Inaugural ALEP golf day hailed a success

The inaugural ALEP golf day was held at the picturesque if hilly Purley Downs Golf Club in Surrey and saw the novices event hailed a triumph.

A dozen non-golfers brandished clubs under the tutelage of club professional Simon Keeling for two hours, learning the basics of all elements of the game. Given the positive reception to this innovation, we will be including it if we can in next year's golf day, which we hope to run at a North London golf club.

After a long afternoon, many of the playing golfers returned wishing they had joined the novices instead, with some unusually low Stableford scores bespoiling some score cards. A search party was sent to find the last team who came in having to feel their way around a pitch dark final green. The committee may have to award penalties next year for slow play after this experience!

After a hearty dinner of pate started, pie main and indulgent chocolate pudding, some fabulous prizes were awarded. Congratulations are due to Jonathan Turner of Speechley Bircham, winner of the Stableford competition with 25 points; Gabriel Alterman of Altermans, longest drive and Andy Szebeni, nearest the pin (though the nearest member was actually Roger Nelson).