An eclectic mix of personalities, from golf pros like Robert Rock and Eddie Pepperell, sports legends such as Sir Andy Murray and Gareth Bale, to rising talents and even myself from NCG – what unites us? We’re all participating in this year’s iconic Sunningdale Foursomes.
This unique event brings together professionals, amateurs, men, women, and players of all ages. They compete side-by-side, sharing the same tees, in mixed pairs, governed by a fair and straightforward handicap system.
Established in 1934, the Sunningdale Foursomes has consistently held its traditional mid-March slot. Its prestigious list of past champions includes golf greats like Peter Alliss, Sir Michael Bonallack, and Sam Torrance. Annually, the competition attracts a star-studded lineup, featuring current tour professionals and veterans of elite team events such as the Ryder, Solheim, Walker, and Curtis Cups, across both genders.
A key aspect of its inclusivity is that all competitors play from the same tees and target the same par. This is facilitated by a clear and distinctive handicap system:
- Male professionals play off +1
- Male amateurs play off 0
- Lady professionals play off 2
- Lady amateurs play off 3
Efficiency is another hallmark of the foursomes format. Despite the limited daylight in early March, the tournament typically manages to complete 36 holes daily. Even matches that extend to the final hole are expected to finish in under four hours.
My own history with the Sunningdale Foursomes spans three previous appearances. In 2015, partnered with a former Ladies European Tour professional, our journey ended in the third round against two prodigious teenage Swedish talents. Subsequent attempts saw us exit in the preliminary rounds in 2016 due to unforeseen circumstances, and succumb to a challenging storm in 2019 while playing alongside my teaching professional.
The foursomes format is truly exceptional, tapping into the fundamental joys of golf. It demands patience, whether your partner strands you in an impossible lie or you flub a critical putt. The mark of a skilled foursomes player isn’t apologies, but rather a constant focus on setting up their partner for the best possible next shot.
Consistency is highly valued in foursomes. Teams often experience a rollercoaster of emotions, oscillating between brilliant plays and frustrating errors, finding a rhythm of pars or struggling to connect. This unique interplay fosters an intimacy between partners unmatched by any other golf format.
Humor, too, is an inherent part of the foursomes experience – that lighthearted, almost childlike amusement that defines the best golf moments. Golf itself can be inherently absurd, and few scenarios highlight this more than having to play a shot off your knees from a gorse bush, courtesy of your partner’s previous effort.
While modern golf sometimes presents itself with forced attempts at coolness – think shorts, background music, and a desperate plea for attention – mimicking a slightly embarrassing relative at a celebration, I’m convinced that even the TikTok generation would find greater appeal in the fast-paced, enjoyable, and fair early spring days at Sunningdale than the often artificial atmosphere prevalent on today’s professional tours.