Read how a lucky winner played with some of golf's best players at the PGA Seniors Pro-Am.
Another lucky winner of a top Sky Sports competition got the opportunity to tee it up with the some of golf's best seniors at the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship Pro-Am at De Vere's Slaley Hall.
A star-studded cast that included the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Harry Redknapp were present at Slaley Hall as the event doubled as an event to raise awareness of ISPS Handa's terrific work in bringing golf tuition to blind and disabled golfers.
Flintoff and a team of ex-cricketers triumphed against Redknapp's bunch of former footballers in the 'Bat & Ball Challenge' which launched the PGA Seniors event, which is now one of the biggest on tour with the likes of Sam Torrance, Mark James and Barry Lane all involved.
The guys also played three holes with disabled competition winners, and it showed just how good some of these guys are when even the pros only just about managed to hit the ball when trying a one-armed swing to simulate the immense skill level shown by some of the disabled golfers about.
ISPS Handa are supplying free lessons for disabled golfers and also aim to get golf into the Paralympics, and raising awareness at events such as these can only help their cause - especially at such a big event and at such a fine course.
Competition
Our competition winner Bill was delighted to drive down from Scotland to tackle the Hunting Course at De Vere Slaley Hall - a challenging track by any standard with a lot of interesting dog-leg holes but without the huge length that can inhibit your average golfer.
Bill admitted to having some nerves as he prepared for a round with Australian pro Noel Ratcliffe, but there were more nerves in our own media group as we waited to tee it up with Spaniard Miguel Angel Martin - who had to put up with my own ineptitude on the course but still managed to be brilliantly patient.
His tips helped me get around and even chip in with a few stableford points for the cause, but there were no such issues for Bill as he breezed around the course, and he told me afterwards he had thoroughly enjoyed his big day out, which also included a tasty post-round BBQ and a few drinks with some of the wily old golf pros.
Also included was a stay at Slaley Hall, with some breakfast I can vouch for as being top class...
But it was the senior golfers who stole the show as they gave up their own time on the eve of such a big event to help out both the ISPA Handa initiative and us hackers looking for 15 minutes pretending to be up there in the pro ranks.
Nerves
Spending some time with Flintoff was a personal highlight, and he admitted that nothing quite gets his nerves going more than standing on the tee with a crowd and a TV crew watching.
It's a feeling we all emphasised with but especially me, following our new friend Miguel and two big-hitting golfing journos Joe and Kit - and after slicing one right, pulling one left straight into a tree and almost ending up in tears, switching down to the hybrid and a few tips managed to stave off the threat of packing up altogether.
A relaxed few drinks with Miguel and his caddie Eddie (also a source of great moral support on the course) sealed a great day and hopefully one which can be repeated in the future.
But lack of golfing skills aside, the event was a great success, and thanks goes out to all those involved, and remember there will be plenty of other great golfing competitions coming up on Sky Sports.
We have another place in the Sky Sports golf team available in our latest
Fairway to Furlong competition, so make sure to enter for your chance of another great prize.
Go to https://www.thedevereclub.co.uk/ for more information about De Vere Club membership or follow on Twitter: @DeVereClub.
