Jonny Hudsmith (MT 1995-80) reports on the OKS Golf Society's trip to the Halford Hewitt Match 2025.

I began my third stint as OKSGS Halford Hewitt Captain, with possibly the strongest pool of OKS golfers from which to choose a team.

Unfortunately, several events conspired against us and we were forced into a few personnel changes during the week. Preparation was a little topsy turvy, but 7 of us managed to practise on the Tuesday afternoon at Royal St. George’s, which had undergone much winter work, but needed some urgent rainfall.

This got our appetite up for supper, which had been coordinated by James Flashman-Fox at The Rose in Deal – a great start to Hewitt week.

The wind was up on Wednesday morning and the RSG green staff had placed the pins in some extremely challenging positions – nevertheless – Jonny, Hayden and Nick played in the morning, leaving the others (Zach, Tom, Foxy & Ali) to be joined by Felix and OKSGS Society Captain, Charlie Clouston, for the afternoon practice round.

Wednesday evening of Hewitt week is traditionally for King’s, the black tie dinner at RSG.

We were delighted to be joined by Tim Smartt, who had made his Hewitt debut for King’s (partnering Nudger Foster) 50 years ago in 1975. Sadly, John Bennett was unable to join us, 70 years after making his Hewitt debut in 1955.

Other schools in attendance were Winchester, Lancing, Uppingham, Haileybury and Charterhouse.

The team had been picked – unfortunately, Olly Baker, who had very generously agreed to be a last minute sub earlier in the week was unwell, meaning Charlie Clouston was called upon to make his Hewitt debut aged 59. It was all coming together… sort of!!

We were drawn to play Stonyhurst, a school we had never played before and was ranked 12th of the 64 schools in the last 5 years. King’s was ranked 22nd, so it was hard to know what we were up against.

Out first pair, Nick Bragg and Mark Healy were always comfortable, playing some solid, mature foursomes golf – they won 3&2. They remain unbeaten as a pair with 6.5 points from 7 matches. Playing second pair, Jonny Hudsmith and Zach Barker won comfortably 4&3, assisted by some extremely impressive iron shots from Zach. Unfortunately, the 3rd pair was struggling and Felix Bottomley and Charlie Clouston went down 4&3. With 2 points in the bank, King’s only needed a third to go through and this was supplied by Ali Lyons and Hayden Wood, who shut out their opposition on the 16th green. This win had been made easier by two exceptional chips by Ali Lyons and some solid putting by Hayden.

With the match won and Stonyhurst defeated, this allowed Tom Fish and James Flashman-Fox to take a half at 5th pair, King’s winning 3.5 – 1.5.

This was the first time we had played Stonyhurst and we had a very convivial match – we were through to face Dulwich, who had defeated Stowe in the first round.

Friday morning saw Mark Healy depart for a wedding and Charlie Clouston return home, so we were joined in the team by stalwart Ed Lines and Edouard Barrois (who had negotiated time off from his new employer, to represent King’s).

The team had enjoyed a long night, with some drinks and charcuterie at Di Vino’s, followed by an excellent meal (and a little more refreshment… possibly too much!) at Luigi’s.

We had never previously beaten Dulwich and they had a non-playing Captain with a 1.8 handicap, so we were expecting a tough match. Fortified by the previous evening’s (over) training, we felt confident…

This necessitated a few changes to the pairings:

Jonny and Zach continued and went out at 4th pair against a strong Dulwich pair. Our intrepid supporter/reporter Nick Phillis supplied OKS around the world with live updates and video highlights, which was hugely appreciated by those unable to support us in person. Some more solid golf saw Jonny and Zach win 4&3.

Hayden and Ali had gone out top pair and were in a real battle. However, they exerted some classy authority and found themselves 2 up with 2 to play.

Nick Bragg partnered Tom Fish at 5th pair, but they couldn’t repeat the form of Thursday and a solid Dulwich pair came out on top 3&2.

Matches 2 and 3 were also close and as the overall match approached the final holes the advantage swung both ways. Buoyed by the support of MP Nigel Farage, Dulwich looked to have the upper hand. The two Eds, playing at 2nd pair refused to go away and some exceptional putting by Barrois and solid support from Lines saw them play the 18th 1 up.

