Stoneham GC pays tribute to Clive Cole, who joined Southampton club in 1953
A remarkable life in golf was honoured this week as Stoneham GC presented a special tribute to club stalwart Clive Cole as he embarks on his 70th year as a member.
Club chairman James Pearson was joined by a number of staff and members to present the 84-year-old with a specially-inscribed trophy.
For most of his life Clive, who still plays off 8, has been one of the Southampton club’s best players and he also turned out for Hampshire for nearly 60 years, making his debut for the county in 1953 while his final appearance, as a senior, came in 2011.
He reached the final of the British Boys in 1956, the year he won his first scratch tournament at Stoneham. It proved the first of many as collected a record eight club championships and his most recent scratch event victory came in 1999 at the age of 60.
In the 1950s youngsters could not join until they were 14 and the welcome was not the warmest.
“In those days they didn’t want juniors,” said Clive, who played in the 1963 Open at Royal Lytham but did not make the cut.
“We were considered a bit of a nuisance and told to keep out of the way.”
He quickly became a formidable golfer and the handicap committee took the unusual decision of lowering his handicap because he “kept winning everything.”
“Officially I was off plus one by the time I got to 18 or 19 but they decided to put me off plus four.”
Clive broke a number of course records, including the Stoneham mark three times, culminating in a 66.
His Hampshire partnership with former R&A captain David Harrison became formidable while Clive won the county title twice (1961/64).
He also captained Hampshire and was their President but he never captained his club although was made President in Stoneham’s centenary year (2008).
In 2010 he went through serious knee surgery which curtailed his ability to play as regularly.
Clive added: “It collapsed on me and I had a fake knee put in but I am still fairly competitive. I think when you have always been competitive it helps you stay that way.
“I would still fancy my chances over a six-foot putt but I do need a buggy to get around 18 holes these days. Funnily enough though, the advances in club technology mean I still hit it as far as I did when I started.
“My first set of club were hickey shafted and I always remember my first set of woods. They were three Henry Cotton clubs made by George Nicholl and cost me three pounds, 12 shillings and sixpence.”