Hospice help comes from Goodwood golfers

Through a combination of entries, an auction and generous donations, the day raised a total of £8,135.

Teams of four headed out for a round on the James Braid-designed Downs course, with prizes awarded to the top two team Stableford scores, and top three individual Stableford scores.

Adding another competitive element was a Beat James Braid challenge, which entailed players using hickory clubs and attempting to hit the ball closer to the first hole than Goodwood’s professional, who was dressed as the legendary course architect.

After a fine round, Ian Will, Angie Martin, Richard Martin and Paul Porter returned triumphant, posting an impressive score of 98 points.

Later the players were entertained by Geoff Swain, the reigning world trick-shot champion, who performed a number of unique swings and awe-inspiring drives through the gardens in front of Goodwood House.

Some of the lowest-handicapped players in attendance were invited to replicate Swain’s shots, but none was able to match his remarkable skill.

Hugh Lowson, chief executive of Chestnut Tree House, said: “Goodwood has held many initiatives that have helped Chestnut Tree House, choosing us as the charity for the Festival of Speed and Revival, as well as hosting this golf day for the second time.

“I really enjoyed the day, playing alongside Joe Sykes, who at the age of 12 plays phenomenally well, but I think my own game has room for improvement!

“We opened 13 years ago and during that time we have helped more than 1,000 children in our community who are life-limited or life-threatened.

“Currently, we are helping around 300 children aged from a couple of days old up to 24 years, providing care in the house itself in the form of overnight stays, respite care and, where appropriate, end of life care too. We also have a team of around 35 people who provide care for families in their own homes.”

Stuart Gillett, Golf At Goodwood general manager, said: “Our charity golf day is always very well-supported and we are delighted to have been raising money for Chestnut Tree House for the second year.

“The team there do an incredible job and we hope that by raising money for them they can continue to provide vital care for young people and their families in desperately sad situations.

“We had lovely conditions on the Downs and everyone was in good spirits. The trick-shot show before dinner provided great entertainment and our terrific auctioneer did a superb job in getting people to part with their cash.”

BOGNOR

Bognor Golf Club held their annual awards evening, with more than 50 trophies awarded to this year’s winners as well as mementoes to runners-up.

Club captain Chris Hickling presented the trophies and was well supported by club secretary James MacLean.

After the awards all were treated to an excellent dinner followed by a disco.

This year’s winners include: Easter Medal Alan Cramp; Spring Tankard and Autumn Tankard Andrew Field; Bognor Challenge Norman Lee; Club Champion & Bert Reid Trophy Andy Brown, runner-up James MacLean; Captain’s Prize Simon Watts; Millbourn Cup Craig & Chris Johnson; Whitsun Cup Jake Vines; Crouch Cup Club Captain Chris Hickling; Winter four-ball James MacLean & Olly Longlands; Ladies’ Champion Chloe Court; Ladies Millbourne Sue Doughty; Mixed Pairs Norman Lee & Wendy Johnson (2017 men & ladies’ captains); Mixed Senior Pairs David Turner & Christine Puddicome; Junior Champion Jake Stoneham.

Some of this year’s notable events included Chloe Court being chosen for the county first team, Heather Tidy and Suzanne Taylor chosen for the county second team, Ian Hendry and Martin Leo winning American Golf’s national seniors pairs championship.

A number of juniors played in their county age teams – Harry Malin at U12, Harry Isham U14, Jake Stoneham U16 and U18 – and Katy Field represented the south-east in their U16 team and was also chosen for the U18 elite squad.

Bognor seniors played their last fixture of the 2016 season when they entertained Littlehampton.

It ended in a 4-4 draw, though things weren’t looking good for Bognor after they went down in the first two pairs.

Into the last pairs and Bognor were trailing by one point, but an excellent 5&4 win by Ray Leggett and Dave Chalmers ensured the match finished all-square.

Results: Jim Catt & Bryan Madgwick lost 1 down to Malcolm Miller & John Ludlow, Terry Kuhler & Frank Hodder lost 3&2 to Russel Ixer & Geoff Spooner, Andy Bence & John Owen halved with Alan Coombes & Ian Gough, Mike Matthews & Ian Bright won 5&4 over Gerry Rooke & Steve Gunner, Steve King & Clive Millett halved with Dickie Burt & John Gove, David Turner & Richard Perry won 4&3 over Peter Morris & Andy Bayford, Roger Selway & Ken Catt lost 5&4 to Nigel Smith & Jan de Vries, Ray Legett & Dave Chalmers won 5&4 over Roly Steele & Phil Lickorish.

The new lady captain of Bognor GC, Wendy Johnson, had a sunny day with not a breath of wind for her drive-in.

