Cross Country Competition for Cuckfield Golf Centre

With a sporting weekend of The Masters, Chinese Grand Prix, The Men and Women’s University Boat races, The Grand National, the Brighton Marathon and the inevitable Premiership football there was still time for twelve teams of four intrepid golfers to take to the course at Cuckfield Golf Centre for the Cross Country Competition.

a view of the course with golfers making their way to their tee positions for a Shotgun Start

All those who took part enjoyed the course which had been set up by Robert, the Centre Proprietor, and his Green Keeping Team, and took the participants almost backwards around the nine holes. For example the first hole was from the grass seating area of the clubhouse to the ninth green, only 70 yards but far from an easy manoeuvre. The third hole saw competitors hitting across a small plantation of trees from the 18th White Tee to the 6th green.

With excellent weather, in spite of gusting wind at times, the teams managed to navigate their way around and many a cry of anguish could be heard as a strange approach to the green caused problems. One group of dog walkers on the footpath alongside the course stopped and watched in amazement and eventually had to ask just why people were quite purposely going around in such a haphazard way.

As usual everyone was served a delicious lunch, this time Ham, Eggs and Chips, on arrival back at the clubhouse.There was much discussion on the ways that each team had approached the holes and on most there seemed to be at least ten different solutions!

The winning team of Andy Holden, Richard Turner, Pat Bates and Paul Milligan came in with an impressive score of 53 with Wally Stevenson, Annie Rees, Elaine and Taz Violaris claiming second place with 51 points.

A different format for a beautiful Spring morning.