Five golfers from Pyrford Golf Club, near Woking, are celebrating coming second in the 2011 Surrey Scratch Knockout Competition – bringing an end to a memorable and season-long winning run.

“Scratch” golf sees golfers playing without any handicap – a format which favours those that would normally play off a low handicap. The Pyrford GC team had mixed handicaps and played ‘out of their skins’ to get into the final of the competition.

Having won five consecutive qualifying rounds, the five-member Pyrford team set their sights on taking the title in the final of the competition. The team played singles matches over 18 holes against Sutton Green GC at Hindhead Golf Club, with some fantastic golf being played.

John Hennessy was captain of the team, leading four other players, one of whom, Mark Scott, was Pyrford GC Club Captain. The team has played together in the Surrey Scratch Competition in the past, but 2011 has been by far the best result for the club so far. Expectations for the day were high, but unfortunately, hopes of winning were dashed in the final match, with Sutton Green taking the title 3-2.

Hennessy said: “We really enjoyed playing in the competition this year, and thought we had a good chance of taking the title for the first time. However, despite great rounds of golf from Andy Mellett and Mark Scott, we were unable to scoop the top place.

“Sutton Green played tremendously well, so congratulations to them. We plan to enter again next year, and to make sure we take the title!”

Nick Hughes, General Manager of Pyrford Golf Club, added: “We are very proud of the scratch team. They have played consistently well throughout the competition, and are an inspiration to our members. Let’s hope that this time next year we will be able to call the Pyrford team “Surrey Scratch Knockout Competition Champions.”

Keith Grant, the new General Manager of Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club.

Keith Grant has taken over as General Manager of Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club, on Tysea Hill, near Romford – and aims to make the venue the best in the surrounding area.

Grant, 33, has been given a warm welcome by both club members and staff. His previous position was as Director of Golf, Leisure and Health and Beauty at Marriott Sprowston Manor in Norfolk.

Dundee-born Grant is amply qualified for his new post, as he has experience not only in business management, but also has qualifications in horticulture and greenkeeping. The General Manager is a qualified PGA Golf Professional, and had a successful playing career that included participating in the Scottish PGA Championships, and several Pro-Am wins. He also had the second lowest handicap in the Under 18 category in Scotland before turning professional – he played off a handicap of +3.8!

Outside of work, Grant has moved to the area from Norfolk with his girlfriend, and is looking to buy a property nearby. When not at work, he has a passion for karaoke, so staff members at Stapleford Abbotts are hoping that Grant’s dream house is not too close to the club!

Wearing his golfer’s hat, Grant is very impressed with the condition of the course at Stapleford Abbotts GC, and believes that it stands out from the crowd due to its wealth of character. He believes that the course, along with the support of the motivated team that he has inherited, and the great club environment, shows a great deal of potential for future growth.

Grant said: “The course is great for all levels of golfer, and I am keen to encourage more locals to come and play here, while improving facilities and enhancing relationships with current members.

“I have received a tremendously warm welcome at Stapleford Abbotts. I am looking forward to getting to know the members better over the coming months, and to being a part of the club’s success in future years.”

Mark Scott (Pyrford GC) - Nearest The Pin Winner, Stephen Lewis (Crown Golf CEO) & Sue Grant (Sunbury) - Ladies Longest Drive Winner

Winning Crown Golf Claret Jug Team - Pyrford Golf Club

The Claret Jug is an event designed for Crown Golf, the UK’s largest owner/operator of golf courses to say ‘thank you’ to the Men’s and Ladies Captain’s and Vice Captains across it’s group of 28 clubs.

Almost 90 players represented their club in a 4-ball, better ball competition where the Men’s Captain and Ladies Vice Captain from each club do battle against the Ladies Captain and Men’s Vice Captain from another Crown Golf venue. No doubt it allows them all to compare notes on how we perform, but also allows these important club officers (and volunteers themselves) a chance to build up new friendships with members from other Crown Golf clubs.

Despite some worryingly slow play (perhaps it was the sunny weather, slick greens and amazing half-way house!?) the eventual winners with 89 points were Pyrford Golf club. Runners Up were Hampton Court (next years hosts) and Stapleford Abbotts in 3rd place.

The Pyrford winning score was significantly helped by Mark Scott (Club Captain). Mark had bogies on holes 8,9 and 18 but still managed a quite astonishing 3 under par gross score of 69.

