THERE was an explosive event and a hair-raising happening at Bigbury Golf Club's New Year's Day Captain's Drive-In.

New men's captain David Wain's ball exploded at his first attempt at a drive in a pre-arranged trick shot, which he attempted right-handed.

New ladies' captain Sally Darke was given an equally tough trick-shot challenge as her vice-captain Cathy Harrington had arranged a pile of hair curlers and teed the ball on top – at least nine inches above the ground. But Darke made excellent contact with the ball teed so high – not easy to do.

The event was held in great spirits in spite of some very wet conditions, with around a hundred club members gathering on the first tee to give support to all four new captains.

In addition to the exploding ball, David Wain was given an additional challenge. He's a left-hander and his vice-captain Eric Harris arrived on the tee and handed him a right-handed club.

Wain was then allowed his proper driver and dispatched his ball beautifully 230 yards down the middle of the fairway.

Sally Darke then played a normally teed ball and followed Wain's drive down the middle. Seniors' captain John Cocks and new junior captain Harrison Watson were then introduced and both were relieved to hit super drives under pressure – again straight down the middle.

Everyone made a hasty retreat to the clubhouse to continue the celebrations and the official handover of captaincies was completed in the dry.

A fun, 11-hole Greensomes Stableford was won by Jo and Nick Shorrocks with 27 points from Allan Brimacombe and Mike Fulton by one point.