Pub golfers enjoy Portuguese final

Regional teams from this year's Publican Golfing Pub of the Year battled it out in the final on the glorious courses of Vilamoura, Portugal, last...

Regional teams from this year's Publican Golfing Pub of the Year battled it out in the final on the glorious courses of Vilamoura, Portugal, last week.

The seven teams of talented amateur golfers won their way to Portugal having competed in regional heats throughout the last year, with this year's overall winner representing the Brockhill pub in Redditch in the Midlands.

Brockhill team captain Aaron Baker said: "We were confident we would have a good final but we've absolutely destroyed them. We've had a great time, met lots of new friends and will definitely be back here to try and win it again next year."

Also competing at the Bass sponsored event were teams from Ireland, the South East, the Midlands, South West, North, Wales and Scotland.

Licensee Bruce Reid from the Little Park Hatch in Cranleigh, Surrey, was at the event to support his son Thomas who had won the South East regional final and was a previous winner of the tournament.

"We're really proud of our team for getting here," he said. "It's a great event and all the golfers play at a high level so it's good quality golf mixed in with plenty of drinking."

Barry Clayton, who organises the event through his company The Events Group, added: "For all the players the prize is getting to the tournament in Portugal. It's great for the overall winners to claim the title but the whole experience is fantastic."

Golfing pub teams across the country will tee off again in March next year. Any pub can enter a team of four golfers into a first-stage series of area heats and entry forms for the competition will be sent to more than 50,000 pubs and clubs across the country.

For entry forms contact The Events Group on 01458 241911, or email to theeventsgroup@virgin.net.

Pictured: The winning team on the green.