Four rounds of free golf? Sounds too good to be true for Sussex golfers...

Golfers at Bognor GC are being offered free tee times in support of the UK's biggest golf charity challenge.

They will have the chance to push their skills to the limit in the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Four Course Classic, a 72-hole golf marathon which takes place over four picturesque courses.

Teeing off bright and early at sunrise on Midsummer’s Day, Friday, June 24, players will attempt to conquer 72 holes, covering 15 miles of fairway, in 16 hours.

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It’s in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, the UK’s leading charity fighting against muscle-wasting conditions.

Participants are spoilt for choice, with over 500 courses nationwide, including Celtic Manor, last year’s magical Ryder Cup venue, agreeing to support the Four Course Classic.

Interested golfers just need to sign up and choose which courses they want to tackle.

If a golfer wants to play on a course not signed up to the scheme, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign will try to get them on board.

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As well as Bognor, clubs in this part of the world taking part are Worthing, Littlehampton and Rustington Golf Centre.

Golfers will receive four free rounds of golf, a polo shirt and golf kit, and have the chance to win prizes including a three-night stay at the luxurious five-star Hotel La Manga Principe Felipe, Murcia in Spain.

Event organiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign Hayley Gill said: “We’re really grateful for all the support we’ve received from local clubs. Their donation of free tee times makes the event possible and will help us on the way to raising £100,000 to fund vital research for babies and adults with muscle wasting conditions.”

To sign up, visit www.fourcourseclassic.co.uk and select your chosen courses or call 020 7803 4830. For a £25 registration fee, each player will receive their four complimentary tee times, golf kit including balls and a polo shirt, and full fundraising support to help you to raise the minimum sponsorship for £250.

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Bognor veterans’ home match against Ham Manor was lost 4½-3½ – the first home loss since last July.

Scores: J Owen & J Cookson halved, A Bence & R Selway lost 4&2, Mike Wadley & J Woodhead lost 4&2, D Burden & T Till lost 2 down, C Willis & D Lewis-Bowen lost 2 down, F Hodder & D Burke won 2&1, G Steventon & B Bennett won 4&3, C Millett & H Diaper won 5&3.

Away to Ifield, Bognor lost 5½-2½.

Scores: R Hedge & A Fitzgerald halved, G Steventon & D Burke lost 5&4, J Catt & J Cookson lost 3&1, A Bence & J Bumfrey halved, T Wells & B Kingswell halved, C Millett & J Woodhead won 1 up, D Turner & V Ward lost 4&3, B Wolstencroft & B Baylis lost 2&1.

Bognor won their second round match 7-5 against Willingdon GC in the County Scratch Trophy. The next round will be played at Seaford on Saturday 11 June.

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Scores: Andrew Field & Tom Lea won 3&2, Dave Hicks and Simon Ostrom won 4&2, James Ashman & Shaun Maskell lost 5&4, Brian Arnell & Liam Maskell halved. Singles: Ashman won 2&1, Lea won 3&2, Liam Maskell lost 1 down, Hicks halved, Shaun Maskell won 5&4, Arnell lost 3&2, Field won 3&2, Ostrom halved.

Playing off three, Dave Hicks is the Bognor club champion and captain of the club’s scratch team. For several years he has played regularly for the Sussex Seniors and has been highly successful in team matches against other counties.

This season Sussex have already beaten Dorset and Surrey and last week he defied extremely strong winds at Cowdray Park to win the Sussex Seniors title with an excellent score of 151.

The championship was sponsored by brewers Shephard Neame, attracting a field of more than 30 of the best seniors in the county, all with a handicap of 12 or under.

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The competition is played over 36 holes in medal format, with the players being divided into scratch and handicap.

Cowdray had three representatives – club captain Chris Dormer in the scratch and Dave Hirons and Rod Brown in the handicap section.

Dormer performed superbly to claim runner-ups spot. In the handicap section Hirons (left) upheld the home club’s honour by winning, to add to the various competitions he has won throughout the county in previous years.

There were 65 entrants for Bognor’s Veterans Spring Cup. Overall winner, with 40 points, was Dennis Smith, ahead of Bryan Kingswell (39).

