Newark Golf Club will play Mountbuilders Golf Club, in Newark, Ohio, US, in the latest contest of a biennual tournament played since 1995.
Ready to travel to America hoping to retain the Advertiser Trophy are (front, left to right) Kevin Ferguson, Tracy Ferguson, Ann Scothern, and Roy Williams (back, left to right) David Fox and Clyde Scothern. (070912JT6-9)
The event, played like the Ryder Cup, was first organised when professional players Tony Bennett, of Newark, and Larry McIntyre, of Mountbuilders, met up to discuss the idea of a game between the two clubs.
They compete for the Newark Advertiser Trophy.
It is the tenth match between the clubs, and current holders Newark have won or retained the trophy seven times.
If the game is drawn, the holders keep the trophy for the next two years.
Clyde Scothern, captain of the Newark team, said: “We are looking to retain the trophy over in America.
“The Mountbuilders last won it back in 2004, and we want to make sure we can keep hold of it like we have done in recent years.”
The club will take eight players to Ohio for the two-day tournament.
A pairs competition the first day is followed by singles on the second day.
Newark retained the trophy in 2010 when the two sides drew 13.5-13.5.
Scothern said: “I don’t know if we will retain it. We didn’t think we’d manage it last time.
“Golf is a funny old game, but hopefully we will manage to bring the trophy back home with us.
“The friendship between the clubs comes first, but we get extremely competitive when we are on the course.
“It’s a very nice course, and quite unusual because it has some Indian burial mounds surrounding the greens, which they can’t remove.”
Scothern said the club would play other games as well, before the team splits up to travel round the area.
The match will be played on September 22 and 23.
