Halesowen Golf Club kindly hosted the match this year. The clubhouse is a wonderful Grade 1 listed building and, as we discovered, was the birthplace of William Shenstone, the poet, in 1714.

As well as being a renowned poet he was also a great enthusiast of landscape gardening. It was learnt that Capability Brown was instrumental in laying out the grounds of Leasowen Gardens which is now the golf course.

It was a great pleasure to play the course which has about 360 different species of tree thereon.

The Halesowen Club Captain, Graham Dunphy, welcomed all the visitors to Halesowen to which the home county Captain Terry Stacey suitably responded. John Carr, Derbyshire Captain spoke on behalf of all the Derbyshire players reiterating the remarks about the wonderful golf course and views notwithstanding the excellence of the hospitality after the match.

It was his duty also to announce the result of the match as a 6 – 2 win for the home county.

Reg Patrick, Worcestershire President, was pleased to report that he had been able to attend all the 12 matches this season.

He also paid tribute to both society Secretaries for their work in organising the match, and in conclusion looked forward to meeting up again with the Derbyshire Captains at Ashbourne G. C. in 2010.