A Glorious Day of Golf at The Legendary Richmond Golf Club
Our Fixture at The Richmond Golf Club delivered everything an OD golfer could wish for: sunshine, camaraderie, competitive spirit, and — thanks to our host Justin Hatfield — a pre‑round spread of sandwiches and drinks that set the tone beautifully. Justin’s hospitality was as immaculate as the greens, and we are deeply grateful for his generosity.
With temperatures hitting 24 degrees and blue skies stretching across Richmond Park, the stage was set for a superb afternoon of golf. The fairways, still recovering from the long summer drought, were a little thirsty — but the tees and greens were in excellent condition, and the bunkers… well, they were pristine. Too pristine, in fact. They seemed determined to prove their existence by attracting our golf balls with magnetic enthusiasm.
By the 7th hole I was beginning to suspect that a bucket and spade might have been more useful than my 8‑iron.
The Match Format we agreed on, was a friendly but fiercely competitive 2‑ball better‑ball match:
One team featured Justin and Cameron, with Nigel and Gilbert lining up together as their opponents.
A simple format, but one that quickly revealed who had mastered Richmond’s famously large, undulating greens — and who had not.
Putting: A Tale of Two Realities
While Nigel, Justin, and I spent much of the round attempting to decode the greens’ slopes (usually requiring three putts and a moment of quiet reflection), Cameron demonstrated how putting should be done: one stroke, centre cup, no drama.
His confidence on the greens was matched only by his power off the tee. Now studying at the University of Canterbury, Cameron once again showcased his ability to launch the ball 60 yards past ours — except on the rare occasion when a tree intervened and reminded him of the laws of physics.
The Battle to the 18th
Despite Nigel and I clawing back holes throughout the round, Cameron and Justin maintained a steady lead, reaching the 17th dormi two.
For those unfamiliar, dormi comes from the French to sleep — meaning the leading pair can relax, as they cannot lose the match. Naturally, Nigel and I took this as an invitation to do the exact opposite.
With a final push on the 18th, we squared the match, ensuring that everyone walked off the course smiling — and that the fixture ended in the best ODGS tradition: competitive spirit, good humour, and shared satisfaction.
A Final Word of Thanks
Our sincere thanks go to Justin for hosting us so generously, especially while juggling the joys of entertaining a lively eight‑month‑old grandson. We hope he’ll join us again soon — and that more Old Dovorians will take the opportunity to experience days like this with the OD Golf Society.
If you’re an OD golfer who hasn’t yet joined us, we’d love to welcome you. Great courses, great company, and great stories — it’s everything OD golf should be.
Gilbert Thompson
Captain, Old Dovorian Golf Society
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