Golf NOW Regional Golf WEST

Staddon Heights is a superb 18 hole cliff top course with a Par of 70 and a yardage of 6226 yards. Situated on the outskirts of the historical naval city of Plymouth, the club has wonderful views along the Devon and Cornwall coastline, Plymouth Sound, the City of Plymouth and inland over the Dartmoor and Bodmin hills. Staddon Heights Golf Club was established in 1904 and, over the years, it has matured into a course that offers players of all standards a challenging, enjoyable and memorable experience. With excellent clubhouse facilities and a restaurant, bar and function rooms the club is well-placed to cater for large or small groups alike. Whether you are visiting for a round of golf, a family function or simply a drink at the bar, you can be assured of a very warm welcome. more info...

Jess shows the way

TEENAGER Jess Bradley broke the course record and collected a host of prizes during the Devon Ladies' Championship at Teignmouth, reports Jim Bray. The Tiverton Golf Club member shot a one-under gross 72 in the second qualifying round to break the ladies' record.

Bradley, the Devon girls' captain, claimed the Gold Medal after finishing three shots clear of Stover's Jo Hicks-Beach. She also won the under-18 scratch trophy and came second in the handicap competition. She is the reigning South West girls' champion and also holds the South West ladies' foursomes title. A name to watch out for !

Thornbury Ace

A hole-in-one at Thornbury Golf Centre’s 114-yard Par-3 6th hole from Bet Gazzard clinched victory for her and golfing partner Judie Barton Hill in the Thornbury Ladies Vets Open. Judie and Bet saw off competition from 60 other golfers on Thornbury’s superb 18-hole High Course, to claim first prize in a greensomes competition, where both players tee off, then choose the best shot before playing that same ball until the hole is complete.The duo scored 43 stableford points to win by just a single point from Chris Westmoreland and Rose Jones from Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club.

Ashley double at Stover

The return of Spring was a welcome bonus for the 111 competitors for the Hughes Handicap Cup played in conjunction with the Whitbread Scratch Cup at Stover in Devon, reports Will Hendry. Making full use of the fine weather and the excellent condition of the course, Ashley Hocking won both cups with an impressive gross 72 giving him a net 64 off his handicap of eight. Jon Jones was second in the Whitbread Cup with a 73 beating Jason Hampton on count back. Jason had victory within his grasp playing the 18th but an errant drive resulted in him dropping three shots. In the Hughes cup Neil Goddard (9) took second place with a net 66 on count back from Richard Such (18) and Danny Hall (6) was fourth with a net 68. Photo shows Ashley Hocking with Neil Hayman Club Captain

Cake has the right recipe!

The players in the Evans Bowl at Lansdown Bath had the added incentive of joining club pro Scott Readman in the Virgin Atlantic Regional qualifier at either Parkstone or Royal Porthcawl and the ultimate final prize in Bermuda. Roy Cake had the top recipe scooping the Bowl with a net 66 just shot ahead of county senior player Robert Smith. Cake and Smith finished first and second in division 1 and Division 2 winner was Marc Harris with a net 68. Sean Campbell won division 3 with a net 67 which should see him into division 2 for future competitions.
Lansdown ladies section maintain a busy golf calendar. The best score in the latest medal was carded by Di Garry with a net 72 to win div 1 by 2 shots from Suzanne Wheeler. Div 2 was won by Jean Russell with a net 74 with Catriona Duthie taking second spot with a net 77. The ladies are through to the second round of the County Knockout, the Rogers Cup, we wish them well in the next round.

Hayley is pride of Dorset

Teenager Hayley Davis (pictured) won the English amateur champion at her first attempt when she defeated Tara Watters 2/1 in the final at Broadstone, in her home county of Dorset. The 17 year old is one of the youngest-ever champions.

Hayley didn’t play ladies’ golf last year when she was taking her GCSEs but now she’s at college, studying for sport and golf qualifications, she’s able to spread her wings. She’s already been seventh this season in the Welsh open strokeplay. She has enjoyed a very good junior career and is an England girl international and a past winner of the Scottish U16 strokeplay championship.

Wheathill reporting

SIXTY seven years young Wheathill (Somerset) senior Brian Davenport played 91 holes in a dawn to dusk ‘Golfathon’ in May He started out at 6.20a.m in the morning, took 467 shots to play the 91 holes, spent Twelve- and- a half- hours on the course and walked 25.3 miles. Asked how he was at the end of it all, he said: “I felt fine” adding an under-stated “I’m pretty fit!”

Brian himself added the challenge as a fund-raising event linked to Wheathill’s annual British Heart Foundation Cup Day, which takes place every May. This year’s entries included players from Ashley Wood, Cannington, Cheddington, Fosseway, Isle of Wedmore and Mendip. His brilliant effort, added to the proceeds from the Cup competition, a post-match auction and raffle, plus sponsorships helped to bring the club’s BHF donations so far this year to £2,800. Well done to all at Wheathill.

