WOKEFIELD Park has a new, state-of-the-art Golf Academy – and Dame Laura Davies was on hand to help with the official opening.

Davies – one of the most decorated players of all time – attended last Friday’s launch where she passed on expert tips to members before spending time with head professional, Adam Glass.

That came after Davies had shot five under par on the championship course to defeat De Vere's golfing director, Jamie Anton, 4&3.

Dame Laura – who boasts an incredible 85 professional wins all over the world – then joined in the fun by taking part in the 100-yard challenge held on the course’s floodlit driving range.

But it was Wokefield youngster Maddy Pearce who won the event with a perfect score of 100.00 ahead of Davies with 98.60 to earn herself a signed hat and glove.

The Golf Academy features 15 covered, floodlit bays open seven days a week from 7am until 9.30pm. A team of PGA professional coaches based at the course near Mortimer are available for individual or group tuition. For more details go to devere.co.uk/wokefield-estate/golf or call 0118 933 4072.

Winter Pairs

Wokefield members braved gale-force winds on Sunday morning for the finals of their Winter Pairs competitions.

Playing off nine tenths handicap, Jamie McIntyre (13) and partner prevailed in the blustery conditions to win the medley strokeplay final on countback with 71 ahead of Steve Marshall (17) and Syd Patel (9) plus Richard Porter (14) and Paul Gibson (6).

The medley plate stableford final was won by Martin Langhorn (10) and Jon Sturgess (6) with 38 points, pipping men’s captain Andy Clark (23) and Simon Rogers (23) with 37 points and Umakant Patel (12) and Amit Patel (16) with 35 points.