The Sidmouth seniors held their closing competition last week, and, as usual, invited the club captain as guest to the post competition dinner, writes Terry Carter.

The format was American Foursomes, originally called the Chapman System. Designed by top American amateur Dick Chapman, it is played by pairs who both tee off then play each other’s drives. They then select the better of the second shots and continue in an alternate shot format until the ball is holed. Quite simple really!

Bob Cook and Mick Baden took first place with 38 points, and in a consistent round the par five 13th was the only hole to get the better of them, but birdies on the fifth and 18th were ample compensation.

Ex-club treasurer John Townsend, partnering Brian Harcourt, hit 36 points (21 on the back nine) despite failing to score on the par four first, and took second place ahead of David Roberts and Colin Paddon (20 on the back nine) courtesy of countback. The scoreboard on display in the clubhouse was awash with 33 and 32 point totals, but it was a 35 point total hit by Chris Ashley and Ken Rothwell that edged them into fourth place for the last prize.

?Following the dinner and prize giving, seniors’ captain John Bainbridge presented club captain Paul Hitchcock with a cheque for �740 as a contribution to his chosen charity, Devon Air Ambulance. This brought the seniors’ section contribution to �1,370 during his year to date, a total that had clearly surprised Hitchcock, who gave a powerful and moving response.

He has still to discover that my partner had hit my drive for his second shot into the captain’s charity bunker on the 18th, and it was decided that, as the ball was mine, I should also pay the penalty towards his next charity donation!