A new perspective on the ancient game

It was a perfect day in Lee Valley Golf Club yesterday, sun kissing the spring-blooming flowers, the vista from the first tee-box picture-postcard perfection.

An Ireland/Scotland golf international was already underway, the Scottish pair had just hit off, immaculate drives that defied the trees down along the left side, each shot beautifully shaped to cut the dogleg corner and finish in the A position, 110 yards from the green.

Watching the shots was Lee Valley 2014 captain Declan Ryan, himself a nine-handicapper. “On a Sunday morning here, the club members would find it daunting to take the tiger-line these guys just took — right around the corner, tight to the trees. If any club member does it they think they’re wonderful, these guys just walk up and hit it, put it down there.”