
Cartoon by Clem Danin
Thirteen Past Captains turned out at a very windy Seaford GC on Wednesday 23rd September and after a bar lunch set out in extremely breezy but dry conditions with the forecast being for a few showers in the afternoon.
An enormous black and purple cloud did not look like the forerunner of a few showers, nor was it. It was in fact all the showers rolled into one cloudburst that lasted the best part of 15 holes. Seaford drains so well, however, that everyone completed their rounds on good fairways and beautifully true paced greens.
The wind gusted up to 40mph with a steady 25mph governing the afternoon making even standing still to putt a challenge. It was not surprising, therefore, to see scores averaging around 26 points with Bill Smit (2006), last year’s winner coming in alongside Ian Taylor (2009) with 31, being the leaders of the pack. The pack, however, was somewhat outdistanced by the 2019 Captain, Allan Kerr (2019), who waltzed in with 40 points thanks to some outstanding putting - no luck involved – with 21 points on the front nine and ten points in the first four holes of the back nine, to the amazement of his playing partners.
The club produced an excellent dinner and after a tribute by the President, Martin Prevezer (1988) glasses were raised to Derek Raphael (2008) who died recently.
The following morning dawned blustery with heavy rain and more forecast so the competition was abandoned and Allan takes home the Past Captain’s claret jug.