Explosive start for new golf club captain

The new golfing season at Gosfield Lake Golf Club began with a bang when incoming captain Malachy Shields hit an exploding golf ball at the traditional drive-in ceremony.

Last year’s captain Geoff Powdrill putted out to end his year in style with two putts from the most awkward place on the 18th green.

The timing of the drive-in meant that the worst of the rain was avoided but the luck of the Irish did not hold when the morning rain was replaced by a 50 mph wind blowing directly into Shields’ face.

Vice-captain Jeremy Paterson substituted the first ball with another exploding ball, but when this was later replaced by the real thing, Shields hit it well down the middle of the fairway.

The new junior captain, Louis Brown, then stepped up for his drive-in and saw his ball sail past the captain’s drive by 35 yards.

The drive-in sweepstake raised the first £100 for Shields’ chosen charity, the Essex Air Ambulance.

Competitions were held on both courses throughout the day.

On the Lakes course the winner was Glyn Robinson with 40 stableford points followed by Paul Rutherford with 39 points.

In third place was Paterson with 36 points. On the Meadows course Chris Potter was the winner with 39 points and Steve Maynard runner-up with 32 points.

Shields was joined in his morning round fourball by Paterson, new club president Tony Rowe and club chairman Michael O’Shea.

After nine holes the traditional Champagne breakfast was served by four former club captains; Derek Lunn, Derek Pryke, Ralph Rowe and Geoff Powdrill.