Watson takes the early lead in the morning foursomes 3.5 to 2.5 before a shared fourballs on Friday to make it 6.5/5.5 overnight. Incredibly for the third year in a row the Walker team pulls back to level the scores at 12 each so we headed to the putting green again. An awkward full Gerald meant it was only 5 each as it came to the captains’ putts sudden death. They also missed their first putts before Watson sank his second attempt and the Walker captain was unable to level the series. Pizza oven party, blackball indiscretion, course evacuation, anther German, restaurant abandonment, Braai, bagpipes, accordion, Strip the Willow, mobility scooter!

Watson takes both Foursomes and Fourballs on Friday to make it 6-4. But for the second year in a row the Walker team pulls back to level the scores at 10 each. First Back to Back full Gerald in tour history came down to the returning Andreas sinking the winning putt without the Captains needing to putt. Biblical storms, horses for courses, mud soaked buggy assistance, lightning and rainbows. THAT meal and cheese board. Captain’s privilege spa, rugby, billiards and the Battle of Babyfoot. Socks, Lake swim, Love and Peace Out.

Early Watson 4-2 lead on home course. A halved morning in Golspie foresomes and a great Walker fightback levelling the scores at 12.5 each. So the fourth full Gerald in tour history was tied after all had taken their putts, sudden death for a captain’s putt off with the Watson captain taking the glory with the final putt and levelled the series at 11 all. Floodlit golf, properly upside down on the bus, blocked sink, genetic cul-de-sac, Meatloaf & Curly, Queen’s and Kings

6-0 in the morning fourballs helped the Watson team build a strong 10-2 lead on the first day. An outstanding evening then followed at Greg’s house. Play resumed at Harewood Downs but the Walker team struggled to eat into the deficit leaving a very one sided win for the Watson team. Pistacchio return, new golf shoes again, pool party, button mushrooms, air guitar, Jennifer, the Enforcer

Another strong Walker start makes the difference to make it 11-9 after 20 glorious tours and well deserved Home win for the Walker captain. Social distanced, first lady tourist, shot paddle, tour photobook, non-playing tourists, perfect weather and perfect courses.

Strong Walker start 4-1, hauled back 5.5-4.5, but inevitably Walker breaks the Watson run. THAT Jacket, THAT Ardglass 1st tee, resident DJ, Keeton par 3 challenge and a broken captain.

Split singles, 1-3, 3-5, dramatic finale on final hole, 8-7 and all square in the series. Zookeepers, cock on the course, return of the German speech, wrong ferries and a broken American

1 down, 1 up, 3 in a row. Sweepstakes, Sainsburys, Soakings and Scotts

Just as the Americans desperately need a Ryder Cup win, the WATSON team were out of the blocks early taking a 3-1 lead in the morning fourball on the PGA Lakes Course. Following lunch, Thor then gave us the worst of the Swedish weather for the start of the afternoon foursomes, on the PGA Links course, with torrential rain and lightning. Braving it out, we were rewarded with a stunning evening to dry us out and the match was poised at 5.5-2.5 as we retired to watch the decline of the European team in the Ryder Cup while receiving exceptional dinner service from the PGA club house and the first of the Kitchen shots. Saturday at Falsterbo for the singles matches was a one sided affair with the WATSON team turning the screw and delivering a much needed win. The course at Falsterbo, despite the twitchers, was spectacular and a fitting finale to the fantastic selection of courses for this year’s tour. Back to Malmo for final night celebrations and a fabulous smörgåsbord arranged by Mattias, who helped organise so much of the tour, was the perfect Swedish host and fitted into the tour perfectly, so was the deserving winner of the MVT.

