Hole in one
Posted: 02 Nov 2006 @ 00:00
A HOLE in
one was recorded for only the second time in the 47 years of the Inter-Diocesan
Golf Tournament, hit by the Revd David Mayhew, Vicar of Mitford in
Newcastle
diocese.
He also won
the individual scratch prize for nine holes.
Though the
competition, now sponsored by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, is usually 36
holes, in which teams of four play 18 holes of singles and 18 holes of
foursomes, this year a forecast of gales curtailed the afternoon to 9 holes.
Twenty-seven dioceses competed at Frilford Heath Golf Club.
Guildford
were the overall winners, while Lichfield,
Rochester
,
Birmingham and Newcastle
also won team prizes. The wooden spoon went to Worcester
.
The
individual scratch prize over 18 holes was won by the Revd David Price
(pictured, second from right) of Guildford
.
The prizes
were presented by Canon John Hayward (second from left with the Revd Richard
Lloyd, left, and Roland Oliff, right) who has organised the tournament for the
past 22 years. “A lot of clergy play golf,” he says; “yet it gets very little
publicity.”
There are
regular international competitions with
Scotland
(“very competitive”),
Ireland
and
Wales , and
biannually with the Episcopal Church in the United States
. “It is such a good way to meet other clergy,” says Mr
Mayhew, “as well as walking round one’s local golf course, talking with a lot
of non-church players.”