Armed with his club of choice, SW Londoner’s Andrew Magee tees off at the British Bread Golf Open.
Eyes down. Focus.
Feet apart, flex the knees. Breathe in. Relax the grip; nice, soft hands. Breathe out. Eyes on the ball. Club lined up. Swing back, swing forward, swing through. Easy.
Contact. It soars. It’s majestic. It’s on target. It’s beautiful! The crowd waits, the crowd gasps, the crowd cheers! The crowd oohs. It’s in the water.
This is my introduction to the British Bread Golf Open. What a cruel mistress she is.
Not only does my first doughball miss its target, the second is shanked off to the right and almost hits a seagull. The third, rather rudely, explodes on impact.
For bread golf cares nothing of the history of St Andrews, nor the horticultural charm of Augusta National. There is no etiquette here; no tee times or handicaps. This sport, at long last, pits man against bread. I should explain.
The British Bread Golf Open is the brainchild of the ‘State of Seething’, a band of residents committed to charitable activities and community spirit in and around Seething Wells. Competitors take to the banks of the Thames in Kingston, armed with a club of their choice, three baked doughballs and take aim. The target? A bucket attached to a boat.
Nonsense! I hear you cry. And that’s precisely the point. Previous projects include Surbiton Ski Sunday (think skis made of ice and ‘skiing’ down a road) and life-size versions of Buckaroo, Mouse Trap and Hungry Hungry Hippos. Next summer will see an Olympic themed version of Kerplunk using javelins and shot-puts.
Ann Hutchinson, one of the organisers of the second ever Bread Golf Open, believes the madder the event, the more likely people will join in.
She said: “I think some times people like being silly. Fundamentally, people like to laugh and in this day and age I do not think there is enough laughter and silliness.”
But charity and community is at the root of the madness.
Over 100 golfers donated £5 for three doughballs at Sunday’s Open and with over 100 golfers teeing off, about £700 was raised for Creative Youth, a charity helping young people realise their potential through the arts.
Despite the fog, several hundred spectators lined the Thames to share in the tears and the triumphs, proving that this kind of event is a hit with the locals. And that’s not just down to the mulled wine.
Ann said: “It’s absolutely built up a community spirit here in Kingston and also in Seething. The community is so much stronger and people are becoming very involved.
“People may have lived in the area for ages but may not have spoken to many people – now they are really good friends.”
Newly crowned champ Stuart Daniels, 29, only came to Kingston to do some shopping but left as the British Bread Gold Open Champion.
He said: “It was 50/50 whether or not we were actually going to play. But after a glass of mulled wine we decided to have a hit.
“My shot was a bit of a fluke to be fair, but it was one of those days. My wife always says I’m very lucky with these things. I just turn up and win!”
Stuart triumphed in a longest-drive play off, after three competitors had managed to land shots in the boat, but his official drive distance of ‘quite far’ was enough to see off the competition.
The new champion was suitably rewarded with the coveted trophy and the presentation of a svelte green blazer from last year’s champion, and Kingston councillor, Barry O’Mahoney.
As contestants and spectators slipped into the nearby 19th hole at Woody’s Bar & Kitchen, and with the seagulls assisting in the doughball clean-up, organisers were left to reflect on another Seething success.
What this community group is doing should be encouraged across the capital. Too often communities are isolated, with people going about their business totally unaware of the potential friendships that sit on their doorstep. Whether it takes a food festival, a street party or a giant game of Kerplunk, if things like this can bring a community together and raise a lot of charity money to boot, then I’m all for it.
Now, if I’m to challenge next year, I think some training is in order. I need to find a nice riverside retreat, fetch the pitching wedge and start practicing.
Better get baking.
For more information on the State of Seething and Creative Youth go to http://www.seethingwells.org/Welcome_to_Seething.html and http://creativeyouthcharity.org/Home.html
