Rookery Park’s Calvin Sherwood wins Order of Merit

With Steve Cocca proving that having metal plates in a leg does not prevent winning golf, star junior, Calvin Sherwood, has given further proof.

Whilst jumping over a fence two years ago he fell awkwardly and broke a kneecap in two places and a metal plate had to be inserted into his knee.

After a year's recuperation he returned to the course and has played so well in a series of junior competitions that he has won the Suffolk Junior Order of Merit.

Points gathered from his four best performances in junior opens at Gorleston, Rushmere, Bungay, Purdis Heath, Aldeburgh and Rookery saw him beat Paul Waring of Felixstowe and win the coveted Order of Merit Shield.

When winning at Aldeburgh he had his worst hole in all competitions. On the ninth hole flirtations with gorse, trees and bunkers cost him a treble bogey seven. Fortunately, it was his only mistake.

He now studies for a BTech in sport at Easton College, as well as taking an NVQ in golf. He is unsure as to where his future lies but he is ensuring that his future career will be enjoyable. The youngster believes that his time as Rookery Junior captain and the many speeches and meeting new people it involved, has given him confidence and self belief, which will help him in the years ahead.

Rookery Park has once again regained the national GolfMark Higher Award. It is given to the country's golf clubs junior sections, which are assessed as being outstanding in providing quality coaching, a sound environment, including 'equity and ethics,' and for providing good child protection and duty of care.

The club is grateful for the efforts of Shelagh Johnson and the assistance of John Nicholls, John Pawsey, Robert Pettit and and Jeff Laybourne in bringing this honour to Rookery Park yet again. It means that parents of Rookery juniors can rest assured that their offspring get standards of care, protection and tuition of the highest quality.

Before the arctic conditions engulfed the course, John Marjoram thought that he might have achieved a unique double. Playing the final hole of a round best forgotten, he hacked his way down the 18th hole before losing patience and launching, with venom and frustration, into an approach shot.

As the ball soared towards the clubhouse it rekindled memories of his historic shot which cleared the Southwold clubhouse.

This time, however, the ball landed on the veranda, bounced up and hit the clubhouse window. At the time former captain, Deryck Halliday, was poised to take the first sip out of a glass of beer. Startled by the crash, he lurched forward and ended with more beer on his face than in his mouth.

Commenting on the incident he said that the shock was almost more than his nerves could bear.

David Batley