Bicester golfer Alan Mellor saved himself £1,250 ahead of the new opening of Heythrop Park’s new Bainbridge Course on Wednesday.

Mellor was the sole winner of the Heythrop Challenge last weekend where any player to keep their tee shot on the sixth green had their joining fee worth that sum waived.

After achieving the feat on the 277-yard sixth hole, which is guarded by a lake, Mellor also signed up his son Connor.

Heythrop Park, near Chipping Norton, spent £50m on the resort, which also includes a health and fitness club, and 153 guest rooms.

An additional 197 guest rooms, a theatre, ballroom, 11 meeting rooms, two bars and a restaurant will be unveiled when the new Crowne Plaza opens there in October 2010.

The 7,088-yard 18-hole Bainbridge Course was designed by Tom Mackenzie, who has more than 20 years experience in the industry and has advised on 27 of Golf World Magazine’s top 50 UK courses.

Its design follows a tree-lined landscape and owes much to the traditional values Mac-Kenzie brings to his task.

He said: “I like to create courses that sit comfortably in their setting offering a wealth of shot making permutations, particularly around the greens.”

Heythrop Park will have 400 members, but will also be open for green fees and corporate days.

This weekend, ahead, of the official opening, players can book a fourball round for £100.

FRILFORD Heath pair Annie Gowing and Angela Tyreman finished joint fourth in the Brenda King Foursomes at Minchinhampton.

Rounds of 88 and 76 gave the duo a 164 total, which was three behind winners Angela Dawson and Jane Jones (Copt Heath).

IT looks like being a two-horse race for the Section 1 title in the Shaw Gibbs Oxfordshire Foursomes League.

Tadmarton Heath could have all but sealed the spoils at The Oxfordshire on Saturday, but their 2-1 defeat means the latter are now hot on their heals.

Oxford City, meanwhile, suffered their seventh straight defeat in a 2-1 home reverse to Burford.

Chipping Norton secured promotion from Section 2 after a 2½-½ home victory over nearest challengers Ellesborough and now need just a point to clinch the title.

Chippy won matches two and three easily, but the first was a high-quality draw.

Ellesborough’s Tom Lawson sunk a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, but Chippy’s Andy Johnson and Tim Reynolds halved from four feet.

Johnson then holed an eight-foot par putt on the last to secure the half.