Tee-time at Awali!

The new season at Awali Golf Club began on Friday with the biannual Captain versus President match-play competition. In a closely contested affair, Andy ‘Ace’ McAlpine’s President’s team narrowly defeated Captain Dave Bailey’s side by eight points to six.

Prior to the competition, the annual Captain’s drive-in took place on the 10th hole where Dave Bailey made the most of an ‘Awali bounce’ off a tree to hit the fairway on his first attempt.
 
As part of the drive-in, Awali Golf Club members purchase a marker for BD1 and place it in the fairway where they think the Captain’s ball will finish.The member who has placed his or her marker closest to the Captain’s drive is rewarded with a share of the collected funds. On this occasion Dave Bridger was successful in predicting the outcome of the shot and generously donated his winnings to the Captain’s charity.

The four ball better ball format for the event ensured that there were some very competitive contests out on the course.
 
No fewer than seven of the fourteen matches were decided on the final hole. The President’s team surged ahead early by winning three out of the first four matches before a spirited fight back from the Captain’s team drew them to within a point with five games to go. Eventually, McAlpine’s side sealed victory when Farouq Ahmed and Dave Spittal claimed the narrowest of victories over Bill Finlay and Peter O’Brien on the final brown.

Now that the season is under way, the club looks forward to the first individual event of the season, the Lucite International competition, which will be held on Friday.

The 2011 Bahrain Men’s Open will be taking place between October 20 - 22 at Awali Golf Club. The Bahrain Open is open to professional and amateur golfers who have a handicap of nine or less. For more information, contact Awali Golf Club on 17756770.