Lymm Golf Club Senior Section

Rules quiz

A player may repair natural wear of the hole on the putting green before putting

1. True
2. False

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Seniors calendar

If you need to know what’s coming up in the Seniors, including all our interclub seniors’ matches, don’t forget to have a look at the Senior Section Calendar which you can find on the menu bar at the top of each weekly newsletter. Our thanks to Dave Craggs our hard-working Secretary who does his best to keep the calendar fully up to date.

Safety of the greens staff

As you will have read in Keith’s weekly email update there have been two recent incidents where members of the greens team have been very close to being hit by golf balls. On each occasion they did not hear any shout of ‘Fore’. Please try to ensure that where shots go astray and may endanger someone that a warning shout is always given. Please click here to see helpful guidance about the courtesy that greens staff should be afforded whilst they are doing their invaluable work on our course.

Find the Fact – Andy Timms

Only one of the following statements about our immediate past Captain is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Andy is a keen cook and has over 74 recipe books in 3 different languages. Andy has calculated (for reasons best known to himself) that if he cooked one recipe per day it would take over 34 years to work his way through his collection
2. Andy is a FA qualified coach. During his time as Coach and Chairman of Urmston Meadowside the club won the FA Charter Standard Club of the Year twice
3. During his time as Captain of Lymm last year Andy played golf 163 times on 53 courses, in three countries with over 200 people

Answer below

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 28 May

PLEASE NOTE: There will be a Bottle of Wine competition on the 12th of June as there is a match against Northenden on that day. As the team has yet to be finalised at the time of writing you may end up in the team but also appear on the schedule below. If you are selected in the team to play Northenden, and you appear in the schedule below, can you please cancel yourself off the tee booking once it is on IG. If you are in the team and flagged as a tee booker, could you please ensure another member of your group makes the booking on Thursday evening. The tee time of 9.18 a.m. has deliberately been left blank to speed up play in the Interclub match, please do not book yourselves into that tee time. You may see seniors who are in the team against Northenden take that booking just to protect the tee time.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 31 May

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules quiz

In a stroke-play competition, players A, B and C were drawn by the Committee to play together starting at 9.00am. A and B were ready to play at the appointed time. Due to bad traffic, player C arrived at 9.02am after A and B had teed off but just in time to play in the correct order. What is the ruling?

1. There is no penalty.
2. Player C is disqualified.
3. Player C gets two penalty strokes

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Updated local rules

For those that may have missed Keith Melia’s email of 16 May, please click this link for an updated version of the course local rules issued by Clive Makin Chair of the Greens Committee.

Interclub Seniors match – Ringway – Wednesday 13 May (away)

Reporter: Grahame Brickell (Captain of the Day)

Well, the weather forecasters got it right; heavy showers and a chilling wind. Thankfully not that much rain had fallen overnight so the course started off ‘fit to play’ and so we donned our winter gear, got the big boy pants on and headed out!

Now without naming names… one group decided to call it a half on the 11th and headed in for T&C, but by that stage they had already fallen behind by 2 holes from the leading group!
“Was that thunder?” I shouted to their CoD when stood on the 15th tee at dormie 4 down, hoping for a quick exit / match abandoned. But he was having none of it!

So whilst we lost on 16, we did complete the 18, finishing in warm sunshine! The course as it always is was in great nick. One course gammon egg etc was great (note to self – no bacon on the return leg!). And the overall hospitality good.

Not sure how it took the last 2 groups nearly 5hours to get round! Overall result – win for Ringway 5-3, closer than it sounds as 2 matches were halved!

Interclub Seniors match – Huyton & Prescot – Monday 18 May (away)

Reporter: Richard Smyllie (Captain of the Day)

Sorry I have to report match result with H&P was a loss of 7.5 to 0.5. I was playing with Barrie Simpson in the first match which we halved. It was a great tussle. We were 2 down after the par 5 13th, so with 5 holes left something had to be done. We won 14, 16, 17 to put us dormie 1. We had putts of 5 to 6 foot on the last to tie the hole and win but alas we were not able to sink them. Other scores in match order: 4:3, 4:3, 1up, 6:5, 3:2, 5:3, 7:6. Lovely course, great company and shepherd’s pie in a pie which was very well received.

Some facts about the clock tower courtesy of Dave Craggs:

The “dangerous deer” incident

Probably the most repeated local tale involves deer donated by Lord Derby from the Knowsley estate. They wandered the grounds around Hurst Hall until, according to club history, one attacked a local golfing vicar. After that, Lord Derby was apparently asked to remove the animals. It’s one of those stories older members have retold for decades.

The AC/DC electricity feud

This is perhaps the most fascinating story tied to the mansion and tower. The Atherton brothers — wealthy industrialists linked to the British Insulated Wire Company — reportedly disagreed so strongly over electrical systems that one side of Hurst Hall used alternating current while the other used direct current. During 1961 refurbishment work, builders discovered both systems still existed in different parts of the house. It became a favourite local anecdote because it reflected the famous “War of Currents” happening worldwide at the time.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 21 May

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 24 May

Non golf related trivia

1. Chocolate kills dogs! True, chocolate affects a dog’s heart and nervous system. A few ounces is enough to kill a small sized dog.
2. Mosquito repellents don’t repel, they hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito’s sensors so they don’t know you’re there.
3. It’s impossible to sneeze with your eyes open

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

A spider’s web is closely attached to a tree and interfering with your swing. You remove the web and play your shot onto the green. What is the ruling?

1. There is no penalty
2. You get one penalty stroke
3. You get two penalty strokes

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Lymm Visitor

Author: Barry Smith

This morning (May the 8th) on the 4th hole, I got a birdie, well a picture of a birdie, an exotic birdie at that!

The Egyptian Goose!

Scientific name: Alopochen aegyptiaca

Apparently Egyptian geese aren’t true geese, they’re members of the shelduck sub-family, Tadorninae. They are naturally found in Africa, in the Nile valley and south of the Sahara. They were introduced to Great Britain to be kept in wildfowl collections, and are usually found in south-central England, East Anglia, and the East Midlands, so this one might be lost. Egyptian Geese are said to be noisy and quarrelsome, with aggressive behaviour which has ruled them out of some collections, therefore they might well be a good fit for Lymm Seniors!

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 14 May

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 17 May

Non golf related trivia

Three interesting pieces of trivia to share with your loved ones over tonight’s evening meal:

1. A cockroach can live for 10 days without a head
2. 40 percent of McDonald’s profits come from the sales of Happy Meals
3. On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

A player plays their second shot, searches for the ball briefly and then goes back and drops another ball under penalty of stroke and distance. Before the player can play the dropped ball, the player’s original ball is found within three minutes of when the player first started searching for it. What is the ruling?

A – The player must continue with the original ball
B – The player must continue with the dropped ball
C – The player may choose whether to continue with the original ball or the dropped ball

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Dave Craggs

Only one of the following statements about Dave is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your Secretary?

1. Dave was one of the founding members of Helsby Golf Club
2. Dave flew a glider sitting in the same seat (but not at the same time) that Anneka Rice had occupied whilst filing Challenge Anneka in 1993
3. Dave ran in the Warrington 10K (6.2 miles) at the age of 71. He completed the course in under 52 minutes and raised over £200 for the River Reeves Foundation which was set up following the tragic accident in Sweden involving members of Viola Beach

Answer below

Seniors match Friday 1 May v Helsby Golf Club

Author and Captain of the Day: Steve Gosling

A beautiful morning as 16 of Lymm’s Seniors set out optimistically with a belly full of a bacon butty to take on Helsby.

