Our club badge, a bell crossed by a golf club, is symbolic of the raison d’être of the NOMADS – through golf, the remembrance of others.
Our 2026 Nationals was held in the scenic Hampshire countryside, Old Thorns boasts a 6,288-yard Par 72 golf course designed by the BBC’s late ‘voice of Golf’ Peter Alliss and provides a great test for all abilities. Notwithstanding a exceptional summer that brought extreme temperatures, NO rain and very dry fairways, from elevated tees and tree lined fairways to holes featuring lakes and creeks every hole offered a different challenge. The entrants all became used to hitting 300 yard drives with ease. The quality of the course and tenacity of our 70 golfers in extreme heat resulted in very few moans being registered about the two days of golf.
The exquisite 4 star resort was home to some 125 Nomads and their partners, guests and sponsors for the 3 days. As would be expected the Bar was well supported while Nomads rekindled old friendships and developed new ones. No less than 7 countries were represented at the event.
Our 3rd Nationals was also a platform for a few significant events and milestones for UK Nomads. We welcomed our Furtherance of Golf partner, Blind Golf UK to our Nationals for the first time. It was also the year of change at the helm as one of our Pioneers and Chairman, Robbie Hillhouse turned over the mantle to Brian Burger who will lead UK Nomads for the next two years. We wish Brian well in his new role and Robbie who gets his life back after a very successful but busy few years. We also welcomed our new incoming Vice Chairman, Dean Gunningham. Finally, we welcomed our two new Captains, Craig Wearne and Basil Burger of Berkshire and Gloucestershire respectively.
Our visiting Nomads were also able to enjoy the hospitality of a local Public House, the Deer’s Hut that looked after the group on the Thursday for enthusiastic entrants who arrived early to get the party started and Friday where we were all entertained by the famous Stu Walker and a sumptuous locally cooked South African Braai. The pinnacle of the event, as is always the case was a fantastic Gala Dinner held at Old Thorns on the Saturday evening made even more special by the amazing flowers donated by Mandy and Colin Causton from our Gloucestershire club. Summary of prizes below from what fortunately, again was a fantastic UK Nationals tournament, delivered in perfect British sunshine with amazing people who all share the common values of being a Nomad.
Old Thorns Hotel & Resort has been delivering great golf days and breaks for over four decades to hundreds of thousands of golfers. From the first round when golfing legends Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Bill Rogers & Isao Aoki duelled across the 18 challenging holes.
On behalf of the Nomads 3rd UK Nationals committee (who were all amazing people!!), thank you to all our guests for their support and many who had literally travelled round the globe to be with us. Without your support, we would not have a successful Nationals tournament in the UK.
To my fellow committee, the many fellow Nomads and friends who supported and assisted in so many ways, our amazing sponsors, fellow Nomads and Old Thorns Hotel Management, thank you for all your hard work, flexibility and giving up your valuable time to ensure the event was a success. It was indeed a privilege to be asked and then to have lead the planning and delivery of the event. Good luck to Nathan Du Pisanie who picks up the reigns to deliver our SALOP Nationals in 2027
Garth McCarthy
UK National Coordinator – 2026