Steve Deeble, 58, manages Dagenham’s Pitch and Putt Club. He tells Kay Atwal how the Central Park golf course has been part of his life for nearly half a century

Barking and Dagenham Post: Pitch and putt club manager Steve DeeblePitch and putt club manager Steve Deeble (Image: Archant)

“I started playing when my dad, Ernest, took me when I was nine.

“I liked it so much I started playing every weekend.

“I just loved it. I was the only one of three brothers to take to it. I even joined the Dagenham Pitch and Putt Club when i was about 10 or 11.

“It became a passion as I got older, though I had a two-year break when one of my sons started playing football.

“I love it. It’s so peaceful and I can quite easily lose myself in it. You can be out there all day and lose track of time.

“When I started playing it was really popular and sometimes you might have to queue for an hour for someone to bring back clubs. There used to be lots of youngsters playing.

“It’s not as busy any more and that’s why, about 10 years ago, I decided to take over the maintenance of the club.

“I look after the fairways and do all the weeding. I do all that, on top of my regular job, because I don’t know what I would do if it ever closed down. It would be like losing a famnily member if the golf club ever closed.

“Two of my three sons, my grandson and my two-year-old granddaughters play.

“It’s my life – it means so much to me. It’s a part of Dagenham and we can’t let it die.

“It‘s upsetting because when I hear people talk about it they say the grounds are the best they have ever been – but there’s no one playing on it.

“I would like to see a younger generation come through and take it forward.”

• A session at the club is £5 for adults and £3 for under-16s. Call 01708 764036 for more information.

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Dagenham’s oldest pitch and putt course could face closure unless more people play, claims manager