Titanic tussle for Ashworth Cup in the Hertfordshire countryside

TGI Golf’s grip on the Ashworth Cup was lost after an epic tussle with Foremost Golf in the beautiful surroundings of The Grove, Hertfordshire, in early-August.

The team, captained by Parnell Reilly (Bradley Park), went into the matches as cup holders having won the inaugural event at a wet K Club last year.

The weather conditions were completely different this time around with sunshine baking the impressive Grove course – however, unfortunately, the result was also a reversal with a strong Foremost side – including former Ryder Cup player and vice captain Peter Baker –winning 11.5 to 6.5 points.

Despite the emphatic scoreline the match was a lot closer than the result suggests. TGI got off to a flyer in the morning fourballs with seniors Barrie Stevens and Mike Deeley recording a resounding 6&5 victory and they were quickly followed by Michael Nesbit and Craig Sutherland recording a 2&1 win.

However, TGI could not capitalise on their great start and lost the remaining four matches, with two – Simon Eaton/Ryan Pudney and Paul Stevenson/Neil Colquhoun – defeated on the final hole.

Things started brightly for the TGI team in the afternoon singles with Nesbit, Sutherland and Kenny Hutton putting some early points on the board.

But it wasn’t to be as Foremost clawed their way back and while there was brief hope for TGI when Pudney bagged another point, it was their rivals who crossed the finish line first to wrestle the Ashworth Cup from the grasp of TGI.

Captain Reilly said: “It was bitterly disappointing to lose our grip on the trophy – winning it is one thing but retaining it is very different. All credit to both teams as they played some fantastic golf; however Foremost managed to hole some crucial putts at very important times – they won at least four matches by sinking long putts on the 18^th.

“I was proud of the TGI team, all the players had gone out of their way to make the team, had fought extremely hard to book their place and were all up for defending the title – unfortunately it wasn’t to be. I have already been contacted by a lot of the players to say how desperate they are to qualify to be a part of the team next year.

“Once again, though, the competition was excellently organised at a great venue and on an amazing course, and it was played in the right spirit.”

TGI Golf teamed up with TaylorMade-adidas to conduct an annual search for the top amateur golfer in the UK, Ireland and Netherlands.

The TaylorMade-adidas Amateur Championship in association with TGI Golf is now in its third year and becoming more competitive as the years roll by.

Royal County Down Golf Club hosted the grand final in 2011, with players vying for the top prize over the Championship Links Course.

The club is located in one of the world’s most naturally beautiful links settings in the Murlough Nature Reserve. Against the magnificent backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne, the links stretches along the shores of Dundrum Bay, zig-zagging back and forth to provide a variety of views from virtually every hole.

80 TGI Golf members staged qualifying events at their respective clubs across the UK, Ireland and Netherlands.

The top 20 winners from these qualifying medals went on to the national final at Royal County Down which was played on Monday, August 22.

Players competed for amazing prizes courtesy of TaylorMade-adidas Golf and we thank them for their continued support.  We all look for to next years event.

This year’s winners are listed below;

For further information on the TaylorMade-adidas Amateur Championship click here.

After last year’s extremely successful competition, TGI Golf and Nike Golf are once again proud to launch the exclusive Nike Golf Oven 4Ball Championship event.  The event is designed to harness the relationship and energy between the members of TGI Golf and one of the world’s leading golf equipment manufacturers, Nike Golf.

Members of TGI Golf are invited to play with a fellow member to partner up to play in the 2011 Nike Golf Oven 4Ball Championship. The competition involves 3 national events throughout Scotland, England and Ireland, where each pair will compete in a fourball better ball stableford format.  The winning pair at each event will be the team with the highest number of points. They will be flown out during the early part of October 2011 to play in the grand final at Colonial Country Club and to experience The Oven, Nike Golf’s global R&D facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

Details of the 3 national events and the final are below.

Check out who won last year's Championships here.

Srixon supplies thousands of golf balls to TGI Golf members each year as part of an annual promotion.

Up to 80 TGI Golf members are selected every year and supplied with 36 dozen boxes of premium golf balls, including AD333, Z-Star and Spin Feel, to give away as prizes for Srixon-sponsored June monthly medals at their club.

TGI managing director Eddie Reid said: "It is great that Srixon continue to support our members with this promotion. It is a wonderful partnership and great way for members to add value to their competitions.”

Leslie Hepsworth, Chief Executive Officer of Srixon Sports Europe, said: “We have had fantastic support from the TGI Golf members for this proposition. We are working in partnership with the members to give them the ability to get involved with the brand with no pressure, and distribute our golf balls to people who may not usually use them.”