Report: The Arden Qualifier 2010
Monday 29th March: It all begins!
It’s been a whirlwind of emails (mostly from Dr. Steve Essex) & a few flights here and there from Germany for Val to join (with the Jägermeister in tow) yet on this Monday morning, Students Matchplay UK qualifiers have descended upon the Forest of Arden Golf Club. Set in the ten thousand acre Packington Estate, this sophisticated championship course, having hosted British Masters and The English Open, with a par of 72 and a length of 7,213 yards (to be exact!) will offer the SMUK players a true challenge.
09:00 Welcome to Students Matchplay Arden Qualifier!
Steve & Val arrived in true style, with all the Student Matchplay banners and snazzy e-cards printed as they busied themselves by taking over the golfing lounge at the Forest of Arden Golf Course - Students Matchplay 2010 had most definitely kicked off.
The students started to arrive, dressed from head to toe in their wet weather gear, ready to face the good old British weather: we’re playing off white tees & placing everywhere to compensate.
It seemed that although Val was already in good sprits, it was time to make sure the rest of the players were too – queue an inaugural round of shots of Jägermeister. If you have to do things, make sure they’re done in true German style.
Steve welcomed the groups whilst Lucy & Lauren the “glamorous assistants” from Birmingham Girls (overall winners of Students Matchplay 2009) came along to help draw the groups with Newport being the first drawn. The mood was quite tense and playful as the universities were allocated their slots, who would be drawn against who?
After the groups had been announced those first off the tee braved the forces to practice putting and the ducks seemed to join in, probably being the only ones that were enjoying the weather. There was a slight concern that the course might be closed so I guess we’ll see how it all works out.
By 10:50am it’s time for the first tee off and things in the golfing lounge seemed to have calmed down. It was Warwick John McNally’s who took the first shot of the day – striking it straight down the middle of the first tee. Students Matchplay was in full swing & the weather seems to have petered down to just a dull drizzle – classic English weather.
Lunch / Jägermeister break!
As the weather eased off we thought we’d try out some of the other things on offer – notably the food & the driving range. After an impromptu trip to pick up more Jägermeister supplies (it is at this point that I’m thinking we should get them to sponsor) it was of to The John Ray Golf Centre for a bite to eat. Hidden in Sandpits Lane near Coventry, the centre offers a 30 bay driving range and it’s very own pro in the form of happy-chappy Rob and should you fancy some hearty British food then go on Mondays when they offer a 25% discount. (Thanks Dr Essex for the insider knowledge there!) The drive from the Forest of Arden took us away from the trees and neatly manicured greens & fairways, sending us down the motorway then back into the country side giving us the best of both on this hazy Monday afternoon – please though do not take my driver whom seemed to like throwing his car into all the available pot holes!
On to the Food - surely the most important part of the day after the golfing? In Hogan’s Bar & Bistro, my fellow Northern friend tried out the Yorkshire Puddings & Sausage and followed this generous meal by burning off the calories in the driving range. Our lunch conversation was appropriately centred on golf, and being a beginner myself it was interesting to debate the merits of turning pro – which by the looks of it many of the SM players could!
We’ll all be back here tonight for the announcement of the results and am rather intrigued about who will be up there in the top players. Some of the universities have travelled quite a way to join us in the heart of the midlands, notably Leeds and Durham so Students Matchplay is truly turning into something worthy of the miles (note: must find a way to carbon offset all this travelling...)
Back to the forest: time for the first players to come in & to count up the scores.
We return back to be greeted with a round of Jägermeister before the organisers headed out to take some photos! All seemed to be going well around the course with the participants playing extremely well with some even scoring 4 under par.
Things became rather quiet in the golfing lounge so we thought we’d whack on some tunes – from cheese to classical, nothing is banned here! Party whilst we wait for the scorecards? I think so!
As we turned to predictions (top secret I’m afraid), Val decided to serenade Steve with his version of “A Yellow Submarine” – its all good here ‘cept where have all the golfers gone?
I thought I’d take a wonder around this stunning golf course and I find a few teams on the tenth tee. Thanks to RedBull the teams can re-find their energy at the halfway house & continue on for the final eight holes.
15:30 - The first score cards come in!
Warwick’s John McNally was the first to arrive, his trademark smile indicating that it must have been a good round (in fact I think the dance on the green on the 18th hole indicated that it must have been a damn good round!) and things start to quickly busy themselves in the golfing lounge as Steve & Val want to know the results. Apparently this years scores of 1 under par (71) are already better than last year. “Its not as windy” is the explanation I’m given.
We continue to collate the scores as the leaders change several times and the groups are going to be close to call. Things in the golfing lounge turn from (yet more) shots of Jägermeister to a round of Mini Cheddars and with Busted blasting out, anything goes!
17:00 Calm after the storm
Everyone’s in and they are all relaxing in front of the TV watching Jeremy Kyle Chat Show (now you know their secret) through to the PGA Tour. Golfers watching golf? Who would have thought such a thing?!
Glancing outside the window, I’m happy to be sat inside tweeting away. Follow us: SM_Golf. Go on, you know you want to!
18:45 - Final score cards are in!
