And the winner is .... First national PowerPlay golf champion
crowned at Hampton Court final
DAVID Kemp has been crowned the UK’s inaugural National PowerPlay Golf Champion - after winning the first ever national championships to be played anywhere in the world featuring the new way to play golf.
The 20-year-old from
to play in and the PowerPlays were extremely tough to play. It is obviously not going to suit all golfers’ tastes but it is pleasing to see the game of golf targeting those golfers who do not have enough time for 18 holes and those who fancy a new way to play the game.” “And, with 27 holes,
accommodating the new format does not really affect those golfers seeking a more traditional game of golf at South Essex.” “While the Vixen course is set up for PowerPlay Golf, we still have the Heron and Hawk courses to accommodate those golfers that do not want to play it. And we can now offer visiting golfers, as part of a society group, the opportunity to incorporate the game in their day.”
The format is still in its infancy but, as increasing numbers of golfers try the new format, greenkeepers will face challenges to resources and the maintenance of their courses
which, in the case of Peter and Matt, means careful monitoring if they are to continue to grow their own reputation for excellence. Crown Golf is Europe’s
largest golf course owner and operator, with thirty-two venues and fifty-seven courses, and it runs an important internal assessment programme for Greenkeepers. With Matt currently nominated for the organisation’s ‘Best in Year Award’ with a 95 point ranking, and Peter nominated for ‘Most Consistent Performer’ it is important that, while they embrace new initiatives and the demands placed on their skills, they continue to meet the high standards required by members, visitors, and their employers. But for now, despite the extra
work required, PowerPlay Golf is being wholly embraced by Crown Golf ’s dedicated army of Greenkeepers. And it looks set to become permanent part of golfing life.
Ten things you never knew about PowerPlay Golf
• It’s a new way to play golf - played over 9 holes, with two flags in each green.
• Players can play to the ‘safe’ White Flag, or the more difficult ‘PowerPlay’ Black Flag.
• A net birdie or better on a PowerPlay earns double Stableford points. • Players must take exactly three PowerPlays in their first eight holes.
• A fourth ‘Bonus PowerPlay’ opportunity exists on the last (ie 9th) hole. But if selected, a player loses two points for a net bogey or worse.
• The game was invented by Peter McEvoy, OBE, former Walker Cup captain and the only British amateur golfer to ever make the cut at The Masters.
• More than 150 UK clubs have a licence to run official PowerPlay Golf events.
• David Kemp, a 3-handicapper from Merrist Wood GC, became the first ever Crown Golf National PowerPlay Golf champion in September this year.
• The luxury Devonvale and Steenberg golf clubs, near Cape Town, South Africa, are the first clubs to stage PowerPlay Golf events outside the UK.
• A new website dedicated to the game has just been launched at
www.powerplay-golf.com
Guildford, Surrey, lifted the Crown Golf National PowerPlay Golf Championship trophy with a 34pts score at Hampton Court Palace Golf Club - which was set up especially to host the final on its opening nine holes. Playing in the last but one
group, David stood on the final hole just one point behind clubhouse leader Pete Day and two ahead of Sean Lockyer, who had earlier staked his own claim for the title with a brilliant Black Flag bonus PowerPlay birdie on the last - rocketing him from 24pts to 30pts.
But, needing just two points
for victory, the supermarket cash clerk played it cool, refusing the optional last-hole PowerPlay and collecting par on the ‘safe’ White Flag, which was a brilliant strategy as it edged him to glory by a single point. Representing Merrist Wood Golf Club, David had played superbly in his round, shooting a gross 4-under par 32 and collecting an impressive 20pts from his three mandatory ‘PowerPlays’ - where golfers opt to shoot for the more difficult Black Flag pin position, earning double Stableford points for a net birdie or better. “I am absolutely delighted. In fact, to become the first PowerPlay Golf champion anywhere in the world is amazing,” said the three- handicapper, who even had to contend with a film crew from Setanta filming his 15ft birdie attempt on the last, which he lagged to six inches! “I love the format. It’s quick,
it’s exciting and it really makes you think about when to attack and when to defend. It has a real future in golf and I’ll be defending my title next year for sure.” Forty golfers played in the
final after successfully negotiating qualifiers held at twenty-nine Crown Golf courses around the country. Players from as far afield as Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire descended on
Surrey for a crack at the title. Peter Manby, Chief
Executive of Crown Golf, said: “We were delighted to host the first ever PowerPlay Golf championships and we are very proud that one of our members has become the game’s first ever champion. “We are a forward-thinking organisation that likes to give new experiences to our members, and PowerPlay Golf really does seem to have captured their imagination.” Peter McEvoy, OBE
presented David Kemp with a superb cut-glass trophy and said: “The worldwide interest in PowerPlay Golf has been phenomenal, with forty-two countries looking to adopt the format. “Thanks to Crown Golf, we
were able to stage the world’s first ever national PowerPlay Golf Championships in Britain - which now means we have a genuine British sporting champion. There aren’t many of those about!” Peter McEvoy, who designed
the format in response to demand for a shorter, more exciting way to play golf, said “David clearly played some superb golf to win - with two birdies and an eagle on his PowerPlays.” “But his victory wasn’t just about shot-making. He got his strategy spot-on too, by playing safe on the last hole and earning the two points which ultimately secured him victory. That risk and reward element is what makes PowerPlay Golf so exciting and enjoyable.” Pete Day, of The Chase Golf Club (Staffordshire) finished second on 33pts, just ahead of Sean Lockyer, of Pyrford Golf Club (Surrey), with 30pts.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104