VARSITY GOLF MATCH GOLF

THE oldest amateur tournament and longest-running team event in golf is returning to Royal Porthcawl in March, writes Tony Poole.

The 129th Varsity Golf Match will be contested out on the Rest Bay golf course for a sixth time – and a first time since 2010 when Oxford launched an eight-match winning streak.

The Oxford and Cambridge golfers will tee it up at Royal Porthcawl over a now traditional two days commencing on March 23.

On the opening day (Friday), the programme contains five Foursomes while the Saturday singles embrace 10 matches that will also be contested over 36 holes.

And there’s a bonus for local golf lovers, as entry on both days to Royal Porthcawl is free of charge.

Though not too much is known about the Varsity Golf Match, as it has gone through a low profile in recent times, it wasn’t always that way.

It was first staged in 1878 on Wimbledon Common, and it became the tournament’s traditional venue.

However, a change was made and Rye Golf Club in East Sussex became host club every five years.

And at this point a change of venues, alternating between the two teams, was also introduced.

The Varsity Golf match is predated by Varsity Cricket (1827), the Boat Race (1829) and Varsity Rugby (1872).

Royal Porthcawl involvement with the Varsity Golf Match dates back to 1968, Cambridge winning 8.5 – 6.5, and was followed by further wins for the Light Blues in 1977, 1988 and 2000.

But in 2010, Oxford gained a 9-6 victory at Rest Bay, and they have gone on to set a recordbreaking eight consecutive victories.

Cambridge, however, still hold a 64-57 advantage, and rumour has it that they are confident of bringing the recordbreaking sequence to an end at Royal Porthcawl.

Last year the Varsity Golf Match was held at Ganton Golf Club with Oxford closing out a comfortable 10.5 – 4.5 success.