Our best loved and longest running event, MG’s Matchplay Masters was hosted for the tenth time since 2014 on the Cromwell Course at Nailcote Hall in early July. We saw history made and the title changing hands, yet ultimately winging its way back to a familiar home.
For this year’s Matchplay we had to compete with the footy, as England’s quarter-final vs Switzerland was scheduled to begin just as the competition ended. Despite the staff at Nailcote kindly putting up a big screen in Charley’s clubhouse for us and other hotel guests, we suspected that two late pairs pull outs earlier in the week had something to do with that.
15 pairs in all took part as it turned out and typically for the matchplay we had a competitive day on the course, plenty of determination shown, and a few laughs included too as ever. With three previous title winners in the field, I predicted we’d see our first two-time winner. Two out of the three made it to the semi-finals as well, but that’s where it ended as father and son duo John and Danny Cridge saw off our 2017 champs Albert & Andrew and in the other half of the draw newbies Phillip Newton and Mark Goddard took care of defending champions Nigel & Mark.
It was in that match that the history was made, Mark shot the Matchplay’s first ever hole-in-one, on the Cromwell’s shortest hole, although far from the easiest, the tiny fourth.
After a number of very near-misses in previous Matchplay Masters we’ve held, this was a special moment for everybody, just a shame the editor (and photographer) Phil was having to make the numbers up in another match in the plate competition when Mark’s ball found the bottom of the hole!
In the final that followed, it was Phillip’s golf that proved to be the decisive factor, a superb run of pars and birdies was too much for father and son to cope with, and Mark and Phillip became the tenth winners of the Matchplay Masters.
Even though the event has never had a pair who’ve won it more than once, this is the third time that our coveted ‘Shield of Dreams’ has ended up back at The Abbey Hotel in Redditch.
We also always hold a ‘plate’ competition for the eight first round defeated pairs to compete in. Always a more lighthearted affair, the competition ended with a society vs society final as Griff and Andrew from NASS (Nice and Slicey Society) took on the Spartans GS pair, Adrian and Mark – it was the latter duo that came away with the bragging rights.
Well done to the new champs, the plate winners and a big thanks to everybody who took part overall, especially to another NASS member Rob who was forced to make up an oddball duo with MG editor Phil in the comp, we actually did much better than expected!
Our tenth thoroughly enjoyable and successful Matchplay Masters. A special thanks to Rick, David and all at Nailcote Hall for the excellent food, service and hospitality as ever, they never fail to put on a good day for us. See you in 2025 for no 11.
Below – a gallery of images from a great day out