A terrific weekend of Golf and World Cup Rugby and a partially absent Walker captain created a memorable “Watson” Cup. Day 1 saw the WATSON team take a narrow lead of 5.5 to 4.5 in the foursomes played into the fading light on a fantastic links at Island Golf Club. Day 2 With the WALKER captain playing catch up for his late arrival on Friday night, meant his team may have been suffering slightly on the Saturday morning. A few Guinesses to celebrate Ronan’s birthday, prior to teeing off, may also have contributed to a fairly straight forward domination of the singles matches at St Margarets Golf Club. So the WATSON team recorded their first win of the cup in 4 years just in time to retire to the club house for the Scotland rugby match. Dwarf slayer Andreas played a blinder against Stuart Lindsay earning the Watson Quaich as well as taking him down on the whisky stakes to make a historic double with the MVT award. A lively Saturday night in Dublin with the highlight of Australia knocking England out of the World Cup was enjoyed by almost all.

Once again the North of Scotland treated us to fantastic weather and a fantastic golf course and like the upcoming referendum it finished on a knife edge with a putt-out required for the first time in 9 years. Day 1 saw the WATSON team take a 3 to 1 lead in the foursomes. Day 2 was played as Singles matches for the first time giving plenty of opportunity for the WALKER team to pull back points which they did in great style taking 5.5 points from the opening 6 matches leaving the WATSON tail end to pick up the remaining 3 points to force the putt-off. The teams remained all square after 9 putts each, meaning the captains returned for a sudden death play off which the WALKER team took full advantage of. Marcus Arthur took the Watson Quaich with a very fine 7 and 6 win over last year’s MVT. Finishing the tour after two rounds meant we could throw everything into the night in Inverness beginning with a superb meal in the Mustard Seed, where Paul Chapman took part in the ice bucket challenge, just one reason why he picked up the MVT award.

What a weekend in the North East. Fantastic weather, great company and all coming down to the final putt. Cruden Bay offered an excellent opening challenge with the WATSON team taking a strong 3.5/1.5 lead, before retiring to the Kilmarnock Arms, a perfect venue for food, darts and rodeo! A big fight back from the WALKER team on day 2 at Newburgh taking the lead to 5.5/4.5, with some strong winds and even smoke from a nearby gorse fire to add to the challenges. The tour then headed for the bright lights of Aberdeen for a few beers and a tremendous curry. Another cracking day to finish, with high temperatures, but also a fierce wind adding to the difficulties of Murcar Links. Scores were all tied with the captains fourball coming down the last, the WALKER captain 1 down with 1 to play and requiring a half from the match to avoid the putt off. An out of bounds shot from the WALKER captain and it looked like a putt off was inevitable, but a fortunate bounce off a car back into play and a superb chip to two feet allowed the WALKER team to secure the win on the last stroke. Four were tied for the Watson Quaich, so a put off was still in order and was eventually won by Keith Dobson, who played some fantastic golf throughout. Tour newcomer Will Cowie captured the MVT for resisting a savage badger attack and some dedicated badger hunting. So will be hard to match this tour, but glad everyone managed to pull through to the end.

A wonderful tour again for all, including the first sighting of the Cornish Shoethrowers. A competitive opening day saw a small lead for the WATSON team of 3/2 over the Kernow course. Honours were split over an exceptional Jack Nicolaus course the following day, taking the score to 5.5/4.5. Then a trip into Plymouth for exceptional food and service at the Dolphin Brasserie started the usual Saturday revelries. A torrential downpour squashed the formats on the final day with the WALKERs taking the first 3 matches to secure the cup, but in the final grouping, with a rare fiveball format, the WATSON captain and his two playing partners took the win to deny Camp WALKER a daily whitewash. Some excellent golf from Will Davis on the final two days ensured he picked up the Watson Quaich, while a truly golden moment for tour virgin Paul Chapman to capture the MVT.

A very wet day on Friday saw a drenched WATSON team fall 5/1 behind the WALKERs Day 2 saw an even day with the WATSON team holding firm taking it to 8/4 into the final day. A night out in VIZ town couldn’t shake off the competitive spirit with WATSON fight back and a close finish down to the last two matches. A hole in One for Badger and the inaugural Watson Quaich going to the man with the name already on the trophy.

