The Golf Professional’s Day at Sidmouth saw skull and crossbones on pirate flags as the order of the day as 150 golfers competed in this popular competition organised by the equally popular Sidmouth professional, Ben Thorn, writes George Carr

Perched high on the perilous slopes of selected holes the skull and crossbones flags were worth a double score to the brave and disaster to the unwary, for any putt that rolled past by even a foot might finish thirty feet away and the usual yellow or red flags, sited in more friendly places were always a safer bet.

However, fortune favours the brave it is said and thus was the case when the last pair, Paddy Tallon and Will Hastie, watched by a crowded balcony above the 18th green, elected to attack the pirate flag for double score.

To their credit, both players holed out for par and eight points were added to their card to bring them 70 points in all; enough to win on count back from John Jones and Michael Knight both peering over the balcony with the same score. With one score to count on ‘odd’ holes and two on even, Will Hastie’s timely eagle three to the black flag on the par-five 13th put a massive eight points on the winning card and surely paved the way for victory.

In third spot with 66 points came Jonathan Lee and Mark Thomas and three pairs close behind on 65, Laurie Quinn and G Wilmington, Lester Wilmington and John Barnard and then Harry Tinknell and Steve Crabbe.

The Ladies prize was won by Sue Billinghurst - who recently won the Ladies’ Centenary Cup - and her daughter Sally with a very commendable 58 points in spite of all the pirates.

It was certainly a very happy and enjoyable day all round.