The young lady that Claire, dare I say it 'thrashed' in her last match for Warwickshire in this weeks County Championship qualifying Round 1, will always remember that loss as will a couple of other young golfers who found themselves on the wrong end of the golfer that is Claire Dowling at last year's County Championship Semi-Finals at Copt Heath.

I would like to take you back 20 years to when I went to the World Matchplay at Wentworth. I went there only to see on player, my all time hero Jack Nicklaus, who was playing in the Championship for the first time in over a decade after his dramatic Masters win of that year. I arrived mid morning and decided to catch the spectator bus out to the 13th to await Jack's arrival.

Along came a couple of matches, some famous players and maybe a thousand people watching. Then he appeared. His 'morsel' for that round was a very young Jose Maria Olazabal. Suddenly one of Wentworth's bowls was full, people stuck up into the trees and covering every blade of grass in the perfect amphitheatre.

We clapped one man onto the green. He was the only player I saw receive that accolade at every green that year, and with his royal wave he acknowledged people thanking him for being there and for what he done in the previous 24 years. Now, just as great music has become too disposable by being used (and devalued) to promote everything down to washing powder and banks, so that acknowledgement is all too prevalent and over used. Jack's birdies that day (he won 4&2) were accompanied by thunderclaps - on a perfect cloudless early autumn day.

Moving forward to last year, I try to follow all the six players when the team plays. At Copt Heath, in the County Championship semi-finals, I could see players at Nos 5 & 6 on the 10th and 11th holes and then cut through to watch our No 1 and No 2s playing the par five 15th.

On Day 2, I heard what seemed like the crack of a rifle without having a view of fairway. On the final day, I made it through the trees in time to see Claire actually hit the same shot as the day before. Claire was up against the youth of English Women's golf, players who have big ambitions, classy golf swings (mostly) and ice cold temperaments. Their problems, on both days, were that the fridge door was open and it was boiling hot.

The shot I saw was one that boys, in the McEvoy a few months before, were cautious over, probably using much the same sort of club. Few saw only the putting surface, more likely the bunkers either side of the green or the trees left and the rough right. Claire just picked her five wood and fired the shot smack into the middle of green - next hole please ......

I was first introduced to Claire when she had just won yet another Warwickshire Ladies County Championship at my home club Stratford-on-Avon. It was one of the first features for this web site and I had no idea how good Claire is. About a year later we talked again and I asked Claire what her swing was like -

'Its like a bunch of old spanners', said Claire.

This was modesty or manipulating the media, if you can call me that. When I bought a camera for action shots that you now see on this site, I was able to witness the simplicity and class that is Claire's swing, and take pictures of it, the pictures on this site.

On that 15th fairway there were a handful of spectators, not thousands. We were watching a true amateur, someone who has the real Corinthian spirit of 'old sport' - I do hope this decision hasn't happened because Claire is going to turn Professional tomorrow .....

We applauded Claire with just the same passion that thousands had done for Jack Nicklaus. It was sheer class and everyone there knew it, notably Claire's opposition. This was not an 18 time Major Championship winner with a billion dollar fortune. It was another great golfer though.

Sportspeople are always living in the past and hoping for the future, with the help of a psychologist no doubt. Claire is a winner, a player who has won and won and won and does not like coming second. She has made the choice that so many seem to have a real struggle in including in their decision making processes.

Next year and in 2008 there will be a dozen teenage girls all thinking 'Michelle' or 'Aneka' or 'Laura' when they go to see the Warwickshire Team sheet in various matches to find out who they will be playing, girls who will covertly sigh in relief that they don't have to face Claire. Post the games they may discuss how they would have done and with young bravado (and having watched all the 'Greatest 100' programmes on Channel 4) decide that it would have been a point for them. Sorry girls, you would have had no chance.

There are no commercial considerations for what Claire has done - its very much her decision regarding how much she has been able to take from her years in top class golf. Like every golfer (and even when you have read the list of triumphs at the end of this feature), remember that no-one walks away from golf with more than they put in. Perfection doesn't exist. Its why golf is the greatest competitive game. Claire has given up competition and that's all.

What does the future hold for Claire and Peter, her husband? Being a wine connoisseur - maybe? Playing English Seniors golf - maybe not? Throwing European Professional Ladies golf into stability and progression - Claire could do it certainly. She would be a perfect boss.

Claire will continue playing. If next summer I have a couple of golfers to entertain, and Copt Heath is their chosen venue, it would be the chance of a lifetime to find Claire on the putting green rolling in 10 footers. My partners might fancy themselves off their handicap and be talking of playing for a few pounds.

'How are you playing?', I ask Claire.

'Fine', replies Claire, with that twinkle in her eye.

'We are playing a bit of a game. I wouldn't mind a partner?', I say.

'You want to win?, says Claire.

Yes', I reply.

Claire puts her putter in her bag and we are off. This going to be a pleasure.....

The Dowling record (or at least a bit of it!) -

Irish Closed Champion - 5 times

County Champion (Bucks & Warwickshire) - 9 times

British Strokeplay Champion in 1986 and twice British Amateur Champion semi-finalist

Dozens of Scratch trophy wins

A 63 (-10) as one of many coourse records

Team member - everything a Woman Amateur can play in

Captain Irish Team Captain

GB & I -v- South Africa

Captain Espirito Santo

Captain Warwickshire

Captain Vagliano

Captain Curtis Cup