Newport is leading the way with their final group result two under par – a very good game from the four. The Students Matchplayers to tee off last were slightly battered by the weather as it closed in for the final few holes. Weary but undefeated, all the groups make it round in good time and after a few relaxing and well deserved drinks in the club house its off to John Reays for dinner where SM took over the restaurant! As the groups for tomorrow were announced talk turned to the evening plans, some were sensible and stayed in – others saw dawn in! Tomorrow will be an interesting one!
Day 2: Good morning golfers!
It’s a not-so-sunny Tuesday morning and all the golfers have made it in one-way or another (some slightly worse for wear) to play the second round of golf – at least the course has stayed open. There is definite talk of the “SM sprit” (or still on high sprits from last night, read as you wish!) and there will be tight results from a few groups.
The golfing lounge is rather quiet after yesterday’s playful atmosphere (must have something to do with the fact that Val is back in Germany and James is without Jägermeister) but I’m sure later when we start handing out the trophies things will liven up. For now, the organisers are taking a stroll round the golf course, taking some photos and enjoying the relaxing side of a golfer’s life.
15:00 - Playoff!
As the teams trickled through after a day of Matchplay, it was down to the 18th tee for a playoff between Loughborough and Central Lancashire. In good old British style, the heavens opened and it started to pour, though sprits were not dampened and as the geese watched on, the adjudicators (our very own Steve Essex & James Pearson) stood with their umbrellas ready to see what the shots would bring. In the end it was won by Central Lancashire after 4 playoffs! Nicely done guys.
17:00 – It all came down to the last putt.
It was freezing outside. It’s the 18th Hole. It’s Newport vs. Birmingham. We stood... We watched.... We waited... It all came down to the last putt for Newport to win 2.5 vs. Birmingham 1.5!
Talk about leaving it until the last minute! This year has seen some amazing golfing, with a mention to Bournemouth who placed 3rd and will be heading to Germany in June.
Goodbye Students Matchplay 2010
As the fabulous golfing prizes and trophies were handed out with help from Warwick Sport’s Director Terry Monnington, it’s hard to believe that the Students Matchplay UK Qualifiers 2010 are all over. After two days of solid golfing from all sides, its time to head off, take the posters down and walk away with the memories from the last two days that have offered the chance for students from many different universities across England to come together and play at The Forest of Arden Golf Course. And that’s what Students Matchplay Sprit is all about: a damn good golfing time! Until next year!
About the author: Emma from Warwick university was a helper for the two days and she caught all the action in black & white from behind the scenes in the Golfing lounge, whilst tweeting her way through the two-day event.
It’s been a whirlwind of emails (mostly from Dr. Steve Essex) & a few flights here and there from Germany for Val to join (with the Jägermeister in tow) yet on this Monday morning, Students Matchplay UK qualifiers have descended upon the Forest of Arden Golf Club. Set in the ten thousand acre Packington Estate, this sophisticated championship course, having hosted British Masters and The English Open, with a par of 72 and a length of 7,213 yards (to be exact!) will offer the SMUK players a true challenge.
09:00 Welcome to Students Matchplay Arden Qualifier!
Steve & Val arrived in true style, with all the Student Matchplay banners and snazzy e-cards printed as they busied themselves by taking over the golfing lounge at the Forest of Arden Golf Course - Students Matchplay 2010 had most definitely kicked off.
The students started to arrive, dressed from head to toe in their wet weather gear, ready to face the good old British weather: we’re playing off white tees & placing everywhere to compensate.
It seemed that although Val was already in good sprits, it was time to make sure the rest of the players were too – queue an inaugural round of shots of Jägermeister. If you have to do things, make sure they’re done in true German style.
Steve welcomed the groups whilst Lucy & Lauren the “glamorous assistants” from Birmingham Girls (overall winners of Students Matchplay 2009) came along to help draw the groups with Newport being the first drawn. The mood was quite tense and playful as the universities were allocated their slots, who would be drawn against who?
After the groups had been announced those first off the tee braved the forces to practice putting and the ducks seemed to join in, probably being the only ones that were enjoying the weather. There was a slight concern that the course might be closed so I guess we’ll see how it all works out.
By 10:50am it’s time for the first tee off and things in the golfing lounge seemed to have calmed down. It was Warwick John McNally’s who took the first shot of the day – striking it straight down the middle of the first tee. Students Matchplay was in full swing & the weather seems to have petered down to just a dull drizzle – classic English weather.
Lunch / Jägermeister break!
As the weather eased off we thought we’d try out some of the other things on offer – notably the food & the driving range. After an impromptu trip to pick up more Jägermeister supplies (it is at this point that I’m thinking we should get them to sponsor) it was of to The John Ray Golf Centre for a bite to eat. Hidden in Sandpits Lane near Coventry, the centre offers a 30 bay driving range and it’s very own pro in the form of happy-chappy Rob and should you fancy some hearty British food then go on Mondays when they offer a 25% discount. (Thanks Dr Essex for the insider knowledge there!) The drive from the Forest of Arden took us away from the trees and neatly manicured greens & fairways, sending us down the motorway then back into the country side giving us the best of both on this hazy Monday afternoon – please though do not take my driver whom seemed to like throwing his car into all the available pot holes!
