THANKFULLY, on Saturday last week, the weather was good for the ladies of Bigbury Golf Club.

On this Saturday the ladies were on the course for the Bigbury Bowl trophy which, traditionally, is the first honours board ladies competition to be played at the start of the season. This trophy is much coveted and the very pleased winner was Sarah West (21) with a score of net 75. Behind her, in a reversal of last year’s competition, was the runner up with only one shot more and a net 76, Amanda Burchell (6). The only birdie two that was carded in the competition was bagged by Amanda on the 15th hole. 

Tournament winner Sarah said, “I was surprised to have won the Bigbury Bowl because I really had not played well on the day – in fact, so bad I had seen our Golf Pro, Sam, regarding lessons! Golf is probably the hardest sport I have ever played. One minute everything is right, the next minute it is like you have only just started playing; I suppose that is why we return week after week thinking ‘isn’t this the week for a good game?’ My recent Stableford competition scores have not been good so perhaps this is a Medal year for me.”

Sarah continues that golf is a great sport that you can get into it at any age and she just wishes she had started playing it as a child! 

“The handicap system means you can compete at so many levels and, as well as competitions, you can simply enjoy playing socially with a group or a hit around with friends,” She said. “Or even playing and practicing on your own, challenging the course. 

“And, on the course at Bigbury, if I am having a bad round I just take in the beautiful countryside and the breath-taking sea and river views and I never tire of the views on our course.”

There was a medal competition played in tandem with the Bigbury Bowl and two divisions were needed owing to the number of players entered. In Division One, it was Sarah and Amanda in first and second places, with Cathy Harrington (18) third with a net 81.

The winner of Division Two was Caroline Hallett (30) with a score of net 79. In second place with a net 81 was Mary Wilcox (26) and, with one shot more, in third place was Diane Clasby (38).

Sarah and Amanda will be playing together at the picturesque Warren Golf Club in Dawlish Warren, representing Bigbury in the Devon County Warren Crocus Greensomes competition, and everyone at Bigbury wishes them all good luck.