Friendship Cup – A Memorable Visit to Utah
Five members of Royal Montrose Mercantile Golf Club travelled to Utah from 10th to 19th September to take part in the Friendship Cup against our American counterparts.
The group comprised Captain Peter Wood, Keith Norman, Jamie Pert, Graham Robb and Scott Henderson.
On arrival in Utah’s state capital, Salt Lake City, the group received a warm welcome from their American hosts. One of their first experiences was a visit to the famous Tabernacle, where several Friendship Cup participants were given the opportunity to join the choir for a memorable rehearsal—a unique start to what would prove to be an unforgettable trip.
The group then headed south towards Sand Hollow, stopping along the way for an evening at the ranch of Mark Leavitt, where they enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of their hosts.
The journey south took them through the spectacular scenery of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. The breathtaking canyons and dramatic landscapes were truly magnificent, providing unforgettable memories away from the golf course.
On arrival at Sand Hollow, the group played a warm-up round at Coral Canyon Golf Course before the main Friendship Cup competition got underway.
The competition began with the four-balls on Monday, followed by the singles on Tuesday. What followed was an extremely closely fought contest, with neither side prepared to give an inch. When the final matches had been completed, the competition finished in a tie.
In true Ryder Cup tradition, the trophy was therefore retained by the visitors from Scotland, ensuring that the Friendship Cup would be returning to Scotland.
Wednesday saw the focus turn from competition to fundraising, with a special fundraising day featuring a number of sporting celebrities. The day concluded with a gala dinner and presentations, followed by a further auction that raised significant sums for charitable causes.
The final leg of the trip saw the group travel to Las Vegas for an overnight stay before making the journey home on Saturday, 19th September.
Looking back, we feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to participate in the Friendship Cup, and it was a tremendous honour for Royal Montrose Mercantile Golf Club.
The welcome we received, and the way in which we were looked after throughout our visit, went far beyond our expectations. The warmth, generosity and friendship shown to us by our American counterparts were truly exceptional, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone involved in making the trip such a memorable experience.
While the competition was important, the real success of the Friendship Cup lay in the friendships forged and strengthened between our two golfing communities.
Looking ahead, we are delighted to welcome our American friends to Montrose on 1st June 2027. We very much hope that we can return the wonderful hospitality shown to us in Utah and give our American friends an equally memorable Scottish experience.
On Thursday 4th June the RMMGC hosted the Friendship Cup, an annual Ryder Cup style competition between male golfers from the USA and Scotland who make up the respective teams of The Red Rocks and Team Carnoustie, the latter comprising players from Carnoustie, Blairgowrie and the RMMGC.
Unfortunately, the weather was very unkind and play had to be suspended due to thunder, lightning and flooding! The gents did however enjoy excellent clubhouse hospitality in the evening.
They look forward to meeting up again, for the second leg of the competition, in Utah in September where we hope the sun will shine for them!
The RMMGC Finals were held on Sunday 23rd August after many weeks of knockout matches. The weather was perfect for all players which allowed them to produce their best golf for the day.
Many thanks to all Volunteers, the catering and bar staff and to Ronnie Rebecca for the entertainment after the event.
Pictured are:
Gents Club Championship - Ross Coull
Gents Club Championship Handicap - Peter Wood
Ladies Club Championship - Doreen Leask
Edna Wallwork - Ladies Nett Championship
Coronation Cup - Albert MacKie
Ladies Bronze Medal - Debbie Findlater