Felix and Foxy were also in a battle, with very few halved holes, and at one stage being 3 down, they had clawed back to all square.

Meanwhile, the Dulwich top pair was refusing to give in. They won both 17th and 18th to send Ali and Hayden into extra holes. After two solid drives down 19th, it became apparent that the two Eds had hung on for a win at the last. Bravo!

A win for either 1st or 3rd pair would now see King’s through.

On 19th, Hayden hit a superb approach right over the pin, which frustratingly ran to the back of the green and into the fringe. Dulwich played a similar shot but were fortunate to be on the green only 25 feet away.

Meanwhile, Felix and Foxy were playing 18th one down, desperate to win the hole.

On 19th,  Ali Lyons hit a great chip under pressure to 7 feet, leaving Dulwich a putt to win the match – Dulwich hit a good putt, but it pulled up 2 feet shy.

Hayden walked up to his putt and nonchalantly rammed it home, piling the pressure onto Dulwich to hole from 2 feet to stay in the match. It was not to be for Dulwich and their putt missed, meaning King’s had 3 points and was through to the 3rd round!!

This all finished just as Foxy and Felix were putting on 18th. They sportingly carried on and sadly couldn’t win the hole, but Kings had won 3-2.

Friday evening continued in Deal at Milaad’s for a traditional curry. An impromptu virtuoso performance by Edouard Barrois had us all ‘Feelin’ Good’ for the following morning.

We had also been buoyed by the arrival of Jake McGuigan, joining us straight from his business trip to the US. Jake would replace Ed Lines in the Saturday line-up.

Cranleigh had performed well in 2024, getting to the semifinal, but the local feeling was that our teams were very similarly matched.

The competition had moved to Royal Cinque Ports GC and the team had been supplied with some excellent course notes penned by Foxy. Deal has changed in recent years with some new strategic fairway bunkering and many of us felt we were not as familiar with the course, despite having played there for years.

Cranleigh had been supported by Colin Montgomerie on the Friday, whose son Cameron was in the first pair. They were up against, Foxy and Felix, still smarting after their frustrating defeat on the 18th the day before.

Unfortunately, the pace of play was pedestrian at best and focus was a struggle for many.

Our top pair again had an up and down match but sadly found themselves 3 down. A half on 16th meant they lost 3&2.

At second pair, Nick Bragg teamed up with Jake, his 3rd partner of the week! They played some very solid golf, but after some ludicrous putting by the opposition, they also found themselves 3 down on the 16th tee. Winning 16th and 17th, they were in a dogfight up 18th.

Jonny and Zach could not repeat the striking of the previous days. Together with the slow play and some clumsy errors, they were disappointed to not do better against their opponents. They lost 3&2 on 16th green. An opportunity missed.

So Cranleigh appeared to be in the driving seat. But our 5th pair of youngsters Tom Fish and Edouard Barrois were 3 up and our 4th pair of Hayden and Ali were fighting hard, but found themselves 2 down on 17th tee, after a little clumsiness on 16th.

A great drive by Ali and stunning second by Hayden to a few feet to a difficult front pin on 17th got them back to 1 down.

Sadly, they couldn’t progress to the 18th, as we just had news that Jake and Nick had succumbed on 18th green, in a very high quality match. Frustratingly for Fishy and Edouard they took a half (despite being likely to win having played some quality golf). Our 4th pair also took a half – Cranleigh was through 4-1. They were deserving winners, although the scoreline possibly flatters them a little. King’s was left ruing some clumsy course management errors and a few clumsy shots, but wins in the Hewitt often come down to fine margins such as these. The slow play was also an issue and we all need to get better at coping with this inevitability.

Cranleigh lost to eventual winners Bradfield in the quarterfinal that afternoon.

This was a hugely enjoyable year – the buildup was fraught with complexity, but out of the chaos we had some great wins and re-established an excellent team spirit. Overall we have made progress and will build on our experience.

It was again a pleasure to Captain the King’s team and despite the challenges, the willingness of so many to be team players, made this much easier than it might have been.

Thank you all – we go again in 2026.

Jonny Hudsmith, OKSGS Halford Hewitt Captain 2025