The longest drive for men was won by Tej Shembi – Men’s Captain at Batchworth Park Golf Club with Sue Grant the outgoing Club President at Sunbury Golf Club picking up the Ladies longest drive. (NB – Sunbury won the event at Mill Green last year). As expected the nearest the pin prize was collected by Mark Scott who seemingly had the control of his ball like a remote controlled car!

The Batchworth Park Golf Club staff and many members who volunteered for the day did themselves proud and we thank them all very much for their efforts.

Next year’s event is on Saturday 13th October at Hampton Court Palace Golf Club.

The Claret Jug is an annual event hosted by the UK’s largest owner/operator of golf courses as and end of season ‘thank you’ to the Captains and Vice Captains of it’s 28 golf properties.

A field of 100 players will contest the event, with the men’s captain and ladies vice captain of one club playing with the ladies captain and men’s vice captain of another club.

Winners in 2010 were Sunbury Golf Club who will be competing hard to defend their trophy.

Looking forward to a long but rewarding day….

Paultons Golf Centre’s Hampshire Under 14 County Coaches, Kevin Capelhorn (l) and Chris Farr

From this autumn, the Crown Golf Academy at Paultons Golf Centre at Romsey, Hampshire will be responsible for helping to raise the standard of Hampshire’s top junior golfers.
Following a rigorous selection process, newly instigated by the Hampshire County Golf Union, Paultons Golf Centre was considered the best site, with the best coaches, for the job.
The Under 14 county squad will be coached by Paultons’ Head Coach Chris Farr, and his colleague, Academy PGA Professional, Kevin Capelhorn, at the Crown Golf Academy. The pair will join forces with Hampshire Under 14 Manager, Mike Gregory, to help raise the standard of the county’s juniors golfers, and to provide a team base.
Farr said: “It’s a huge honour for both Kevin and me to represent the county on a coaching basis. Hampshire has a deep pool of talent and it will be fantastic to help develop these young players into the world-beaters of the future. We have high ambitions to see the Under 14s compete successfully both as a team and on the national stage.”
Kevin Caplehorn added: “Having grown up in the county and seen many great players come through the ranks, it’s tremendously exciting to be chosen to be a part of it”.
Coaching at Paultons GC has been transformed since Farr set up the Crown Golf Academy there in 2008. And the county coaching accolade is another leap forward for the award-winning club.

Chesfield Downs Golf & Country Club has announced the date for its much-anticipated second annual Help for Heroes Charity Golf Day in association with Norton Way Motors – Sunday October 9th, 2011, starting at 8am.

The popular golf club at Jack’s Hill, Graveley near Stevenage is hoping to recruit more golfers so that it can greatly exceed the £4,300.00 it raised for Help for Heroes at the same tournament last year. Entrance fees for the competition are £20 for members, and £30 for non-members.

Help for Heroes was established as a charity in 2007. It assists people who are currently serving or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their dependents. It offers grants to purchase equipment to assist the rehabilitation of those wounded and also makes grants to other charities that assist member of the Armed Forces and their dependents.

At 8am on October 9th, 2011 over 100 players will tee off at Chesfield Downs G&CC with a shotgun start in a team competition. Competitors will be offered a cup of tea or coffee on arrival, to help wake them up, and then the 18-hole competition will follow with the promise of challenges around the course to raise money for the charity.

With a carvery lunch on the agenda after the event, it will be a day both of competition and socialising. A charity auction will be held during the afternoon, with some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including a one week stay in a luxury four-bedroom villa with swimming pool in Portugal, an Arsenal football shirt signed by various Arsenal legends, and even an electric golf cart.

Tim Hudson, General Manager of Chesfield Downs G&CC said: “The Help for Heroes Charity Day was a huge success last year, and we are on course to do brilliantly on the fundraising front this year as well. We are lucky enough to have the help of some very generous sponsors, and prizes for the charity auction are still being donated.

“Two of our members are servicemen and have served in Afghanistan. We have heard many of their stories, and want to be as vigilant as we can in raising money for such a worthy cause as Help for Heroes.

“There are still spaces to be filled on the day, so if anyone is interested, please do get in touch. All you need is a handicap and a set of clubs!”

For more information, please contact Barry Careford at Chesfield Downs Golf & Country Club on 01462 482929 (ext 207) or e-mail chesfielddowns-sales@crown-golf.co.uk.

The UK Disabled Golfing team (l to r) Alistair Berry, Duncan Hamilton-Martin, Robert Paul and South Essex GC’s Shaun Bakker. (Photograph courtesy of HIO-Photo Par-Martin Hedberg: pro.photohome.se/hiophoto)

The UK team consisted of four disabled golfers who competed over 54 holes over three days against 11 other countries.

