THE golf season gets under way at the weekend with the Dick Watson Open Foursomes at Aldeburgh on Saturday and Sunday when Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley) and Neil Meadows (Ipswich) will be looking to keep the trophy in Suffolk.

By Tony Garnett

THE golf season gets under way at the weekend with the Dick Watson Open Foursomes at Aldeburgh on Saturday and Sunday when Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley) and Neil Meadows (Ipswich) will be looking to keep the trophy in Suffolk.

It is a strong field for a prestige event which the club hopes might one day become as well established as the Sunningdale Foursomes, which is played this year between March 20 and 23.

The new back tees at Aldeburgh will be in use which will provide quite a test, especially in windy conditions.

The idea of the Suffolk Golf Union to introduce a new Order of Merit event is proving a success.

The Rushmere Vase, with a smart new trophy that will stay in the clubhouse alongside a special board, will be played on Sunday week. There is a full field of 48 competitors with three reserves.

The first round will start at 8am. It is a handicap event, to be run on the same lines as the Eastern Counties Cup at Woodbridge and Silver Barrel at Purdis Heath.

The scratch scores will be relevant so far as the Suffolk Golf Union Order of Merit is concerned. One of the favourites will be Alex Holmes of Gorleston, the reigning Suffolk amateur champion, who makes a habit of ending on top of the Order of Merit as well.

Rushmere players, with home advantage, are out in force. They should not be underestimated on a course they know well.

Kevin Eagle, who had a round of 65 in the March Medal (admittedly off yellow boxes) will take some stopping. He is playing off plus one at present.

Peter Robinson, this year's Rushmere men's captain, had a round of 67 off a handicap of five the same day.

Suffolk matchplay champion Will Wright, and his brother Tom who is Rushmere men's champion, should be well up the leaderboard while Michael Buck, a former county player and greenkeeper at the club, will know the pin positions.

Graham Wardley, a former winner of the Silver Barrel and Andy Whittaker who has a great record in the Eastern Counties Cup, are both playing. Seniors are represented by Jon Marks, Charlie Woods and Chris Ginn.

One of the county's talented youngsters could make a breakthrough. Ben Farthing of Ipswich, Robert Murray and Owen Pearl of Stoke by Nayland, Sam Forgan of Stowmarket, Dickon Housman of Bungay, Chris Gooding of Ipswich and Phil Wesley of Hintlesham all have shown improvement over the winter.