The MGGC Individual Matchplay Championship is one of the most prestigious events we have at our club. Unfortunately, over the years some of this prestige seems to have worn off. Every year we struggle to get qualifiers to commit to the fixed dates for the quarter, semi and final matches. This has resulted in regular ‘walkovers’, which devalue the competition.
To address this next year (2026) we intend to introduce a new format whereby the Matchplay Championship will be a season long event, with members drawn to play matches over a series of knockout rounds until we arrive at a winner by season end. The draw will be published and displayed in the clubhouse throughout the season so members can see who they are drawn to play. The dates on which matches are played will be the responsibility of the two competitors to arrange. There will be a deadline date by which each round must be completed.
As a stepping stone to that format, we intend to run the 2025 Matchplay Championship as a ‘hybrid’ with fixed dates for the qualifying round (the September Monthly Medal) and the final (a Saturday in mid-October). However, the quarter and semi-finals will be played on dates to be agreed by the two competitors in each match.
We will provide more detail on specific dates and deadlines nearer the time but hopefully everyone will embrace this change and help us to bring the prestige back to the Matchplay Championship.
MGGC Match Committee
6 July 2025
