Fairhaven to build on Astor Trophy success

Not only was there drama on the course as Great Britain and Ireland retained the title, but it was a ‘dummy run’ for next year, when the club plays host to the Junior Open Championship.

Officials from the Royal and Ancient were present to look at the course to see how it played, as well as plotting positions for the event, which takes place on the eve of the Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

During the event, GB&I beat Australia 5-2; South Africa 6-1, New Zealand 4½-2½ and Canada 4-3 to maintain their 100 per cent record, retain the trophy and beat spirited competition from New Zealand, their closest pursuers.

Fairhaven secretary Bob Thompson said that, for the club, the staging of the Astor Trophy had been “a resounding success”.

He said: “The golf course was in fine shape, which has set the bar for us to maintain to that standard for the rest of the year. The R&A came to look at the course and they were delighted with what they saw.”

Fairhaven is in demand, and will stage the Girls’ Amateur Championship from August 12 to 16 in 2013.