THE Dorset Golf and Country Club held its Captains’ Drive-in – an event that heralds the arrival of the club’s four new captains while signifying the start of the club’s golfing calendar.

On a day peppered with thundery showers, three new captains stepped forward to drive their ball down the fairway.

Men’s captain for this year is Paul Schmieder who without hesitation smote the ball 283 yards into the middle of the fairway.

Lady captain Vicky Kardas and senior captain Tony Key couldn’t quite reach the standard set by Schmieder but between them they amassed at total of 928 yards, which included a 260-yard drive by their junior counterpart on a previous day.

Monies raised by the event, for guessing the distances driven, have provided a great start to their chosen charity, the Victoria Education Centre in Branksome Park, Poole.

The charity offers specialised education, therapy and care for young people aged from three to 19.

Children and young people who attend Victoria have physical disabilities or complex medical conditions and many have additional needs including communication difficulties, learning difficulties and sensory impairments.

Junior captain for the second year, Callum Ward, was unable to take part in this year’s event – he was busy with the junior team representing the club in the finals of the Royal British Legion Junior Golf Challenge in Northampton.