IINTERCORPS NTERCORPS CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONSHIP
SAUNTON GOLF CLUB
The draw for the 51st Inter Corps Championship, generously sponsored by Army Sport, took place on Wed 9 Jul following the conclusion of the Matchplay finals, Prize Giving, and AGM It was conducted by Army Sport CEO, Maj Gen (Retd) Darrell Amison CBE, who was visiting the event as a guest, and overseen by Tournament Director, Capt David Thomas Int Corps A total of 17 teams entered this year’s competition: 12 ‘A’ teams (with RCAM not fielding a team) and 5 ‘B’ teams The RA and RE ‘A’ teams were seeded 1 and 2 respectively, as winners and runnersup in the 2024 Championship, with the remaining teams drawn at random Before the main draw, a preliminary ballot was held to decide which of the ‘B’ teams would unfortunately miss out This year, RE (B) drew the short straw, leaving the rest to join the main draw When Maj Gen Amison drew the names of the teams set to tee off at 0730hrs, one player called out “Thanks, Sir!” – a remark that sparked laughter and set a light-hearted tone for the competition ahead
Play on day one was briefly delayed due to a dense morning mist on the West Course, pushing the start back by 15 minutes. Once the sun broke through, it did so with intensity. Conditions became scorching, with temperatures steadily climbing throughout the day Fairways baked dry and ran firm, while the already fast greens demanded precise control The course itself was unforgiving, narrow in places, with long, penal rough Several matches saw players battle not only their opponents but also the relentless heat and testing layout Fatigue became a factor late in the day, particularly for teams facing tight turnarounds between matches
The first match was Inf (B) vs R Sigs (B). This clash went the distance, finishing level at 2½–2½, before R Sigs (B) held their nerve in the playoff to progress The second match saw AGC (B) face RAC, with the RAC team delivering a solid 3½–1½ victory Match three, REME (A) vs AAC, produced one of the most dominant displays of the day, as REME (A) whitewashed AAC 5–0, laying down a strong early marker. In match four, R Sigs (A) faced RA, with the Gunners producing a composed and consistent performance to secure a 3½–1½ win In the fifth match, RE overcame REME (B) 4–1 in convincing fashion Match six saw RAMS edge out Int Corps 3–2 in a tightly contested encounter that went down to the final pair. Match seven, RAPTC vs AGC (A), was dominated by AGC (A), who eased to a 4½–½ victory The final match of the morning, Inf (A) vs RLC, saw Inf (A) overpower RLC 4–1
As temperatures continued to rise into the afternoon, the relentless heat took its toll across both the main and plate competitions Fatigue tested physical and mental resilience, prompting the committee to take precautions, including placing iced water bottles at various points around the course One trip to the local Tesco reportedly emptied the store of its small bottled water supplies and all ice. Player safety remained the main concern throughout the day.
In the plate competition, Inf (B) showed strong early form, securing a 3½–1½ victory over AGC (B) AAC delivered one of the most dominant performances of the afternoon, brushing aside R Sigs (A) 4½–½. REME (B) claimed a solid 3–2 win over Int Corps, while RAPTC impressed with a confident 3½–1½ victory over RLC Despite the soaring temperatures, RAPTC maintained a strong tempo and were rewarded with a deserved win
In the main competition, R Sigs (B) edged past RAC 3–2 in a closely contested encounter, holding their nerve in the decisive matches The RA narrowly defeated REME (A) 3–2 in another tight battle RE prevailed over RAMS 4–1, and the final match of the day, Inf (A) vs AGC (A), extended well into the evening With both sides tied 2½–2½, the outcome was decided by a playoff under fading light. Torches were needed to illuminate the flag for approach shots, but sufficient light remained to complete the hole in Infantry’s favour Inf (A) held their nerve to edge out AGC (A), the final putt dropping just before 2200hrs
As the sun set on a gruelling day, players from all teams earned admiration for their stamina, sportsmanship, and commitment under testing conditions
Day two of the Inter Corps Championship was shaped not only by excellent golf but also by soaring temperatures, prompting the Championship committee to take swift and sensible action. To safeguard player welfare, the format was adjusted: four holes were removed from the main competition, and three from the plate and Stableford competitions, creating shortened rounds It was also decided that the Stableford competition (REME Shield) for those eliminated from the afternoon main and plate rounds on Thursday would not serve as a qualifier Additional water stations were again placed around the course to help players cope with the intense heat
The main results were:
Inter Corps Champions – RE
Runners-Up – RA
Plate Winners – RAPTC
Plate Runners-Up – Inf (B)
Stableford Winners – REME (A)
Stableford Runners-Up – AGC (A)
The Army Championships 2026 will take place at Saunton GC over Sun 5 – Fri 10 Jul 26.