Roving Reporter............

Charles Whitwham continues his journey:

Coming live to you from the living room of 21 Roundhill Mount, Cottingley, Nr Bingley, West Yorkshire!!

Sept 10th Today was the first round of the Hackers Cup and was played at Vale da Pinta, which is a well laid out and interesting course. It was designed by Ron Fream of Golfplan USA and was opened in 1992. The Bermuda grass fairways and Penn Cross Bent greens are protected by well positioned bunkers and two lakes which are in play on four holes. The undulating terrain is liberally dotted with carob, fig, almond and olive trees and the dogleg shape of all the par 4 and 5 holes puts an emphasis on the ability to drive with accuracy. I really enjoyed this course and managed 35pts to lie in 4th position. The leaders were on 39pts - Yorkshire bandits again!!

Sept 11th The final round of the XXIV Hacker Cup was played at the Penina Championship course. This is the Granddaddy of them all, the first course to be built in the Algarve. It was designed by the late, great Sir Henry Cotton and was completed in 1966. The course was laid out on ground that had been used for rice paddy fields, but with the laying of over 400,000 trees, countless bunkers and several lakes, the result after 43 years is that the towering pines and massive eucalyptus give the course a character that remains entirely on its own. It has hosted the Portuguese Open 10 times, the last being in 2006. My attempt to become the first overseas winner of the Hacker Cup faltered as my swing deserted me and I could only manage a paltry 28pts. Mark Elsworth, with 40pts to go with his first round 39pts was a clear winner.

It was interesting to listen to the tour members talk about the state of golf in the UK. They are faced with the same problems of falling membership, declining green fee revenue and reduced takings over the bar. One club has voted to allow jeans to be worn in the clubhouse, but not on the course, in the bizarre hope that it will increase takings over the bar. This has had the result of dividing the club into those in favour and those not, with those not calling an Extraordinary General Meeting to try and have the decision overturned - they lost. These members are now voting with their wallets and not staying for the usual 19th hole drinks!!