COMPETITION: Your chance to name new golf course

A challenging nine-hole course will be opening soon at Chelsfield Lakes golf centre near Orpington.

The course does not currently have a name – which is where you come in.

We want you send to send in suggestions for what the course should be called.

Your ideas could be based around golfing terms, local features, history of the area – anything which you think would make a good name for years to come.

The person who sends the winning idea will see their suggestion adopted as the name for the course and win some other great prizes:

• A year’s full membership at Chelsfield Lakes golf centre
• A golf lesson with PGA club pro Nigel Lee
• A £100 voucher to spend in the club’s shop.

Fifty entries to the competition will be picked at random to receive a free round of golf on the new course.

See below for how to enter the competition, but first if you need some inspiration to help you think of a suitable name, here are the details about the new course.

The new course

The course will be the new baby of Chelsfield Lakes, providing a challenging nine-hole course with undulating hills and top-quality greens.

The course is built on former orchards called Hewitt's Farm where plums, apples and cherries were grown. There is a lake on the course.

The course is very friendly and accessible, open to all ages and all skill levels.

It’s a good test of skill for the better golfer but it's quite short in length so it's great for newcomers to the game too.

The course consists of nine par three holes between 105 and 170 yards, the course replaces the previous course of similar length at Chelsfield Lakes – but presents a totally different and much-improved test to golfers.

Yvonne Tait, general manager of Chelsfield Lakes golf centre, said: “We are very proud of our new nine-hole golf course. It is an enormous improvement on what was there before, and I am certain that our members – and indeed golfers from all over the area - will really enjoy playing it.

“Our greenkeeping team have worked wonders. The new course is extremely interesting and challenging – it sets accomplished golfers a proper test, but it’s also short enough to be great fun for higher handicappers, younger players and of course beginners to the game.

“Our message to our members and to all local golfers is simple – feel free to come to Chelsfield Lakes and play our new nine-hole course. Feel free to wear what you like while you play it, feel free to play it with up to three friends of any age or sex, and feel free to come along at any time.

“Our new golf course really is for everyone!”

An open day will be held at the golf club on August 15, to celebrate the opening of the new course, with free golf coaching, fun competitions, free golf balls at the driving range and on-the-day-only offers in the pro shop – as well as the chance to tackle the new nine-hole course.

Tony Healy, divisional manager for Crown Golf, owners and operators of Chelsfield Lakes, said: “Golfers love to play new golf courses, and we’re absolutely delighted to be able to announce the arrival of this rare treat – a brand new golf course, which is open to everybody.

“The new course is ideal for an evening round in the summer, for a quick round as a warm-up for an 18-hole round, or – particularly for keener golfers – as a great way to test your iron and approach play. Play this course frequently, and we predict that your golf handicap will come tumbling down!”

To book your free coaching session at the Chelsfield Lakes golf centre open weekend, or for more information, call 01689 896266, or email Chelsfield Lakes

The competition

To be in with a chance of winning you need to come up with a name for the new golf course.

Send your suggestions, with your name, address and contact number, by post to Golf Competition, News Shopper, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, BR5 1BT.

Or send your ideas by text. Type NSGOLF, leave a space and send your suggestion, your name and address to 80360.

Or enter by email. Send your ideas, along with your name and contact details, to web manager Simon Bull

The closing date is August 10, after which a winner will be chosen by the manager of Chelsfield Lakes, Yvonne Tait.

Competition rules: Employees of Newsquest (London) Ltd, their families and anyone else connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter. Prizes are not transferable and there are no cash alternatives. The editor’s decision is final. Texts cost 50p plus your normal operator text charge. Text lines close 9/8/2009 at 11.59pm. Service provided by Newsquest Media Group.