HOLYWELL GOLF CLUB
CLWB GOLFF TREFFYNNON

A large number of members and their guests, including County Captain for Flintshire, David Pilling, attended the ‘Captain's Drive In’ at Holywell Golf Club,the drive in was to incorporate an attempt on the ‘fastest round of golf’ played at Holywell, which was set in 2009, with a time of 23mins 09secs. (100 strokes) by a team led by the then Captain Mark Chacksfield.Those taking part included incoming President, Ray Lewis ,Vice Captain Alan Williams, Ladies President Christine Williams and Ladies Vice Captain Joyce Eakins.
          Leading the way cheered on by family and friends was the incoming Junior Captain, Lauren Stansfield,who has the honour of being the first girl to be selected in the role, followed by the  Ladies Captain, Eirian Evans and finally Club Captain Mal.Reed. In cold, but dry and breezy conditions all three drives were sweetly struck down the middle of the first fairway.
There then followed the eagerly anticipated attempt on the fastest round which had again at the request of the Captain, been meticulously planned by club member Mel Petrie. All sections of the club (Gents, Ladies, Retired Gents. & Juniors) took part with players being positioned around the course i.e. tee, fairway or green. The Captain then strikes the ball off the first tee with players then taking it in turns under the Rules of Golf, to strike the ball around the course, using carefully selected ‘runners’ to carry the ball from green to tee.
          The playing conditions on the day were not in favour of this year's Captain with the cold and wind making an attempt on the record seeming less likely, however Team Captain Mal Reed was very confident and those members taking part were then dispatched to their allocated locations on the course. With Mal striking another fine drive down the  first the record attempt was on, followed closely in a buggy by the official timekeeper and umpire Club Secretary / Professional, Matt Parsley.
          With some fine golf being played the ball simply flew around the course with the officials in the buggy at times having difficulty in keeping up and there appeared to be a chance of beating last years time. However  the course was the winner on the day with a lost ball  and some participants finding the conditions testing, the ball on the day was drawn 'like a magnet' to the bunkers and rough. With members and players gathering on the 18th fairway, the ball eventually reached the final green, with Lauren ( Junior Captain) sinking a long putt to signal the end of the round.
          .         After a welcoming drink inside the clubhouse the Captain thanked all those involved and announced a time of  24mins.43 secs., with 111 strokes played. Ticket sales to members to guess the time taken for the round are to be donated to the Captain’s charity, which this year will be donated to a local charity in Mold called 'Daffodils'. The charity is a self help group for mentally and physically disabled children and their families. The winner being  Vicki Grahame whose guess of  (24mins 43 secs.) proved to be exactly right.  So a great effort by Mal and his team but just failing by 1 min.34 secs to beat the record set in 2009.The Professional is still confident the time can be reduced, a challenge for incoming Vice Captain Alan Williams who is already looking forward to planning his attempt in 2011.
           
Rounding off proceedings was the presentation by Vice President Mark Chacksfield of a cheque for £1593.00 ( monies raised in his year of Captaincy) to his chosen charity ' Hearts for Kids'. Accepting the cheque on behalf of the charity was Mark's brother in law Andre Hyczkigwicz, who had travelled up from London for the occasion. Andre thanked the members for the donation and spoke movingly of the help his family had received from the charity for their grandson who was now a fit and healthy 8 year old.