The PG(S) Wodehouse wrecking crew prevail again…

It was – as Wodehouse may have agreed – a morning when the whole of nature cried “Phwoar, it’s hot!” Royal Blackheath at a sunny 28degs in the shade, combined with linen shirts, long socks, bow ties plus an awful lot of tweed not an ideal fit – in more ways than one. Yet nobody seemed to mind, as all there were intent on enjoying one of our most bonkers fixtures of the PGS year …and enjoy it they did!

Royal Blackheath v the British Golf Collectors’ Society v the PGS …with hickories, so an appropriate doff of the straw trilby in our 120th year to our great forebears. Triangular three-ball sixsomes matchplay, involving “Truett Rules” and “Sunningdales” over the “composite” course. A format that nobody quite understood, not least the organisers.

The result? Pure, unadulterated, joyful carnage.

We seemingly came third, but no dishonour there; the golf collectors play jiggers and niblicks all the time after all, while the Blackheath crew have been practicing.

Our PGS stalwarts (Smith & Jones, Easdale & Minoli, McIlgorm & Clothier, Samuel & Wainwright, Brook & Javed) gave a fine performance on the links and proved unbeatable at lunch and later in the Rose Garden. There they delighted Tim Pearson, the club chairman, captain Richard (Bonnie) Langford and other Blackheath luminaries with engaging tales long into the balmy evening. Well played all!

As ever, our thanks to RBGC for their endearing hospitality and the BGCS’s Tony Hunt for the hire of the ancient brassies and mashies. Fore!