Does your club have a Club Championship?

ShriekingSheet

Formats vary, but accross all traditional golf clubs that I'm aware of, there is competition each year, specifically called the Club Championship which is played off scratch among members.

In one club, it was simply 36 holes of strokeplay off scratch. In another, it might be open entry to a scratch matchplay - the over all winner being deemed the Club Champion. Another possibility is that there is a strokes qualifier (maybe a Medal) where the top 8 gross scores then go into matchplay to decide a winner.

For me, any of the above is good, but I'm a bit surprised at the number of clubs these days that don't seem to have a club championship. Sure they might have matchplays, Golfer of the Year etc. But a Club Championship is almost as old as golf itself, and it's a shame to lose the tradition. It's the one event of the year where the best golfer wins, regardless of handicap. And though one or two guys may be the lowest on paper, other golfers are able to challenge this on a given day, usually with the added spice and unpredictability of match play.

Interested to know if people's clubs have one and if so, what the format is...

madds

Lucan has one and its held in high regard by the members. Qualification is via a 18 holes Stableford competition normally held in May, with the top 32 qualifying for Matchplay competition, the first round of which is in June and the final in September.

BillyBoy

We have had one in out place for years. The same guy has one our one 18 (or is it 19?) times in the last 25 odd years. It was won this year by a young lad that had come through the juniors so I was delighted to see that. I lost out on the net competition in it on a count-back (although obviously the Championship is decided on gross) but was out on the drink the night before the second day so only myself to blame!

Mister Sifter

Always found it a little strange that so few clubs have one in Ireland. At my club in Scotland, and most others in the region, it was the biggest thing you could win.

They ran it as a 36 hole strokeplay qualifier on a Sunday in May. The top 15 scratch scores qualified for the matchplay stages, with the previous year's winner qualifying automatically. Matches (18 hole scratch knockout matchplay) were then played each Tuesday evening through June until the final. A 36 hole final is then played on 'finals Sunday' with the womens, mens and junior finals all on the same day.

A good crowd of members usually comes out to watch, especially on finals day. Made three finals in my time and lost every one of them, but still awesome days.

postalservice

In ours its 18 hole qualifier then top 32 qualify for matchplay i think.

Neither the qualifier nor the matchplay are gross though.

The winner then gets there name engraved on a big board in the clubhouse(pretty cool....best prize i could think of) aswell as a massive trophy you keep for a while and a massive crystal thing for keeps! A 12 year old won it a couple years ago haha.

The Gold Medal is probably taken more seriously though even though it lacks the name on the board reward. I think people fear matchplay or something.

Long term goal: win the club championship( shame bout the crappy speech thing:()

f22

Mine is the same, top 32 qualify. Managed to beat 3 of the clubs best players last year on the way to the final only to lose to someone I should have wiped the floor with. Played the worst I possibly could have and still only lost on 17.

Grrrr

Hunty

Clontarf have 36 hole strokes. One day. Anyone off 10 or less is eligable to play in it. Its played off scratch. Winner gets name engraved on the trophy and on a big wooden board in the bar.

Personally I think every club should have one. It's easily the best comp of the year!

chemicalfred

My club has a matchplay club championship. Its an open draw and there have been some low men knocked out by higher handicappers which adds to the fun over the years. Of course generally spaking the best golfer wins it. IMO its a great competition and a great tradition. Every club should have a club champion

G1032

Nothing like that at our club. I've put the idea out a few times but I might as well be talking to the wall. I'd love to have a club championship