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Ex-footballer, current TV soccer pundit Mark Bright had one of those golfing moments at The Oxfordshire when he stood back in disbelief after seeing his electric trolley and clubs disappear into a lake!
Many golfers have fallen foul of the testing island green on the 8th hole at The Oxfordshire but competitors in the London Golf Show media day ended up in the drink in an altogether different way.
Bright, representing BBC London, was lining up a putt at the front of the green when his trolley, some 25 yards away careered into the surrounding water.
Bright had left the trolley on a slope at the back of the green and a gust of wind shifted its balance and plunged it into the water.
The trolley came to a halt about three feet into the lake but Bright’s bag came loose and was swept towards the centre by the current.
After only a second or two’s hesitation the Golf Show Group’s project director, Jay Tyson, waded knee-deep into the lake to save the bags contents.
He was soon joined by Golf World editor Chris Jones and the two dragged the bag the 15 feet it had drifted back to land.
Once everything was wrung out the only casualty appeared to be a putter cover but even this was recovered at the far end of the lake as the group were playing the 11th.
Bright subsequently missed his putt and the team came second by one point to a team containing 11-year-old prodigy Charley Hull.
Tyson said: “My second shot went in the water so I was waiting at the back of the green and happened to be nearest as the bag went in.
“It was a good thing I did jump in as the bag looked like it was just going to keep going, we couldn’t believe it when we found the head cover on the 11th.
“It certainly added a bit of excitement to our round and I’ll never look at a water hazard the same way again.”
The London Golf Show – Europe’s largest consumer golf show – returns to ExCeL from April 25-27, 2008, bringing with it the iconic floating green; Europe’s biggest golf retail area courtesy of American Golf; hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the best in equipment, fashion, golf holidays and much more.
There will be chipping areas, putting competitions and an indoor driving range on which to try out the new equipment before buying in addition to dozens of interactive activities, many with great prizes up for grabs.
Advanced tickets are two for £15 and all visitors get free entry to A Place in the Sun Live, taking place at ExCeL the same weekend. And, what’s more, under-13s go free when with an adult.
■ Call 0871 9454900 for tickets or visit www.londongolfshow.com for more details.