This year's Captain's Drive-In competition and ceremony at Sidmouth Golf Club was staged on Sunday, the only day to survive the wet weekend weather and a fantastic atmosphere on the atmosphere.
On a bright sunny day, over 100 competitors played a Texas Scramble in the morning. The format is three or four players per team, each player tees off per hole and the group then decides which of the shots you should take next, and so on.
A great fun competition ensued before the outgoing captains putted out on the 18th green and the incoming captains for 2023 drove off the 1st tee to officially start their year of office.
Club Captain Alan Billinghurst, Ladies Captain, Marian Andrews and Seniors Captain John White saw out their year with some respectable putting.
Incoming Club Captain John Spiller-Jones, Ladies Captain Sue Hackett and Seniors Captain Brian Rice showed few nerves in front of the assembled membership and drove off well, to their relief I'm sure!
A superb buffet followed the prize giving at which winning team of Jonty Clews, John Fox, Graham Lanceley and James Scrimshaw with a net score of 46 each received a new pitching wedge.
The other prize-winners on the day were in, second place: Neil Holland, Louise Talbot, Joe Norris and Mark Thomas (48). Third place went to the team of Hugh Dorliac, John Cowan, Martin Crockett and Mike Hobbs (50).
The Ladies’ winners were Marie Timms, Sheila Faulkner, Penny Lyme and Mandy Furniss on countback with 53 and the mixed team receiving plaudits comprised Sean Murphy, Lee Wenham, Yvonne Anning and Sharon O'Brien.
With rain returning on Monday, only a few hardy souls went out to play. The club stableford was won by Dave Atkinson on 34, with Nigel Sharp and David Cowler picking up the minor places.
In the Seniors eclectic, Jonty Clews sealed his campaign by winning with a solid 40 points. David Hall on 39 came second, with Chris Ashley on 38 and Andrew Thomas with 36 completing the leaderboard.
Congratulations to the outgoing captains on a fine year at the helm and best of luck to the new captains at Sidmouth Golf Club.
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