Virgin Atlantic Gold Members rise to The Grove challenge

Our second Virgin Atlantic Gold Members' day of the Summer took place at The Grove in Watford, where over 90 members and sponsors took to the fairways, whilst others who were new to the game took part in a fun and informative tuition clinic with The Grove's PGA professionals.

Although the sun struggled to break through early on, it was a delight to play the course in such fantastic condition after the wash out of last year, and it was great to see so many faces from that day returning to take part.

Congratulations to those who took part in the tuition, especially Anthony Gabrelli, Justin Wheatley and Nikki Levoir who were chosen as the most improved guests of the day. None of our tuition guests went home empty handed however, as they each received a fantastic Cleveland Golf putter as a gift. In the main event, although no one came close to a hole in one for the Hertz competition to win a Jaguar car on the 4th, there very nearly was one on the 13th where Nigel Johnson's tee shot ended up just inches from the pin. Nigel went home with a £50 Trendy Golf voucher as well as a pair of Dirty Dog sunglasses. In the Longest Drive, no suprises to see Flying Club Swinger Morag Hutcheon win the ladies competition, whilst the men's prize went to James Martin. Both won Virgin Atlantic travel covers from Level Four. In the Team event, Nigel Freemantle, Peter Cullen, Marc Geraghty and Jason Martin (89 pts) were just pipped to the post by the three ball of Peter Parker, Yash Soni and Noyan Nihat who received an extra 10% for being a threeball, taking their 84 pts total to 92pts. Both teams won prizes from Cleveland Golf and Trendy Golf. In the Individual Stableford, the higher handicap range of 18+ saw Nic Wood finish fourth with 38pts winning Dirty Dog sunglasses, whilst Sunil Bowry finished third with 40pts winning Dirty Dog and Stewart Golf prizes. Runners-up spot went to Jason Martin with 41pts winning prizes from Sky Caddie and Trendy Golf and top spot and the overall win went to Peter Parker who wins a trip to Gleneagles, thanks to our fantastic partnership with Scotland's finest resort. In the lower handicap range, 4th spot and the Dirty Dog sunglasses went to Ashok Babbar with 34pts. Stewart Bazneh picked up 3rd spot with 34pts on a countback to win prizes from Dirty Dog and Stewart Golf. Runners up spot went to Kevin Mauldridge with 35pts winning prizes from Srixon and Trendy Golf, whilst top spot went to Paul Dunn with 36pts winning prizes from Cleveland Golf and Trendy Golf. Thank you to everyone who took part in the day, and thank you to everyone from Srixon, Cleveland Golf, Trendy Golf, Gleneagles, Hertz, SkyCaddie, Dirty Dog, Level Four, Stewart Golf, Explanar and Golf News who not only took part in the day but have supported us so well over the course of the season so far.