New captain relishes the challenge ahead

OUT on the golf course, John Herschel enjoys nothing more than the challenge of battling the elements. As he starts his year as the 88th captain of the Royal Guernsey Golf Club, Herschel underlines his commitment to the sport.

'I am not a fair-weather golfer. I like the physical battle of going out on a windy day,' he said.

'It is a test. To come in playing to your handicap in tough conditions is more satisfying than playing to your handicap on a beautiful, windless summer's day.

'In general terms, although you are competing against others, golf is an individual's battle against the course.

'A lot of good players pack it in over the winter - to them it is just a summer sport. I couldn't do that because I love it too much.'

The 55-year-old returned to the game he played as a student in Leeds - 'where it was basically free to play' - around 17 years ago when encouraged to do so by long-time friend and Pessimists cricket teammate Ted Enevoldsen.

'As I was approaching the latter part of my cricket career, I was looking for something else to take over. Golf actually started as a winter sport for me.'

It is probably from those beginnings that Herschel developed his fondness for playing the game in far-from-ideal conditions.

Now he is looking forward to the challenge of overseeing the club in the prestigious position of captain.

'Without question, it is a big honour and I am very proud to be captain,' Herschel said.

'It is, in some ways, a lesser position than it used to be because nowadays we have such things as golf-course management and the Guernsey Golf Union.

But having run his own company for 'longer than I can remember', Herschel admitted to enjoying being involved with the management of businesses and dealing with staff, of which there are several in the RGGC clubhouse alone.

'Obviously, I am going to be actively involved on the committee. There is a lot of correspondence to be dealt with and I am expected to make decisions on a lot of things as part of the committee.

'Having seen my predecessors in the role, there is a lot to be done on the administration side of the golf club but I like doing that sort of thing. That is a side that appeals to me and a side I enjoy.'

Herschel also has an added interest in the condition of the course itself.

'I have got two pet things I would like to address,' he said.

'We have had a problem with the greens. They were brilliant during the Island Games and for the inter-insular matches, but we have had a disease - just one of these things that come along on golf courses - that has affected them.

'We are seeing the first signs of them coming back together and they are improving.

'We need to improve the tee boxes as well but I must say that overall the course was excellent last year.'

On the subject of courses, Herschel believes the island would benefit from having another 18-hole course for municipal purposes.

'I am hugely in favour of a third course. There is demand for golf here - we have a waiting list, L'Ancresse has a waiting list and La Grande Mare continues to take on new members - it would relieve pressure.

'But if there is going to be one, it has got to be a quality one. If it comes about, whoever puts the money in will need to make sure it is done properly.'

As RGGC captain, the amount of golf Herschel will play this year will rise considerably and he admitted that he will probably have to drop a few of his friendly games to cater for his official duties.

But he hopes that the extra rounds will help his handicap return to nine - a level he reached a couple of years ago before injuries caused him to drop down to 12, off which he currently plays.

'With the various tours and entertaining various teams, I will be involved in lots of matches.

'I will also spend a lot of time at the golf course entertaining - eating and drinking.

'I enjoy the social side of it and I will enjoy the golf, but I do take it seriously. I just enjoy competitive golf.'

He was won several competitions down the years, many in mixed events, although his winning days 'basically ground to a halt when I got down to nine'.

But he lists the tours he went on last year as vice-captain to Jock Tanguy as some the main highlights of his golf career.

'The thing I love is that you can turn up anywhere in the world and have a good game with anybody - that is how the handicap system is brilliant, each game should be close. That's the beauty of golf.'

And that is why Herschel wants to continue playing for as long as possible.

As for his other sporting love, he is undecided on what the future holds.

'I have gone on playing cricket longer than I had envisaged and I cannot make up my mind whether to call it a day,' Herschel said.

'It is a natural time to stop but I do not want to say I am not going to play any more while I can still play and bat and enjoy it.

'But I do suffer a lot of back trouble and cricket brings it on much quicker than anything else does.

'This is not the year to be half-hearted with my cricket and it might just be that I decide the time is right to call it a day.'