England Match Co-Ordinator Cameron Dawson provides a review of the year and a look ahead to 2025.
This year saw the 50th anniversary of our match against the Irish and we were grateful to Royal Lytham & St Annes along with St Annes Old Links to host this special fixture in May.
To celebrate the anniversary, we invited some of the players who have supported the match over the years but who are no longer able to join in for multi-day matches to come along for a single-day encounter and attend the presentation dinner at Royal Lytham.
While the result was the usual win for the Irish, it did come down to the last hole in the final match.
The match against Wales was played at the wonderful Sheringham Golf Club, where we managed to retain the trophy.
We then travelled up to Perth to play the 36 championship holes of Blairgowrie, losing in a tight contest against Scotland.
The schedule of regular matches concluded in Sweden at Norrkoping, just south of Stockholm, where along with the excellent golf and courses we had educational events each day before play, discussing the differences in how clubs are managed and run in Sweden and the UK.
We were well beaten by a Sweden team who boasted several professionals, though Captain John Barnard pointed out, often, he never lost his own match all year.
We completed the year with the Millennium Trophy, played every four years between the English, Irish, Scots and Welsh teams.
This year it was the turn of the Scots to host and what a job they made of it. We played the magnificent links of Prestwick, Royal Troon and Western Gailes. Unusually, the Irish didn’t win! It came down to a final-day match where the Welsh overcame the English.
In conclusion it has been a great year and a wonderful, if occasionally surreal, experience working closely with Captain (I never lost) John and all the players who have always been great company and excellent competitors.
Finally, I look forward to welcoming incoming Captain Ray Grant for what promises to be another brilliant year in 2025.
2025 fixtures
- Ireland (away, venue TBC) – May 11-12
- Wales (away at Newport) – July 27-28
- Scotland (home at Prince’s) – August 17-28
- Sweden (home at Northwood, Sandy Lodge and Moor Park) – September 9-11
These matches provide an excellent opportunity to network, socialise and enjoy some all-important time away from the office. To get involved, email [email protected].