It was nearly 15 as Barrie Simpson decided he would do a detour via Helsby, thinking it was an away fixture.

A competitive set of matches apart from Helsby failing to adopt an apparent “local rule” …. Mike Pigott does not allow anybody 2 shots on a hole in match play!

I think the tone on that match was set on the first hole as the person Mike was giving 23 shots to drove his drive past the 150 marker, the thoughts of an early fish and chips had already been set.

Overall it was 4 : 4

Wins for

Steve Gosling and Ian Goodman

Andrew Cox and John Armstrong

Pete Broady and Alan Ranscombe

Half’s for Mark Lyons and Phil Ormisher and Mark Pickles’s and Barrie Simpson

The fish and chips went down well and everyone left happy in the sunshine to face another battle on the return leg later in the year.

Senior Member Update – Colin Lees

Author: Duncan Clarke

Just thought that the members of our section would like to know that Colin Lees is having his big toe amputated on Friday and we wish him all the best from all the seniors. It’s been infected and causing him so much trouble his consultant has advised amputation. But he should be back in three to four weeks’ time. In the meantime, we’ll all miss his dry with and camaraderie.

Congratulations Les, I’ll let you have your quality bottle of red the next time I see you in the clubhouse

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 7 May

No booking schedule this Sunday as Monday 25 May is another bank holiday. Please feel free to make your own arrangements.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

On the first hole of a stroke play competition, a player uses their distance measuring device before their second shot and then again before their third shot. The device had the ability to make an adjustment for slope and this was turned on. What is the ruling?

1. The player gets two penalty strokes
2. The player gets four penalty strokes
3. The player is disqualified

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Helping the players behind you

Now that the sunshine has returned, if you struggle to see your tee-shot because it’s shining into your eyes, think about being kind to the players behind you. Grahame Brickell has reminded me that it is a nice touch for one of the players from your group to stay near the green and spot incoming balls for the group behind. This can be done while the ‘spotters’ partners tee off as normal. The second and ninth holes are likely candidates for these random acts of kindness.

Padeswood and Buckley G C – Senior Open Competition on Tuesday 7th July 2026

Author: John Hayes

As you contemplate the wonderful season of “Senior’s Golf” that lies ahead, why not brighten your day by thinking about our upcoming group visit to Padeswood in July. There are still a few places left on the booking sheet for any members of our senior’s group to enter. We have quite a few members who have been to this competition for several years now and we have always found it to be a welcoming venue. In particular I would like to recommend it to our newer members who have yet to experience this opportunity.

The course at Padeswood is usually in excellent condition, in particular the greens are swift and true. It is a similar style of parkland layout to our own course here at Lymm. The clubhouse is available for refreshments both before and after your round of golf (at your own expense!).

As in previous years, the format of the day is “Four ball, better ball” going out in six groups starting at 10 30 am and then every 10 minutes. The total entry fee is £25 per person this year, which includes the entry fee to P and B G C for the main competition plus £5 for our own “internal” competition, in which there will be cash prizes for the first, second and third places within our group, based on the cards being handed in for the main competition.

If you would like to join the group for this outing please give me a call/text/email (contact details on IG).

Further information on timings, pairings and other details will be sent out nearer the date.

Any queries please give me a call on 07771 464 028

Prostate Cancer Support – Golf Event

Author: Phil Ormesher

We are holding a golf event at Silloth Golf Club on Monday 6^th July.

Silloth Golf Club, https://www.sillothgolfclub.co.uk/, number 46 in UK rankings, and a challenging links course, are supporting our charity with a golf competition (fourball, best two to count) and PSA testing day on Monday 6^th July from 11.30 onwards.

Cost £60; guest green fees normally £120.  A chance to play a fantastic course at half price and benefit our charity at the same time.

I know a number of people at Lymm GC have already expressed an interest and with that in mind I have reserved an 11.30 tee time for four which, depending on demand, may or may not include me.

If you would like to play please contact me on 07814 008403

Phil Ormesher – Chair and Trustee

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 30 April

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 3 May

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Your second shot comes to rest on the green. When putting, you hit the ball too hard and it rolls off the green into a bunker. You deem your ball unplayable and take relief by placing another ball on the putting green where you putted from and hole the next putt. What is your score for the hole?

A – 5

B – 6

C – 7

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Mike Kendall

Only one of the following statements about Mike is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know our Friday tee-times organiser?

1. Mike first saw his future wife immediately after regaining consciousness in an ambulance after being knocked clean out during a football match
2. Mike was a contestant on “Who wants to be a millionaire”. Mike didn’t win the million, but did manage to walk away with £16,000 having answered nine questions correctly
3. Mike once had to stop Roy Keane from throttling another guest at a social function which Mike had organised and which Roy attended

Answer below

The hidden workout – what 18 holes really does to your body

Author: The Editor

Most of us like to think of golf as a gentle stroll with occasional swearing. But the science says otherwise. An 18‑hole round is, in fact, a proper workout — the sort your GP wishes you’d do more often.

A typical round at Lymm means 5–6 miles on foot, including slopes, rough, and the occasional detour to look for a ball that was “definitely just here a second ago.” This steady movement over 3–4 hours gives your heart and lungs a genuine endurance session.

Walking 18 holes burns more than twice as many calories as brisk walking for the same time. Carry your bag and you’ll burn even more — though your shoulders may file a complaint later.

💪 Muscles That Get a Free Workout

• Legs: All that walking, especially on uneven ground
• Core: Stabilising during the swing
• Shoulders & arms: Repeated high‑force swings
• Back: Both from swinging and from bending to pick up the ball (some more often than others)

Golf swings generate surprising force — in fact, biomechanically they can be more demanding than a baseball swing.

❤️ Good News for Your Heart

A full round helps:

• Lower blood pressure
• Improve cholesterol (especially HDL, the “good” one)
• Regulate blood sugar

It’s essentially a long, low‑intensity cardio session disguised as a social outing.

😓 Fatigue & Wear‑and‑Tear

After 18 holes, it’s normal to feel:

• Tired legs
• Tight shoulders
• A stiff lower back
• A strong desire for a pint

Up to 62% of amateur golfers experience some form of overuse injury, most commonly in the elbow, wrist, shoulder, and back — usually from enthusiastic swings and less‑than‑enthusiastic stretching.

🧠 Mental Effort Counts Too

Golf demands concentration for hours. That mental load adds to overall fatigue — especially on days when the putts refuse to drop.

🏁 The Takeaway

Playing 18 holes is not a gentle dawdle. It’s a multi‑hour, moderate‑intensity workout that boosts heart health, strengthens muscles, improves balance, and burns a surprising number of calories. So, the next time someone says golf isn’t exercise, feel free to hand them your step count.

