A fairway to decide

The men’s, women’s, junior and senior events were all under threat due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which halted the sport for a couple of months and caused the island clubs to revamp their own competition schedules.

However, enough time has been allocated on the courses to the Guernsey Golf Union to hold their championships, although the format will be slightly altered.

‘I am very conscious of the need to allow the clubs to get their competitions played and also to allow as much social golf to be played as possible. I am, therefore, more than grateful to our three member clubs for accommodating us on their courses,’ said GGU president Gary Darling.

‘This provides us with the opportunity to be able to crown our Island champions, albeit with a changed format, for 2020. I am delighted that we are able to do this and it goes a long way to making up for the disappointment of losing our Inter Insular and Channel Island matches.’

The men’s and women’s event will begin with an 18-hole qualifier on Sunday 9 August at L’Ancresse.

The top four players off scratch in each division will then qualify for the matchplay semi-finals to be played over 18 holes on the afternoon of Saturday 15 August.

The finals will then take place on the following morning from 9am over 18 holes.

The senior championships, for players over 55, will be at La Grande Mare, starting on Monday 7 September, when the women’s prizes will be decided over 18 holes in the morning. The men will play an 18-hole qualifier in the afternoon, with the top four progressing to the Wednesday semi-finals, and the final will follow on Saturday 12 September.

The juniors will play their championships at a time and format agreed between organisers at RGGC and LGM.

‘I hope that we are rewarded with a good entry from the players who, I hope, will accept the situation for what it is and give it their full support,’ Darling said.