FARNHAM Golf Club members turned out in force to welcome their 2016 captains to the first tee for the traditional drive-in ceremony on Sunday.

The husband-and-wife team of Alan and Barbara Wheatley are the new club and lady captains, while highly promising youngster Tom Spreadborough takes over as junior captain.

Alan Wheatley has been a Farnham member for 20 years and has served on the committee for two years and the social committee for 15 years, 12 as chairman.

He introduced the 100 Club to Farnham and has been much involved in raising funds to improve the clubhouse at the Sands course.

An all-round sportsman, he played professional and semi-professional football for more than 15 years, as well as tennis and squash at a competitive club level.

Wife Barbara has been a club member for 10 years and has served three years on the ladies’ committee and also a long spell on the social committee. She, too, has been a keen squash player.

Fifteen-year-old Tom Spreadborough took up golf just four years ago and has already got his handicap down to 2.2.

Picked for Surrey in 2012, he progressed to the county’s Elite squad and then the England U16 regional coaching group.

His ambition is simple. He wants to play in the Olympics and become a professional golfer.

No pipers this year, but some 50 members were present to give moral support as the captains performed the somewhat nerve-racking duty of ‘driving in’ the new golfing year.