Summer League – Round 2 CORRECTION

In last week’s newsletter third place in division 1 was incorrectly attributed to Koos Alders. In actual third place (only your Mum loves you if you’re third) was John Armstrong, with a very creditable 34 points. Since moving off the mats Paul Foster is no longer allowed to “slash and burn” our handicaps, he has now started getting his kicks by arbitrarily relegating players from division 1 to division 2 before working out the placings. This accounts for why John did not appear in the winners list last week. Apologies John and well played.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 23 April

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 26 April

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

In match play, a player who is waiting to play a bunker shot casually leans on their club in the bunker.
What is the ruling?
A – There is no penalty.
B – The player gets one penalty stroke.
C – The player loses the hole

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

STOP PRESS – Seniors’ Chairman

As this newsletter goes to press, I am delighted to announce that Arthur Nuttall has agreed to assume the role of Chairman for the remainder of the current year. Arthur brings seven years of past experience as a member of the seniors’ committee. A warm welcome back Arthur, I am sure your enthusiasm, common sense and good humour will once again be deployed to the advantage of all your fellow seniors at Lymm Golf Club.

Above: Our new chairman pictured here with Lindsay Fox receiving her leaving gift from the seniors in October of last year.

Interclub match – Lymm GC Seniors v Leigh GC Seniors

Reporter: Dave Craggs

Match report of our first home game of season against Leigh Golf Club played on Monday 13 April.

Ice on the windscreen with blue skies started the morning. Everyone arrived at 8.30 a.m. for their bacon barms which were well received together with an introduction to the teams. Four teams teeing off the first and four off the 16th worked well. The course was in excellent condition and some good and not so good golf followed in the sunshine.

After a serving of a mystery pie (when opened was a Josh special of balti chicken) the captain of the day speech followed. After the formal welcome I was saying what a great game we had with our playing partners Ron and…..erm….. erm. After a lengthy silence, Phil (their Captain) shouted “Phil”, by which time there was no need for my joke of the day, it produced a rousing laugh. A senior moment. A fitting follow-up of how brilliant my short game had been; especially off the tee!  My tee shot off the 15th was meant to clear the ditch ahead but somehow struck the ladies tee knocking it a few yards and my ball flew backwards!  We did recover but not enough to win our game.

Not the result Grahame, our matches organiser wanted, we lost 5 games to 3. Last year we lost away and won at home. Look forward to the away game on 15th September and hopefully a win.

Well done to our 3 winning teams:
Mark Lyons & Ian Smith – won 2 & 1 (Ian Smith scoring a 2 on the 17th to win the game)
Trevor Williamson & Alan “have I got a shot” Ranscombe – won 2 & 1
Phil Perry & Steve Bramall – won 2 & 1
Looking forward to our next game at home on 1st May against Helsby GC.

Lymm Seniors Winter League winners

Author: Dave Craggs

Congratulations to all the winners from this year’s Winter League:

DIVISION 1

DIVISION 2

The above amounts should have been credited to your pro-shop accounts already, please contact Mervyn Roberts our treasurer if your well deserved winnings have not been received.

Payment of seniors’ subscriptions and competitions

Would all members of the seniors who have entered the singles knockout (Mike Smith Summer Singles Knockout Trophy) please note that your subscription for the current year must be paid before you play your first round in the competition. Failure to pay your subs may result in your disqualification from the competition.

The Seniors’ calendar currently shows 4 May as a Happy Mondays day (apologies). The date is a bank holiday so there will be no Happy Mondays. The same applies on Monday 25 May but a reminder regarding this will be sent nearer the time.

IMPORTANT – Resumption of Golf for handicap purposes – Impact on Seniors golf

Author: Steve Bird

A reminder that we return to WHS conditions (no mats) with effect from Wednesday 15 April (please see Keith Melia’s email to all club members dated 13 April for full details). As a result from round 3 of the Summer Session (17 April), you will need to have entered the relevant competition on IG (available up to 14 days before the competition).

On your scorecard you should enter your WHS index, your course handicap and your playing handicap (this information can be found under the ‘calculator’ section of your handicap record on IG.)

After you have played, you will need to enter your scores on IG. Your fully completed and signed card should then be placed in the scorecard box. 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 16 April

Please note that as we are playing a seniors’ match against Helsby GC on the 1st of May the preferred playing times requested by seniors may not be available

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

A live insect in a bunker can be moved without penalty.

1. True
2. False

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Seniors’ Singles knockout – Mike Smith Trophy

The draw for the seniors’ singles knockout competition (Mike Smith Trophy) has now been made and is available to view in the IG App. Go to ‘knockouts’ on the competitions page of the club website and look for ‘Mike Smith Plate’. First round matches (of which there are only three given a large number of byes) are to be played by Friday 8 May and second round matches are to be played by Friday 29 May. 35 seniors have entered the competition.

Competition entrants are reminded that is the responsibility of the FIRST NAMED player in each match to contact their opponent to make arrangements to play. Guidance about responsibilities for arranging matches is contained on page 16 of the Strategy, Rules and Guidance document which can be found here.

Good luck to everyone who has entered. Any queries to Ian Smith (Competitions Secretary)

Seniors Committee Meeting – Friday 10 April

Your hard-working committee will be gathering this Friday after chopping their way around the course. If there are any issues that you wish to raise regarding how the Seniors is run, or if you have suggestions for improvement, please feel free to have a word with a member of the current committee (pictured below).

As a reminder here are the roles of those pictured (from left to right):

• Grahame Brickell – Inter Club Competitions Officer
• Dave Craggs – Secretary
• Paul Foster – Handicap Secretary
• Les Williams – (Chairman – resigned, position currently vacant)
• Mike Kendal – Friday Booking Secretary
• Ian Goodman – Communications Officer
• Mervyn Roberts – Treasurer & Membership Secretary
• Ian Smith – Competitions Secretary
• Steve Bird – Monday Booking Secretary (Editor’s note: Steve was away on holiday when the photograph above was taken. If you’ve seen Steve’s face though you can never forget it)
• Maintenance Managers – Grahame Brickell (rockery) and Dave Craggs (memorial bench)

Find the Fact – Paul Foster

Only one of the following statements about our Handicap Secretary Paul “the axeman” Foster is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Paul once played 9 holes of golf with Bobby Charlton
2. Paul has just passed 5,000 beers tasted
3. Paul once won a 9-hole golf competition played on the longest day of the year in Iceland

Answer below

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 9 April

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 12 April

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Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

A player’s ball came to rest beside a raised turf area which interferes with their swing. The turf is raised due to an underground pipe which can be seen coming out of the ground a few feet away. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1

1. True
2. False

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Trevor Williamson

Two of the following statements about Trevor are correct. The other one is false. How well do you know your fellow senior, can you find the false statement?

Playing for Doncaster Rugby Union Football Club, Trevor Williamson, gained a reputation for his “bone-crunching, but scrupulously fair” tackling (a ‘Telegraph’ quote). Apart from winning the Yorkshire shield in 1979, the year was memorable for him for receiving punches from a Triple Crown of opponents, each of them fed-up with being on the receiving end of his tackles – something he remembers with great pride! All three were internationals:

(a) England Centre, Richard Cardus, playing for Roundhay in the Yorkshire Cup (Roundhay became Leeds Tykes)

(b) Scotland Centre, Graham Birkett, playing for Harlequins in a 7-a-side tournament at Doncaster.

