Heavy rain and unprecedented bad weather have left clubs praying for a change in conditions as the third British Clubs Mixed Championships gets underway this month.
As a record number of sides prepare to do battle for a place in the finals at Celtic Manor in south Wales later this year, many teams are just hoping their course will be open in time to complete the first round.
Not content with winning the grand final last year, Hertfordshire’s Brickendon Grange GC have doubled their chances of retaing the trophy this year by entering two teams.
But their B team faces a race against time to get their course dry enough to host Northamptonshire County GC by early May.
Brickendon’s A team meanwhile face a cross-border trip to competition newcomers Burnham Beeches GC in Buckinghamshire.
Stoneham GC’s 2022 triumph seems to have inspired a host of other Hampshire and Isle of Wight clubs to enter with a large contingent of ten sides from the county doing battle in 2024.
Stoneham themselves welcome near-neighbours Skylark GC in the first round while debutants South Winchester GC and Boundary Lakes will play Barton-on-Sea GC and Rowlands Castle GC respectively.
Just up the road, Sussex clubs continue to grow with newcomers Goodwood GC travelling to Littlehampton GC and Eastbourne Downs GC hosting Royal Eastbourne GC.
It’s a similar picture in Berkshire where first-timers Newbury & Crookham GC will host Royal Ascot GC and Mill Ride GC will entertain Eton College GC.