Quartet play in six countries in 48 hours

FOUR Guernsey golfers have completed one of the most remarkable golfing marathons imaginable. The quartet joined 21 members of the Wooden Spoon Society for the Six Nations Golf Challenge which involved playing rounds in six countries inside 48 hours.

The four - John Slattery, Brian Queru, Karl Bradley and Alderney's Tom Grabham - were among those to successfully complete the 108 holes in the time allowed and they did so with five-and-a-half hours to spare.

The round trip of 2,182 miles raised a grand total approaching £90,000.

Each player was asked to raise at least £2,000 but Slattery doubled that amount in sponsorship.

Slattery, who at 69 was the oldest on the challenge, said it was a memorable experience: 'The camaraderie was great.'

The Six Nations Golf Challenge was inspired by the annual rugby event.

The weekend started with an early departure from Manchester to Nice aboard a chartered Embraer 145 jet.

On arrival in France, a coach took the party to their overnight base in San Remo, Italy, for the start of the challenge the following morning.

First up was a 4am start in the dark at the Italian Golf Club, followed by a coach transfer to the French golf club in Nice for a 9.40am tee-off.

After a quick bite to eat the party flew from Nice to Dublin and at 6.30 they were back on the first tee.

Day two was no less taxing.

After a flight to Glasgow Airport the players were ready for another 4am start and 18 holes.

While most normal folk were getting up the Wooden Spooners had completed one round and been coached into England for another 18 at the Eden Golf Club near Carlisle.

The first pair teed off at 8.40 and by early evening and after another coach drive the players were in Wales where 18 holes over the undulating parkland course of Hawarden GC completed the challenge.

Then it was off to the 109th hole and deserved champagne for one large group of very tired golfers.

Slattery said it was serious golf all the way.

'We played to proper golf rules. Everyone had to putt out and if you put your ball in a bush or water, you had to take a drop.'

The Wooden Spooners played in groups of twos, threes and fours and on the final hole everyone gathered together to hear the annnouncement that the challenge had been completed in 42-and-a-half hours.

The weekend went like clockwork with only one, early threat to the success of the weekend.

That occurred in Nice when an irate local complained, rather bitterly, that he was not prepared to give up his tee booking and give way to the tourists.

Slattery reckoned the Welsh course to be the pick of the half-dozen played.

'The Scottish one was right up in the hills and the rough was up to your waist.'

And, what's more, the practice seemed to do his golf a lot of good.

His best score, a net 66 off his 14 handicap, was the best of his six, very rushed, rounds.

Queru, who also took part in last year's Wooden Spoon Society golf challenge in Iceland, said that he found sleep deprivation the biggest problem.

'We didn't get much sleep at all. It was a case of cat-naps most of the time.'

Keeping the body fresh was another problem.

'We must have been a bit smelly, because there was no time to shower.'

But at least his golf held up to the challenge over the six courses, although nothing compared to his first nine holes.

'Karl Bradley also generally played well. He had a 67 on the Italian course.'

Queru's attention now switches to playing his part in the local branch of the Society's annual golf day on 9 September.