A bright and sunny morning on Saturday 10th October found 12 Cambridge & Oxford golfers in Ibaragi-ken for the Autumn 2009 meeting. Shishido Hills CC West Course hosts one of the four "Major" tournaments for Japanese professionals each year, and true to that pedigree it proved to be one of the sterner tests the C&O golfers have faced over the years. We were fortunate to have the chance to play there by the kind arrangement of Mr. Yoshio Karita.

Among our modest number we were delighted to welcome two first-time C&O golf participants - Masaji Takahashi and Charles Postles. One of Ambassador Takahashi's postings had been to Australia and indeed he arrived on the first tee wearing a jacket from the President's Cup staged in Royal Melbourne GC in 1998 - in fact the only time the International Team has ever won the event. It was also very good to see Yoshi Kawamura again, back from his 3-year posting in Chicago, joining other regular players Yoshi Shimizu, John Sunley and Jim Weeks.

C&O Golf 2009 Starting off the 10th tee, after a tough first nine holes lunchtime conversation seemed to be focused more on the natural beauty of the Shishido environs than the quality of golf! At half time, Alex Miller and Steven Thomas had fared best with gross 38s, closely followed by Simon Dalby on 40. Fortified by a good lunch, for the afternoon nine it was notable that, with a single exception, every player improved on their morning score. Defending Champion Yasuzo Takeno showed his true form with a solid 42 and Yoshi Kawamura also played very well for the same score, despite an OB on the very last hole. Indeed Kawamura-san's 72 net was good enough for 3rd place, two shots behind Alex Miller's net 70. AT the end of the day, however, it was Cambridge man Simon Dalby's fine second nine 34 gross which secured him the title, with a net 69, and his gross 74 also edged out Thomas by one shot for best gross honours.
C&O Golf 2009 Winner In the long-running University match, Oxford came out on top by some way, extending their lead to 20 wins vs. 15 since records began in 1989.

The most enjoyable day concluded with a short party, distribution of prizes and presentation of The C&O Cup to Simon Dalby, by Honorary Secretary Terry Nakamura, to whom as ever out thanks go for his excellent organization of the day. It was also agreed to stage the Spring Meeting 2010 at Hodogaya CC on Saturday March 27th(subject to confirmation). C&O golfers please mark your diaries!

Steven Thomas Merton College, Oxford 1979