( CNN ) -- In a little-known corner of southern England , more than 130 men are wrapping up in their winter warmers and drinking down their last whiskeys , as they prepare to do battle with their fiercest foes on the fairways . Their goal : a place in the fabled history of sporting rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge Universities . The `` President 's Putter '' event takes place every January at Rye Golf Club between alumni of the two famous academic institutions . Competitors , whose ages can range from 18 to 85 , travel from such far-off places as the U.S. , South Africa and Asia in a quest to attach their winning ball to the fabled President 's Putter -- a hickory-shafted instrument dating back to the inaugural event of 1920 . David Normoyle flew in from Far Hills , New Jersey last week to see in the New Year with friends before heading down to Rye to take part in the event , which is scheduled to start on Friday . He is just hoping the heavy snowfall forecast for the rest of the week will not cause the competition to be called off for only the second time in its history . `` There 's a great tradition of the event going forward in spite of the weather , '' says Normoyle , 31 , who studied history at Cambridge . `` Last year , there was a hard frost and a very thick fog . There 's something lovely about the warmth in the clubhouse at the end of the day when it 's freezing cold outside . It really adds to the atmosphere of the whole thing . '' While the competition is always intense -- many players have scratch or single-figure handicaps -- the matches are played in a jovial spirit and the motto of the event is `` serious fun . '' The winner 's medal carries the Latin inscription `` Primus inter pares , '' which is loosely translated by the Putter fraternity as `` he was lucky to win . '' The competition takes place over four days , with a dinner held on the eve of the Sunday final , followed by a night out amid the cobbled streets of the medieval town of Rye . `` People push the boat out at both ends of the day , '' says David Bonsall , Treasurer of the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society , which organizes the event . `` There are often a few whiskey macs and bloody marys on the first tee to bury the memories of the night before . '' Entry to the President 's Putter is limited to golfing `` Blues , '' the term given to those who play for the Oxford or Cambridge teams at sport . January is the chosen month because if falls at a time when students and graduates are generally on vacation . In its early years , the Putter would be contested by some of the finest players of the day : four of Great Britain 's 1926 Walker Cup side were Oxbridge graduates . The record for consecutive appearances is held by World War Two army parachutist Peter Gracey , who played in 57 Putters before finally hanging up his spikes in 2006 at the age 84 . Other well-known competitors include the former England cricket captain Ted Dexter , who won the event twice in the 1980s . While the snow flakes continue to fall on the frosty fairways of the course , braver competitors have been out practicing their games . Others have been sharing stories in the warmth of the clubhouse bar as they wait to find out whether their annual pilgrimage has been worthwhile . `` It would be a huge disappointment if it did n't happen , '' says Normoyle . `` But we 'll make do with whatever the decision is and we 'll have fun whatever . ''
Oxford and Cambridge alumni brave January weather for annual President 's Putter competition . Players aged 18 to 80 travel from U.S. , Asia to take part . Past winners include former England cricket captain Ted Dexter . Heavy snow threatens to call off event for just second time since 1920 .