By Haven Pell
On October 24-26, Westwood Country Club (aka Washington) successfully defended its title in the 2025 Martin Cup versus senior teams from Philadelphia and New York/Greentree.
Now in its third year, the Martin Cup aims toward becoming a senior version of the Whitney Cup, the most popular event in the US game.
The format has evolved (and is likely to continue to in the coming years) as we seek a formula that will attract three pairs of senior players from as many clubs as possible. We hope to replicate the popular team competition experience for those in their 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s.
This year the pairs were determined by aggregate age –110, 130 and 140 years. We played two round robins: the first on Friday off level; and the second on Saturday off full handicap. On Sunday, the best two pairs at each age level played each other off full handicap for bragging rights.
Westwood won the trophy three matches to one with a team consisting of John and Kris Motz (110), Mark Philpott and Marty Hublitz (130) and Steve Hufford and Haven Pell (140).
Philadelphia won two matches and lost two with a team consisting of Alex Dean and Anders Cohen (110) Kenny Soffer and Peter Vogt (130) and Paul Bolster and Alec Monaghan (140).
New York/Greentree was the difference maker as it surprised Philadelphia in the handicap matches to finish with one win and three losses. Jeremy Wintersteen and Adam Inselbuch paired at 110, David, King and Peter Cannon at 130 and Greg VanSchaack and Gary Quam at 140.
On the final morning each of the three clubs had two pairs in the bragging rights round. Paul Bolster and Alec Monaghan beat Steve Hufford and Haven Pell 10-8. Kenny Soffer and Peter Vogt (giving a handicap of receive 30 owe 40) came back from 9-3 down to beat David King and Peter Cannon 10-9 and John and Kris Motz finished undefeated with a 10-6 win over Jeremy Winterstein and Adam Inselbuch.
We are planning to gather a group of Whitney Cup senior players and veterans in New York around the time of the USCTA dinner to discuss the format and try to encourage more clubs to field teams.
The Martin Cup was donated by Simmy Martin Jain and Christopher Martin in honor of their grandfather Alastair Martin and their father Robin Martin.
