Date: January 6, 2026
Course: St Michael’s Golf Club
Tee Time: 11:00 am
Players:
Australia 🇦🇺 Steve Fanale (Captain), Daniel Crnkovic, Adrian Hoess, Sonny Kianou, Andrew Hou, Dean Austin
England 🏴 Tom Cooper (Captain), John Edmond, Freddie Humphries, Jonny Slipper, Johnny Lambert, Paul Tetlow
Weather: Sunny summer day
Conditions: Moderate coastal winds. Enough to keep you honest.
The Golf Ashes
The Ashes is one of sport’s great rivalries. Born in cricket, fuelled by history, pride, and just the right amount of tension between Australia and England. This version, played on fairways rather than pitches, was the brainchild of John Edmond, who had the simple yet excellent idea of bringing six Aussies and six Pommies together to see whether the rivalry translated to golf.
It turns out it does.
We all arrived early at St Michael’s, soaking up what was a glorious summer morning. A few photos, a couple of drinks, plenty of banter, and that familiar match-play buzz that feels very different to a normal round. Once teams were set, it was straight into it. Three four-ball matches, two Australians and two Englishmen in each group, with the best Stableford score per hole deciding the result.
I was out in the first match with Daniel Crnkovic against John Edmond and Paul Tetlow. We didn’t start well and found ourselves chasing early, but Daniel kept us in the fight while I slowly found something resembling a golf swing. After a few momentum swings, things turned, and we managed to close out the match 3 & 2, putting Australia one up.
In the second match, Sonny Kianou and Dean Austin led from the beginning and held a one or two-hole lead all the way through, finally doing the job against Johnny Lambert and Tom Cooper with 2 to play, which meant the Ashes were secured before the final group finished.
The last match belonged to the youth. England’s young guns, Jonny Slipper and Freddie Humphries, were outstanding and handed the Australians a proper defeat. Exactly how young blokes should play match play.
In the end, Australia lifted the Ashes urn, but the scoreline only tells part of the story. The real win was the format. Competitive golf, genuine rivalry, plenty of laughs, and a day that felt like the beginning of something rather than a one-off.
This one should absolutely happen again.
Scores & Prizes
Nearest the Pin
John Edmond - 5th Green
Freddie Humphries – 12th Green
Stableford Segments
Jonny Slipper - Front 9 (1–9) – 19 points
Johnny Lambert - Back 9 (10–18) – 22 points
Overall Stableford
John Edmond – 35 points
Steve Fanale – 35 points
Match Results (Ashes)
🇦🇺 Match 1: S.Fanale & D.Crnkovic def. J.Edmond & P.Tetlow (3 & 2)
🇦🇺 Match 2: S.Kianou & D.Austin def. J.Lambert & T.Cooper (3 & 2)
🏴 Match 3: J.Slipper & F.Humphries def. A.Hou & A.Hoess (6 & 5)
Final Result: Australia win the Ashes 2–1
