It’s generally accepted that film sequels are rarely, if ever, as good as the original.

Think Jaws 2, Hangover II or even more recently T2 Trainspotting. Things just aren’t as good second time around.

However, that is not the case for Rita New, who is in her second term as captain of the ladies’ section at Cleeve Cloud Golf Club.

She was also captain in 2012 and said: “I think it’s easier now because I’ve done it before. I know what to do, what needs to be done and what to expect.”

It’s a role that Rita is comfortable with, so much so that when she was asked to be captain again she said she’d take on the role for two years.

The first spell as captain came only six years after the 63-year-old, who lives in Winchcombe, had taken up the sport.

“I’d never played before 2006,” she said. “My husband Philip used to play and he said he was going to take it up again. He hadn’t played for 20 years and I thought it would be nice if we played together.”

Philip, who was born and bred in Woodmancote, used to play at Cleeve Cloud back in the day – “He grew up on Cleeve Hill,” said Rita – but it was at the 9-hole course at Shipton Oliffe that he and his wife played in the mid-noughties.

“I was lucky enough to have lessons there with Noel Boland,” said Rita. “He’s a great coach and my husband still plays with him every Monday out at Shipton. I learned from scratch and it was definitely a good move to have lessons at the start.”

Rita has always played sport – she used to play badminton and netball – so knew what she was letting herself into when she took up golf.

“When I do something, I like to give it everything I’ve got,” she said. “I got the golf bug straight away and it’s something I’ve never lost.”

After two or three years Rita switched to Cleeve Cloud, the 18-hole course on top of Cleeve Hill where Philip is also a senior member, and the move has been a big success.

“It’s a great club,” she said. “Everyone is very friendly and I love the course. It’s different every day because the wind can be blowing in a different direction and at different strengths.

“You really have to think about your game. One day you play a par 3 using a particular club and the next day you’ve got to use a completely different club.”

Rita plays off 18 – her lowest is 17 – and the competitive side of her dictates that she wants to get her handicap lower.

“I’d like to get it down a bit, she said, “maybe to 15 or 16.”

It may not be as low as she wants but it’s still lower than her husband’s. Philip plays off 23 and when asked if she beats him, she laughed: “Of course!”

One of the big advantages of playing at Cleeve Cloud is that there is still plenty to enjoy on the hill even if you’re having an off-day with your driver or putter.

“Everywhere you turn there’s another view,” said Rita, who is from Droitwich but moved to Cheltenham to work in 1974. “Players from opposing teams who have not played the course before are blown away by it. It’s just an amazing place to play.”

Not that Rita simply admires the surrounding countryside when she’s going around Cleeve Hill, she likes to do well at the golf as well.

“Yes, I’ve won things in the ladies’ section,” she said. “And I came second in the club’s champion of champions event a couple of years ago. That was quite a big achievement because it was a big field and I was up against the men as well.

“Two years before that I came third so I’m knocking on the door!”

The ladies’ section is only 10-strong at the moment – the club are on the lookout for new players – but they still number enough to play matches against other clubs.

“We finished third in the Severn Vale League last season which is our best ever finish,” she said proudly. “Barbara Smyth plays off 13 and has the lowest handicap and our oldest player is Birgit Cain, who is 81. She plays off 36 and is still going strong which is great.”

Rita, a reflexologist who works three days a week, would love to still be playing at that age. “I do yoga which helps greatly with the golf because it helps your flexibility,” she said.

She also plays the violin in the Gloucester-based Colwell Arts Orchestra and plays with the Winchcombe Handbell Ringers.

Throw in her golf at Cleeve Cloud and Rita is certainly hitting all the high notes in life!