BIGBURY Golf Club recently hosted the 325 Celebrations Cup involving the three local coastal clubs – Thurlestone, Bigbury and Teignmouth.

The name originated from Thurlestone’s 125th anniversary celebrations in 2022, followed by the centenaries of the other two clubs in consecutive years. With dignitaries, captains, juniors, seniors, ladies and men all taking part, it has developed into a true whole-club competition.

In its fifth year, Bigbury hosted and competitors were greeted by a course in great condition, one of the calmest days of the year and good hospitality from all at Bigbury – players, organisers and helpers alike.

This was the first year we used a shotgun start, with 22 players from each club, and it worked exceptionally well. Everyone finished at roughly the same time, allowing all three clubs to enjoy a drink together afterwards, followed by a fabulous meal.

There were some exceptional individual performances from all three clubs, with the Thurlestone ladies being particularly impressive, producing a succession of excellent scores which helped Thurlestone to put together a team score, after deducting the two worst scores, averaging in excess of 36 stableford points each and a total of 734 points.

Teignmouth were second with 711 points and the host team close behind with 704 points.

Individual winners were Sue Esplin from Thurlestone with 44 points and Alan Best also from Thurlestone with 41 points. Special mention to Lee Wilson from Teignmouth who as a youngster, was a member at Bigbury. He shot a superb gross 67 representing 41 points and lost the individual prize on countback.

There were also team prizes for each group of three players, one from each club, with the ladies prize going to Nikki Elliot, Anna McGrath and Susie Carr with 113 points and the men’s prize to Roger Edwards, Jason Armstrong also with 113 points.