On Saturday, 4th January, Orchardleigh Golf Club held their traditional drive-in to officially welcome the three new captains to their posts, Simon Barnes as Club Captain, Robert Miller the Seniors’ Captain and Sonia Probert as Lady Captain.

The 19 teams of four took part in a nine-hole Texas Scramble, which commenced at 9.30 a.m. on a shotgun start. After the golf, there was a one course lunch in the clubhouse, followed by the prize giving. The three captains then went out to the first tee for the drive-in. Sonia Probert’s drive went to the right side of the fairway, but not as far right as the Club Captain Simon Barnes’, whose long drive reached the ninth fairway! Whereas the Seniors’ captain, Rob Miller, had the perfectly placed drive in the middle of the first fairway. The prizes for placing their marker stick closest to each of the drives were won by Pat Jones (ladies), Terry South (men) and Gavin Rea (seniors).

Prizes for the Texas Scramble were given on both the front and back nine. The front nine winners were Mark Ford, John Merrills, Mark Adams and Tim Walton and runners-up were Steve Regler, Martin Sutherland, Dave Wye and Paul Chivers. The winners of the back nine were Neil Dicks, Julian Seviour, Joe Hearn and Lewis Cains and runners-up Liam Litterick, Jordan Andrews, Paul Williams and Nick Lemon. There was a separate prize for the best score from the Ladies’ teams and this was won by Anne Regler, Mel Sutherland, Marion Underhill and Christina Francis.

Sarah Doble