Golf in London

I know, sounds like a skiffle band.

But just when football and rugby are taking over the sports news to the exclusion of all else, up pops Monty on the early evening news. All smiles and knitwear, encouraging young children to play golf on a sunny Monday at Dukes Meadows.

Although from the look of two of them, they didn’t need much encouragement. The two girls featured, with the full and flowing swings, are no doubt strong contenders for the Championship. One 8 year girl old can apparently drive the ball some 200 yards!

Monty was there to attract the press and TV to the HSBC sponsored “Wee Wonders” championships. This is championship for junior golfers aged 5-12, founded by Alistair Good, the PGA pro from Gullane Golf Club. The championship is held in three stages including local qualifiers, regional finals, and the grand final.

If you think your little un has what it takes, then in the London area the 2008 local qualifiers will be held at:

North Weald Par 3 Course (9 April 2008)
High Beech Golf Club (28 May 2008)

(Click on the Course Photos section of this website for a look at both courses).

The nearest regional final will be held in Aldwickbury Park Golf Club on 28 June 2008, and the Grand Final will be held at St. Andrews on 23 and 24 August.

In an innovative twist on strokeplay, Wee Wonders is scored by giving each player a total of 36 shots. A flag is planted on the course where their 36th shot comes to rest and the player who progresses furthest around the course is the winner.

Both High Beech and North Weald are excellent par 3 courses. North Weald is a good choice because the professional there runs group lessons for juniors in small practice ground next to the course, and both courses at High Beech are well worth playing.

Dukes Meadows, incidentally, is the only course I can think of in London that has an ‘Academy’ course devoted to junior golfers (in addition to its immaculate par 3 course).

It seems Monty has been working to help promote the Wee Wonders Championships for some years now and he was on fine form for the cameras yesterday. The Times managed to catch up with him yesterday morning, tucking into his bacon and eggs.

Good man!