Children who regularly attend golf club on a Thursday lunchtime had the opportunity to watch the professionals on the opening day of the British Masters Golf Tournament.
The Belfry’s Brabazon Course over which the tournament is played, is famous for having hosted The Ryder Cup on four separate occasions 1985, 1989, 1993 and 2002.

Mrs Shipway and I accompanied 11 pupils. We followed the top morning group which comprised former world number one Lee Westwood, the previous week’s winner of the Catalunya Championship, Adri Arnaus and Scottish star Robert MacIntyre. At the conclusion of their round, the children were very excited to get high fives from these golfers; a few pupils were also lucky enough to be given a golf ball.

After lunch and some time spent buying souvenirs in the merchandise shop, we followed the afternoon’s marquee group of former U.S Masters, champ Danny Willett, rising star Nicolai Hojgaad and defending champion Richard Bland, who in a great demonstration of perseverance won his maiden tour title at The Belfry last year at the age of 48 in his 478th attempt to win a tournament.

When two-time tour winner Shubhankar Sharma spotted our group at the 7th green, he made a point of waving to us all; ours was the only group of school children at the event. We watched him for a couple of holes before it was time to depart for the journey back to Ruckleigh.

The children were impeccably behaved throughout the day and a credit to the school.

Mr Watson and Mrs Shipway

Thursday, 5 May 2022