Come and play

CHAMPAGNE corks will be popping at La Grande Mare and St Pierre Park golf clubs this weekend. L'Ancresse's teeboxes, fairways and greens will be open to all island golfers from Monday.

For a 12-month trial period members at La Grande Mare and St Pierre Park Golf Clubs will be able to take out up to three green fees per annum ending a period of more than 20 years during which island golfers outside the L'Ancresse-based could not play at Guernsey's premier course, while those from the Jersey clubs and around the world could.

'I'm very pleased and it's a step in the right direction,' said former La Grande Mare captain David Richards yesterday.

Richards, who also sits on the Guernsey Golf Union committee, added: 'Members at La Grande Mare will be very pleased to have an opportunity to play another course in Guernsey.'

Under the new 'special arrangements' local non-members will be able to pay green fees at rates of £30 if playing with a member of either the Royal Guernsey or L'Ancresse clubs, or £45 if playing with other non-members.

In a normal week, green fees will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to a total number of 12 rounds per day.

The designated times are 9.30 to 11am and 2.30 to 4pm.

Richards described the set fees as 'very reasonable'.

David Warr, current captain at the Royal Guernsey Golf Club, said the decision had been made at club committee level and hoped that the membership of the clubs would appreciate the new situation which had been reached after considerable discussion with Culture and Leisure.

'We've got a very constructive relationship with Culture and Leisure.

'I believe we've achieved a workable and pragmatic solution,' said Warr.

'Hopefully, the members will respect that.'

While backing the scheme Warr admitted it had not been easy to accommodate additional players.

'We've got 1,262 members already, with 160 juniors on top of that.

'It's a huge number to accommodate.'