NEWS | AUTUMN 2019 GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
Benstead bags
Berkhampsted in full bloom
Social Golfer Open
following irrigation upgrade Surrey amateur David Benstead won the 2019 Social Golfer Open after notching up 37 points at Bletchingley Golf Club. He pipped Mark Crane from Kent to the title by a single point, with Chris Knight taking third place with 34 points on countback. The women’s event was won by Surrey golfer Ruth Brand, who scored 35 points to finish five points clear of Judy Lilley. Over £2,000 was raised on the day to support Surrey-based charity Community Golf, which supports children with special needs and dementia patients. The event was also support by Golf Escapes, Golf Deals Group, Crown Golf, as well more as four-ball voucher being donated by Walton Heath, West Hills, The RAC Club, Hever Castle and Limpsfield Chart. Ian Mullins, event director of The Social Golfer Open, said: “I am constantly amazed at the standard of golf played on our days and the friendly spirit in which these golfing nomads compete. In addition, their generosity this year left me speechless. A big thanks to all our sponsors for putting up over £1,000 worth of prizes.”
Boyns meets his Waterloo(ville) Weald of Kent professional Ryan Boyns took the spoils at the Waterlooville Pro-Am, one of the biggest events on the PGA South region calendar. Sponsored by Facilities Management Southern, one of the longest running pro-ams in The PGA in England (South)’s schedule celebrated its 40th anniversary in style, as did Boyns, who came out on top of the 42-strong professional field with a four-under-par 68. The Weald of Kent man finished
Whittington Heath ploughs ahead Whittington Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire is continuing with the redevelopment of its course, despite the future of the high-speed rail link that is set to cut a swathe through its land coming under renewed scrutiny. Almost ten years after officials at the 130-year-old club were informed that the HS2 railway line would be routed through the centre of the golf course, the club has embarked on a major
MOOR PA R K
two shots ahead James Ford (Robert Rock Academy), with Guy Woodman a further shot back in third. Waterlooville general manager Mark Wycherley commented: “This year is our 40th anniversary, so we were delighted to secure the support of such a generous and proactive sponsor in Facilities Management Southern. The really great news is they intend to support us for a few years, so hopefully this is just the start of our pro-am being one of the biggest and best in the business.”
Members at Berkhamsted Golf Club in Hertfordshire have enjoyed stunning playing conditions over the summer after the club completed a major irrigation upgrade. With over 600 sprinklers now refreshing the turf, the club’s 6,701-yard, James Braiddesigned championship course is already benefitting from the improvements, with the greens team now able to produce beautiful playing surfaces all year round. Largely unchanged design-wise for the last 100 years, Berkhamsted, which is famous for having no bunkers, is set in a 560-acre area of natural Hertfordshire heathland. “Our golf course up here on Berkhamsted Common may be entirely natural, but underneath the soil there is now some extremely powerful 21st-century technology,” said club manager Howard Craft. “Golfers will find that our tees, approaches and greens, in particular, will be more conducive to better golf as the effects of the improved irrigation really take hold over the next couple of seasons."
with re-design despite HS2 enquiry
redesign of its layout. Construction started in January this year, beginning with modifications to the existing holes and the creation of five new holes and practice facilities. with an opening date being expected in spring 2021. The HS2 railway line through the golf course is timetabled to begin in 2022-23, although the government has recently requested a review of the whole project, after it emerged that the
S O C I E T Y G O L F AT M O O R PA R K 36 hole championship venue
High Course Packages from £91 West Course Packages £68 Includes breakfast roll with tea or coffee, 8 holes of golf and use of the bar facilities for a post round drink and bite to eat. For more information please call 01923 773146 or visit moorparkgc.co.uk or email enquiries@moorparkgc.co.uk
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