ONE of the many remarkable things about golf clubs is how long standing traditions are created. Just about every club in the UK has a number of such events or happenings built into the annual calendar.

One of the the most well known is at St Andrews, regarded as the home of golf.

The ritual photograph taken on the famous 700 year old bridge spanning the Swilcan Burn on the 18th fairway is probably golf’s most photographed spot. Legends like Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tiger Woods have paused there during the Open Championship. Every visitor who plays the course almost certainly does the same.

Nearer to home one of the local traditions at Downes took place on July 8, namely the Lord-Dunk trophy.

This is a Seniors match between Downes Crediton and Saunton Golf Club. Well over 20 years ago, two friends came up with this idea.

One friend, David Lord, of Saunton Golf Club, suggested to his friend Mike Dunk of Crediton Downs Golf Club, that it would be a good idea if the Seniors played an annual Home and Away match.

This became the Lord Dunk trophy, and on Wednesday 16 players from each club lined up in the Downes home leg of the trophy, where Downes managed to win 3½ to 2½.

The Green Keepers revenge and Devonians versus the Rest of the World are examples of two more of the club’s annual traditions.

This week was also notable for probably the most prestigious event in any golf clubs calendar, namely the Club Championships.

These are played over two rounds and in two formats. The Ladies first round took place on Tuesday and the Men’s rounds were played over the weekend. We will leave the report and outcome of these events until next week’s article.