Winners of the event were Sweden, with Denmark bagging the silver medal, and Japan the bronze. The UK team came a creditable sixth place, only one shot behind Australia and South Africa, who were in joint fourth place.

Conditions for the duration of event were poor, with torrential rains eventually being blown away by high winds, which made play very tricky for the players.

Bakker, who is an above the knee amputee, had set his sights on a third place, but despite the disappointment of coming sixth, had a memorable trip to Sweden.

He said: “I absolutely loved the tournament. The competitions were so professionally run that it felt as though we were playing a PGA Tour event.

“I met some really inspiring disabled golfers from around the world, and as well as playing in a competitive golfing environment, we were able to cement friendships while enjoying the Swedish food and hospitality.

“It was a great honour to represent the UK, and I would dearly love to be selected again for the event, which will happen again in 2013. There is also a chance that I may be able to take part in the 2016 Olympics if golf is selected as a Paralympic sport. Fingers crossed!”

Stephen Lewis, CEO of Crown Golf, which owns South Essex Golf Centre, and which sponsored the team, added: “The World Team Championship was clearly a great success. It was the first time the event has been played, and it is great news that it will happen again in 2013. We are delighted to have played a part in its evolution.

“Though Shaun and the UK team were not as successful as they had hoped, they remain highly impressive golfers in the face of their disabilities, and we are very proud to have an employee who not only represents his country, but who is also an inspiration to us all.”

Alex MacGregor, Junior Organiser and Teaching Professional, during a coaching session on Junior Open Championship weekend

There were also separate 9-hole tournaments for younger children – one Under 12’s event and another Under 10’s on the Saturday (3rd September 2011), and a parent and child event for these age groups on the Sunday.

All of the youngsters also benefitted from two hours of free coaching before play started on both mornings.

With prizes being awarded daily, a total of 30 prize winners were recognised during the Junior Open Championship.

After a weekend of contrasting golfing conditions – lurching from bright sunshine on the Saturday to lashing rain on the Sunday – the eventual winner of the Junior Open Championship was 14 year old Joe Rowland, with a phenomenal score of 6 under par. Joe became a Junior member earlier in the year, and was delighted with his score.

The scratch overall tournament was won by Harry Masters 15, and Fu Kawashima 14, was the winner of the Girls’ Championship.

The Under 10’s tournament title went to Ryan Worboys 9, and the Under 12 Tigers tournament winner was Alexander Baxter-Brand 10, who went on to win the Sunday parent and child event with his father, Richard.

Alex MacGregor, Junior Organiser and Junior Teaching Professional at Addington Court GC said: “We were really pleased with how the event went. Playing 18 holes of golf for two days in a row is a lot to ask of youngsters, and they rose to the challenge brilliantly.

“The number of entrants for the Junior Open Championship was significantly higher this year, as are the numbers in our Junior section and After School coaching programmes. Junior golf is definitely on the up at Addington Court. It is very exciting to be involved in such a dynamic environment, both for the children and for us as coaches. We look forward to another fun and successful Championship next year.”

Shaun Collins, amateur course record holder at The Hertfordshire Golf & Country Club

Collins, who works at The Hertfordshire G&CC’s sister club, Chesfield Downs, as a retail assistant in the pro shop, hit a stunning round of 63, including eight birdies and just one bogey, in the golf club’s August Medal. He equals the professional course record, set a year ago.

In a club competition earlier this month, Collins, who took up the sport seven years ago in order to spend more time with his golf-mad friends, then hit a hole in one at the 162-yard par 3 15th hole.

Collins said: “I am really chuffed with how my golf is going. It is a great feeling to have hit a course record, and I was amazed to get a hole-in-one only a couple of weeks later.

“It is my ambition to sit the exams to become a PGA Professional, and then to eventually be a Head Pro in a golf club. I would also like to travel, using my qualifications, to see a bit of the world.”

As well as being a remarkably talented golfer, Collins is an outstanding long distance runner, with ambitions to take part in the 2016 Olympics. He specialises in the 3000m steeplechase, and in the 5000m. Dogged by injuries recently, he has had to put is London 2012 hopes on hold, but hopes to be fit to start training in earnest in the near future.

Nikki Blacker, General Manager of The Hertfordshire G&CC added: “Shaun is an inspiration to all of the members here at The Hertfordshire. He is a very unassuming young man, and yet has so many impressive strings to his bow. We look forward to seeing him go from strength to strength in the world of golf – and we hope to see him in the 2016 Olympics in Rio too!”