Charity Golf Event

75 HOLES-IN-A-DAY GOLF CHALLENGE

Monday, 25th June 2012

As part of Icklesham Casuals 75th season celebrations a target was set of raising £7500 to be spread across ten charities – all of which had a connection to players or officials of the club. A major part of the fund-raising effort was playing 75 holes of golf in a day on two different courses in different counties with each hole sponsored. The charity event took place on Monday, 25th June at Sedlescombe Golf Club and the Weald of Kent Golf Course at Headcorn.

THE PLAYERS

HOLES 1 TO 39

For most of the twelve players it was a 3 am alarm call. Everyone was on the first tee at Sedlescombe Golf Club before 4 am – still a little dark for playing golf – so it was left for a few minutes before playing the first shots.

**^{Help in the dark to find the 1st tee!}**

**^{Waiting on the 1st tee for enough light to hit the first ball}**

Four groups of three went off and balls were lost in the half-light before the sun was up but good progress was made. Two of the par three holes on the first round had the reward of a Ford Fiesta car (thanks to Birchwood Ford of Hastings!) for a hole in one. Nobody was successful though one player got to within four feet. Bacon rolls and coffee after twenty one holes and squash and cakes after 30 – kindly provided by Michelle Baker and her mum – helped keep motivation high. By just after midday 39 holes had been played (two and a bit rounds) but now there was the journey into Kent and two more rounds.

**^{Keith Swallow, George Potter, Tony Forster and Stuart Baker on the green}**

**^{Richard Forrest tees-off on the 3rd hole}**

**^{Ollie Beaumont tees-off on the 10th hole}**

**^{Matt Hogan, Wayne Bumstead and Chris Baker}**

**^{Wayne Bumstead tees-off on the 10th hole watched by Matt Hogan and Chris Baker}**

**^{Richard Forrest, Steve Beale and David Mayne}**

**^{Richard Forrest tees-off on the 10th hole}**

**^{David Mayne tees-off on the 10th hole}**

**^{David Mayne, Steve Beale and Richard Forrest on the 10th green}**

At this stage Matt Hogan had been doing his best Nick Faldo impression – concentrate on the golf, Wayne Bumstead had not yet reached for for his hip-flask and Steve Beale (as organiser) had a worried look that was dominating his features. George Potter (with Stuart Baker acting as caddy) was still as fresh as a daisy, fresher at least than Tony Forster who was starting to lose his joie de vivre. David Mayne had what is known in football parlance as a “mare” over the first six holes – the thought of another sixty nine holes at this stage was surely not attractive…..

HOLES 40 TO 75

Groupings were re-drawn on the way to Headcorn and put together the ultra-fit triathlete Mike Beaumont with the ailing Tony Forster and Richard Forrest whose legs were still damaged from an ill-advised sojourn onto the football pitch nine days earlier. Bob Baker was delighted to be paired with Wayne and David with the promise of Wayne’s hip-flask full of lovely whisky liqueur to sustain him.

**^{Left to right:- David Mayne, Wayne Bumstead, Bob Baker, Richard Forrest, Mike Beaumont and Tony Forster}**

The first round played at the Weald of Kent (the third completed round of the day) seemed to last an age and it wasn’t until around 6 pm that the twelve players teed-off for their final round. By now after walking fifteen plus miles, pulling/carrying clubs and playing shots, most parts of the body ached though Ollie Beaumont was showing the benefits of youth by continuing to spank his drives down the fairway and club president George Potter – over 70 years old – still seemed disgustingly perky! Keith Swallow’s body had certainly seized up, Steve Beale had his “let’s get this done” face on and Chris Baker was vowing never to volunteer to play 75 holes in a day again. The final 18 holes were a struggle but with an enjoyable team format passed relatively quickly. The clubhouse at Weald of Kent – by now shining brightly in the gathering gloom – was like an oasis as the tee shots were played on the 75th and final hole.

**^{George Potter tees-off on the 1st hole}**

**^{Bob Baker, David Mayne, Richard Forrest, Wayne Bumstead, Tony Forster and Mike Beaumont wait on the 1st tee}**

**^{Mike Beaumont tees-off on the 1st hole}**

**^{Chris Baker after completing 57 of the 75 holes}**

**^{Wayne Bumstead after completing 57 of the 75 holes}**

**^{Richard Forrest, Mike Beaumont and Tony Forster after completing 57 holes}**

**_{Ollie Beaumont and Matt Hogan after completing 75 holes}**

**^{Bob Baker, David Mayne and Wayne Bumstead after completing 75 holes}**

The day concluded with a curry and prize-giving before everybody went home and slept soundly!

**^{Presentations are made after completion of the 75 holes}**

Keith Swallow was presented with a ‘goody bag’ of golf stuff for still being able to stand.

In addition commemorative spirit glasses were given to every player.

**^{Ollie Beaumont with his commemorative spirit glass}**

Thanks to Steve Beale and Bob Baker for organising a great event and to all the sponsors and other supporters who helped to raise more than £3000.

Thank you from the club is also due to Howard Marks, editor of the Icklesham Parish Magazine, and his wife Judy who acted as photographers at Sedlescombe (although disappointingly they weren’t there at 4 am when the first ball was struck!) and to Suzanne Beale who took on a similar role at both courses and to Sedlescombe Golf Club and the Weald of Kent Golf Course for their assistance and co-operation in allowing the challenge to take place.

It was a long and tiring day but also extremely enjoyable, worthwhile and rewarding. A day that will live long in the memory.

HOLE SPONSORS