(c) Wales legend & British Lion, Terry Cobner, playing out of position at Centre for Pontypool

Answer below

Championship Game – Change of Date

The Seniors Championship Game will now be played on Friday the 11 September rather than Friday 4 September. This is to avoid a clash with the juniors’ shotgun game on the 4th. The Seniors Section Calendar giving details of all the Seniors events throughout the year has been updated and can be accessed from the banner at the top of the newsletter, or from this link.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 2 April

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 5 April

Art Fair and Exhibition in Altrincham

Reporter: Mark Pickles

Thank you to all who have made encouraging and positive comments about the oil painting now hanging in the Legends Lounge. I unveiled it last Thursday at the AGM, where it was well received.

If you’d like a canvas or paper print, of any size up to the original size, let me know, and I will get a price for an archival-quality fine-art print (using the giclée printing technology) guaranteed not to fade or discolour. (I asked my printer how the manufacturer’s can claim that giclée prints, being a relatively new technology, have light-fastness for up to a hundred years. Apparently prints have been tested by blasting them with UV light that is equivalent to 100 years in a bright room.)

If you’re interested in seeing my other artworks, see my new website here at www.markpickles.art. I am presently taking commissions.

I have recently joined the Altrincham Society of Artists, which gives me access to a shared studio. I gave up my own large studio last year because I was spending too much time playing golf to justify the rent! Also, being in the local artist’s group gives me the opportunity to exhibit a few works several times a year, with shared costs for marketing and exhibiting. Our main annual exhibition is in July, at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, where I plan to display four large paintings.

This Easter weekend, we are having an ‘Art Fair’ in Altrincham. Do come along, if you’d like to see me dabbling with a hog hair brush. It’s more fun than watching me shank a 7 iron! I will have some originals and prints on display.

Rules Quiz answer

2 is correct – False. Explanation: See Clarification Immovable Obstruction/1. Any turf leading to or covering an immovable obstruction is not part of the obstruction.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

In stroke play, Player A looks into player B’s bag without touching or moving anything to see which club player B used for their last stroke. What is the ruling?

1. Player A gets two penalty strokes
2. Player A is disqualified
3. There is no penalty

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Memorial Bench

Spring is in the air, and the flowers have opened around the Seniors memorial bench. Our Secretary Dave Craggs has carried out a thorough clean-up of the general area and deployed his Brasso to good effect on the name plates. Well done and thank you Dave.

In the photograph below (courtesy of Phil Perry), Mr Ranscombe can be seen enjoying the fruits of Dave’s hard work, basking in the sunshine and reflecting on his recent triumph in the Seniors Winter Pairs knock-out competition (partnered with Martin Franks).

Find the Fact – Steve Barlow

A bit calmer this week, no explosions. Only one of the following statements about Steve is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Steve was trapped in the lift of a building in Manchester with both members of the boyband Jedward until they were all rescued after 75 minutes
2. Steve once had breakfast with Bruce Forsyth, Jimmy Tarbuck and Kenny Lynch
3. Steve has driven a McLaren F1 sports car at a speed in excess of 200 mph on an airfield in Dubai

Answer below

Shot of the Day – Mark Lyons

Played by Mark in the Fun Game on 20 March. Mark was on a roll as he stepped onto the 13th with a promising card in his marker’s back pocket and his taste buds readying themselves for a vintage bottle of red from the Seniors’ cellar. One quick practice stroke, zen-like calm and then a powerful blow which sent his ball heading straight for the pump house. It nearly made it but ended up in a small but perfectly excavated hole.

After crying into the hole for a couple of minutes Mark realised he was entitled to a free drop but went on to make a disappointing five. So rattled by his bad luck, our incoming vice-captain then completely ‘forgot’ to play the 14th and 15th. Who was it that once said, “when you’re in a hole, stop digging”.

(Mark was ‘dobbed in’ by his playing partner Koos Alders)

Seniors Fun Game – Friday 20 March

Reporter: Paul Foster

A perfect early Spring day greeted 38 senior golfers. Crisp clean air that still carries a hint of winter, but without the bite, the sun giving just enough warmth on your face to make you leave the jacket in the bag. The course is waking up after the slumber of a wretched winter. A faint smell of damp earth and freshly cut grass, the kind that makes every deep breath invigorating. The recently dressed greens are basically the course’s way of saying, “Let’s see what you’re really made of.” They looked perfect – smooth and inviting like a snooker table. In reality? It’s more like putting across a marble floor that’s been lightly sprinkled with breadcrumbs. A 6-foot putt casually rolls 12 feet past like it’s late for a meeting. The putt starts on a perfect line, then hits a grain of sand and takes a sharp detour like it’s avoiding traffic. Mike, John, Richard and I reckon we missed more putts from inside 2 feet than England have missed penalties. By the turn, for any putt under 3 feet, we just closed our eyes, switched to left-handed putting and pretended it was for triple bogey (no pressure). We also proposed that we should replace our putters with brooms. I blamed my four putts from inside 5 feet on the 14th on the miss-alignment of Jupiter and as I walked off the green, I briefly contemplated taking up tennis!

Thirty eight players took to the fairways, of which just six members beat par. Just the one 2 scored today, Alan Ranscombe on the tough 13th.

Upon inspection, Bill Berry submitted a card not only legible, but also correctly totalled, internally consistent, and free from ‘creative adjustments’. Authorities are monitoring the situation.

Winner: John Armstrong with 34 points. Takes home a quality bottle of Wine Society Rioja
Runner up: Peter Willson with 33 points

Summer League – Round 1

Next Friday 27 March sees week 1 of the Summer League. We will continue to use the winter handicaps, until such time as the course is deemed ready for WHS by the club, when we will all revert to our WHS handicaps. The league is played over 15 holes (or fewer if 15 aren’t open, with scores pro-rated up to 15 holes). Players can play holes 16 to 18 just for ‘fun’ if they are in play. Please see the Strategy, Rules and Guidance document if you require further detail. Your latest Seniors handicap can be accessed from the link below. Let battle commence!

Seniors’ handicaps

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 26 March

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 29 March

NB. If you have your name down for the interclub match against Leigh then you will have been omitted from the booking sheet below. If for any reason you don’t make the team you can just book yourself onto one of the tee-times below.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

If the colour of a penalty area has not been marked or indicated as yellow or red by the Committee, it is treated as a yellow penalty area.

1. True
2. False

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Mike Smith Summer Singles Knock Out Trophy

It’s time to get your name down for our singles knockout, played between April and August each year. Paddy Moran will be doing his level best to defend his title this year, I am sure. Our Competitions Secretary (Ian Smith) will be putting a sign-up sheet on the Seniors’ noticeboard by Friday of this week. The closing date for entries is Friday 3 April (Easter Friday). Once the draw has been made details will be posted in the newsletter and on the noticeboard.

Full rules for the competition are in the Strategy Rules & Guidelines document which can be accessed from the banner at the top of the newsletter or here. Rules of engagement for this prestigious competition are set out on pages 16 and 17 of the document. Please pay particular attention to how matches need to be arranged and the importance of getting them played by the deadline dates. Good luck and may the best Senior win!

Find the Fact – Rob Taylor

How well do you know your fellow senior? Which of the following facts about Rob are true and which are false?

1. In June 1976 Rob was travelling in an armoured vehicle which drove over a landmine. Other than being temporarily deafened Rob suffered no major injuries. Five days later exactly the same thing happened again. This time Rob was evacuated on a medical helicopter
2. In February 1996 Bob was evacuated from Canary Wharf forty-one minutes before an IRA bomb detonated killing 2 and injuring over 100 people
3. In June of the same year, Bob was evacuated from the Arndale Centre. 75 minutes later an IRA bomb (the largest on British soil since WW2) exploded

Answer below

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

In stroke play, a player playing from the teeing area misses the ball completely. They push the tee farther into the ground and then play the ball. What is the ruling?

