AMBITIOUS Martyn Thompson believes he may need to become a member at Remedy Oak to help him take his game to the next level.
The 37-year-old Parkstone professional was full of praise for Dorset's newest club after winning the Bournemouth Alliance pro-medal event at the prestigious course near Horton.
"I'm a big fan of Remedy," said Thompson, who carded a four-under-par 68, off the white tees, to win by four strokes.
"It is a great test of golf and the greens are the closest you will get to the European Tour in the area and would be perfect to practice on."
Thompson has never given up hope of a future on the European Tour despite failing to get past the first qualifying stage this year.
"I had only returned from two weeks holiday and didn't prepare properly this time round," admitted Thompson.
"But I still believe I have it in me to give it another go next year and to take my game to the next level I may have to consider becoming a member at Remedy. The greens are big, undulating, and very quick.
"I would compare them to Augusta in that you have to know where to put your approach shot or else you will be faced with an almost impossible putt.
"In the past I have struggled at various stages of European Tour qualifying because I haven't been use to playing on those types of greens."
Thompson's round at Remedy began with a bogey four at the 224-yard fourth before birdies at the fifth and sixth took him into red figures.
He then used a four-wood to clear the water on the 272-yard eighth hole for another birdie before reaching the turn on two-under-par.
Further birdies followed at the 12th and 13th before Thompson missed a four-foot putt at the 15th to go five under par.
"I felt that missed putt took the steam out of my round," said Thompson. "I made a good escape for a par five on the next after finding a water hazard but missed the green with my second at the 16th."
Thompson then found the greenside rough with his second at the par five penultimate hole and had to settle for a birdie.
"It was frustrating because I carded three consecutive fives when I should have been looking at fours," added Thompson.
There was a silver lining for Thompson at the final hole, however, when he sank a 40-foot putt, with a huge five-foot swing from left to right, for birdie.
Thompson, who was in the final group, enjoyed the best of the weather after play was delayed due to rain.
"Luckily we hadn't teed off when play was stopped, so we managed to stay dry which was a big advantage over the players who had already started," said Thompson.
He finished four shots ahead of Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) and Paul Jones (Canford Magna) who carded level par 72s. Top amateur was Dorset player Giles Legg who scored 73.
Other results - Fourball Betterball Medal for the Green and Whitcombe Cups: 1 Martyn Thompson/Richard White (Ferndown) 65, 2 Marcus Cahill/Nick Madden (both Knighton Heath) 66, 3 Alan Pollock/Selwyn Bruke (Dudsbury and Remedy Oak) 67, 4 Ben Gisborne and Julian Sargeant (Lyme Regis and Dudsbury), 5 Paul Lovesy and Dan Riddle (both Remedy Oak).
- Paul Jones (Canford Magna) finished second in the he rearranged Crest Nicholson Marlborough pro-am.
He shot five under par 67, to trail Russell Berry (Cleeve Hill) by two shots, and win £480.
Lee Thompson (Dudsbury) shot 71 and won £112 while James Baldwin (Parkstone) carded 72 to win £80.
Nigel Tokely (Remedy Oak) led the Callaway team of Neil Howie, Bob Nicholls and Mike Nott into fifth place on 12-under 132.
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