Our newly crowned Society champions of 2026, (the team pictured below) review the rest of their year for us here. Written by DMH (Don’t Mention Handicaps) GS organiser, Dan Peach.
2026 was another great year for DMH – our sixth full society calendar, and the year we hosted our 10th Ryder Cup.
We started the season in April at our traditional opening course, Bewdley Pines. Ben Rooney claimed his maiden society win with 38 points.
Handsworth came next, where Alan Donaldson scored 41 points – made all the more impressive by the fact it was a gross score of just one over!
Our first Major of 2026 took us to Ladbrook Park, where Tom Butlin won his second Open title with 40 points.
Below, Wayne (left) presenting Tom (right) with the Open trophy.
The Mount hosted us next, where Mark Rose scored 40 points to finish two clear of the field.
July, as always, is DMH Ryder Cup month, and this year’s was a special one as it marked the 10th edition of our event. To celebrate, we headed to a former Ryder Cup venue; Celtic Manor.
Team Europe captain Steve Lawrence and Team USA captain Matt Hayward had the honour of leading their sides in this landmark event. Saturday’s fourball betterball pairs were played in very tough conditions, with the Montgomerie course bone dry after the summer we’d had. It was the Europeans who fared better, taking a commanding 6-1 lead overnight.
That left Team USA facing an uphill battle in Sunday’s singles on the Twenty Ten course. Despite a valiant fightback that saw them win the day 8-6, it was Team Europe who clung on to take this year’s event 12-9.
Mark Rose (pictured) was the only member of Team USA smiling on Sunday, having won the Lug Jug for the best combined score across both days.
In August we visited Walmley for our second Major of the year, where Chris Smith won the Masters by a single point with 38 points. Below, Chris (left) is presented with the Masters trophy by Steve (right).
Hagley hosted our penultimate event, where Martin Furber claimed the win with 37 points. Finally, in October, we wrapped up the 2026 season with our finals weekend at Ullesthorpe Court.
Martin Furber and Mark Robbins won the pairs knockout in its inaugural year.
Our four league titles were also decided, with Steve Lawrence, Chris Smith, Martin Furber and Glen Holloway each taking their respective leagues.
Steve Lawrence, meanwhile, had a nervy wait. He led the Order of Merit heading into the weekend but was unable to attend. Despite some good scoring from the chasing pack, his best five scores of the year, totalling 180 points, were enough to secure his first Order of Merit title.
2026 was another incredible year as the society continues to go from strength to strength – we already can’t wait for 2027!