On to the Food - surely the most important part of the day after the golfing? In Hogan’s Bar & Bistro, my fellow Northern friend tried out the Yorkshire Puddings & Sausage and followed this generous meal by burning off the calories in the driving range. Our lunch conversation was appropriately centred on golf, and being a beginner myself it was interesting to debate the merits of turning pro – which by the looks of it many of the SM players could!
We’ll all be back here tonight for the announcement of the results and am rather intrigued about who will be up there in the top players. Some of the universities have travelled quite a way to join us in the heart of the midlands, notably Leeds and Durham so Students Matchplay is truly turning into something worthy of the miles (note: must find a way to carbon offset all this travelling...)
Back to the forest: time for the first players to come in & to count up the scores.
We return back to be greeted with a round of Jägermeister before the organisers headed out to take some photos! All seemed to be going well around the course with the participants playing extremely well with some even scoring 4 under par.
Things became rather quiet in the golfing lounge so we thought we’d whack on some tunes – from cheese to classical, nothing is banned here! Party whilst we wait for the scorecards? I think so!
As we turned to predictions (top secret I’m afraid), Val decided to serenade Steve with his version of “A Yellow Submarine” – its all good here ‘cept where have all the golfers gone?
I thought I’d take a wonder around this stunning golf course and I find a few teams on the tenth tee. Thanks to RedBull the teams can re-find their energy at the halfway house & continue on for the final eight holes.
15:30 - The first score cards come in!
Warwick’s John McNally was the first to arrive, his trademark smile indicating that it must have been a good round (in fact I think the dance on the green on the 18th hole indicated that it must have been a damn good round!) and things start to quickly busy themselves in the golfing lounge as Steve & Val want to know the results. Apparently this years scores of 1 under par (71) are already better than last year. “Its not as windy” is the explanation I’m given.
We continue to collate the scores as the leaders change several times and the groups are going to be close to call. Things in the golfing lounge turn from (yet more) shots of Jägermeister to a round of Mini Cheddars and with Busted blasting out, anything goes!
17:00 Calm after the storm
Everyone’s in and they are all relaxing in front of the TV watching Jeremy Kyle Chat Show (now you know their secret) through to the PGA Tour. Golfers watching golf? Who would have thought such a thing?!
Glancing outside the window, I’m happy to be sat inside tweeting away. Follow us: SM_Golf. Go on, you know you want to!
18:45 - Final score cards are in!
Newport is leading the way with their final group result two under par – a very good game from the four. The Students Matchplayers to tee off last were slightly battered by the weather as it closed in for the final few holes. Weary but undefeated, all the groups make it round in good time and after a few relaxing and well deserved drinks in the club house its off to John Reays for dinner where SM took over the restaurant! As the groups for tomorrow were announced talk turned to the evening plans, some were sensible and stayed in – others saw dawn in! Tomorrow will be an interesting one!
Day 2: Good morning golfers!
It’s a not-so-sunny Tuesday morning and all the golfers have made it in one-way or another (some slightly worse for wear) to play the second round of golf – at least the course has stayed open. There is definite talk of the “SM sprit” (or still on high sprits from last night, read as you wish!) and there will be tight results from a few groups.
The golfing lounge is rather quiet after yesterday’s playful atmosphere (must have something to do with the fact that Val is back in Germany and James is without Jägermeister) but I’m sure later when we start handing out the trophies things will liven up. For now, the organisers are taking a stroll round the golf course, taking some photos and enjoying the relaxing side of a golfer’s life.
15:00 - Playoff!
As the teams trickled through after a day of Matchplay, it was down to the 18th tee for a playoff between Loughborough and Central Lancashire. In good old British style, the heavens opened and it started to pour, though sprits were not dampened and as the geese watched on, the adjudicators (our very own Steve Essex & James Pearson) stood with their umbrellas ready to see what the shots would bring. In the end it was won by Central Lancashire after 4 playoffs! Nicely done guys.
17:00 – It all came down to the last putt.
It was freezing outside. It’s the 18th Hole. It’s Newport vs. Birmingham. We stood... We watched.... We waited... It all came down to the last putt for Newport to win 2.5 vs. Birmingham 1.5!
Talk about leaving it until the last minute! This year has seen some amazing golfing, with a mention to Bournemouth who placed 3rd and will be heading to Germany in June.
Goodbye Students Matchplay 2010
As the fabulous golfing prizes and trophies were handed out with help from Warwick Sport’s Director Terry Monnington, it’s hard to believe that the Students Matchplay UK Qualifiers 2010 are all over. After two days of solid golfing from all sides, its time to head off, take the posters down and walk away with the memories from the last two days that have offered the chance for students from many different universities across England to come together and play at The Forest of Arden Golf Course. And that’s what Students Matchplay Sprit is all about: a damn good golfing time! Until next year!
About the author: Emma from Warwick university was a helper for the two days and she caught all the action in black & white from behind the scenes in the Golfing lounge, whilst tweeting her way through the two-day event.
posted by Orga-Team at
11:12 PM
1 Comments