1. There is no penalty
2. The player’s next shot is his second stroke
3. The player gets one penalty stroke

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Seniors’ Winter Pairs Knockout 2025

Reporter – Martin Franks

Fine conditions made a pleasant change for the Seniors’ Betterball final played over 13 holes between Franks & Ranscombe and Pickles & Copeland. A very competitive match with never more than one hole in it was played to a high standard with a combined betterball score of 1 over par gross, which included gross birdies by Mark Pickles on the 6th and Martin Franks on the 8th.
Alan Ranscombe, who had bemoaned his play during the round, came good when it really mattered, as he’d done in previous rounds, with gross pars on 12 and 13 to seal a 2-hole win for him and Martin Franks.

(Editor’s note: Congratulations Martin and Alan. Solid golf throughout the competition. Well played also to Mark and Alan C for reaching the final).

Golf fact

Mary Queen of Scots may have invented the idea of the caddie. She played golf in the 1500’s and had a military cadet carry her clubs, possibly the origin of the word “caddie.”

Golf shot of the day – Koos Alders – 11th hole, second shot

Author: Ian Goodman. Photographs and AI Steve Barlow

Having scored 21 points on the front nine, our very own flying Dutchman decided to open up the green on the 11th by hitting his tee-shot towards the tree at the top of the bank on the 10th hole. Few of us would have had the imagination to try that. To make it even harder on himself, he opted to use the hosel of his five iron rather than the face of the club. Golfing genius! Having achieved his objective, Koos had to be hoisted into position on the precipitous bank by his two playing partners in order to play his second shot. By this time word of Koos’s audacious strategy had reached the clubhouse and a small crowd gathered to see what he would do next (see photograph below).

Following some uncharacteristically mediocre short play, Koos left the green with a well-earned six.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 12 March

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 15 March

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

In match play a player mistakenly picks up their ball-marker believing they have won a hole. What is the ruling?

1. The ball-marker or ball may be replaced without penalty
2. The player loses the hole
3. The player gets one penalty stroke and must replace the ball or ball-marker

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Andrew Cox

Only one of the following statements about Andrew is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Andrew was once involved in a traffic accident with the late Harry H Corbett (Harold Steptoe from Steptoe and Son). Andrew claims that the accident was not his fault
2. Whilst in a hotel in Japan, Andrew enjoyed breakfast on two consecutive mornings in the hotel restaurant. Breakfast was not included in his booking. He had unknowingly ‘crashed’ two separate wedding parties, and the guests were too polite to point out his error
3. Andrew was a member of the Bell Vue Aces speedway team competing frequently at the National Speedway Stadium in Gorton, Manchester in the 1970’s

Answer below

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 5 March

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 8 March

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

After playing a provisional ball, a player searches for their ball original ball for two minutes but then says, “It’s lost, I’ll go and play on with my provisional ball”. On the way to the provisional ball, the player’s original ball is found within the three-minute search time in a very bad lie. How must the player proceed?

1. The player may either play the original ball or play the provisional ball
2. As the player had declared the original ball lost, they must continue with the provisional ball
3. The player must continue with the original ball

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

The early history of Lymm Golf Club

Author: J M Goodier 26/2/2003

Although Lymm Golf Club opened in 1907, the history goes back before then, and is closely tied up with the building of the Manchester Ship Canal and the opening of the railway through Lymm.

The Manchester Ship Canal Company owned the land on either side of the present course of the canal and used part of this for depositing the spoil from the digging of the waterway. This accounts for the elevated land which houses holes 3 to 10. The construction of the canal also involved diverting the course of the River Mersey by building a short canal called Butchersfield to join two parts of the river together to the north of the land fill site across from the 6th green. Previously, the river had flowed behind the sixth green, alongside the ninth hole and in front of the clubhouse. It had then meandered round the practice ground, along the 11th fairway and in front of the 12th tee to eventually pass behind the 5th green where part of it can be seen to this day. The Ship Canal was opened in 1894.

The coming of the railway through Lymm opened up the village to Manchester businessmen who could commute each day and yet be able to live in a pleasant country village. One of these was Mr Alfred Watkin who lived at Dane Bank House. Morning conversations took place between these businessmen on the train and the idea of a golf club was formulated. Mr Watkin worked for the Ship Canal Company and in fact later became its Chairman. No doubt he was influential in the spoil heap being made available for construction of a nine-hole golf course. Mr Watkin was the first President of the club and, of course, has given his name to one of the major club competitions The Watkin Cup.

The first captain was Mr Boumphrey who lived at another large Lymm house Baycliffe, on the shores of Lymm Dam. It is very probable that virtually the entire early membership comprised of people of this sort. Very few ordinary people could play golf in those days. The course continued as 9 holes with a clubhouse where the present greenstaff sheds are now, until the early seventies, when, as a result of a freak accident on the level crossing to a farmer, the club was able to purchase the lower land and extend the course to 18 holes.

from John’s book “The First 100 Years at Lymm Golf Club”, copies available from the Club’s Office.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 1 March

After searching for two minutes a player finds what they believe to be another player’s ball, so they continue to search for their ball. After the three-minute search time ends, it is then discovered that the ball the player found and believed to be another player’s ball was in fact the player’s ball. What is the ruling?

1. There is no penalty because the ball was initially found within the three-minute search time
2. The ball is lost because it was not identified within the three-minute search time
3. The player gets one penalty stroke for not correctly identifying the ball

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Interclub friendlies – a reminder

Just a quick reminder to anyone interested in playing in the forthcoming seniors friendly matches. Matches are played in a friendly but competitive spirit at some great local courses; golf at its best (and cheapest). Please drop Grahame Brickell a note on IG if you would like to be included in the pool of players who take part in these matches. Details of the fixtures can be found on the Seniors Calendar.

New gear available

You may have read in the Friday club newsletter that the Pro’s shop has recently been restocked by Steve and Fizz to include all types of gear to improve your game and ensure that you remain at the cutting edge of golfing fashion. Here is a link to the item in the newsletter. My thanks to Colin Hughes who kindly sent me the following email and photograph this week:

Hi Ian
One for the newsletter. I believe Steve is now stocking this latest rain gear due to the prevailing conditions. Regards. Colin.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 19 February

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 22 February

In a match, a player’s ball came to rest beside some steps attached to a boundary fence. The steps interfered with the player’s swing, so they took free relief before playing their next stroke. What is the ruling?

1. The player loses the hole
2. There is no penalty
3. The player may replace the ball in its original position providing they have not played their next shot. The player receives a two-shot penalty and may continue the hole

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Backdrop to our 3rd and 5th

Author: The Editor

Most of us have crossed it more times than we can count, but the Thelwall Viaduct remains one of the North West’s great engineering landmarks. Opened in 1963 (northbound) and 1996 (southbound), it carries the M6 over the Manchester Ship Canal and River Mersey, linking Cheshire with Lancashire and forming one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country.

