Defending champion in pole position after day one of Disabled British Open

Last year’s winner, Duncan Hamilton-Martin, was the joint leader after the first day of the Disabled British Open (DBO) at East Sussex National.

Three-handicapper Hamilton Martin shared the lead with Robert Paul, who plays off seven – both of whom shot an impressive first-round gross 78.

The DBO also has three handicap categories, with Martin Jelley and William West, both 12-handicappers, leading category one (handicaps 0-13.4) with nett 70s; Tony Lloyd (15) heading category two (13.4-20.4), after also shooting a nett 70; and, in the category three (>20.5) Stableford competition, Paul Cunningham (27.6) leads with 39 points.

by our man in Havana ... well East Sussex anyway

Marriott bookings take off with GolfSwitch portal

The UK Marriott organisation has seen an “exponential” rise in its tee-time bookings since launching a new golf specific portal site with GolfSwitch, the world’s largest online, real-time, tee-time distribution network.

Marriottgolf.co.uk was launched in mid-June to enable golfers to book real-time tee-times at the hotel chain’s 11 Marriott Golf Hotels & Country Clubs 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.

And Alison Ainsworth, Marriott’s senior director of golf, leisure and spa operations Europe, predicts that it will continue to drive an increase in the number of on-line tee-time bookings received by the resort specialist.

She said: “Since we launched our portal site (www.marriottgolf.co.uk) with GolfSwitch, just over two months ago, we have seen many new golfers finding their way to our courses.

“The online booking engine has exceeded all our expectations with more than 1,000 bookings since the launch and growing exponentially. Not only does this bring in extra revenue but it will also allow us to market to these golfers in the future with the many promotional offers we will be able to put on at short notice.

“GolfSwitch has been instrumental in giving us the confidence and the proof to expect to fulfil a considerable amount of Marriott's UK tee-time business online within the next year.”

GolfSwitch, the largest real-time, online golf reservation network in the world, powers around 1,500 courses worldwide and drives more than four-million tee times to the courses.

Jo Maes, European director for GolfSwitch, added: “We’re obviously delighted that Marriott is having such success with the portal – but not surprised. Marriott has a varied range of top-quality courses and resorts and enabling real-time access to tee-times was always going to prove popular with golfers searching for a simple way to book tee-times at top venues.

“GolfSwitch is continuing to cement its reputation as the most sought-after solution in the online tee-time marketplace today. Word of the success of the Marriott portal has already got around so we are increasingly being asked to discuss similar solutions for a range of top-end clients across Europe.”

www.golfswitch.com | www.marriottgolf.co.uk

Wilson backs Disabled British Open

Competitors in the second annual Disabled British Open (DBO) golf championship, which began today at East Sussex Golf Resort & Spa, have been given a timely boost from world number 68 Oliver Wilson.

The Surrey-based professional, who finished last season ranked ninth in Europe, took time out for his preparations for the forthcoming Dunhill Links Championship to send his best wishes to all 72 disabled athletes participating in the two-day event, which has been hailed as ‘the most inclusive pan-disability event in the country’.

Wilson, currently England’s seventh-highest ranked professional, said: “I would like to wish all the athletes taking part in the Disabled British Open this week the very best of luck.

“As a resident of the south-east, it is great to see this event come back to the region for the second year running. It is truly an inspiration to me to see all 72 participants compete for this coveted title.

“I hope I am able to draw upon some that inspiration when I compete in next year’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s.”

Competitors aged between 16 and 71have travelled to Sussex from as far afield as South Africa, Pakistan, Spain, Ireland and Germany to line up against their UK contemporaries.

■ To find out more about the 2010 Disabled British Open visit http://www.disabledbritishopen.org/, or contact Andy Barwell on 07961 315520.