The East Devon course in Budleigh Salterton has been characterised as golfing heaven’, writes Charles Oram.

Since this description comes from their club’s website, it should perhaps be treated with some scepticism. However, the away fixture against East Devon is always popular with Sidmouth seniors; and this scenic course was certainly in wonderful condition for their visit last week.

In the recent home tie against East Devon, their captain, Robin Grenyer, played like superman. Still bearing the scars of that encounter, Sidmouth captain Doug Goodall, partnering Ray Gunston, took on Grenyer and his playing partner for round two.

The Sidmouth duo proved that Grenyer is only human after all, by winning the match by twoles, despite the East Devon pair carding two birdies.

The second match of the day again saw old adversaries in action. Peter Spooner for Sidmouth and Berry Devetta for East Devon both have single figure handicaps. At home, Spooner was victorious when the two met but this time it was Devetta who prevailed, as Spooner and Les Pratt lost by four-and-two.

As a boy Terry Carter used to hunt for lost balls on his local golf course in Greenock.

He has come a long way since then - at least 500 miles – but his early experience of retrieving lost balls was no doubt useful, as he and Mike Anderson went down by six-and-five!

Chris Timms and Brian Cole have both been winners in recent competitions at Sidmouth. Pooling their talents they held their own against their opponents to end all square. Timms also picked up the prize for nearest the pin on the picturesque new par-three thirteenth hole.

John Anderson and Nigel Sharp were beaten by four-and-two in their match; and the team result was in the balance, as the last Sidmouth pair of Mick Munro and Charles Brown came down the 18th fairway. Their match was halved, to give East Devon victory by four matches to two.

However, as Sidmouth had won by the same margin at home, honours were even over the two legs.