What a fabulous day at our club on Monday, as Club Captain Tony Negal proudly presented the Marjorie McClure specialist school, with a Sunshine Coach, which has been generously funded by the members of Sundridge Park, through Tony's fundraising efforts over the past 12 months of his term in office.

The coach was received with big smiles and applause from the children and teachers of the Marjorie McClure school, in-front of Club Members and guests who participated in the Celebrity-Am.

The tournament itself was a great success with a packed field, battling it out for the prizes over the East course. It was a great couple of days for Roger Tilley, Simon Morrell (as I will reveal later in my newsletter), who along with Bob Wilson and Tim Wren shot a total of 93 points to take the top prize of Motocaddy S1 trolley's.

Four points back in the runner-up spot was the events main sponsor, Rob Sargent from Langford Russell with his team of Dan Dring, Mick McCarthy and Mark Thurston and in the process, taking away some very nice Bushnell watches.

In third place was Martin Dennis, Tommy White, Zep Fermi and Adger Brown who were the recipients of some FootJoy shoes and in fourth and winning a Titleist bag each were Dhan Sharma (Maze Wealth and 9th hole challenge sponsor), Dave Oatley, Andrew Franklin, Julian Thompson.

Club Captain Tony Negal also took part in the ice bucket challenge Monday (brave man) at his Celebrity-Am charity event. All proceeds were donated to his charity.

Click here to view his video.

Another video you may be interested in is of me on the Weather Network - Click here to see for yourself.

On Sunday, 16 Pairings returned to play in the Capt/Pro challenge final for those that had either won or halved their match against the Capt/Pro team throughout the year. In what now seems as a warm up to greater things, it was the team of Simon Morrell & Roger Tilley with an impressive return of 41 points who took the title. The runners-up were Allister Andrews & Trevor Heath on countback from David & Matthew Horder both having shot 39pts.

A really enjoyable day was had by the 28 golfers who entered this year's Generation Cup. Entries were formed from Father & Son, Father & Daughter and Father and Son in-law all competing for their relevant trophy. The results are as follows:

Gunson Trophy - Father & Son Scratch - Gross 69 - Robin & David Lawrence
Packham Trophy - Father & Son Stableford - 45 Points - Henry & Phil Baines
Parent Child - 42 Points - Alan & David Blair
Generation Cup - Any Relation - 42 Points - Paul & Nick Greenwood

Massive congratulations go to our Perman Team who gave a commanding performance beating Dartford last weekend on there home turf last weekend. Sam Keevill's team beat Dartford away 8-4 to get through to the finals against Royal Blackheath at Knole Park to be played on Sunday, 5 October. Obviously I will keep you informed with all the action that takes place in a couple of weeks' time.

Well done to Annabel Evans who shot a fine nett 69 in the Silver Division, to win the Medal & the Doxford trophy from runner up ladies Captain Helen Kennedy who shot a nett 70. Jean Atkinson won the Bronze division with a nett 78.

Lastly many apologies to Stuart Seamons who I omitted as the winner of the Silver section of the Balchin Cup in my last newsletter.

'Never mind the football - how is Victor Dubuisson doing?' is a question you might hear this weekend. It's Ryder Cup week and Europe are odds-on favourites to win as they did at Medinah in 2012 and at Celtic Manor two years before that.

All season long, everything has looked to be in favour of the tournament hosts. They've got two of the three major winners from 2014; two of the top three in the world rankings and four of the top six.

It's a home game at Gleneagles and Tiger Woods isn't playing. The in-form player in America, Billy Horschel, isn't involved, either, and there's no place for the unflappable but injured Jason Dufner, one of just three Americans able to win on that famous Sunday at Medinah. The others both had the surname 'Johnson' and Dustin will be sorely missed. And what about Medinah? If the US can't convert that lead on home soil, how on earth are they going to win in Scotland?

Europe meanwhile have Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter, respectively the best player in the world and the best Ryder Cup player of this generation. They have that home advantage and among their ranks is a Scot who lives down the road and a gritty Dane who won at the course a couple of years ago.

Sergio Garcia is healthy and happy again, Victor Dubuisson beat Bubba Watson on his way to the World Match Play final, Justin Rose has won a major since he took down Phil Mickelson for the second time in their singles battle, Jamie Donaldson is bang in-form, Martin Kaymer is in a better place than when he so bravely holed the putt that ensured Europe could not lose...

It all screams Europe, who also happen to have won seven of the last nine Ryder Cup matches in a period of real dominance.

Even the caveats are unconvincing. Is it really that relevant that the last US captain to win on European soil was Tom Watson, or is it more relevant that it's now 21 years since that happened? Is Watson that much more of an inspiration than, say, Davis Love, one of the most popular figures in the sport yet unable to get his side over the line at Medinah?

How significant is it that Europe are favourites? How heavy a tag is it, really? To my mind it's one which Europe are prepared to carry. Perhaps the US aren't as they continue to struggle, but for the hosts I really don't believe that they're disadvantaged by being the team to beat - particularly with many of the media suggesting it's going to be tight.

I think Europe will win the Ryder Cup. I believe that the key factors are all in their favour, right down to captain - Paul McGinley may not have achieved what Watson has achieved, but in the eyes of the European team I dare say he's an equally inspirational figure and he's left no stone unturned in his bid to have Europe ready for this ultimate test. Now look forward to three days of nail biting drama, let the battle commence!

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