Glen Gorse looking to put record straight

Glen Gorse Golf Club are aiming to go one better than last year in the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge Midlands qualifying event.

The Leicestershire club missed out by just one shot on a place in the final when they played at Dunham Forest Golf Club in Cheshire.

Head professional Richard Reed played with 2016 captain Robert Blair and the duo went agonisingly close to qualifying.

Now Reed is back with this year’s captain Mark Gilbert and the pair will team up at Enville Golf Club near Stourbridge on August 8.

They will be hoping to reach the £22,000 Morocco final which will be held between November 21-22 at Mazagan Beach Resort, Casablanca.

Gilbert says last year’s result will spur them on: “We just missed out by one shot last year, they were very close and disappointed not to make it, Richard played the event last year and I’m sure will want to make up for that if he can,” said the 15-handicapper who has been a member at Glen Gorse for 17 years.

Reed’s brother Michael is currently having a good season and challenging in the Midlands Order of Merit competition.

And Gilbert says it is healthy for the club to have two professionals challenging for honours.

“Michael is here as the Assistant Professional. They work together at the club but Michael plays a little bit more than Richard does,” added the 58-year-old Oadby-based Gilbert who works as an IT consultant.

“I think most members know how well they’re both doing.”

Gilbert says the club is looking for ways to improve its facilities in a competitive area of South Leicestershire.

“We’re doing okay, we’ve got the course nailed down in the last few years and that has brought us a lot of visitors,” he explained. “Where we are struggling is with the buildings and infrastructure, we’re trying to find ways and funds to try and improve that.

“It’s been the subject of discussion for a couple of years now, but the logistics of getting the finances together is proving something of a stumbling block.”

Other teams from the Midlands taking part at Enville include the host pairing of Richard Copsey, who made the final last year, and his captain Eddie Boyle; Steve Carter and Adrian Bird (Walmley Golf Club); Luke Towler and Sean Gregory (Telford Golf & Country Club); Robert Smith (Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club); Dan Clee and Brian Osborne (Evesham Golf Club); Lee Sheldon and Karl Darby (Erewash Valley Golf Club) and Nick Soto and Andrew Holifield (Northampton Golf Club).