GOLF: There has been an excellent response to the call to start a seniors club competition in Suffolk.By the middle of this month the first round will have been completed from a starting line-up of 18 clubs.

GOLF

THERE has been an excellent response to the call to start a seniors club competition in Suffolk.

By the middle of this month the first round will have been completed from a starting line-up of 18 clubs.

Mike Thomas of Felixstowe Ferry, a member of the Suffolk executive committee, had felt for some time that there was a void that needed to be filled for competitive seniors golf.

At the annual general meeting of the Suffolk Golf Union at Purdis Heath in March, Mr Thomas said he hoped that one could get underway this year.

The new Suffolk president, Maurice Parkes, agreed to put up a trophy and all that remained was that the seniors version of the Hambro Cup would attract enough clubs.

The fact that 18 entered in the inaugural year has been encouraging, and it should not be too long before every affiliated Suffolk club will be playing for the Maurice Parkes Trophy.

To qualify to play, club members must be 55 or over, and the format is four pairs playing four-ball better-ball Hambro scoring.

Two preliminary round matches have already been completed with Gorleston beating Bungay by one hole and The Suffolk overcoming Rookery Park by 12 holes.

The first round draw is: The Suffolk v Seckford, Halesworth v Gorleston, Bury St Edmunds v Ipswich, Southwold v Woodbridge, Fynn Valley v Felixstowe, Stoke-by-Nayland v Stowmarket, Thorpeness v Hintlesham, Newton Green v Rushmere.

This Thursday (June 6) a Suffolk Seniors team will play the county under-16s at Aldeburgh.

The seniors team will be drawn from clubs around the county, while the under-16s, managed by Terry Broome, may find that their length around Aldeburgh will not be to their advantage.