With the sun setting over the dunes and only a light breeze in the air, Saunton Golf Club on the north coast of Devon provided the best that golf can offer to host the opening days of the 2021 Inter Services championships. Teams from each service, men and women, faced the challenge, in a Ryder Cup type format to be crowned the champions for 2021, the first time in 2 years.
Saunton is a challenging course which punishes those that stray offline and despite the perfect conditions on Tue and Wed, it was a different story for the final day on Thursday with the Army and RAF pitched against each other to take glory. There is nothing like a bit of wind and rain to test your metal on a golf course but it did not deter the finalists going to the wire and finally finishing with the RAF men and army ladies both retaining their 2019 titles. A full report can be seen thanks to Forces Net who captured a number of memorable moments.
Team Ethos played a major part in finding sponsors and raising funds to allow the championships to take place at such a prestigious venue. The headline sponsor, Qioptiq, was joined by Atkins, Spectra and Heckler & Koch who all sent key representatives to play a round, enjoy the hospitality of the championship’s dinner and soak up the ambiance amongst friends, colleagues and a very appreciative group of top golfers.
With the sun reappearing it was left to Lt Gen Giles Hill, Vice-President of UKAF golf, to close the event; offering the collective thanks to the club and its warm welcome, the officials for the slick organisation and giving us all something to look forward to as the championship returns to Enville GC in 2022.
A great inter-service rivalry and camaraderie made for a fantastic event and a real treat enjoyed by officials, sponsors and of course the teams, with some with members barely out of training; what an introduction to what service life can offer!
A final thanks to a great team of sponsors that made it happen.