Built originally for far lighter traffic than it handles today, the viaduct has become famous for its wind closures, bearing repairs, and the occasional epic queue that tests even the calmest driver’s patience. Despite that, it’s an impressive structure: over 4,400 feet long, with sweeping views across the Mersey Valley—if you’re lucky enough to be moving.

Quirky Facts

• When it opened in 1963, it was briefly the longest motorway bridge in Britain
• The original steelwork was made by Dorman Long, the same firm behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge
• It was designed for around 79,000 vehicles a day, today it carries almost double that
• The 2002 bearing failure caused months of disruption and cost £52 million to fix
• High winds can close lanes because the viaduct sits on one of the windiest exposed points on the M6

Here’s a link if you would like more information on the bridge. The photograph below is from an open day when the bridge was opened in 1963.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 12 February

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 15 February

Golfing fact

Odds of a Hole-in-One: The average golfer has a 1 in 12,500 chance of hitting a hole-in-one. Coincidentally, exactly the same odds as getting a shot back on your handicap from our current handicap secretary.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Your ball comes to rest in an area of temporary water in a bunker. You decide to take relief from the temporary water out of the bunker. Which of the following statements is correct? a) You cannot drop out of the bunker in any circumstances. b) You may drop a ball back-on-line out of the bunker without penalty. c) You may drop a ball back-on-the line out of the bunker for a penalty of one stroke.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Duncan Clarke

Only one of the following statements about Duncan is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1 In the sort of miscasting never seen in Hollywood, Duncan played Brutus in a school performance of ‘Julius Caesar ‘

2. Whilst Duncan’s Company was working at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Duncan was introduced to the Prince of Wales (now King Charles) 

3. Duncan and his wife Jan once had dinner with Luciano Pavarotti

Answer below

A personal request from Paul Collins

Author: The Editor

After playing golf and adjourning to the bar last Friday, I was approached by Paul Collins. Paul mentioned to me that he was quite missing the abuse that he used to receive, on a more or less weekly basis, from the previous editor in this newsletter. In response to his request, should any of you become aware of any information which would further degrade Paul’s already battered reputation, then please feel free to email the details through to me at ianrgoodman@outlook.com. I will gladly post any information received to support Paul’s request for more visibility in the Senior Section.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 5 February

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 8 February

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

In stroke play a player removes an out of bounds stake which interferes with their swing. What is the ruling?

a) There is no penalty. b) The player gets two penalty strokes unless they replace the stake to eliminate any improvement and restore the original conditions. c) The player gets two penalty strokes and cannot avoid the penalty even if they replace the stake.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Phil Perry

Can you find the Phil fact? One of the following statements is true, the other two are false.

1. Phil is one of three triplets (Phil, plus a brother and a sister)
2. Phil has had friendly chats with both Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson
3. During his time in the police service Phil was involved in the arrest of Peter Wyngarde (Jason King), who was later charged with and convicted for gross indecency

Answer below

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 29 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 1 February

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves their ball on the fairway with the club. What is the ruling? a) There is no penalty, but the player must replace the ball. b) The player gets one penalty stroke and must replace the ball. c) There is no penalty, but the practice swing counts as a stroke and the ball must be played as it lies.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – Koos Alders

So, how much do you know about our Dutch friend Koos? One of the following statements is true, the other two are false.

1. Koos was junior champion at his golf club in Amsterdam in 1977
2. Koos grew up in a house surrounded by tulip fields
3. Koos voted for Brexit

Answer below

Seniors Interclub Matches

As you may know the Seniors Section regularly plays friendly home and away matches against other local clubs in the summer months. Can you please let Grahame Brickell know on IG if you are interested in playing in these matches. It’s a great (and cheap) way to play at other quality golf clubs and to meet fellow seniors. The only expectations are that you will buy a club shirt from the pro’s shop to wear on match days and that you will play home as well as away games. Selection is by rotation and you can of course decline an invitation to play. Please have a word with Grahame if you need further information.

Seniors in the news

And you thought the 12th gets a bit boggy when it rains! Please click on this link to check out this BBC news item. Dave Craggs (using the alias Craig Finniss for some reason) has been spotted whilst on holiday!

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 22 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 25 January

Rules Quiz answer

Answer b. The player gets one penalty stroke and must replace the ball. See Rule 9.4b and Definition of Stroke. If a player causes their ball to move they get one penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced. As there was no intention to strike the ball, the practice swing does not count as a stroke.

Find the Fact answer

Answer 2 is correct. Koos (age 3) is pictured with his mother in the tulip fields that surrounded the house where he grew up. Koos’s father was a bulb grower. Koos didn’t take up golf until 2004, and he wasn’t allowed to vote in the Brexit referendum.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

On the putting green, a player marks their ball. They do not remove the marker before hitting their putt. What is the ruling? a) There is no penalty. b) The player gets one penalty stroke. c) The player loses the hole

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Shot of the Week

Played by Phil ‘ the Power’ Perry last Friday on the 9th hole. Phil unleashed a ground-shaking strike and saw half of his Titleist ProV1 (pictured) following the intended course whilst the other half sailed straight out of bounds. After some discussion with his playing partners the correct ruling was applied, and Phil replayed the shot with no penalty. (Editor’s note: my thanks to Steve Gosling for bringing this golfing incident to my attention. If anyone plays or witness any other “special” shots, can you please let me know and I will include them in the newsletter).

Congratulations Mervyn

Author: The Editor

I am sure that you will have read Keith Melia’s recent email concerning our very own Mervyn Roberts. Mervyn, who is now the Seniors’ Treasurer and Membership Secretary, has accepted his nomination to become President of Lymm Golf Club for 2026/27. This is a fitting reward for all the hard work that Mervyn has done at our club, particularly in his recent role as the club’s Honorary Treasurer. Well done Mervyn, all of the Lymm Seniors Section are proud of you and wish you well in your new role.

Find the Fact – Peter Willson

How well do you know your fellow seniors? Only one of the following statements about Peter is factual. Two are untrue.

1. Peter is a distant relative of the late motoring journalist Quentin Willson who sadly passed away last year
2. Peter represented the UK at archery in the 1980 Olympic games held in Moscow
3. In a restaurant in Tokyo Peter was once served a fish so fresh that it was still twitching when it was served

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 15 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 18 January

Find the Fact answer

Statement 3 is correct. The fish was netted, prepared and served in under 2 minutes. At the moment that it was supposed to be eaten its nervous system was still operational!

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

A player’s ball lies just off the putting green. There is sand on the putting green between the ball and the hole that the player wishes to remove. What is the ruling? a) As the ball is not on the green the player must not remove the sand. b) Sand is not a loose impediment and cannot be removed. c) The sand on the green may be removed by any means.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Exchange Day with Hazel Grove Golf Club – Friday 28 August 2026

Author: Ian Smith

Following several approaches in recent months from other local clubs we have decided to arrange an ‘exchange day’ on Friday 28th August 2026 with the Seniors’ Section at Hazel Grove Golf Club.

In short, this involves a group of seniors from Lymm Golf Club going to play a ‘free’ round of golf at Hazel Grove and a group of seniors from Hazel Grove playing on the same basis at Lymm on the same day.

The arrangements will provide for refreshments on arrival and lunch afterwards which will be paid for individually by each participant. At this stage the cost per head for food and drink is yet to be agreed, but every effort will be made to keep these at a reasonable level.

