Glider forced to land on top East Midlands course
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Golfers at Stapleford Park, Leicestershire, had more than just lakes and bunkers to contend with recently when a glider landed on the fairway of the 16th hole.
It is believed the glider pilot, Luke Dale, lost altitude and was forced to land while taking part in the Midland Regionals gliding event series – staged throughout last week – from The Gliding Centre at Husbands Bosworth in south Leicestershire.
The golf club’s PGA professional Rich Alderson, used a golf buggy to retrieve Mr Dale and his co-pilot, Jon Ravenscroft, from the course and took pictures of the aircraft.
“I was in the clubhouse when I got a call from one of the members on the course,” said Rich.
“They were playing the third hole and saw the glider come in to land on the 16th fairway, which runs parallel. I went out on a buggy and picked up the pilot and his co-pilot and brought them back to the clubhouse where they waited for a couple of hours for their support team to arrive.”
The 280-kilometre route of last Tuesday’s event included the TV mast at Waltham on the Wolds, just five miles from Stapleford Park, as one of its waypoints.
The glider landed safely on the course, well away from the luxury hotel and spa which has hosted many top celebrities like Joan Collins, Mariah Carey and even the late Michael Jackson – but its latest visitors were certainly some of its most unexpected!
The classy Melton Mowbray resort boasts a splendid Donald Steel layout which has hosted the European Seniors Tour and offers 2-FORE!-1 golf.