The theme for the day was conceived by Wendy’s vice-captain Jane Russell. Wendy is renowned for her love of order and tidiness and the ‘squeaky clean team’ theme was perfect.

Each team who played in the competition received an ‘emoji’ ball that scored double points. All teams returned with their ‘emoji’ ball, none having disappeared into the water or the rough, a triumph in itself.

Wendy provided lots of treats for the day and a good time was had by all.

Results - 1 Sara Stoneham, Nicola Holton, Sue Crossen, Debbie Fenton; 2: Chris Tuke, Sophie James, Chloe Court, Suzanne Taylor; 3 Caroline Pilbeam, Janet Carter, Sian Southerton, Jacqui Humphreys. Nearest the pins: Nicola Holton (2nd hole), Lynn Miller (5th) & Chloe Court (10th). Birdies: Suzanne Taylor, June Salt, Sheila Sargeant, Lynn Miller.

A splendid day greeted the ladies playing in the flag competition. This is for teams of four where one, two or three individual Stableford scores are added together dependent on the colour of the flag on the green. In near-perfect conditions, some high scores were achieved.

Results: 1 Wendy Johnson, June Salt, Sophie James & Sian Southerton 96pts; 2 Sheila Sargeant, Debbie Fenton, Sara Stoneham & Penny Entecott 93; 3 Gill Twyford, Sue Monger, Edwina Beresford & Nicki Vincent 91.

COWDRAY PARK

Lil Cummins’ drive-in saw the Cowdray ladies’ committee welcome her as the new lady captain by telling her life story and entertaining the other members.

Some 84 ladies and gents played a Stableford on a beautiful day. Different members helped with food and set up a gazebo on the first tee to accommodate cakes, nibbles and tipples.

Results: 1 Sue Brown 37pts; 2 Lille Beau Thorpe 36; 3 Marilyn Davis 35; 4 Tessa Stockwell 34. Nearest pin, 9th hole: Fiona Sapsworth; Nearest pin, 11th: Jane Holden. Men: 1 Todd White 43pts; 2 Dave Lucking 41; 3 Phil Cummins 40. Nearest pin, 3rd: Simon Seymour; Nearest pin, 17th: Todd White. Nearest 12 in two: Mick Fillary.

A total of £890 was raised from a raffle and donations for Macmillan cancer. Doctor Katherine Weights gave an informative talk on last year’s activities and what Macmillan had in place for the coming year.

A Texas scramble was held on a bleak, foggy day.

Winners: 1 Solveig Burton, Joan Manning & Joyc Fanshawe 74.5; 2 Mags Curwood, Terry Hughes & Gaynor Dudman 74.8;

3 Fiona Sapsworth, Catherine Staples & Sandra Barber 74.9; 4 Judy Stillwell, Wendy Street & Frances Marjoram 75.

Cowdray Park seniors were divided into two camps when the 71-and-unders took on the 72-and-overs in their annual battle for the Jimmy Thompson Trophy.

The elder statesmen were allowed to tee off from the forward tees and generally received shots from their younger opponents as they tried to replicate the form of their youth.

This they did in no small way as they won 26-5, allowing Dave Hirons to pick up the trophy from seniors’ captain Derek Smith.

Behind the figures lay many fine individual performances:- 80-plus-year-old Dennis Clifton rolled back the years with an outstanding display of accurate driving, chipping and putting to compensate for his lack of power.

He and partner Mick Colban never allowed opponents Mel Milburn and David Heard a look-in. Mike King, aided by two nearest-the-pin shots, partnered Bruce Spooner to the biggest win of the day.

John Hall was the only player on the sheet for nearest the pin in two on the 18th hole, until Paul Owen, in the final group, snatched the prize from him.

John Durrell and Tony Castley faced two of the biggest hitters in the section in John Doran and David Wickham, but came out on top by one hole.

David Wickham played some outstanding golf with a score in the 60s. but still found himself on the losing side.

Results (winning pairs and margins): 71 & under: Graham Evans & David Manning won by 2; John Hall & Joe Berzak 2; Robin Phillips & Graham Thompson 1. 72 & under: Dave Hirons & Pat Harrison 1; Peter Hallt & Peter Burton 3; Pat Bonner & Alan Godfree 1; Phil Pett & Ken Marjoram 1; John Durrell & Tony Castley 1; Dave Tilley & Ray Dowse 2; Mike King & Bruce Spooner 7; Terry Jasper & Barry Overington 3; Mick Colban & Dennis Clifton 3; Clive Strudwick & John Sanderson 2; Mike Nobes & Wally Mitchell 2.

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