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BILL Beddall has been appointed captain of Awali Golf Club and is aiming to help drive the club forward and attract more sponsors to the thriving sporting facility.
The general manager of beverage importer and distributor National Hotels Company, who had to wait almost three years to get a coveted membership, is also looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Beddall said: "I anticipate many highlights which will include, I hope, leading AGC to victory in the Gunn-Law Trophy against our old foe Messai'eed Golf Club, matches against the Royal Golf Club and the Crown Prince Cup against Bahrain Golf Club.
"In between all this we will be hosting the 22nd Bahrain Ladies Open in November and the 47th Bahrain Open Championship next March and, as captain, I am invited to participate with the stars who had better beware!
"The playing season will not get underway until late September but I anticipate the highlights to include involvement in the day-to-day running of the club, decisions that will have to be made and contact with the many sponsors that AGC is fortunate to have supporting us and perhaps, as a bonus, recruiting a few more companies to sponsor events/tee boxes."
The Awali Golf Club has a colourful history with the first competitions on its 'honour' boards dating back to 1956.
Beddall, 66, first passed through Bahrain in 1975 on his way to an assignment with a company in Dubai and stayed for 16 years living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Bahrain. He returned to Bahrain in 1993 with his wife Maureen and daughter, Nicola, to open up NHSCo and has been a member of the club now for 13 years. He said: "Back in the early 1990s it was pretty tough getting membership at Awali so I had to wait two or three years."
As for his handicap, he said: "Well yes, I think most notable handicaps are a pretty poor swing, lack of distance, weak with the short sticks and an appalling tendency to three put, all of which add up to 15."
The sports fanatic added that he loves most games. "Almost anything really," he said, "but particularly golf - both playing and watching - along with soccer which is only watching these days, cricket and grand prix racing."
The 22nd Bahrain Ladies Open will be staged on November 20-21 at Awali Golf Club. The two-day event is open to players with handicaps up to 36 and entries must be received by November 12. A BD30 fee includes a practice round, entry into the 36-hole tournament, a souvenir shirt and meal ticket. For more details contact Geraldine Kirkman by emailing opensecretary@awaligolfclub.com or calling 39764990.
