Woodhead eyes Turkish delight

Cirencester captain Mark Woodhead will play in his first championship final 40 years after getting into golf at a venue that would go on to inspire a European Tour winner.

The nine-handicapper developed his interest in the game at Swindon’s Broome Manor, the same club that would ignite past BMW PGA Championship winner David Howell’s passion for the sport

Woodhead hadn’t pick up a club at all until he was in his twenties and employed in his first job as an analyst programmer at WHSmith under a golf-mad boss who insisted he join him for a round after work.

Now he is set to join PGA Professional Ed Goodwin for the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final over the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya Golf Club on November 26-27.

The duo claimed a two-shot win in the regional qualifier at Blackmoor in August to qualify for the showpiece, which carries a £25,000 prize fund and is supported by Canopius.

They will be the first golfers to represent the club in the final of this event.

Woodhead, who went on to have a successful career acquiring and developing property for the retailer that took him straight from university, has been based at Cirencester for the last 32 years and he admitted it will be a proud moment stepping out onto the course on behalf of the club for a first championship final.

“I’m very excited to be going over to Turkey to represent Cirencester,” the 62-year-old enthused.

“As I’m now retired and obviously captain of the club I get plenty of chance to practice. I play most days so hopefully that will help a bit when we get over there.

“I remember the first time I went out to play golf, I played a lot of football, rugby and cricket at the time and I just thought to myself ‘it can’t be that hard – the ball doesn’t move!’

“I soon realised I was very wrong and I just remember getting the one par on the 16^th, I’ll never forget that one.

“At that point I certainly never thought I would ever be in a position where I’m playing in a final like this!”

Goodwin admitted the club has been buzzing since the duo returned with a slot in the final.

“The whole place is just so excited at the minute,” he enthused. “Mark has been mentioning it to me most days!

“I’ve never played in anything like this before, so it’s great to get the opportunity.

“I don’t get as much chance to play as I used to what with club commitments and two young girls to look after.

“We go there with every chance but are trying not to hold too many expectations. We just need to go and really enjoy the experience.”