Hazel Grove already organise a couple of these events each year with other clubs, whereas for our seniors’ section this is a new venture. They expect to bring 40 or so golfers to Lymm and it would be good if we could generate enough support to match them.

Friday morning golf will still be available at Lymm for those seniors who choose not to participate in the exchange day, but obviously for planning purposes (particularly around tee booking) it would be helpful to have an indication from those who are interested in taking part in the exchange.

A competitive format will be agreed for the day nearer the time.

Please register your interest (no obligation) with me – Ian Smith – via email at ianpaulsmith@hotmail.com, message on IG or by text message to 07816 517062 giving your name so that I can start to get a feel for likely numbers. There will also be a sign-up sheet posted on the seniors’ noticeboard.

For anyone who wants a little more information about Hazel Grove Golf Club (which is located 20 miles from Lymm Golf Club) details can be found on their website which can be accessed from this link.

The Cheshire course has been described by golf journalists as one of Cheshire’s “hidden gems” and is recognised by members and visiting parties as a challenging but enjoyable place to play golf.”

Hopefully a good number of you will fancy the idea of ‘playing without paying’ at another Cheshire golf course and will lend your support by registering to take part.

Happy Mondays Report – Monday 5 January

Sole entrant and winner of Monday’s comp. Seen here after celebrating by getting legless in the clubhouse.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 8 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 11 January

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

In a match, a player’s ball is stuck in a bush. The bush itself is growing from an area of ground under repair, but the ball is hanging outside of the ground under repair. The player takes free relief using the spot on the ground directly under where the ball lies to measure out the relief area. The player drops the ball in the right way and plays their next stroke. What is the ruling? a) The player loses the hole for playing from the wrong place. b) There is no penalty. c) The player gets one penalty stroke for taking relief for an unplayable ball.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 1 January

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 4 January

Seniors’ handicaps

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

In stroke play, a player bends some long grass out of the way to get a clear view of their ball in the rough. They then play their next stroke. What is the ruling? a) there is no penalty b) The player gets one penalty stroke c) the player gets two penalty strokes.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow 25 December!

(Health and safety warning: Tee bookers should take extra care when using computer equipment whilst under the affluence of incohol imbibed on Christmas day.)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 28 December

With a very Merry Christmas to all the members of Lymm Golf Club Seniors Section and your families

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

Player B’s ball was lying badly in deep rough. Player A said to player B: “You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would declare the ball unplayable”. What is the ruling? a) A gets two penalty strokes for giving advice. If player B follows that advice they also get two penalty strokes. b) Player A gave player B information on the Rules, so no penalty. c) As player A’s advice could have influenced player B in determining his play, A gets two penalty strokes. Player B is not penalised

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Call forwarding / Redirection Scams

John Armstrong has asked that I put an item in this week’s newsletter about ‘call forwarding / redirection scams’. This are where a scammer manages to get a number into your phone settings and your inbound calls are then diverted to a number owned by the scammer. They then use this to obtain personal information about you. John says that a number of seniors have advised him that an unknown number has appeared in the call forwarding settings of their android phones. Your own voicemail has its own number, so don’t delete that from your mobile or your voicemail won’t work. If you want more information about how these scams operate and how to check your own mobile, please click on this link.

Autumn League winners

Author: Dave Craggs

Congratulations to all the winners from this year’s Autumn League:

DIVISION 1

DIVISION 2

The above amounts should be in your pro-shop accounts in the near future.

Unhappy Mondays for a change
There was no golf at all
Our glorious course was waterlogged
No chance to whack a ball

We had to stay inside at home
And do as we were bid
But looking on the bright side...
At least we saved a quid

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule Sunday 21 December

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

In stroke play, instead of recording his usual signature on his score card, a player records his initials. What is the ruling? a) The player is disqualified. b) The penalty is disqualification but this may be waived by the Committee. c) There is no penalty.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 14 December

Golf – Boxing Day Friday 26 December and Friday 2 January 2026

For those of you who are keen to try out your Christmas golfing gifts (or just desperate to escape from your families), your fellow Seniors will be taking to the course on the above dates. Please note there will be no booking schedules issued for these dates, you will need to make arrangements between yourselves for a social game and book on IG as normal. Boxing Day may well be busy, so “book early”. The good news is that you are almost guaranteed to shoot your best score of the year so far on the second date above.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

In stroke play, when playing out of a bad lie, a player accidentally hits the ball a second time on their follow through. What is the ruling? a) The double hit counts as only one stroke and there is no penalty. b) The double hit counts as two strokes but there is no additional penalty. c) The double hit counts as one stroke but the player gets an additional one penalty stroke.

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Abergele – Thursday 3 September 2026

Next year’s Abergele Seniors Open will take place on Thursday 3 September 2026. Six tee times have been booked from 10.30 a.m. Please let the ever-smiling organiser Pete Broady know if you are interested in playing at this outstanding course. Pete’s contact details are on IG. No firm commitment is needed at this stage and there’s no need to send Pete the money you’ve set aside for Christmas. Pete will collect the funds early next year once the 24 players are known.

Christmas drinkipoos

Author: Paul Foster

Following on from the success of last year’s gathering, all seniors are invited to a Christmas get-together. The venue is the Sadlers Arms pub in Lymm from 8pm on Wednesday 10th December. A great chance to gather at the fireside amongst friends, help each other to stay hydrated and reflect on your 2025 golfing highlights. See you there hopefully!

Happy Mondays Report – 1 December

Reporter: Steve Bird

Firstly, my apologies for not turning up today. When I had a message from Mr Willson before it got light to say that, after Friday’s deluge, he was still drying out the decision was made for me. The kind of day which my Scots ancestors would call dreich and only folk with strong fortitude would dream of playing golf.

When I looked at 8:30 there were only 5 of our merry band still on the booking sheet. So, if your name is Chisnall, Copeland, Craggs, Bramall or Bocquet I’m sure you have everyone’s utmost respect – or you just didn’t unbook yourselves.

If you DID play, congrats to the winners.!!

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 4 December

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 7 December

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

When taking lateral relief for an unplayable ball, the two club-length relief area is measured from the nearest point of complete relief. True or False?

Answer is at the end of this newsletter

Seniors Trophies – Engraving

It has been agreed that the cost of engraving will be borne by the Seniors’ funds going forward. All trophy holders are advised to get their trophies engraved with their name and submit the invoice to our Treasurer Mervyn Roberts.

Recommended engraver: Warrington Trophy World, 31 Irwell Road, Warrington WA4 6BA.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 27 November

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 30 November

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Seniors Christmas Lunch – Friday 12 December

Author: Ian Goodman

A further reminder to get your name added to the list on the Seniors’ noticeboard for our Christmas lunch. As previously advised, the cost will be just £20 which includes subsidised entry to the free raffle. There’s no need to make any payment if you are joining in the festive revelry, the £20 will be debited from your bar account on Wednesday the 10th of December. That’s when the guest list will be finalised, so no refunds after that date.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 20 November

Author: Mike Kendal

With sunrise now getting later in the morning, there are limitations in being able to meet all the preferred playing times for the early risers that like to be out early doors. I will do my utmost to try and get those who have asked for an early tee time out in the first half of the field.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 23 November

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Prostate Cancer Support raffle

Author: Ian Goodman

As you know Lymm Golf Club supports the Prostate Cancer Support Charity. Phil Ormesher has made us aware of the following raffle which he hopes will raise further funds for this fantastic cause. No excuse for the City fans in particular not to buy a ticket.

