LUDLOW members turned out in force to support the new captains David Ball and Celia Russell for the traditional drive-in to office.

Competitions chairman Pat Merrick thanked the outgoing captains Nigel Griffiths and Margaret Gosling for all the good work they had done for the club in their year of office, and also the retiring president David Pearce and retiring junior captain Garry Mowen.

The 2004 captains then drove into office, followed by new club president John Bown, and new junior captain John Evans, all the newcomers hitting very respectable drives varying from 135 to 305 yards.

Once the formalities had been completed the members competed for the annual Massachusetts Cup, a four-ball better-ball stableford competition.

In spite of some testing weather conditions there were some sparkling scores produced, with Neil Smith and Garry Mowen posting the winning score of 41 stableford points, a point more than a trio of pairs who could only be separated by a card countback.

Before making his first official duty to present the trophy and prizes, the new captain thanked all the members and guests for their support and wished them a good golfing year for 2004.

Results: 1 Neil Smith and Garry Mowen 41 points, 2 Pat Merrick and John Evans 40, 3 David Ball and John Bown 40, 4 Stan and Steve Round 40.