GolfMark Accreditation for Padbrook

Padbrook Park Golf Hotel & Country Club have been awarded GolfMark ‘High Achiever’ accreditation for their work in promoting junior and beginner friendly golf in various capacities. The award shows that the club provides a structured environment for golfers to develop their skills, with support from qualified coaches. Padbrook Park GC has shown this to an exemplary standard with the club offering a fun, enjoyable and welcoming environment for all. They have worked hard to improve policies and procedures, thereby developing a sound structure for the future.

It is an exciting time for all golfers including the growing junior section at Padbrook Park. Head Professional Stuart Disney started a new junior structure in June 2009, a new junior academy programme and new membership scheme for juniors. This year they aim to increase their junior membership from 17 juniors to around 40 juniors.

Ace times at Warren

Warren Ladies hosted their 1st open of the year this week with 24 teams of 3 playing a stableford 2 scores to count event. The leader board was dominated by members; however, one of the other highlights of an excellent day was a hole in one for Torquay visitor Maxine Adams. In the main event the winners were Karen Burge, Lesley Turpin and Sandra Royston ( Warren and Exeter )who won the event with 83 points, 2 clear of Warren members Sue Broderick, Pat Harker and Yvette Harker With the league season now underway, Warren was away to Teignmouth where they suffered a 7-2 defeat, however this was 1 point better than the same match last year. The B team hosted Teignmouth at home and won the match 4-2. The highlight of the match was Teignmouth’s Ian Lamble who succeeded in holing in one at the 5th.

Michaela is champion

Farrington junior golfer Michaela Chivers ( 16 ) has won the Somerset Ladies Golf Championship for the first time at Bath Golf Club and become one of the youngest Somerset champions ever. Having qualified through the strokeplay in fourth place, Michaela came through four further rounds of matchplay beating 1 hcp and Bath Golf Club member Alison Tutt in the final by 4 & 3.

Michaela - 4 hcp - has enjoyed a very successful 12 months, having qualified for the Daily Telegraph Junior golfer of the year in Abu Dhabi and winning the Somerset Girls Championship in 2009, she is also Somerset girls captain this year.

Our Picture shows Michaela with the Somerset Ladies Championship Trophy

Leading the way at The Dorset

The Dorset Golf & Country club is leading the way by adding another wonderful luxury house to rent. If proof was need that that they have the winning formula with their short break holidays, they have just been awarded a GOLD Award to go with their 5 STAR status. Visit Britain awarded The Dorset Resort with the Gold Award for its outstanding Luxury Homes, its food, attention to detail, customer service and surroundings. This makes the Dorset Resort the only 5 Star Resort in Dorset, an amazing achievement considering that the county is a holiday destination with high rentable accommodation options.

The Championship 27 hole Golf Course has not been neglected with considerable winter works having taking place. This lovely Golf Course just gets better every year with its superb large greens and clover shaped bunkers making playing golf a sheer delight. Set in the middle of Dorset and surrounded by stunning countryside and if you visit in June you will see one of the most spectacular flower displays with rhododendron in golf today. The woodland course is cut through a forest of rhododendron and is worth playing just for the flowers alone. Over 60% of guests return year on year so if you are looking for a golfing break then make sure you put The Dorset Golf & Country Club in your dairy!

Lewes take Cornwall

Professional Tony Hilton and his three amateur partners, Henry Hilton, (2hcp), Matt Hart, (Scr), and A J Boyse, (4hcp), from Lewes Golf Club, East Sussex pictured powered to a decisive victory in the Trevose May Festival of Golf, five strokes ahead of 2006 winners Nick Gammon, (Trevose), Tom Cairns, (The Berkshire), Mark Hilton, (Lewes) and Ray Swift, (Trevose), on 409. Andrew Wright, Richard Wood, Nick Wright and Rob Templeton, (Long Ashton, Bristol) were third on 410. Staged for the twenty fifth consecutive year, with support from Srixon Golf, 200 amateur and pro competitors from across the UK took part, reports Ray Ramm. Andrew Ridgley and Henke Ferreira, (Trevose), won the first day’s Pair’s Prize after a count-back from Rob Ryan and Steve Wareham, (Dorset), tied with Trevose captain Mike Ellis and his son Patrick on 64.

Welcome to Graham

New Thornbury Golf Centre general manager Graham Marshall (pictured ) is looking to turn the public pay-and-play facility into the region’s premier leisure and business venue. The 33 year-old has taken the reigns promising to redevelop and renovate the centre’s facilities. Graham who was previously assistant manager at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club, Herts. “There is something for everyone here , with a great par-3 short course for juniors, beginners and families and the main course for the more experienced golfer, as well as first-class practice facilities with a floodlit driving range and large putting green.”

Thornbury, part of Burhill Golf & Leisure, the UK’s leading golf course owner and operator, boasts two golf courses. The scenic 18-hole High Course, offering panoramic views over the rolling countryside, across the Severn Estuary to Wales and the distant Cotswold Hills. The short par-3 Low Course, is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable short courses in the UK. For visiting golfers there is also overnight accommodation at the on-site Thornbury Lodge, a Grade II Listed building with 11 elegant and comfortable bedrooms, with views over the countryside.

Srixon Ball Fitting

CHIPPING IN! Our featured West club website this month is Staddon Heights Golf Club, Devon