Viva Lewes Issue #153 June 2019

WE TRY
Photo by Tony Hilton
Golf
Failing, with style
Whilst walking up Chapel Hill, I mull over my
preconceptions. Not being well versed in golf, I
imagine that it is expensive, elitist and exclusive.
Thankfully, a 90-minute lesson with Tony Hilton
at Lewes Golf Club dispels many of my concerns.
First of all, it’s a really fun 90 minutes, aided by
stunning views over Lewes and the Downs. On
the driving range, Tony judges my swing to see
what I’m about. I then aim to hit a ball, a strike
which thunks away sadly, about 30 feet off to
the left. He then asks me to intentionally skew
further right rather than aiming straight, so as
to get a feel for how ‘open’ or ‘closed’ striking
of the ball affects its trajectory. His tuition
is friendly and patient throughout: he offers
enthusiastic encouragement when I miss the ball
wildly. It’s immensely satisfying when I finally
hit it straight. Tony explains that you can’t really
hit a ball much better; golfers simply learn how
to hit further and more consistently.
We then head out onto the main course on a
buggy. At one point, we quietly watch a few
golfers, one of whom scuffs a shot into the side
grass. Tony likes to show people this kind of
thing, explaining that beginners often think
they’re miles off being able to become a member,
but that everyone makes mistakes: it’s all
about practising and enjoying it.
We rock up at a hole and I aim for a green,
which I repeatedly miss by some distance. Surprisingly,
Tony asks me to hit a divot, explaining
that I need more lift and that taking a chunk out
of the ground is no terrible thing. I still can’t
seem to bring myself to duff up the grass too
profoundly, due to either an obscure politeness,
or some misjudged swinging.
After trying out putting, Tony tells me about the
options for a ‘pay as you go’ approach: you can
hire clubs for £10 (booking in advance required),
play a round of golf on a weekday for £25 (the
‘green fee’ after midday), or go for a ‘twilight’
session after 4pm for only £15.
He also explains that women and men can
compete in the same tournaments, which is not
the case at all golf courses. LGC has ‘community
amateur sports club status’, meaning that it is
run by its 400 or so members. There is no one at
the top making money for themselves alone: all
fees go towards the upkeep of the course.
I truly enjoyed my time at LGC, and may well
take up the ‘Try Golf’ package at some point
over the summer, which includes three hours
of tuition, access to the practice facilities, golf
equipment loan, 36 holes on the course, and
more. It’s £120 solo, but only £90 each if you
learn with a friend. Who wants to join me?
Joe Fuller
lewesgolfclub.co.uk
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