New Forest club’s Captains Drive was day to remember

The 2025 Captains Drive was eagerly anticipated, the first major date of the golfing calendar had finally arrived. No one was any the wiser as to what form of transport would carry the reigning captains to their destination.

Questions were deflected, committee members, officers and pro shop staff denied all knowledge of the well-guarded, top-secret production that was about to unfold.

Filled with expectation and a quiet curiosity, the assembled crowd gathered at the rear of the club house, overlooking the putting green and the wide sweeping fairway of the eighteenth green.

All sections of the club were well represented, juniors, seniors and general membership mingled with the friends and family of the yet, absent captains, who's arrival was expected at any minute.

The soft 'whoop whoop' of the approaching whirling blades gained in intensity as the black dot in the sky swirled towards the waiting crowds.

Like a majestic black hawk, the magnificent machine hovered above the rolling fairways taking in the expanse below it.

The waiting crowd gasped in astonishment as the pilot manoeuvred the helicopter lower and lower until it was safely landed on the fairway, discharging its precious cargo.

Captains Fleur and Tom McDermott, emerged triumphally from the body of the craft.

Junior captains Lauren and Nathainel were transported by jeep to meet their counterparts and all four then boarded waiting golf buggies and drove the short distance to the welcoming masses.

After the captains were greeted by club president Margaret Treacy and formally introduced, the 'Drive In' commenced.

Following four massive drives by the captains an eighteen-hole scramble started off the celebrations. A full timesheet ensured a lively, sociable round of golf and all went back to the clubhouse afterwards for food and presentation of prizes.