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Goodwood Golf Revival got off to glorious start

Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Paula Benn
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Mark Roe

The Inaugural Goodwood Golf Revival got off to a glorious start as summer returned to West Sussex.

Playing with original hickory clubs and dressed in golfing attire from the early 1900’s the celebrity field did their best to get the better of the James Braid designed Downs Course at Goodwood today.

In a very good humoured but nonetheless very competitive event it was the team led by PGA pro and Sky presenter Mark Roe who emerged victorious.

Mark’s team which consisted of ITV Sport’s front man Steve Rider, Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans and ex DJ Ed Stewart finished just 2 shots clear of the rest of the field.

Amongst those who were just a little disappointed not to win were ex Ryder Cup player Paul Way, Emmerdale’s Chris Villiars, Tiff Needell and Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman.

Winning team captain Mark Roe commented on what a great event the inaugural Goodwood Golf Revival has been, “Everyone has had a fantastic time, it has been such a great challenge playing a James Braid course with hickory clubs, and not only has it been a great competition but it has been very sociable and golf today has definitely been played in the same spirit as that encouraged by Samuel Ryder in 1927. It was also wonderful to see the galleries dressed in period costume and we are grateful for the support that they have given us.”

Although not a winner, Strictly Come Dancing’s, Len Goodman was equally upbeat, “ What a great event, what a great course and what a real treat to see the galleries, men and women dressed in outfits from nearly 100 years ago.”

One of the members of the victorious team was Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, “I have had a fantastic time, it is such a great idea, typical of what they get up to at Goodwood and I definitely want to be asked back next year.”

The Goodwood Golf Revival will become an annual event held in September each year.

The Downs Course was designed by James Braid in 1914 and is one of two courses on the Goodwood Estate.

The Kennels is the clubhouse for all of the sporting clubs on the estate which includes motor sport, horse racing and flying.