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Division-one winner was Ian Simpson on 36 and Doug Develin second on 35 on countback from Graham Lucas. Paul Irish was division-two winner on 34 on countback from Dave Hollis and Trevor Smallcorn.

It was beautifully sunny with a strong breeze for the veterans’ visit to The Dyke. Bognor players are not used to such dry conditions and very fast greens, and the match was lost 5½-2½.

Scores: David Burden & Brian Wolstencroft won 5&3, Frank Hodder & Peter Purnell won 2&1, J Owen & R Selway lost 5&4, I Simpson & T Till halved, G Steventon & B Kingswell lost 6&5, D Turner & T Wells lost 4&2, R Hedge & M Wadley lost 7&6, C Millett & A Fitzgerald lost 2&1.

Dennis Burke captained the vets’ team in a home match with Rowlands Castle, which was won 5½-2½. He led from the front and with Joe Cookson won 4&3.

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Scores: R Selway & D Hollis lost 3&2, G Steventon & J Bumfrey won 4&2, C Millett & P McCormack lost 2&1, B Wolstencroft & M Wilson halved, A Fitzgerald & K Catt won 2&1, A Bence & F Hodder won 4&3, B Turner & V Ward won 1 up.

COWDRAY PARK

A maximum field of 90 Cowdray Park seniors, among them new member Charles Conrad Pickles, contested the May stableford on a beautiful day. The first three places were claimed by players from the top half of the draw.

Winner, with 40 points, was Ken Newberry (left), who provides photographs of all the winners for the seniors’ section but now finds himself in front of the camera.

Second place on countback was Pat Harrison and retaining third position from last month’s stableford was Peter Clarke with 39 points.

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Captain Peter Burton scrutinised the scorecards, while Gary Strowbridge organised the raffle and raised £143 for the captain’s charity.

Cowdray Park seniors played their 14th home match of the season when they entertained the seniors from the West Surrey club.

The home side ran out 6½-1½ winners, recording their 13th home win. No Cowdray pair suffered defeat – five won and three halved. Biggest margin winners were David Heard and Mel Milburn, who defeated their opponents 6&4.

Cowdray results: Keith Chapman & Alan Godfree halved; Peter Burton & David Wickham halved; David Heard & Mel Milburn won 6&4; Mike Holden & Dave Gaff won 4&3; Ken Marjoram & John Stone won 2up; Richard Keep & Jan de Vries won 4&3; Mike King & Terry Moran halved; Bruce Spooner & Rodney Fisher won 3&2.

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A total of 56 Cowdray Park seniors competed in the latest medal competition, the Roland Plate. Conditions were extreme with swirling winds and heavy squally showers.

Some high scores were recorded, with only four players bettering par and it led to some players seeking the sanctuary of the clubhouse early.

A few managed to overcome conditions to record creditable scores – none more so than Frank Cheevers who recorded a nett 66 off an 11 handicap to win on countback from 16-handicapper Brian Brockhurst.

Third was Mike Holden (19) with a nett 68.

Only last month Cheevers recorded a superb nett 59 to lift the Heard Trophy and have his handicap reduced by three.

His handicap will be further reduced to ten.

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Sixty-four ladies played in the spring invitation at Cowdray Park with 20 golf clubs being represented.

The day was organised by Janice Leath and Joyce Fanshawe. The format was four-ball betterball stableford.

Results: 1 Sandra Barber & Rosie Hoare (Goodwood) 46pts, 2 Mary Morling & Norma Reynolds (East Herts) 45, 3 Sue Brown & Belinda Martin (Foxbridge) 43, 4 Wendy Street & Mary Brine (Blackmoor) 42. Nearest-the-pin, 9th hole: Tessa Stockwell; 11th hole: Jackie Copa (Wildwood). Best front nine: Margaret Curwood & Jenny Wiseman (Petersfield) 23pts; Best back nine: Linda Doney & Joan Dunham (Richings Park) 24.

SELSEY

The veterans’ section held their annual vets’ and friends competition.

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Some 46 players took part in the four-ball better-ball stableford.

Winners were David Tindale and George Burnham with 41 points (pictured at the top of this article with Selsey vets’ captain Brtian Mariner) on countback from Mike Russell and Tony Medhurst.

Third were Dave Winter and Martin Paffey (40), on countback from John Napper and David Foster.

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