I simply cannot believe we have just played our 24th edition of The Wedge Trophy.
Like many ideas, The Wedge Trophy was devised between two great friends (myself and Michael) as we returned from a three day bender in Southern Spain. Twelve years on we are still going strong, with 95 players having battled it out over the years for the fabled Wedge Trophy (that the Deal boys actually have misplaced!) – and with March 2023 just around the corner, the 25th playing of this super match is sneaking up on us nicely – and it is clear that everyone is incredibly excited indeed.
More on that later, as this report is about reflecting on another super fixture at Walton Heath, that was actually recorded as the hottest 27th October on record. 20 players lucked out and were able to play in shirt sleeves, on two golf courses in very decent condition for Q4.
With very much a celebrity line up on both sides – some stunning statistics were supplied by the Deal Skipper in advance of bat off that certainly whet the appetite. The headline news from the stats included:
– Oliver Daws (Deal) is on the longest winning run in Wedge history. 7 in a row back to 2019.
– DP (Walton) has lost 5 games in a row, but some way behind Fent’s (Deal) record of 8.
– Fent (Deal) went 21,510 hours between wins – Pike (Deal) hasn’t tasted victory for 27,184 hours.
– In 10+ games, C Waud (Walton) plays the least – on average he does not play 16th to 18th.
After an array of brekker taken in the clubhouse, we head out onto the New Course for the morning round. 5 matches locked in, with 17 out of the 20 players adorning single figure handicaps, the morning matches were always going to be a good barometer of how the day was going to pan out. The Deal boys with one of their lowest sides out in Wedge history were also living off the back of a very comfortable win last time out at home, so confidence was surely high at Camp Deal.
Captain Hedges put a couple of big guns out top for Deal. Oliver Daws, mentioned above, or Fat Boy Slim as he is now being affectionately referred to as after the event, was sporting an incredible new +5 handicap, as well as being at least 7 stone lighter than in March 2022. He was partnered up with Jake Spearpoint, a very competent 3 handicap with a decent Wedge record, batting against Myles Waud of Walton and Ally Fearnside, a last minute ringer replacing Stefan Tillman, who we hope had Man Flu. Captain Waud would freely admit that he was pretty nervous about this match up, even with the abundance of shots coming WH’s way. Needless to say, there was not enough time to be worried, as young Waud was broadcasting a 5&4 win to Walton on the team Whatsapp group at 11.36. (yes, he should have been fined for using his mobile phone on the golf course, but we now live in a much more relaxed world where they in fact allow denim in the WH clubhouse! How times are a-changing.)
Out second was a classic WH pairing of David ‘House of’ Payne with Teddy Story – fixed against Tommy Farrell and rookie Craig ‘Noddy’ Moore (no idea what Noddy is about, but that is how he refers to himself on social media platforms). Sadly a similar scoreline to the top match, but this time in favour of Team Deal. DP’s wait for a win makes its way to 6 games, and Fazz and Moore enjoyed a 4&3 win.
As we get into the engine room of the fixture, Chaz (as Shop Sam referred to me as all the way round) and Smithers were against two important Deal figures. Sam Nicholson, head of Golf and Estates at Deal, alongside Duncan Pike, a previous Pro at RCP. This was certainly going to be a tasty game – with both teams slow out of the blocks, throwing holes at each other for fun and not having a halved hole until the 6th. Walton did manage to get ahead and were two up after eagling 13. At this point, Chaz almost mentioned to his partner that this could be another game that doesn’t get past the 16th to carry on the record mentioned above in the stats… Waudo sensibly decided not to tempt fate and kept that piece of info under his hat. Anyway, 2 up with five to play never wins and Deal ground out a famous 1 up win.
Match 4 welcomed back Johnny Ufton (Jimmy Upton) to the Wedge after a very long hiatus. Interestingly Captain Hedges paired himself with Ufters so they could adopt a Right hand / Left hand combo in the lower order, presumably to try and mess up the Walton rhythm. With the very solid JC of Walton walking off his off piste scrambled egg, alongside Calum Moultrie, a relative newcomer to the Wedge, Walton enjoyed a very important 4&3 victory against Captain Hedges (the highest capped player in Wedge history) and Wasps legend Ufters.
In the back match, fighting it out in what was previously an Under 35 fixture, was the enthusiastic drinking pairing of Nick Russell (over 50) and Simeon Stevens, (def over 40), playing against young guns (under 40) Chris Wood and rookie Aiden Corley. A match that must have frustrated Russell and Stevens as it went down the stretch, therefore keeping them away from the bar for longer than necessary, with Woody and Corley taking the spoils 2&1.
As we returned to a packed Walton terrace, the distressing news of Walton being 2-3 down at lunch was concerning – but with many of the team arriving in Ubers and car shares, we went to work on the Magners, G&Ts and Club wine list.
As usual, many stories were shared over Chicken Goujons, chips and sandwiches. We saw an extraordinary play from DP, ordering 3 puddings off menu to pair with his bottle of Chateau Talbot 2014 that was gracefully shared with his table, but not the rest of the group may I add. Would this prep work allow him to break his duck and get back on a winning streak?
Questions were also asked, where was the WH Vice Captain – and where was the Assistant to the Captain for Deal? Rumours had it that Mason was playing another fixture for Deal, and had cleverly avoided getting papped this time… however on further investigation, it turns out he may have been on a family holiday…
Anyway, back out onto the Old Course for the afternoon shenanigans – the weather still superb and plenty of tidy match ups in the afternoon. Here is a much briefer report for the PM games.
Teeing off at 14.00, Waudo M was paired in the same group as Fat Boy Slim. Just 1 hour and 45 minutes later, another Waud Whatsapp message, this time with a 7&6 win for Walton. Positive vibes were flowing through the Walton side, perfectly balancing out the Pouilly Fuisse many of the team had enjoyed an hour earlier – and the WH wins were rolling in.
Smitherman playing his own ball winning 6&5, Waudo M and Story winning 7&6, Waudo C and Moultrie winning 5&4, then Stevens and Carroll winning 6&4.
Fortunately Captain Hedges used all his Wedge experience to keep the game respectable as he partnered Sam Nicholson to a halve with Payne and Russell.
A big afternoon for Walton, meaning they take The Wedge Trophy back with a 6 ½ to 3 ½ win, and take the series to 15-9 as we approach the 25th playing at Deal in March.
Another top Wedge, played in great spirit, of course and most importantly, in fine company. Excitement is rife for the March 2023 where many plans are afoot for a very special couple of days on the Kent coast.
Until March my dear boys.
Semper Waltonia (Forever Walton)
Charlie Waud – WH Wedge Skipper