Another cracking tour and a great venue to celebrate ten years. Some tour virgins – welcome additions – and several boys vying for the most attendances over the years. The teams were evenly matched and the three days produced some remarkable golf. Walker’s Pink Pro’s took the fight to the Watson Maroon Marauders and held the lead after day one and day two. The two captains were unceremoniously fined for going to bed at 9.30pm on the Friday night (unheard of behaviour) and Saturday saw the usual level of carnage that follows the excitement of day two. A highly entertaining evening in the fantastic Dunvegan Hotel saw the staff look after us exceptionally and quite literally nothing was too much bother! Day three loomed and the Pink Pro’s were confident that their hardened refusal to admit hangovers would see the Maroon Marauders left for dead – and oh how wrong they were. The Watson lads had a clean sweep (except for one half) and managed to grapple the trophy for themselves with the last grouping going down 18 – exactly as it should be. Much thanks is owed to Jane Fraser, Monkey’s cousin, who helped with the organisation and the weather was kind to us for two out of the three days – not a bad ratio in Scotland.

Perfect weather, perfect tour restaurant and perfect tour virgins to add to the mix, all meant another classic tour. Allez Latte, as Day 1 saw the WATSON team take a 3 point lead as the last teams just managed to finish their intensely competitive matches before the light faded. Day 2, saw the start of a fight back from the WALKER team, but honours were even as the WATSON team maintained their 3 point advantage. The tour then headed into Norwich to sample Pedro’s dining, which will go down in tour legend for both the atmosphere and the antics. Day 3, was played on the Hill course and it proved to be a close affair as once again the WALKER team fought back and were up in majority of matches, but a couple of turnarounds and a valuable half secured the WATSON win. The nominations for MVT were across the board with everyone contributing so much to the tour but the final decision to award to Richard Kolb was well received for, amongst other things, his disregard of R&A rules, arm-wrestling and the ability to strike a perfect drive under the most intense pressure.

The tour kicked off with a long round on the hotel course with the last matches ending in total darkness. But with the match poised at 3 all at least we knew that this year would be taken to the third day. Day 2, played on the same course saw the WALKER team take the lead by a point in a day of fine action with some fine displays of tour stamina. Unfortunately, the quality of the Bonalba course for day 3 was unable to match the quality of the golf being played. The first matches all came down the 18th to be decided, including an honourable draw for the team captains in their first head to head singles match. However, the WALKER team soon had the points with a half in the penultimate match to return the Cup to The Willows. With the competition for the Bill & Jimmy award appearing to be as important in the minds of the tourists as the Cup is to the captains, memories of lobster liberation and baldy olympics will remind all why Ferg walked away as MVT.

Some may look back and think the teams were a bit one sided, but another cracking tour. Day 1 saw the WATSON team taking 4.5 points, in the fourball better ball, with the WALKER captain bravely taking the only points for his team with a great claw back on the 18th in what the WATSON captain had seen as his banker point. But that was to be it for the scoring on the WALKER front, day 2 saw a better ball Stableford format give the first daily clean sweep for the competition history and finally returned the trophy to the WATSON team after a long absence. This left day 3 as a dead rubber so a North versus South match was arranged, the result of which is forgotten in the haze of some late nights keeping up with the Rugby World Cup and demonstrating to the WC Virgins that stamina comes from repeat performances. Harry the hamster took the MVT award in what was a close run decision across a wide selection of nominees.

