On a fine Sunday morning, the first Match of our season took place against Murrayfield Council.
Probably always our most difficult match as the only one where our opponents always have home advantage.
Despite some difficulty in raising a team due to absences over the Easter holiday break a team of 7 plus a welcome volunteer Hamish Mundie from Murrayfield assembled in the Murrayfield Clubhouse for coffee to allow the draw to be made for the four ball better matches.
The Match itself had a number of dramas. Much to the delight of everyone, Blackford member Tony Kelly had a hole in one on the 7th hole, in front of large audience of players on the 5th tee and 4th fairway. Also, after three of the matches were over all participants were able to view from the balcony the last match going to the last green and see Blackford member John Naylor, sink his putt to win his four ball game. Sadly this was not enough and the result was a draw with 2 matches each. Frustratingly this is the third draw in a row with Murrayfield retaining the trophy since their last win in 2019.
We then retired for sumptuous Sunday lunch in the Murrayfield clubhouse with the wine supplied by Blackford in accordance with recent tradition, on top of drinks already supplied by a jubilant Tony Kelly. This Match is the oldest by far in our fixture list as the first match took place in 1906 only 10 years after Murrayfield was founded. It is no wonder that when Jock Adams donated the Adams Trophy to Blackford, in 1962, “to be used at their discretion“ the Committee decided that it would be appropriate to have it allocated to this fixture “in appreciation of much pleasure and good companionship“. This tradition was certainly followed this year – a great day that was enjoyed by all “
