The views were glorious at The Mendip as Somerset and Dorset Captains arrive for their 2025 fixture. The Mendip can just about match the Isle of Purbeck’s far-reaching horizons, and the Somerset team were hoping that the win in Dorset last year could be repeated.
On a pleasant day that threatened a little more rain than actually arrived, Captain of Captains John Perkins and home Club Captain Jack Hayes took on John Skinner and Martin Drennan in the top match. John P was in red hot form with his putter and with Jack coming in just when he was needed, the home pair were always ahead, running out clear winners by 5&4.
Current SGC President Iain Robertson and Vice President Colin Davies were out second playing Steve Walton and Steve Close. The home pair could see a storm brewing in the far distance, but it proved to be the away pair that were storming in front, and they ran out easy winners to level the overall match.
Game 3 saw two recent Captains of Captains in David Bate and Mike Rossiter take on Neil Paul and Alex Anderson and they all enjoyed the sight of 5 counties laid out below the golf course. David and Mike may have allowed the views to put them off as, having reached the turn 3 up, they only managed to close out the match on the last green with a 2 hole win.
In Game 4 David Andow and Martyn Clapp took on David Woodroffe and Chris Wyatt. Not much to report about this match apart from the result which went against the home pair by 3&2. The group very much enjoyed the course and the company!
Game 5 pitted Marcus Woodward and Kev Blakeley for Somerset against Gary Edwards and Peter Samuel. The game was up and down for some time, mainly due to the Dorset pair’s putting but Marcus and Kevin dovetailed well enough to see the home team through to a 4&2 win, putting Somerset 3-2 up overall with 3 matches left on the course.
Game 6 saw Mark Moorfoot and Murray Parson take on Alan Hebditch and Peter Janaway who roared over the Mendip Hills in their buggy and gave the home pair a bit of a lesson in golf too. Out-putted and out-chipped all round, the Somerset pair went down 4&3, bringing the overall scores level.
Game 7 would be critical for the result and Phil Barrett and Phil Thompson were carrying the home team’s hopes against Phil Purvis and Eddie Galjaard. The rain that fell reportedly put the home pair off and some good golf from Phil and Eddie saw them win on the 16th green by 3&2.
Needing a win to square the overall scores, Match Manager Roy Parmiter and Bob Smith were the Somerset team’s final hope. They were up against Andre La Bouchardiere and Ian Bakewell. With Andre’s surname being taken from the French for butcher and Ian’s similarly foodie epithet, it was perhaps to be expected that the Dorset pair would serve up a victory on a plate to swing the tie in favour of the visiting team. Despite their best efforts, Roy and Bob lost 3&2 and the day was Dorset’s.
The after-match formalities were conducted and everyone agreed that the course and the stunning views had been a highlight of the season. Next up for Somerset is a tricky trip to Wells where we have suffered some heavy defeats at the hands of the home Captains – but there’s always a chance!
