Staff WriterIf you think courtroom drama is spicy, wait until you see His Honour Judge Dennis Watson KC swap his gavel for a driver.
The newly appointed R&A Captain will stride onto the Old Course’s first tee on 19 September 2025 for the reverential Driving-in ceremony—an annual ritual that’s equal parts history lesson and theatre.
In doing so, he’ll usher in the 2025/26 season as the 272-year-old club’s latest ringmaster, proving once again that golf’s most famous starter shack doubles as a revolving door for the game’s sharpest minds.
A Legal Eagle with Links in His Blood
Born in Crosby and schooled at Uppingham, Watson caught the golf bug early, joining Royal Birkdale in 1975 as a wide-eyed teenager.
Fast-forward half a century and the 61-year-old still packs plenty of bite off the back tees, sporting a sleek 4.4 Handicap Index that would make many tour pros glance twice at the card.
His curriculum vitae reads like a Who’s Who of courtroom gravitas: called to the Bar in 1985, Recorder by 2002, Queen’s Counsel (now King’s) in 2009, and Circuit Judge from 2012 with a licence to sit in the Court of Appeal’s Criminal Division.
Somehow he’s also found time to mentor fledgling jurists as a Tutor Judge at Judicial College.
Committee Cred and Kit Inspection
For the Royal and Ancient set, it’s not enough to swing a tidy 7-iron—you need governance chops, too.
Watson joined the club in 2003 and quickly became a committee-room stalwart, serving on the Golf Development Committee and chairing the Equipment Standards Committee between 2015-2019.
In other words, if your driver’s COR looks suspicious, he’s the man who might send it to clubhead jail.
Throw in a stint as referee on The R&A’s Rules Panel and you’ve got a golfer-judge hybrid who knows both the letter and spirit of the law—on and off the fairways.
A Captain’s CV That Reads Like a Course Guide
- Early Golfing Roots: Royal Birkdale member since 1975; Club Captain in 2008; Trustee 2009-2023
- Society Ties: Proud card-carrier for Royal St George’s, Royal Cinque Ports, the Hittite, Bar, Old Uppinghamian, and Prawn golfing societies, plus the Senior Golfers’ Society
- Family Four-Ball: Wife Nicki (retired solicitor) and barrister offspring Samuel and Hannah all play the royal & ancient game
What Lies Ahead
As R&A Captain, Watson’s remit goes beyond ceremonial tee shots and tartan blazers.
He’ll represent the club at championships, preside over historic meetings, and—should tradition hold—offer the kind of wry humour you’d expect from an advocate with a 40-year rapport with the bench.
Expect him to cast a keen eye on grassroots development, equipment integrity, and the fine balance between technology and tradition that defines modern golf.
Why This Matters
The role of R&A Captain is more than an honorary pat on the back; it’s a compass for golf’s future.
From sustainability debates to the distance-ball conundrum, Watson will have a front-row seat—and perhaps a vote—on issues that shape weekend foursomes and major championships alike.
And with his courtroom pedigree, don’t be surprised if stakeholder discussions feel a touch more forensic over the next 12 months.
By blending centuries-old ceremony with 21st-century savvy, the R&A Captain continues to embody golf’s greatest paradox: forever traditional, eternally evolving.
One thing’s certain—Judge Watson’s year in office promises as much crisp storytelling as any verdict he’s ever delivered.