What a tour! Royal Dornoch Championship course on a perfect sunny day without a breath of wind kick started the tour in some style. The WATSON team lead by a slender 1 point despite a major collapse from the WATSON captain. The teams then retreated to Burghfield House to unwind and prepare for the following days action. An enjoyable Tain course provided the action for Saturday. Competition was strong with exceptional scoring being matched by both teams to keep the matches close (4 out of the 5 matches taken to the 18th green with the other being settled on the 17th. Check out the video for the dramatic finish to the 5th match of the day.), and the banter and baiting was equally strong. The WALKER team had reversed the score to lead by a point going into the final day Texas Scramble on the Dornoch Struie Course. Once again the matches were close, leaving it all down to the final match between the opposing captains and their partners. Despite a late charge from the WATSON pairing the inevitable happened as the match and the competition were closed out as the WALKER pair held for dormie 1 on the 17th giving the trophy to the WALKER team for the 4th successive year. Some sterling performances in the Burghfield Bar earned Stuart Lindsay the MVT award. With the presentation over, a mad rush for the airport began which meant the full tour team could not participate in Lawson Muncaster’s ‘Hole in One’ drinks for the shot of the tour on the Struie 2nd. The perfect finishing touch to a tremendous tour.

The longest tour to date started with a Texas Scramble on day 1 at Giez where the WATSON team took a small advantage to lead by 2.5 to 1.5 before the teams retreated to Chalet Verger for some rest & relaxation. Day 2 saw the WALKER team level the match at 4 all with a better ball Stableford format being played out in Bresson surrounded by magnificent alpine views. A controversial ending was provided with a putt-out required to settle a dispute over a WATSON point earned on the scoring of one of the matches which provided the WALKER team with what was to prove to be a very valuable half. The final day again provided high tension as the teams tied on 6 all after the Fourball matches and a putt-out was required to determine the destination of the Walker Cup. The WALKER team ended up taking the prize with an unbeatable 3-1 win with just two putts remaining and WALKER finally gets to be ahead in the series for the first time. The tour was completed with the awarding of the inaugural “Bill & Jimmy Memorial MVT Award” to Marcus Arthur.

A split event, over two greensomes matches, with a first round on Gullane’s number 2 course where a good start for the WATSON team was short lived and WALKER took a point into the Tobermory match two weekends later. A couple of ringers in the Walker team took favourable handicaps and over a shortened 12 holes WALKER deservedly tied the series on 2 apiece.

A record turn out for Ben to take the cup to his home turf in desperation for his first win. A good opening round greensomes at Brunston Castle gave WATSON a 2.5 to 1.5 lead. Following a break at the Ayr Gold Cup play resumed at Prestwick on Sunday morning with WALKER taking the first three greensomes matches to take the cup. The fourth match, with captains paired against each other, had WALKER up 3 with 4 to play, but WATSON managed to salvage a half point to avoid the whitewash following a shocking two foot putt missed by the opposing captain in front of his own clubhouse. A well deserved victory for WALKER and a sigh of relief from the captain as he finally added his name to the newly acquired official trophy.

A great decision to turn the Walker Cup into a regular event, saw the second cup open on the wonderful Adare Manor Golf Course in County Limerick. The first day’s singles matches ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving all to play for on Sunday. Kilrush Golf Club in County Clare, was a let down following the prior day’s course and the long drive did not help given the craic in Limerick on Saturday night. The quality of golf all round could not have been described as spectacular and WATSON took the cup for a second time. The team then struggled to pick themselves up for a final round at Woodstock Golf Club so decided to have fun with a Texas Scramble and as the course opened up onto some spectacular holes the enjoyment kicked in to end a great weekend in great style.

The stag-do where it all began. Was anyone taking it seriously? Superman saving shots on the course between vodka shots. A European Commissioner skinny-dipping in the lake by the 18th. Not to mention the antics off the golf course. WATSON lead on day 1 and inherited the golf virgin Garth Pepper. WALKER squared it all up with a final putt on the 18th in the final match taking it to a putt-out competition. All players missed the regulation “Gerald” putting distance, until the final putt where the WATSON captain sunk to take the inaugural trophy. Garth Pepper took man of the match and continues to display the original trophy on his mantlepiece at home. Need two years rest before we do all this again!