words by Peter Handcock

This week, 640 school alumni make their annual pilgrimage to the Kent coast for the 101st year of the Halford Hewitt tournament. A festival of golf where 10 old boys (and girls) from a fixed list of 64 public schools across the Isles compete in a team scratch foursomes knockout at Royal Cinque Ports (and Royal St George’s for the opening rounds). Some aim to survive round one, others chase another title—but for all, it’s a reunion first, where golf takes a back seat to the camaraderie and spirit of the game.

Half Par has taken a delve into the history, specifically a series of Trivia books around the event, to share more about what makes this contest so unique.

The Hewitt

With its format, characters, and long history, the Halford Hewitt is rich with hilarious stories and memorable anecdotes. Players live and breathe through their school, sharing tales with fellow competitors and across generations, fostering a unique brotherhood among Hewitt men. While the Hewitt might only be reserved for those lucky few who attended one of the 64 public schools who play in the event each year, in many ways some of the interesting anecdotes from its history are merely an echo for the wonderful format that is foursomes matchplay, where anything can—and indeed does—happen!

One of these men, Sam Smale (Haileybury) has done a remarkable job collecting stats and stories from the Halford Hewitt, immortalising them in his Halford Hewitt Trivia books. In my opinion, they’re the most entertaining books in golf, meticulously detailing stats such as the most and least successful surnames in Hewitt history: Williamson boasts a 63% win rate, while Edwards lags at 20% (considering there have been a total of 27,175 games in the Hewitt since its inception, this level of detail is remarkable) and sharing hilarious tales that could only be believed within the walls of a golf club.

Donald Steele, in his foreword, perfectly captures the spirit of these stories and the poetic license they sometimes require: “Recollections of what happened the night before are easily distorted. Poetic license is, therefore, allowable on the basis that it is a pity to spoil a good story with an inconvenient truth.”

Fact & Folklore

This blend of fact and folklore is what makes the book so enjoyable. It opens with a deep dive into individual, pair, and school records. Eton, winners of the 100th anniversary last year, have an unblemished record in finals—13 appearances, 13 victories—hence the saying, “Eton don’t lose finals.” As a result, Gerald Micklem’s famous words ring truer than ever this year: “The secret to a good Hewitt is first to get rid of the holders, then to get rid of Eton – and then we can all have a jolly good time!”

But it is Charterhouse who hold the record for most Hewitt wins, with 17 titles since 1924. That number should arguably be 18 if not for the infamous collapse in 2010 against Clifton. Charterhouse were cruising in the deciding game, so much so that the Hon Sec gave the nod for their victory to be etched in gold leaf. But a dramatic late collapse saw Clifton snatch the win, leaving the trophy presented with masking tape hastily covering the premature gold leaf behind. To this day, faint marks remain beneath Clifton’s name where Charterhouse had to be scratched off.

The eagle-eyed observer will still see remnants of the black masking tape used back in 2010

While those two schools dominate the history books, others have had a rougher time. Success in the Hewitt isn’t as straightforward as it has been for Eton and Charterhouse—incidentally the only Hewitt teams to have also won the FA Cup (Old Carthusians in 1881, Old Etonians in 1882). For most schools, reaching the third round is a dream, but few have experienced heartbreak quite like Malvern, who have won just one of the nine finals they’ve reached. Case in point: They beat Radley eight times in a row, but when it mattered most—in the 1996 final—Radley prevailed 3–2.

When it comes to Hewitt immortality, there are three paths: individual brilliance as an exceptional golfer, longevity, or, perhaps more importantly, being a true character.

Individual Brilliance

At the top end of the competition, the standard is exceptionally high, with Walker Cup players and future professionals not uncommon. According to Sam’s meticulous records—which are near perfect, perhaps only faltering due to a hiccup in 1962 when the caddymaster at RSG burned the results cards to keep warm—CD Lawrie & DMA Steel (Fettes) stand as the most successful pairing in Hewitt history, winning 35 of their 37 matches together. On the flip side, the unenviable record for most consecutive losses sits at 27 matches between 1975 and 2009, though the names remain mercifully anonymous.

Lawrie and Steel (yes, Donald) also hold the record for the longest unbeaten run by a pair, with 30 consecutive wins—a staggering feat in foursomes, where anything can happen. Take, for example, one of the biggest upsets in Hewitt history in 2006, when MD Atkins & JJH Northway (Berkhamsted), both off 6 handicaps, defeated Ross McGowan & MWJD Low (Epsom) in the deciding match. McGowan (of later European Tour fame) was playing off +5 and his partner a lowly +3.

The unpredictability of April’s links conditions and the nature of the format have also led to some staggering scorelines. The record for the earliest finish belongs to Tonbridge, who teed off at 6:00am in 1947 thanks to British Double Summer Time. Walker Cupper Alec Hill & NA Keith won 10&8 against Bancroft’s and were back in The Chequers for the first drink of the day by 7:30am.

Longevity

While quality golf is important in the Hewitt, longevity is, in my unqualified opinion, where the event truly shines. Few other places in golf can a 19-year-old +4 handicapper find himself up against a 70-year-old still turning out for one of the less competitive schools, simply because there’s no young talent to replace him. Naturally, Sam’s book is filled with longevity stats: RJ Coombes (Aldenham) has played in the event for 55 years (1950-2004), more than any other player, while DI Stirk (Blundell’s) boasts the longest span, first teeing it up in 1938 and making his final appearance in 1997—an astonishing 60-year stretch. For context, Stirk’s Hewitt career-arc spans pre-WWII times, making his first appearance in the same year when the USGA implemented the 14-club rule, right through until Tony Blair was elected into government and Tiger Woods won his first Major Championship at Augusta National.

