The Doddie Cup Returns
July 30, 2026
There are some events that quietly become traditions. With each passing year, they bring familiar faces back together while welcoming new ones along the way. The Doddie Cup has become one of those occasions.
On Friday 24th July, colleagues, clients and friends returned to Close House Golf Club for the fourth annual Doddie Cup, raising an incredible £10,000 in support of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation. The sun shone from the opening tee to the final putt, while a welcome breeze kept things interesting across The Filly course, setting the scene for another memorable day of fundraising and friendly competition.
The morning began with a welcome from SPACE Architects' captain Rob Charlton, followed by Lawrence Inkster, representing AtkinsRéalis, before SPACE Director Paul Broadfoot outlined the format for the day and introduced the challenges awaiting players across the course. After the now customary group photograph on Close House's iconic bridge, attention turned to a brand-new addition to the Doddie Cup: the Captain's Drive-Off.
With Rob joking that he hadn't swung a golf club for thirty years and Lawrence admitting it had been closer to forty for him, expectations were suitably measured. Lawrence stepped up first, sending an impressive drive straight down the fairway to the applause of the crowd. Rob followed after what he described as a "warm-up swing", receiving no shortage of advice and encouragement from those gathered behind him before striking the ball cleanly to officially get the day underway. While Paul had secretly hoped the Captain's Drive-Off might provide a little comic relief, both captains rose to the occasion. Afterwards, Rob summed up the experience with a smile: "What's all the fuss about? This golf lark is easy."
With a shotgun start, golfers made their way to every corner of the course. Alongside the pairs Stableford matchplay, players tested themselves in nearest-the-pin challenges, longest-drive competitions, and the ever-popular Beat the Pro. The Spin the Wheel and Darts Challenge once again added an unpredictable twist, assuring that even the most carefully planned round could change in an instant. As temperatures rose and scorecards began to fill, the halfway refreshments and drinks buggy proved especially popular, offering cold drinks and well-timed treats before the closing stretch.
Back at the clubhouse, players settled in for a delicious meal prepared by the Close House team, with many making the most of the sunshine on the terrace overlooking the course. It was a chance to compare scorecards and revisit the day’s best shots before attention turned to the prizegiving. AtkinsRéalis were announced as this year’s winners, securing the Doddie Cup and no doubt intensifying the rivalry ahead of next year’s event.
More important than the final leaderboard, however, was the generosity shown throughout the day. Through raffle entries, Mulligan donations, sponsorship, and the support of everyone in attendance, this year’s event raised £10,000 for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, doubling last year’s total and making it a Doddie Cup to remember. The funds will support the Foundation’s continued work to find effective treatments for Motor Neurone Disease and improve the lives of those affected by it, carrying forward Doddie Weir’s determination to create a future free from MND.
We would like to thank AtkinsRéalis for once again partnering with us, together with our principal sponsors, Rockwool and AIM, and our other sponsors: Altro, Dalkia, DPP Planning, Bower + Kirkland, Castle, Galliford Try, Kier, Link MEP, Robertson, The Tiling Company and Wates. Our thanks also go to the team at Close House, whose attentive service and seamless organisation ensured the day ran smoothly from beginning to end.