Celebrations were underway at Batchwood Golf Course and Sports Centre for the 80th anniversary of the Batchwood Hall Golf Club and a tennis coaching award.

Golfers were out in force on Saturday, June 27 helping Batchwood Hall Golf Club celebrate its 80th anniversary with a charity golf day in aid of Parkinson’s UK.

The event was a huge success with 140 people participating in the tournament and over £1,500 being raised for the charity.

Batchwood Hall Golf Cub Captain, Antony Smith, said: “We had a fantastic celebration of our 80th anniversary of the club.

“The weather was fabulous and was matched by the condition of the course which was presented beautifully.

“The course provides an interesting challenge for golfers of all abilities.”

The event was attended by Councillor Annie Brewster, Portfolio Holder for Sports, Leisure and Heritage for St Albans City and District Council, who said: “It was a splendid 80th anniversary event that showed off the beautiful and challenging golf course to its best while also raising money for charity.

“It has to be one of the best public golf courses in the South of England, such is its brilliant design by five times Open Champion and Ryder Cup Captain, JH Taylor in 1935.

“St Albans City and District Council was invited to enter a team to celebrate and acknowledge this milestone in the golf club’s history.

“Luckily, my own team received a welcome boost when Stuart Foster achieved a hole in one on the very last hole of the day.

“The day resulted in a double celebration for the leisure facility as one of its tennis coaches was also presented with a national award that evening.”

Alex Gooding, a tennis coach at Batchwood Sports Centre was presented with the Aegon Coaching Apprentice of the Year at the National Tennis Coaches conference in Roehampton.