GOLFERS and supporters from York were today heading off on a tee party to America.

The occasion is the Great Britain v America match at the exclusive Riverton Golf and Country Club in Philadelphia.

A total of 20 golfers, plus five fans from York, are journeying to the United States as a follow-up match staged two years ago at Fulford to coincide with another North Yorkshire course, Ganton GC, then hosting the Walker Cup.

That match revived the tradition of 20 years ago when a team from old York would regularly take on their New York counterparts.

The Riverton venue for this week's match is the home club of Craig Ammermann, a member of the United States Golf Association executive committee, explained Jonathan Plaxton, former Fulford captain and one-time England amateur international.

He helped get the trans-Atlantic challenge swinging again in 2003 and will be part of a York-based team that also includes current Fulford club captain Melvyn Allison and Bob Elliott and Robin Garland, who both played in the original York v New York games.

It is hoped that a return fixture will be arranged for 2007 around the Walker Cup when it is held in Ireland.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, August 03, 2005