Stirk also holds the record as the oldest player to win a match, doing so at the age of 80 in 1996. At 76, he was also part of the longest Hewitt match ever played—a 28-hole marathon against Merchiston. Unfortunately, it didn’t go his way. “It seems David, an excellent putter, had a four-footer to win at the 22nd. Sadly, at the critical moment, the butt of his long-shafted, high-tech (c.1907) putter caught in his flies, and he squirted the putt out to the right.” Apparently, David never recovered.

Age isn’t always a curse, though. DS Dannhauser and DNA Simpson (Merchant Taylors’) both played in the 1975 and 2009 finals, their only two appearances in the championship match separated by 34 years. Meanwhile, AG Clay (Tonbridge) was 70 years old when he won 1up with his partner in the 2009 final. Clay also shares the record for the most games played in the Hewitt, tied with JNS Lowe (Malvern) at a staggering 186 matches.

That number is all the more remarkable when you consider that, as of 2018 when the last trivia book was published, only 58 Hewitt men have played 100 games (earning the title of Centurion), a feat that requires both a long career and a place at a school with a strong golfing tradition. After all, the average Hewitt player competes in just 14 games over a six-year span. GE Taggart (Tonbridge) was the fastest to reach Centurion status, doing so in just 25 years. He also holds the record for the most finals appearances by an individual, reaching 12 and winning 9, also a record.

True Characters

But it’s not all about winning. For most of the 640 hopefuls, the Hewitt is as much about camaraderie, reunions, and the pride of representing their school as it is about the competition itself.

Many players travel remarkable distances just to take part. In 2008, the Canford side collectively covered 22,121 miles to make it to the event, flying in from Spain, Toulouse, Dubai, Barbados, South Africa, and across the UK. As for individual efforts, few can match David Peel (Clifton) in 1959. He drove overnight from Scotland, arrived late with no time for even a practice swing, won his match 9&8 against Tonbridge—taking only 11 shots in the process—before the team lost and he drove straight back to Scotland. 100 miles driven for every strike of the ball.

When it comes to camaraderie in the Hewitt, few stories top Cranleigh’s antics in 1949. Drawn against a strong Harrow side in the first round, they faced an opponent missing its captain, Leonard Crawley—the renowned golf writer—who had decided to stay in London for work, expecting to join later for the more serious competition. Against the odds, Cranleigh pulled off the upset and sent a telegram that read: “Tell Crawley to bring his pen, but leave his clubs behind!”

As for quirks in the Hewitt, Mark Baldock (Hurstpierpoint) surely takes the crown for playing as both a left- and right-hander. In the 2008 Grafton Morrish (another public schools event), his opponents were stunned to learn they had just lost to a man who had only been playing left-handed for ten weeks.

And then there’s the utterly ridiculous. In 1973, a Clifton player (named in the book but we will keep him anonymous here) came to the Hewitt with a mistress, and went out for dinner one night and happened to witness a murder. The subsequent police investigation meant his wife found out and her husband was never allowed to attend a Hewitt again. Another family drama unfolded when David “The Doctor” Rushton (Chigwell) made a rather bold announcement just three days after the birth of his son: “You are well enough, the baby is well enough, I am off to the Hewitt.” Fortunately, this story has a happier ending than the Clifton drama—21 years later, the Rushtons fulfilled their dream of playing together in the Hewitt.

In short, the Hewitt is a world of its own. Though many will never have the chance to play in it, the storytelling and friendly competition resonate with all golfers. Sam’s book perfectly encapsulates what makes this event so wonderful—pure, unadulterated golf antics.

I must mention that my connection to the Hewitt stems from my love for Deal, and the closest I’ve come to the event was caddying in last year’s tournament—first for Trent, then for Cranleigh, who reached the semi-finals. My curiosity about the Hewitt has been high ever since I joined the club, where each school’s coat of arms hangs on the wall next to the giant honour boards in the Jack Aisher Room. Regrettably, I can relate to the immortal words of that famous amateur golfer who, when asked if he had any regrets at the end of his illustrious career, replied without hesitation: “Not going to a school that entitled me to play in the Hewitt.”

Now for the bad news for anyone wishing to dive deeper into this nuanced sub-genre of British golf – this book is not for sale. However, should you be able to borrow a copy from a friend, I guarantee you an enjoyable few evening’s reading.

We also recorded a wonderful podcast with Nick Owen, the Honorary Secretary of the Hewitt, covering the event’s history and sharing even more anecdotes from recent years. You can find this episode here and on all major podcast platforms.

Lastly, a huge thanks once again to Sam Smale for dedicating endless hours of his life to this marvellous book. Fingers crossed someone takes over the reins with as much passion when Sam eventually hangs up his FootJoys.

And best of luck to the 640 competitors this week—may the standard of golf and camaraderie remain just as strong for the next 101 years.

We have taken the liberty of publishing the tournament winners since its inception below, along with the losing finalists. 

Previous Winners