Submitted by Lauren Thomas on Mon, 21/10/2013 - 10:40
Every year, the CUGC's first team takes on Ex-Blues in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the term against the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society (O&CGS). The O&CGS, founded in 1898, is one of the oldest golfing societies in the world. Known simply as The Society and carrying the motto 'serious fun', its members are all Ex-Blues, having taken part in the annual Golf Varsity Match themselves.
With 7 Blues who graduated within the last two years in the Society's team, the fixture was set to be a stern test for the CUGC's players as they are looking to gain some momentum early in the season. Held at the CUGC's home club Royal Worlington, the fixture demanded both accurate play and a great deal of experience with the peculiarities of getting around the tricky 9-hole course.
Saturday morning's foursomes matches gave a glimmer of hope, as the Cambridge Blues strode to a 3.5 - 2.5 lead before lunch, with a notable 5/4 win by on-form Cumberland and Williams in the top match. However, the morning matches had been contested without The Society's star player Habibi, whose logistical difficulties resulted in a belated arrival and O&CGS captain Goodrich taking his place. The afternoon singles matches were then dominated by The Society, with Cumberland and Rietschel winning the only two full points for the CUGC.
On Saturday evening Professor Adrian Dixon, President of the Cambridge University Golf Club, hosted a grand dinner for the two teams at Peterhouse, which all thoroughly enjoyed, and the new Cambridge golfers could find out more about the role and importance of The Society that many will go on to join in later years.
The Society continued its strong performance on Sunday, with Ex-Blues Silver and Clark only just missing out on respective 4-point-weekends. With everyone fighting through heavy rain, experience finally won over youth. The Society clinched a 19 - 13 victory over the CUGC, reinstating the trend of a usual victorious O&CGS that had been disrupted by a surprise win by Cambridge last year.
All members of the CUGC would like to thank Professor Adrian Dixon for the wonderful dinner on Saturday evening, and Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club for hosting the match on a course in fantastic condition.
Next week, the Cambridge Blues head to the South to play Hankley Common and Denham Golf Clubs