Going the distance is par for the course at Wimbledon Common Golf Club.

As the club celebrates its centenary year, its president is still playing the sport at the grand age of 94.

Jack Miles, of New Malden, first joined in 1947, along with some other ex-serviceman.

Although he didn't consider himself a good player at the time, he steadily improved his game to get his handicap down to 14.

Now it is still an impressive 23, and he regularly beats his age - completing the course in about 90 shots.

He has even achieved every golfer's ambition, to get a hole in one.

Mr Miles said: "The tradition is to buy everyone a drink, but there were 120 of us there at the time, so they decided to buy me a bottle of champagne a call it a day."

He tries to get to the course twice a week now, playing on his own as he has survived all his regular opponents.

"The game keeps the old arms swinging. It's a tremendous amount of exercise and a good walk too, and Wimbledon Common Club has a very friendly atmosphere," he said.

When he's not golfing, he gets his exercise from playing bowls or gardening in his allotment. He also spends 30 days every years on a round trip to Arizona and St Thomas in the Caribbean, where two of his fours sons lives.

Mr Miles served as secretary of the club for 11 years, after retiring from his job as a surveyor in 1978.

He has enjoyed the more leisurely role of president for the last 10 years.

"I have to look busy and make a few speeches. I'm the father figure of the club," he said.

Wimbledon Common Golf Club has about 300 members, and shares its course with the London Scottish Golf Club.

All golfers traditionally wear red tops - the colour worn by the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers when they were using the area as a firing range.

Now the red uniforms help distinguish the golfers from members of the public, who have right of way on the course.

Members of the club were due to attend a centenary dinner last night (Wednesday), while a week of special events is planned for June.

See wcgc.co.uk