LEFT-HANDED golfer Brian Carter wrote a new chapter in the impressive history of Leighton Buzzard Golf Club when he became the first incoming captain to drive-off with a ceremonial century-old right-handed club.
The hickory-shafted club, made in 1910, has traditionally been used for the new captains’ drive-in since it was presented to the club and restored by then skipper Kevin O’Donoghue and colleagues 20 years ago.
Chartered accountant Brian, now an 11-handicap golfer, used his experience as a former amateur cricketer and squash player to ‘improvise’ his tee shot up the first fairway.
Dressed in cricketing whites, Middlesex-born Surrey fan Brian was driven to the tee in a boating dinghy to reflect several near-disasters with water – once having had to be rescued from the River Ouzel after his canoe capsized, and on another occasion, when he accidently drove his sit-on lawn mower into the same river which borders the rear garden of his Firs Path home.
The drive-in ruse was organised by vice captain, Derek Lindley, who told around 120 members at the drive-in that sports enthusiast Brian, who was treasurer of the Plantation Road club and a member of its management committee for six years, had won honours at football, rugby, table tennis and cricket, as well as golf which he took up more than 20 years ago.
Brian, whose wife Sandra is also a member of the Leighton club, will be raising funds to support charities actively researching the cause and potential cures for dementia and multiple sclerosis during his year as club captain.
The fund-raising got off to a flying start with a draw for an allocated car parking space, won by Garry Reid, and the captain’s drive competition won by Val Berry, raising around £400.
Brian, a 64-year-old father of three with four granddaughters, said: “I’ve enjoyed a fantastic start to what I hope will be a really great year for Leighton Buzzard Golf Club and its members.
“We have made a substantial investment in course improvements over the past two years, and it is in great shape for the season ahead.”
The drive-in golf competition, using just two clubs and a putter, was won by 47-year-old civil servant Simon Rossiter with 41 points, with runner-up Geoff Dimmock losing by two points after failing to score on two holes.
Adrian Stephenson, Robbie Dixon and Graham Hazel headed a chasing pack also with 37 points, with Phil Coumbe sixth with 36 points, a shot clear of Peter Taylor, Steve Molyneaux, Steve Gibbs and Eric Osborne.
>> Vandyke student Richard Hill is the new junior captain of the Leighton club.
The 16-year old took up the sport a decade ago and plays off a handicap of six. And like elder brother Matthew, who was junior captain three years ago, he has won golfing honours playing for Bedfordshire.
He succeeds fellow Vandyke student Elena Tizzard – both of whom were members of the Leighton team that retained the coveted Tavistock Trophy last year by an impressive 13 shots.
>> David Banwell won Leighton’s New Year Cross Country event with a score of 19.33, a shot clear of son Josh who took the runners up spot with a nett 20.66.
Other leading finishers were: Brian Carter, 21.33; Gavin Samuels 21.66 and Billy O’Neill, 22.33.
>> Lynne Newnham won Leighton Ladies’ three clubs and a putter event with 33 points, beating Judy Ammon on countback after both finished with the same score.
>> Steve Leng and Adrian Stephenson were named as Clubmen of the Year by John Preston when he stood down as captain at the annual meeting of the Plantation Road club.
John, who won nine and drew four of his 17 club matches during the year, also presented a cheque for £18,700 to Gaye Beattie, Chair of the Leighton Buzzard branch of MENCAP to help their work with children in the area.
>> Retiring committee members John Preston and Andy Wright were re-elected to the club management committee at the annual meeting.