OBGS - 2024 Harris Cup

A gloriously warm, sunny and, initially, benign day was very promising and welcoming at the, as ever, beautifully presented Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. The team of Tom Atkin, Jonathan Arter, Gwyn Jones, Roger Tamplin, James Davenport, Martin Like and Rhodri Parry was sorry to hear that George Lee had been forced to pull out due to a recent rib injury but happy to hear another heroic performer from last year, Mike Clarke, had stepped in. 

As the teams teed off, the wind began to increase and continued to rise until it presented a real challenge throughout the playing day. Whilst the ever-consistent Tom Atkin managed to meet that challenge; together with his partner, Jonathan Arter, scoring 38 points; the rest of the team were not able to repeat the same fantastic level of support as they had last year.

Although the teams' better-ball pair scores were creditable, given the unforgiving conditions, the 95 points total posted was no match for some impressive scoring by opposition teams and beat only the Old Rugbians' 89 points. The cup was won by Old Bromsgrovians, whose counting pairs scored 122 points, with an aggregate of over 40 points, and included the best pair of the day, who scored 42 points. Old Cheltonians, Old Cliftonians, Old Malverians, Old Harrovians all scored better than handicap. Old Decanians pipped us by 3 points.

With pre-tee optimism, based on the beautiful conditions and the memory of last year’s performance, being slowly eroded by the increasingly testing conditions, focus was drawn to the stipulated maximum playing handicap of 18 and the relative effect this had on the teams. Due to the course’s difficulty rating, anyone with a handicap of 14 to 18 could not receive their full shot allowance and anyone with a higher handicap didn’t qualify for any further allowance. With most of our team having handicaps of over 14, some pairs saw a net ‘swing’ of shot allowances of 10 shots between competing pairs. This was the subject of some pre-match and post-match discussions between captains and amongst the teams. The discussion between the captains was very brief. It was agreed that, whilst the original rule was created before the introduction of the World Handicap System and course ratings, it was intended to try to ensure a standard of golf and protect against infrequency, or lack, of formal scoring masking true ability (‘bandits’, to you and me!). It was also agreed that it still fulfilled those intentions and should remain in place. Importantly, I think, I made Peter Owen, resurrector of the competition and custodian of it for so so many years, party to this discussion and he agreed with this outcome. Peter has always been of the view that we entered this competition knowing the rules and that this competition is more of a great reason for a social gathering of Old Breconians than a competition where winning is the be all and end all. I share this view. 

However, several of the higher handicappers in the team expressed the view that I should pick ‘younger and better golfers’ to play in the competition. I reminded them of last year’s success, the successes of ‘older’ golfers throughout the OBGS events, the fact that few others had put themselves forward for selection, and, as such, I was happy to pick a team of stalwart supporters of the OBGS who I know will play steady golf, for each other, and enjoy each other’s company, both on and off the course. I was, in turn, reminded of the upturn in interest of the ‘younger’ OBs and was instructed to appeal these ‘younger and better’ golfers in order to select stronger golfers for next year’s competition in the hope of making the team more competitive.

For some context at this point I will highlight that the average age of half the team was 72, for other half it was 52, and that I am in no way a believer in age, per se, being an inhibitor to being able to do anything. I am also very happy to declare that, for the first time I can remember, a further two reserves, alongside myself, had been on standby this year, in David Manwaring and John Scurlock-Davies, and I thank them again for this.

I will also mention, for some further context, that the founder of the competition was an OB and that we are the only Welsh school still represented in it. 

So, this is my first appeal to any OB golfer, of any age, who has a WHS handicap of between 14 and 18, or better, to contact me if interested in playing in next year’s Harris Cup, to be held on Thursday 2nd October at Royal Porthcawl. 

For those who may not know, a reminder for those that do; you can get a WHS handicap from national golf unions without being a member of a club.

Whatever the ‘ins and outs’ of the match, everybody agreed that they had a great day, in great company, at a great golf club and were looking forward to next year’s get togethers. 

For completeness, the dates of the other OB golf events next year, none of which have any handicap stipulations, are:

Spring Cup - Friday 2nd May

Southerndown GC: First tee 10:36

London & SE Cup - Friday 23rd May 

Fulwell GC: First tee 13:00 

(TBC)

Heads Cup - Friday 20th June     

Cradoc GC: First Tee : 11:00

Will Bush Memorial Cup – Saturday 21st June

 Cradoc GC: First Tee : 11:00

Old Llandovarians  - Friday 12th September

Cradoc GC: First Tee : 11:00

I look forward to hearing from you, or any other OB you know who may be interested in playing in any of these events.

As a post script, I am glad to report that George Lee’s injury is not as bad as first feared and he is recovering steadily.