Golf is not an Olympic sport yet - but it is at Chichester

The Westwood Golf Academy, based at Chichester GC, held a Golf Olympics.

The free event was in conjunction with a national initiative called Join in Local Sport (www.joininuk.org) which encouraged sport clubs and venues up and down the UK to host events to attract new people during the time between the Olympics and the Paralympics.

Over two days more than 40 new golfers were attracted to Chichester Golf Club to take part in challenges ideal for new golfers young and old.

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Events included a mini-golf course, a target range, pitching challenge and a putting slalom. Families had a great time exploring and discovering what skills they needed to develop.

Head professional Tony Westwood said: “We are hoping that with the amazing summer of sport continuing with the Paralympics after the fantastic spectacle of the Olympics, more people will begin to take part in sport. Whether that is golf or some other discipline doesn’t really matter.

“Golf is going to be in the Olympics for the first time when the games come to Rio in 2016, so maybe one of the budding young golfers could be an Olympic star of the future.

“As the academy at Chichester grows there will be more events and opportunities for individuals and groups to get into golf.”

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For information on getting into golf call 01243 528999 or e-mail [email protected]

BOGNOR

A four-man team from Bognor GC went to Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club and won their coveted Vase competition.

Teams from the Isle of Wight, Hampshire and East and West Sussex took part with the best three scores from each team to count.

Bognor tied with Shanklin & Sandown but were declared winners when the fourth score was taken into account.

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Both semi-finals for the Sussex inter-club senior foursomes knockout contest, the Cyril Blake Cup, are played on neutral courses.

Bognor had won three away games and one at home to reach the semi-final, in which they beat the East Sussex National team at Worthing.

The final will be played at The Dyke on September 17 against Worthing, who won the Cyril Blake last year.

Scores: Don McLeod & Jim Catt won 1 up; Derek Dady & David Burden lost 1 down, Simon Watts & Peter Lott lost 4&2, Ron Stevens & Gary Steventon won 4&2; Don McLeod & Jim Catt won on the second extra hole after scores were level.

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The annual veterans’ captain’s day was well supported with 67 participating in a shotgun Stableford competition.

Overall winner was Mike Oates who scored 43 points off a handicap of 12. Division-one winner was Dave Orton with 39, second Ian Simpson. Division-two winner was Paul Irish with 38, second was Roy Proctor.

Nearest the pins were won by Barry Applegate, Ian Simpson, Brian Kingswell and Andy Bence. Mike Turner was nearest the 14th in two shots and the longest drive on the eighth was by Graham Lucas.

Eighteen members of the vets’ section enjoyed a sunny morning taking part in the Tregear Trophy, the annual four club Stableford competition. John King, playing off 24, was the winner on 40 points on countback from Harry Layton. Vic Ward was third on 33.

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Fifty-six ladies played in a medal and medal final competition.

Result: Medal Cup winner - Margaret Flynn 69 nett; Vets winner – Dora Vaughan 78. Silver: Suzanne Taylor 71, Ann Bushell 72 ocb, Sophie James 72, Bridget Samuels 73 ocb. Bronze A: Margaret Flynn 69, Jane Russell 71, Sheila Hendrick 72. Bronze B: Carol Adams 76, Yvonne Potter 77, Sally Cameron 78, Frances Paine 79.

COWDRAY PARK

Cowdray seniors faced their third away match in five days when they travelled to Worthing to play one of the strongest teams in Sussex on one of the toughest courses they face.

The long rough was punishing, and the fast geens difficult to read, so the visitors did well to come away with a 5-3 loss.

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Seniors’ captain Bill Hummerston, partnering vice-captain Allen Sibley, set the visitors off on the right track with an excellent two-up victory.

After the home side pulled level, Brian Brockhurst and Dave Darby restored the lead with a 2&1 win. The home side pressed home their advantage, winning four of the next five.

There was a win by one up for the two Johns, Newman and Friend, which capped a fine week for Friend, who had played and won three matches and was third in the previous day’s monthly Stableford.

Results (Cowdray names first): Bill Hummerston & Allen Sibley beat Arthur Nicholls & Mike Machin 2 up; Paul Owen & Des White lost to Alan Earl & Duncan Smeaton 2&1; Brian Brockhurst & Dave Darby beat Robin Suter & Frank Phillips 2&1; Dave Tilley & Colin Tebbutt lost to David Pond & Grahan Forshaw 2&1; John Smith & Richard Histed lost to John Wood & Geoff Howard 3&2; John Newman & John Friend beat Gordon Harrison & Ray Close 1 up; David Wickham & Alan Robinson lost to Phil Gobell & Ian Lewis 5&4; Ian Heustice & Derek Smith lost to Brian Quaife & Brian Pannell 3&2.

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Bramley has not been a happy hunting ground for Cowdray seniors in recent times, and, although they were beaten 4½-3½, they put up a much better display against tough opposition.

Playing their fourth away match in five days, the visitors began with a one-up win from match manager Roger Poat and partner Dave Lucking.

Bramley’s Jeff Green and partner proved too strong for Cowdray duo Cliff Davis and Mike Holden. Graham Evans continued his fine run of form, partnering Bill Brownlee to a 4&3 win.

Three wins and a half then gave the hosts an unbeatable lead but Cowdray showed resolve in winning the final leg as Dave Gaff and John Friend, with his fourth success in consecutive matches, won one up.

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Results: Roger Poat & Dave Lucking beat Mike Whitaker & Barry Elliott 1 up; Mike Holden & Cliff Davis lost to Jeff Green & Frank Mangan 4&3; Graham Evans & Bill Brownlee beat John Medhurst & Tony Moorey 4&3; Keith Chapman &Peter Hallt lost to Paul Tanner & Klaus Eckhart 1 dn; Peter Laws & Alistair Proctor lost Gren Boyden & Nick Hardy 3&1; Mike Hughes & George Crouch lost to David Vinestock & Tim Nicholas 5&4; Ian Heustice & Wally Mitchell halved with Mike Sheridan & Dave de Gruchy; Dave Gaff & John Friend beat Peter Bonner & Vic Simmons 1 up.

In ideal golfing conditions, with the course in excellent order, the seniors suffered their first-ever defeat at home to Corhampton.

The visitors fielded a very strong side to achieve a 5-3 win, featuring their club president and captain.

Cowdray’s match manager Wally Mitchell and partner Chris Hoare got the side off to the best possible start, with a 3&1 win over former Portsmouth footballers Pete Langrish and John Knight.

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Unfortunately, the balance soon swung in favour of the visitors, and, after seven matches were completed, they were leading 4-3, with Brian Carpenter and David Wickham and John Smith and Alan Robinson winning, to keep the home side in touch.

In the final match, the reliable Cowdray pair of Roger Poat and Mike King, found the form of the visitors too much, and they were overpowered by 4&3, to send the visitors home happy.

Results: Wally Mitchell & Chris Hoare beat Pete Langrish & John Knight 3&1; Mike Hancock & Bill Brownlee lost to Chris Garrod & Norman Burt 1 dn; David Wickham & Brian Carpenter beat Mick Barber & Keith Norman 5&4; John Friend & Terry Jasper lost to Mike Pack & Alan Perkins 1 dn; Mike Cardiff & Barry Overington lost to Colin Long & Roly Tomsett 5&4; Peter Hallt & Phillip Singer lost to Mark Rogers & David Williamson 3&1; John Smith & Alan Robinson beat Glyn Jones & Dave Searle 4&3; Mike King & Roger Poat lost to Keith Waldron & Mike Bell 4&3.

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