Our second annual Christmas Party was held at Urban Golf on the 8th December at Smithfields in London, and what a wonderful way to celebrate a great year of golf with like minded souls. A bitterly cold winters’ day, with the rail strikes planned didn’t dent peoples enthusiasm with Tom & Sam both turning up late for their own party to be met with crowds of faces, some familiar and some enjoying their first Cookie Jar event. A link to our film from the evening can be found here

This was however the first time we played competitively. An excitable James Day had pitched the idea of a one-club knockout – to be billed as ‘The Crump Cup of British Indoor Golf’ – earlier in October, however after (a frankly unnecessary) number of phone calls to finesse the idea, we realised the initial format he was proposing would have taken about a fortnight to complete. A stripped back version was therefore agreed upon.

An initial stroke play round, comprising the first 3 holes on The Old Course, with one club and gimmie’s from inside 12ft would determine the lowest 8 of the many entrants who would then proceed to a quarter final knockout match over 4 holes on The Old, with semi’s and final rounds over 5 and 6 holes respectively, as we worked our way back into The Auld Grey Toon. 

With spirits in the sky, scoring was somewhat mixed in round one as some struggled to quickly adapt to indoor golf, juggle their pint glass, whilst coming to terms with the true difficulty in getting out of a fairway pot bunker with a long iron. Despite this, a strong opening 3 holes of 13 or less was required to assure a spot in the finals. 

The medalist from the stroke play round was – previous guest of the pod and general manager at Prince’s – Rob McGuirk with 11 shots, something that would have seen him hold the honour on the 4th tee in the final round of The Open Championship this year against Cameron Smith leaving many people asking whether his recent switch back to amateur status was a touch premature?

Much to the further amazement of the braying crowd of 50 golfers assembled in ‘The Bunker’ where the final rounds would be played, Rob McGuirk withdrew from the tournament making excuses about early morning tee times on the Kent Coast, which allowed Ryan Noades to occupy the all important 8th qualifying knockout spot as the lone man with 14 strokes. 

With the stage set, patrons were enjoying drinks and sharing stories while watching the action unfold to a soundtrack of carefully selected anecdotes and live commentary by two time previous guest of the pod, Dan Davies. Providing a running series of famous pop-stars and d-list celebs who had all sent their apologies for not being present at the event, the crowd were animated! The quarter finals comprised Ryan Noades of The Addington against Harry Fitzpatrick, ‘Linksman’ Sam Cooper versus Matt Dyke, Phil Winter would take on our guest commentator Dan, and a grudge match would unfold between the host and proprietor James Day taking on the only jar member to make it through the stroke play round, Sam Williams. 

A protracted bunker ordeal which lasted far too long before an inevitable concession from Harry meant Ryan was our first semi finalist and Sam Cooper continued to showcase his dexterity with a 6-iron breezing through his match to face Ryan. Meanwhile Phil Winter was victorious against Dan who was much more interested in sharing stories about Simon Le Bon’s golfing prowess leaving only one quarter final left. 

An early lead by Sam put James well and truly on the ropes, however a strong showing from inside 100 yards with the handy 6i coupled with a vastly superior understanding of simulator golf ultimately prevailed and he was through to face Phil in the semi’s. The chances of an underdog story looked to be slipping away. 

Generating some extraordinary clubhead speed with a long iron, Ryan battled valiantly but again the prowess of Sam Cooper meant he was undone with Sam securing a spot in the final. This was followed with James defeating American friend of the jar Phil Winter who has been honing his craft as a matchplay golfer this season amongst the other Cambridge Varsity side hopefuls up and down the country. 

Cooper & Day – with 6 guest appearances on the pod between them – both coming second in the stroke play round on 12 each, were now to face eachother in the final. Battling their way down the closing stretch of The Old Course, Day took an early two hole lead and looked set to wrap things up before ever needing to drive over the railway sheds on 17. However, after a complex rule debacle, Day conceded 16. This was followed by one of the purist of shanks from Day on 17, finely demonstrating the true immersive experience of the simulators, able to detect launch angles of all different shapes and sizes as the ball sailed with purpose straight into the front bar of The Jigger Inn. 

A straight duckshoot down 18, all square and with only a six iron to play their way in with, both players hit the fairway to no ones amazement. Day feathered a soft draw pin high, to the left portion of the green opening up a slow uphill birdie putt. Only 110 yards out, Cooper felt now was the time for some trick shots and decided to send a 6-iron fizzing away at knee height through the valley of sin. As the crowd watched the ball limp only half way to its intended target, with the 3rd shot again coming up shy. Day was left with a rather straight forward lag putt to 8 ft out, and in the process securing the win. 

A wonderful event, and a huge thank you to James, the team at Urban Golf, Sam Clapham for running the event and of course all of our friends who made the trip into London to celebrate Christmas with us and support the event! Christmas is a key time in the hospitality industry, and providing unfettered access to the sims was extremely generous of James and the team! Luckily, his win now means we will have to do it all over again in 2023 so he can defend his crown.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year! 2023 promises to be yet another year of great adventures!