Match versus Nags

Walton Heath provided a new venue for the battle against our old friends from the NAGs, but the 2024 fixture was as keenly contested as ever.

The Surrey club was famously the venue for the 1981 Ryder Cup, which witnessed perhaps the strongest team ever assembled for a match play contest. The American team, skippered by Dave Marr, included the reigning Masters, Open and USA PGA champions (Tom Watson, Bill Rogers and Larry Nelson respectively), as well as Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Jerry Pate, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite and Bruce Lietzke - the latter being the only one who ended his career without a Major title.

The 12-man IPAGs team boasted a similar blend of raw talent and battle-hardened experience, helped by some local knowledge provided by two guests from the Walton Heath membership. But the NAGs had also recruited wisely, and led by the cultured captaincy of Andrew Brown, the hosts ended the morning session with a 3.5 - 2.5 lead - the IPAGs indebted to lead-off pair Fergus Gilmore and Jim McDonald, who secured half a point despite being three down with three to play.

But a long lunch and several magnums of Pomerol saw the IPAGs race out of the traps in the afternoon foursomes. Philip Hunt made short work of his match against Peter Lovett and Simon Jones, arriving back at the clubhouse first despite being the last game to start. Solid wins by Gilmore and Ruddock, Barnett and McDonald and Brydon and Wheaton added to the momentum, before skipper Jon Davie and his partner Jim Bridgen scraped home with a win on the final hole of the New Course.

A 5-1 scoreline in the afternoon foursomes lead to a final score of 7.5 - 4.5 in favour of the IPAGs.

Walton Heath boasts two world-class golf courses, but the generosity of club members representing both sides ensured that everyone enjoyed world-class hospitality off the course too. The fixture was a resounding success, and it was universally agreed that we should re-convene at the same venue for a rematch in 2025.

Morning four balls - IPAGs 2.5 v NAGs 3.5

• Fergus Gilmore & Jim McDonald halved with David Clarke & Peter Scaramanga

• Dan Barnett & Philip Hunt beat John Blaymires & Sam Phillips

• Gareth Rudduck & Richard Wheaton lost to Alan Greenhalgh & Andrew Barr

• Tim Brown & Jim Brigden lost to Chris Smith & Dick Bloomfield

• Andy Byrd & Alan Brydon beat Mike Bowen & Peter Lovatt

• Jon Davie lost to Andrew Brown & John Litster

Afternoon foursomes - IPAGs 5 v NAGs 1

• Fergus Gilmore & Gareth Rudduck & Dick Bloomfield & Andrew Barr

• Dan Barnett & Jim McDonald beat Mike Bowen & John Litster

• Alan Brydon & Richard Wheaton beat Sam Phillips & John Blaymires

• Jon Davie & Jim Brigden beat Andrew Brown & David Clarke

• Andy Byrd & Tim Brown lost to Alan Greenhalgh & Chris Smith

• Philip Hunt beat Peter Lovatt & Simon Jones

Match result - IPAGs 7.5 v NAGs 4.5