Logos Golf Ministries, 4A Beaumont House, Sutton Road, St. Albans, Herts AL1 5HH U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)1727-735162
E-mail: office@logosgolfministries.com
Company reg. No: 5016651 Charity reg. No: 1104777
The Church Challenge final took place at the Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club, Warwickshire on the 28/29th September 2008, with the winners of the regional competitions coming together to compete for the title of Logos Golf Ministries, Church Challenge Champions 2008. The finalists were:
Chas Avella and Chris Todd, Billy Mitchell and Jim Scrimshaw, Norman Forsythe and Colin McClung, William Porter and Stewart Cunningham, Paddy Harris and Neil Turton, Philip Robson and Mark Welsh,Allan Gray and Peter Milsom
The event was a great success, held at a beautiful venue, with great courses. A good time was shared by all, with great fun and fellowship, not forgetting that the purpose of the regional events was to challenge us to use our golf for the gospel and learn more about golf ministry.
Philip Robson and Mark Welsh representing the North East were the clear winners, with second place going to William Porter and Stewart Cunningham representing Northern Ireland.
Why not think of entering the competition next year? - keep a look out for the dates and venues for 2009 on our website and newsletters.
See below for a finalist’s account of the event:
The 14 finalists from the qualifying competitions made their way from all parts of the UK to the prestigious Marriott Forest of Arden hotel to lock horns in the Church Challenge Final. An optional 18 holes on the hotel's 'second' course - the Aylesford - on the Sunday afternoon was followed by splendid buffet feast in the evening. Logos had also arranged a speaker, Andy Kind from Stoke-on-Trent, who regaled us with tales from his experiences as a Christian on the stand-up comedy circuit.
The most serious competitors then retired at a very respectable hour, devoured breakfast the following morning, meticulously rehearsed their chipping and putting on the excellent practice facilities and then assembled on the first tee of the Arden course. Now this golf course is a very stern test for everyone other than the straightest of hitters, not to mention the lightning fast greens which many (myself included) found so difficult to read. It was clear at a very early stage of the round that scoring would prove difficult, even allowing for the better-ball format and the encouragement gained from both Mark and Priscilla, who appeared armed with camera at key points of the course.
When cards were marked and checked, clear winners emerged, a very impressive score of 41 Stableford points being sufficient for the top prize to be claimed by Philip Robson and Mark Welsh representing the North East. Second place went to William Porter and Stewart Cunningham with 37 points, representing Northern Ireland.
The unanimous view of all competitors was that the whole event had been a great success, not only in terms of the first class golfing experience, but also in terms of Christian fellowship and 'networking'.
Mark Pinney, Director with winners Philip and Mark
Regional Finalists