Smells like team spirit for new Hampshire golf captain Neil Dawson

Neil Dawson, second right, with members of the Hampshire first-team squad at Hayling Golf Club - from left George Saunders (Lee-on-the-Solent), Mark Burgess, Ben Lobacz (Blackmoor) and Jordan Sundborg (Shanklin & Sandown). Picture: Andrew Griffin

The North Hants GC member led Hampshire Colts to the South East Final two years running, beating Essex in 2014 and sharing the title after a tie 12 months later.

Dawson, 44, is an extremely competitive golfer but, unlike Roope and his predecessor Martin Young, he will not be a playing captain.

He currently plays off three, having been down to 1.3 at his peak, and regularly competes in Hampshire Order of Merit events.

Former Hampshire captain Colin Roope. Picture: Andrew Griffin.

The 10th golfer to lead Hampshire in the 21st century said: ‘Clearly I want to win every match we play in.

‘However, I understand the amateur game is in good shape and that won’t be possible. What I can promise is I will give it 110 per cent – as will the players.

‘My philosophy will be based around one main thing – team spirit.

‘I learned several things from managing the colts. Creating a great team environment was the main one – I will be doing that with the first team.

‘All of my plans to date are built around giving the guys the best environment possible.

‘I am a strong believer that if the guys have the right environment – and all they have to focus on is their golf – then they will deliver.

‘Preparation is key, and I may do some new things this year to see if they can be prepared just a bit better. Golf is a game of fine margins.’

With five of last year’s first-team squad having played for the ex-Colts manager in 2014/15, Dawson was the natural successor when Roope decided to step down after two years in charge.

‘Of course I was delighted to be asked,’ Dawson said.

‘Having been captain of my old golf club, Tylney Park – and Hampshire Colts manager – it feels right that this is the next step.

‘Ultimately, I am proud to serve our county as captain. Is it intimidating? Yes – I haven’t played golf at the level of our top players.

‘They have been a team for several years, so I felt like an outsider coming in with some of the older players I don’t know so well. But they have been great so far.’

The four-match league campaign gets under way with a trip to Dorset in May, with the South East English County Finals Qualifier being held in Norfolk in July.

Despite missing out on the English County Finals two years running – after winning three South East Qualifiers in a row under his two predecessors – Colin Roope will still look back on his two years in charge as Hampshire captain with immense pride.

He inherited the mantle of leading the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands from Martin Young in 2017, shortly after the team had won the English County Championship for the first time in 21 years.

So Roope was always up against it in trying to maintain Hampshire’s incredible run of reaching the English Finals in seven of the preceding 11 years.

But ever since he moved from Surrey some four years ago, he has left his mark.

Roope joined an elite club of players to have won two Order of Merits for different counties when he topped the Hampshire Order of Merit in 2018 – having claimed the Surrey equivalent in 2006.

Roope appeared for Surrey in two English County Finals in 2005 and 2006, and was part of the winning Hampshire team three years ago – a boast only the likes of amateur legend Gary Wolstenholme, who represented Leicestershire and Gloucestershire, can claim.

Roope said: ‘I gave it my best shot as captain and am proud of the players.’