PLAYGOLF Colchester's new captains were greeted by party poppers and horns at the club's annual Captains' Drive-in.

Large crowds gathered around the nervous captains from each section, as their ceremonial drives are taken to see in their 2018 tenures.

This year’s club captain Rob Cornish led off the field with the first ceremonial drive.

Senior captain Steven Dale followed up with ladies captain Pauline Jordan, before junior captain Conor Garvey completed the set with the longest drive of the captains.

Afterwards, the large field got the shotgun start off with the early frost quickly thawing, leaving the putting surface in good shape.

With scoring set to the best three scores per four-ball, a large score was always going to win.

The team of guest Gary Upson, Glen Saunders, Chris Highfield and Steve Ainley won on countback from Alan Cole, Steve Turner, Ben and Dave Garner, after both carded ace scores of 125 each.

Kyle Hanvey, Steve Johnson, Simon Longman and Richard Schultz were a point back in third, on 124 points.

Each section had a closest to the pin prize on individual par-three holes.

The Seniors prize went to John Birkin on the 16th, while Jeanette Shea took the ladies prize on the third.

Richard Swindells claimed the men’s prize on the tricky fifth and Conor Garvey took the junior prize, on the 14th.

Afterwards the field gathered in the Amphora suite to enjoy an after-round meal and presentations held by club captain Cornish.

A brave, reduced field turned out for Playgolf Colchester's first senior stableford competition of 2018.

The weather was cold and wet, nevertheless the foolhardy braved the conditions.

The conditions made scoring difficult but Will Elder managed to card a respectable score of 35 points, to win division one.

Jerry Dalton took second with 33 points and third place went to John Eade, on 32 points.

2018 Senior Captain, Steve Dale, carded 36 points to win division two.

Des McCarron took second place on countback from third-placed Bernie Keyes, after both carded 34 points.

Four players - Jerry Dalton, Steve Barker, Paul Marsh and Des McCarron - received a sleeve of balls for birdies on the par-three holes.