2025

Introduction

What a tournament, what a spectacle! The 2025 Danger Golf World Cup at Walton Park Stadium was an event for the ages. While the sources don't specify the weather or host hospitality, one can only imagine it was a scorching hot British summer's day, perfectly complemented by the impeccable hospitality and BBQ that made the hosts so appreciated! This was truly a momentous occasion, as England became the first team to win the Danger Golf World Cup an incredible five times, etching their name into the annals of history. However, this victory wasn't without its drama, as the 2025 DGWC will undoubtedly go down in the record books as the most controversy-filled tournament ever witnessed.

Group Phase

The group stages set the tone for the thrilling competition:

Group A was a tight affair, where Mexico emerged victorious with dominant performances against both England and the Vatican. England faced an early upset, being dominated by Mexico's long-range hitter and "best player in the world," Matt Jared, in a 2-1 defeat. The Vatican, despite a "worldie" from Greenwood, ultimately succumbed to Mexico in a match that ended in controversy.

Group B saw a truly dominant display from Ireland, who were the only team in the group stages to not concede a single round. Their victory over Italy included Raftery playing three shots blindfolded, notably eliminating Alf with his second shot – a moment hailed as the "shot of the day". Iran made a valiant debut, securing a huge victory against Lovely despite what was described as a biased eliminator.

The in-between phases

The competition heated up in the Semi Playoff and Fatal Four Way:

England secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Iran in the Semi Final Playoff, skillfully avoiding the dreaded Fatal Four Way round. This was a great victory for the eliminator, Raftery.

The Fatal Four Way was a chaotic and strategic battle featuring Iran, Lovely, Italy, and the Vatican, all vying for the final semi-final spot in a last team standing shootout. This round marked Danger Golf's first introduction of "sprinkler play". Lovely emerged victorious, thanks to a tactical masterclass from Goodman, after Iran lost a player early to the Vatican.

Knockouts

The knockouts were where the drama and controversy truly peaked:

In Semi Final 1, England defeated Mexico 2-1, a match controversially described as "cheats win again even though they had a self elimination".

Semi Final 2 was a heartbreaker for Ireland, who suffered a 2-0 defeat to Lovely. The sources highlight that Ireland was "cheated out of a final spot" and "once again unfairly treated by all those involved," with Lovely and the crowd reportedly "cheating" their way to the final.

And then, the moment of truth: the Final!

England faced off against Lovely, in what was described as a "tough final to watch". England triumphed 2-1, securing their fifth World Cup title. Lovely, despite battling valiantly against the odds, ultimately came in a close second. The final itself was not without its controversial eliminations, including Horlock via deflection and Whitehead due to an out-of-turn shot by the eliminator which was later overturned.

Despite the controversies that riddled the tournament, the 2025 Danger Golf World Cup was an unforgettable spectacle, culminating in England's historic fifth championship title – a truly dominant dynasty in the world of Danger Golf!