Goodwood's young golf stars reap rewards

Guests were invited to attend the event at The Kennels which was preceded by a team greensomes matchplay competition on The Downs course for 16 juniors.

Weather conditions on the day were set to test the juniors physically and mentally. The Downs course was playing tough with a strong wind and chilly temperatures. All matches were closely contested resulting in an exciting match.

After golf, the juniors enjoyed a fantastic festive meal.

The winners of all order of merit events received awards and ten-year-old Jamie Burchell took the top prize by winning the season-long junior order of merit, while Leonardo Ruggieri, 17, won the junior club championship for the second year.

Peter Davies, 15, won the players’ player award and 13-year-old Max Herring caught the eye of the highly-experienced coaching team to collect the Golf At Goodwood coaches’ award. Harry Callow collected the junior masters medal with Will O’Halloran scooping the junior road racing medal.

After the awards, Golf At Goodwood ambassador Darren Wright led an inspiring question and answer session giving the youngsters an insight into what is needed to progress in the world of golf. Wright finished second on the money list on the Europro Tour in 2015 and has secured a full Challenge Tour card for 2016. 

Wright, who took time to venture out on to the Downs course to play two holes with every group, was impressed by the talent on display.

He said: “It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and passion among the Golf At Goodwood junior members. Some great golf was played in challenging conditions.

“When I was 12 I was playing off a handicap of 12. Some of these juniors are younger and have a lower handicap. With hard work, determination and enjoyment, I am very excited to see what the future could hold for the juniors of Golf At Goodwood.”

Goodwood junior award winners: Nearest the Pin on 8 – Joe Sykes; Nearest the pin on 12 – Will O’Halloran; Beating the pro on 17 – Yasmin Hang & Freddie Gillett; Junior Masters Medal – Harry Callow; Junior Kennels cup – Max Herring; Junior Road Racing Medal – Will O’Halloran; Junior Race Course Medal – Peter Davies; Junior Club Champion – Leo Ruggieri; Junior order of merit – Jamie Burchell; Players player of the year – Peter Davies; Coaches player of the year - Max Herring.

Goodwood offers exceptional opportunities for junior golfers to improve and develop their skills and love for the sport through a structured and enjoyable coaching programme devised by a team of PGA professionals.

For more information or to book your place on the up-coming junior golf camps, please call 01243 755168 or email [email protected]

BOGNOR

More than 80 from the club’s men’s section attended their Christmas dinner and the Canada Cup golf competition the following morning.

The meal was splendid and was followed by an interesting talk from a local Samaritan, who explained the work they carry out.

Numerous lady members and the captain’s wife served the food and club captain Simon Watts organised the evening.

The 2015 vice-captain Chris Hickling introduced Norman Lee as his vice-captain for the 2016 season.

The Canada Cup is a four-ball better-ball Stableford pairs competition, with partners drawn the night before at the dinner.

Winners with a truly excellent score of 47 points were John Riseborough and Mike Oates, ahead of Rob Redmond and Stanley Riseborough with 42. Third were Andy Brown and Gordon Davidson with 40.

Co-winner John Riseborough was also in the winning pair in 2014 and runner-up Stanley is John’s brother.

It was one of those days for Oates and Riseborough as birdies flew in along with extra long putts from both competitors.

The 2016 vice-captain Norman Lee is planning a major project next year in planning the club’s 125-year celebrations in 2017.

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* Despite variable weather and course conditions, there was a good turnout for the Bognor ladies’ Christmas lunch and Christmas tea competitions.

Lunch comp results: 1- B Smallcorn, L Miller, G Twyford, A Bushell; 2 C Tuke, J Russell, N Vincent, E Beresford; 3 N Holton, S Southerton, S James, T Byrne; 4 S Cameron, C du Plessis, M Delves, K Mercer; Nearest the pin on the 5th - J Salt; Nearest the pin in two on the 3rd - L Miller. Tea comp results: 1 N Holton, S Crossen, S Stoneham, J Herbert; 2 C Court, W Johnson, S James, S Southerton; 3 L Miller, S Sidebottom, A Bushell, P Entecott.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray Park seniors held their annual meeting, followed by a nine-hole better-ball Stableford.

Before the meeting got under way, a minute’s silence was observed to recall the deaths during the year of two members, Ted Ireland and Keith Chapman.

Retiring captain Sam Howes thanked members for their support during the year, helping him to present £4,850 to his chosen charity, Dreams Come True. He thanked all who had made his reign as captain so much easier, the committee for their unstinting work, match managers and David Imlach and Pat Harrison for their excellent organisation of the seniors’ open and invitation.

Finally he praised John Doran and Mike Hughes for their running of the Ken Young Eclectic Trophy and the Carter Trophy.

It was a successful year for the seniors in their inter-club matches, with 43 matches played, producing 26 wins, two draws and 15 defeats. Votes were taken for the election of captain and vice-captain, who will be Derek Smith and Mike Hughes, then Howes handed over the captain’s jacket to Smith, who made his maiden speech.

He congratulated Howes on his successful year as captain and said he hoped to be as successful. He outlined various changes which would occur to inter-club matches, including a new fixture with Alresford, while two fixtures have been dropped and three others will be played at home and away on alternate years to help reduce the overall number.

Smith announced his chosen charity for the year would be Chestnut Tree Children’s Hospice, with which he’d had dealings and was impressed by the way they cared for the children and their families.

A representative from the charity gave a brief description of the facilities available and the work undertaken throughout Sussex, with a total of £6m being required to run the charity.

After the meeting, members took to the course for a nine-hole competition, won by David Tilley and outgoing captain Howes.

LITTLEHAMPTON

There were some interesting sights on the links as Littlehampton’s annual Christmas capers event attracted more than 130 members, many in colourful fancy dress and festive jumpers.

Fancy-dress winners were the Thunderbirds team of Pat Northeast, Sean Farnes, Glen Bunting and Gerry Weston.

Winners of the team Stableford, in which the greenkeepers put pins in some devilish positions and laid out some fiendish festive obstacles, were Tony Dennis, John Brunton, Tim Hemsley and Oliver Hemsley with 144 points. Spot prizes for nearest the pins on the par-three holes went to Ian Birbeck, John Brunton, David Cross, Sean Farnes and Gilly Ewers.

Memberships and special offers are available as the club look ahead to the new year – anyone interested in finding out more can ring the club secretary on 01903 717170 or go to www.littlehamptongolf.co.uk

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