Saffron Walden Golf Club’s scratch team captain is excited about the new season, which starts with a pre-season match versus Cambridgeshire this Sunday at Windmill Hill.

Last year the scratch team had a historic season; retaining the Goddard cup and lifting the Scratch Division One title. Walden are leaving nothing to chance in their preparation for a possible three-peat and double-winning season, with other friendlies against Ely, Bury St Edmunds and St Neots.

Scratch captain Graham Goodman said: “People have said how can we better last season. Well, we can and we want more. We have the county championships here in June and it will be a big opportunity for the club to win the team prize and represent the county in the English club national finals. We have not done this before so there is real determination in the team to do well.

“The team will evolve this year and there is a great opportunity for the likes of Mark Reeve, Olly Tuck, Cam Brown, Tom Duggan and Richard Southall to make their mark in county golf. Our star academy player Callum Brookes is maturing and we have recruited some good players including Ryan Adair, a past Essex county player and England youth international, so competition will be tough for places in the team this year but this only bodes well for the future of the club.”

As well as the county championships, the club opens its newly refurbished clubhouse and golf academy this year.