One of the hottest days of the year greeted Somerset Golf Captains when they arrived at Llanwern Golf Club on Thursday, the 11th of August 2022 to play against Gwent Golf Captains, with temperatures up to 35 degress. The weather can only be described as very very hot. This was in stark contrast to the corresponding fixture last year where the weather conditions at Long Sutton in 2021 were dreadful and several matches were rained off.
Match one
Captain of Captains Rob Ford and Mike Snaith played against Gwent Captain of Captains Ken Norris and Llanwern Club Captain Ian Adams. Going for down after six holes presented Somerset with an uphill task. However they stuck to this task very well and, in furnace like temperatures, a half was eventually achieved! Thanks to Ian and Ken for a great day.
Match Two
Vice-President Roy Parmiter and Paul Hucker played against Maurice Bridges and Dilwyn Bull. Maurice and Delwyn played Somerset off the park. Somerset played as well as Gwent let them. Great company and a great game played in a great spirit; but a victory for Gwent by the margin of 4&2.
Match Three
John Beer and Marcus Woodward played against Gwent Secretary Mike Hanner and Gwent match secretary Mike Nightingale. A tough battle today in the heat: extremely slow play (even though one team was in a buggy!!) and shots to give on nearly every hole. Somerset were 3 down with 6 to play but then won the next three holes to level the match. Holes 16 and 17 were halved – even though the opposition had shots on both of them. And the match eventually ended up in an honourable half. This match took five hours and 15 minutes! And lost four holes to the group in front. So every other group following had to stand around in the extreme heat waiting to play their shots.
Match Four
Mike Usher-Clark and Geoff Rooke played against Andrew Eveleigh and Scott Tovey. Nip and tuck sums up this game. Most holes were won by a gross par, net birdie, or eagle. Nothing in it until the end. The hosts declined the half on the 18th tee and then enjoyed their win on the final hole! A little out of kilter for the match! Gwent winning by one hole.
Match Five
Paul Chesney and Tony Taylor played against John Linton and Nigel Morris. A very close match with only one hole in it until Paul and Tony won three holes in succession from the 12th to go three up. The steady front nine from Paul, and a good use of the shots by Tony on the back nine, saw Somerset home by the margin of 2&1.
Match six
Chris Hyldon and Glyn Sewell played against Eric Brown and Bill Morse. A remarkable result after an up-and-down afternoon of extreme golf in extreme heat. Somerset were never down; and were 4 up with 4 to play; but then Gwent turned the tables on the last four holes to end with a half. Glyn played out of his skin to put Somerset in that position.
Match Seven
Graham Load and John Chillington played against Steve Powell and Geoff Clark. A very enjoyable match in very hot conditions. The early holes were exchanged before Somerset fell behind and eventually had to concede to great opponents on the 16th; to lose by 3&2.
Match Eight
David Bate and Jeff Saunders played against David Bailey and David Williams. Somerset were dominated by the two Davids from Wales. Jeff did very well remembering the names of the other players (the three Davids)! Somerset were 3 down after 12 holes. And after getting the game back to all square, lost on the 18th! The Gwent Davids were great company but no Saints. Somerset losing by one hole
And so, after nearly 6 hours in scorching temperatures, the overall match result was Somerset 2 1/2 went 5 1/2. Even though Gwent failed to bring the trophy to the match, nevertheless they retained it having last won in 2018 at Clevedon; with matches at Pontypool in 2019 and Long Sutton in 2021 both being halved.
After 36 matches, the overall scores were now equal: Somerset have won 15 times; Gwent have won 15 times and 6 matches have been halved.
We would like to thank David Bate for the exemplary way in which he organised the match as match manager.
