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View across the putting green   Oaks Sports Centre Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 4AN Tel: 020 8643 8363 Fax: 020 8770 7303 6033 yards - Par 70 It says on the official Oaks website that "The first traces of man on the grounds of Oaks Park and Oaks Sports Centre began in prehistoric times, possibly Neolithic (Circa 3200BC)". After further investigation we have proved beyond any doubt that these sightings were of Wild Walker practicing on the one course on tour that he has never been able to master. Why this should be the case remains as much of a mystery as are Neolithic Man's mating rituals... The Oaks course was the third ever venue visited by MIGC way back at the end of 1992. As one of the pioneers of those heady days and in fact the winner of the inaugural event, I can still remember standing on the 72nd tee, dead level with my old adversary Fishlock, only to see him heave his tee shot over the mounds to the left of the 18th fairway and out of bounds. Despite being one of the shortest par fours on the course at only 323 yards, the 18th at Oaks has been more of a dreamwrecker than any other hole on the MIGC tour. (14th at Dartmouth accepted Shack). Who can forget Gordie in 1995. It was his rookie year and he had made a explosive impact on the tour with some highly impressive displays. Little did he know how much of an effect the last hole of the last event of the year would have on him. There he stood on the notorious 18th with a two shot lead over the legendary Cochi, looking to be the first rookie winner since the Nut himself. What had impressed everyone about him that year was the intelligence with which he played. Growing up on the harsh Cardcross links in the wilds of Strathclyde had obviously taught the softly spoken, slender framed Scot a thing or two about course management. As the gallery looked on you could hear them predicting "he'll knock an iron down there which will only leave him 130 yards to the green" and "It's in the bag". But oh no, out came the big boy. The crowd gasped. Then, in a blur flesh, fabric and metal he sent his ball sailing over the out of bounds fence. Nut cleaned up with a par four and the dust settled. To this day, Gordie with all his grace and poise has never come closer to winning that illusive major title.   Nice spot at the 19th   A year later, almost to the day, it was the turn of the Wild Man. Thinking he had finally put his Oaks ghost to rest he stood on the 18th tee practicing the speech he would make after collecting his third major title in as many years. He had a comfortable two shot lead over Foxy and all was rosy in his garden. Wild, with his immense power could probably reach that green with two wedges, so why he thought he needed to pull out a wood beggars belief. The crowd, the same faces as the previous year to a man, again gasped. BOOM! - Out of bounds. Another ball. BOOM - out of bounds again. Needless to say Foxy quietly cleaned up and won what is still a record third major title in the one calendar year. Oaks is almost as much a part of MIGC as Llandrindod. The course itself has a sense of timelessness about it and is always in fantastic condition no matter what time of year you play it. The greens are some of the best and toughest on tour and this correspondent at least hopes that one day we might be able to take the Ryder Cup matches there. To single out a specific hole at any course is usually difficult, at Oaks it is especially so. It is more the sum of its parts than 18 individual holes that make it the wonderful course that it is. It has a flow to it almost like no other course I have played. Each hole feels just right following the previous one and at the 18th green you are just ready for the sanctuary of the 19th. I've said it before on these pages and I'll probably say it again, but if you are ever in the Surrey / South London area and your clubs are in the boot of your car, then playing Oaks is a must. There is nothing grand about the place other than the place itself. It is not steeped in history (other than our Neolithic friend) but you will find a warm welcome from the people there, a hugely enjoyable course and will even get change from a twenty pound note when paying your green fees!