COLIN Pickup celebrated his 81st birthday last Thursday and he did it in a way most golfers probably only dream of doing. Playing in the weekly ‘roll-up’, he went round the Farnham Golf Club course at The Sands in a gross 81 (net 70) and therefore performed the very rare feat of ‘playing to his age’.

To those who know this stalwart of Farnham Golf Club, this came as no great surprise. A casual stroll around the home clubhouse, looking at the many and various honours boards will show the name C Pickup on almost all of them, including those of captain and president.

Always the ultimate clubman, he even designed and built the present day dining room at the club and has been a full member at Farnham for well over half a century.

However, all of this paled into insignificance when compared to what he has achieved in recent weeks.

Before last week’s remarkable achievement, he competed in the club’s prestigious Parker Cup singles knockout tournament final – something he has done many times before.

This time he won it, something he has also done before.

What he did this time that was unique within his home club and possibly anywhere else club golf is played, he won the trophy again, 47 years after he first won it.

Another arresting fact was that his opponent in this year’s final had not been born when Colin first held the old trophy aloft.