as you knew which team you would be playing but had no idea how they would be lining up against you as all teams put there entries in at the same time. I can already see at next years event this will could be a crucial part of the weekend.

How did it look on paper?
Team Quarry Park would a good bet with home advantage. Nomads 1 and 2 were out in force, the second team strengthned by 'new boy' Charlie Mead. Drunken Monkey would be in the mix. But who were 'No Room For Conor' and Golfmanschaft'? All would be revealed…..

Some interesting matches were in store-

Without covering every match - by the end of round robin on Sunday lunch we had:
1- No Room for Conor 22 points
2- Drunken Monkey 18 points
3- Nomads 1 17 points
4- Quarry Park 14 points
5- Golfmanschaft 14 points
6- Nomads 2 5 points

A lot of good golf but the features:
Gwyn tying with Charlie in a very tight Drunken Monkey,
Nomads 2 singles match.
Rich Sampson taking Bruce at the last as Drunken beat Golfman 4-2.
Golfman pair Bruce and Fernando beating Conors's Oz and Neal on the last.
Nomads 1 stuffing Nomads 2 6-0 in the Hayling skirmish on Sunday morning.
Rich Sampson firing in a massive 30 yard putt, across OB, to take out the Conor doubles pair of Toy and Si in a match in which no team took more than 3 shots on any hole and several holes were halved with birdies- very tight matchplay doubles.
Jon Turner winning the final hole of his singles against Ali to earn a draw and a vital point and take Drunken through to the final at the expense of Ali's Nomads.
Finally- the prospect of Del almost bringing up the rear on his home course as his Quarry Park team mates couldn't quite handle the pressure of being pre event favourites.

The finals started with all to play for as the league points counted for nothing in the last match.
For fifth - Golfman having been ousted from 4th equal on goal difference narrowly beat Nomads 2 with 2 matches going to the last hole.
Quarry Park redeemed themselves in beating Nomads 1 6-0 - a bit of downer for the Hayling crew having so narrowly missed the final.
Neal Halliday crushed Gwyn 3/2 as Conors boys won easily in the end - 6 points to nil.
The Final match was a contest between Drunken Monkey (Sampson/Turner) and Conor's Team (Friere/Lucey), the latter being the hot favourites. Despite the loaded odds, the match had a thrilling climax. Friere/Lucey stormed to an early 3 point lead and it was looking like an early return to the clubhouse for the Monkeys. However, they somehow managed to claw their way back to level with one to play. Unfortunately the comeback wasn't completed. Sampson went OB on his final drive, leaving the door wide open for Conor's team to claim the point and the title.

Overall, the format and concept proved a real success. It was certainly very social golf- playing doubles with each member of your team, combined with the singles matches going round in groups of 4 meant there was lots of team psychology and mind games, some not so subtle, in evidence. I would suspect that next year we will see some much 'stronger' entrants come in as this becomes a 'must attend' and an event to win especially with the donation of the 'special' Team Tournament trophy to come.