It is ten years since Charlie Macey, surely the most extraordinary of professional golfers, died aged 79 in his native Crowborough.

To the credit of the club there is a lasting memory to Charlie who served the Beacon for 33 years. It is a sort of museum, Charlie Macey's room and bearing a polished brass nameplate where all his memorabilia is displayed.

Members are aware but the vast majority of visitors don't know about this unique record of a unique man and his family which is part of golfing lore. Charlie's dad was assistant pro for six years and became guv'nor from 1912 until 1941 not counting service in France as an officer. Young Charlie assisted father from 1928 until the early years of World War Two until retiring in 1961. There was no break in the family connection and Mrs Macey looked after the shop in two world wars, becoming the honorary pro.

I first met Charlie when he invited me to watch his novel teaching method. He lined-up the juniors and had them swinging to Strauss waltzes played on the gramaphone. He even wrote a book about it, Golf Rythym.

Some thought Charlie eccentric. There could, however, be no doubting his enormous energy and enthusiasm.

One golf course wasn't enough. He thought nothing of getting a team together and playing cross-country for 37 miles and holing out on the 18th at Eastbourne Downs by the glare of car headlights at 10.30 pm. The 16-hour marathon, setting out from Crowborough at dawn was accomplished in 896 shots (free drop from a cow pat) for the loss of 60 balls.

The players were soaked to the skin, crippled by blisters and one had the seat of his trousers removed entirely by a vicious dog. Far more gentle, and for a wartime charity, Charlie played 12 rounds in a day (949 strokes) taking 15 hours or 4.4 strokes a hole.

Using only a hollow plastic ball Charlie took 341 for 18 holes. Out in 165, back in 176, Charlie's best holes were eights at the 13th and 17th. The 5th and 7th each required 27 strokes but the maximum distance of the airstream ball was only 10 yards. This was in response to a wager by a member who thought it couldn't be done in under 300 strokes.

It didn't prove a point except that Charlie was one helluva sport and game for anything and that was only some of his extraordinary feats. His stunts went a long way to brightening post-war austerity.

A wiry figure, he moved fast, very fast. He teed-off with the 6ft 3in Earl Castle Stewart at 9am and was back in time to go round with Lord Trefgarne at 11.30. Crowborough's membership always read like Burke's Peerage and Charlie, like all the employees, were required to doff the cap.

By way of variety he organised a team of golfers against local archers along 60 miles of Hadrian's Wall to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind and Crowborough hospital. The call of the open road always beckoned but, by way of variation, he walked backwards from Crowborough to Lewes in just under four hours.

For the 16 miles Charlie was accompanied by a guide going in the right direction.

The 50 miles from Margate to Maidstone held no fears for Charlie who also covered the 51 miles from Westminster to Brighton Aquarium in 11 hours 45 minutes.

He was, of course, a teetotaller and non-smoker and would do anything for charity. A wager was laid with odds of 20-1 that he couldn't keep bobbing up and down for 1,000 jumps or half an hour on a pogo stick.

The parquet floor of the Bricklayers Arms was pitted with 12,000 indentations as he bounced on the spring-loaded pole for 95 minutes and the local kids Christmas party was better off.

Is there more? How about racing the railway train down Snowdon and winning, playing the most northerly course in the world in Lapland, driving off the crest of Mont Blanc and getting knee deep trying to propel red balls in the Matterhorn snows.

Then there was Charlie the champion ballroom dancer.

His medals and certificates for tripping the light fantastic with wife Ruby are on display together with a couple of old clubs (one hickory) plus a pictorial record of early days at Crowborough.

Charlie Macey was a wonderful human being who put himself last and others first which may explain why he liked walking backwards.

Those golfers with time to spare and in the neighbourhood might like to pop into Charlie's room. Vivienne Harwood, the club secretary, will be only to happy to oblige by unlocking the door to a treasure trove.

Whoops! The picture of John Groom's 50th anniversary presentation at East Brighton last week showed John receiving a trophy from Jack O'Hara, the club captain and not David Bailey, the club's marketing director. Apologies to all concerned.