Vale of Llangollen Seniors Open – Thursday 4 June 2026

Author: Grahame Brickell

24 attendees this year who had an enjoyable day out despite the odd heavy shower. We have some reserved tee times from 11.10 already for 2026. Please message Grahame Brickell via IG to book your place. Those who went last year are already pencilled in. Cost for the golf is £35, an absolute bargain!

Hawkstone Park – 21 & 22 July 2026 – Last chance!

Author: Les Williams

It’s your last chance to get your name down for the above trip. Not to be missed! £225 per person and includes 2 rounds of golf, bed, breakfast and evening meal. £45 secures your place with the balance due by the end of June 2026. Please contact chairman Les by this Friday to sign up.

Padeswood & Buckley GC Senior Open – 7 July 2026

Author: John Hayes

Preliminary notice 😄 for next Summer – the Padeswood and Buckley GC Senior Open will be held on the above date. We now have tee times reserved from 10 30 a.m. every 10 minutes for a total of 6 slots, 24 golfers in all. Put the date in your calendar! I shall take bookings and payment next March. At this stage you could let me know your interest without firm commitment if you wish.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 13 November)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 16 November

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Out with the old and in with the old

Reporter: Ian Goodman

Your new committee: a much better-looking line-up this year, I’m sure we can all agree.

Firstly though, a massive thank you to our departing committee members: John Armstrong, Mark Pickles, Steve Gosling and Peter Willlllson for all their hard work, patience and creativity during their terms of office. A very hard act to follow!

Left to right in the photograph above:

• Grahame Brickell (old boy) – Inter Club Competitions Officer
• Dave Craggs (old boy) – Secretary
• Paul (the axeman) Foster (old boy) – Handicap Secretary
• Les Williams (new boy) – Chairman
• Mike Kendal (old boy) – Friday Booking Secretary
• Ian Goodman (new boy) – Communications Officer
• Mervyn Roberts (new boy) – Treasurer & Membership Secretary
• Ian Smith (new boy) – Competitions Secretary
• Steve Bird (old boy) – Monday Booking Secretary (Editor’s note: Steve was away on holiday when the photograph above was taken. See Happy Mondays report below for a mugshot))
• Maintenance Managers – Grahame Brickell (rockery) and Dave Craggs (memorial bench)

Please feel free to buttonhole any of the above with your suggestions on how we can make our Seniors Section even stronger and better than it already is. Contact details for all your committee are in the directory on the club website.

Hawkstone Park – 21 &22 July 2026

Reporter: Les Williams

For the past five years we have run a trip to Hawkstone park, consisting of one round of golf on the Hawkstone course, playing in pairs for the Hawkstone Trophy. Day two is a four man team event on the championship course. The cost is £225 per person and includes golf, bed, breakfast and evening meal. We have two vacancies for next year, anyone interested please contact Les Williams. £45 secures your place with the balance due by the end of June 2026

Seniors Christmas Lunch – Friday 12 December

A quick reminder that our Christmas lunch will be held on the above date. Further details to follow. The cost will be a scrooge-pleasing £20 which includes subsidised entry to the free raffle. A list will go up on the Seniors noticeboard shortly for all those who wish to attend. An occasion not to be missed!

Happy Mondays – 3 November

Reporter: Steve Bird

Severe overnight rain and continuing showers left the ground very heavy with standing water on some greens. Many players withdrew leaving a mere three teams starting and only two completing the full 15 holes. The winning team of Alan Copeland, Steve Bird and Dave Craggs (pictured) scored a commendable 94 points averaging 31.3 pp. Dave scored 34 points, but the top scorer of the day was Steve Bramall with 36 points. Full marks to Steve and the rest of his team, Messrs Broady, Hill and White for turning out and completing the full 15 on such a soggy day.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 6 November)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 9 November

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Round 4 Autumn League

Reporter: Paul Foster

A day of ‘I can’t see a thing’, and where did my ball go…? Most of the round was played with the sun low on the horizon, which transformed that searing ball of gas into a laser, aimed directly into our eyes. We hit several…somewhere, couldn’t see a single one. We just listened for the faint thud and prayed it wasn’t a tree, or somebody else! Guessing distances became a new sport, only spotting the ball after we had walked 30 yards passed it. Sunglasses? Check, Cap? Check, Ability to see the ball? Absolutely not, next time I’m bringing my welding goggles or a periscope.

Competitors on the day – 41, 22 from the Division 1 and 19 from the Division 2.

One 2 scored today, that man again Mr Collins again, on the long and difficult 5th, only 7 out the 41 players managed to par it, so a 2 is exceptional. Russ Jones birdied 3 of the 4 par 5s and achieved the lowest gross of the day, at 2 over par gross, only Paul Foster managed to par the 16th

Four players put the wrong handicap on their scorecard!!

Sixteen handicaps have changed for round 5, so carefully check your handicap please.

Once again we must try and keep up with the group in front, and be sure to utilize ‘ready play’. Four hours for 15 holes is not what we seek.

“Ready play” a method for speeding up play where players hit their shots when they are ready, rather than strictly following the traditional rule of playing in order of distance from the hole. The goal is to maintain a good pace of play, by encouraging players to be prepared to hit when they can do so safely, without endangering or interfering with others. 

Results:

Division 1 winner: Russ Jones with 35pts
R/up: Arthur Nuttall with 34pts
3rd: Paul Foster with 32pts

Division 2 winner:  Paul Lennie with 32pts
R/up: John Higgins with 29pts on a CPO
3rd: Colin Chisnall with 29pts on a CPO

A dank and dreary start but for those later starters the showers stopped and the sun eventually came out if somewhat reluctantly.

Game: Team Stableford 

3 teams – 10 players 

Happy Mondays – 27 October

Reporter: Peter Willson

Winners: Mike Bennett and Richard Yates – 57 points or 28.5 ppp. The win was made even sweeter by Mike holing out a 5 wood on the 2nd hole for a Hole in One – the 2nd recorded by Seniors in two consecutive weeks.

Mike says he will put a bottle of whisky on the bar on Friday.  

Second: Pete Broady, Dave Craggs, Alan Copeland and Tony Lambert – 101 points or 25.3 PPP

Highest individual score – Mike Bennett with 33 points assisted by his “5 pointer” but closely followed by Dave Craggs with 32 points also carding a 5 point hole score 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 30 October)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 2 November

Message from Les Williams – Charity Appeal

Hello fellow seniors. The homeless in Manchester, through Rotary, are looking for any old warm clothes, shoes and blankets you are not using. If you have any, could you please bag them up and let me have them.

I am leaving my car open on Fridays in order that you can put your bags on on the back seat or front passenger seat. I then drop them off at Manchester Cathedral where there is a help centre for people who have fallen on bad times.

My car reg: 2 LCW
Silver Range Rover.

Thank you,
Les.

Your new newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Reporter: Mark Pickles

Having done a three-year stint on the seniors’ committee, I will be handing over the newsletter next week to Ian Goodman. Ian has not been with us long. You can see his profile here, in the newsletter for 11 June 2025.

In view of the fact that Ian is not yet acquainted with everyone in the senior section, please help him out by sending any articles for inclusion, or reporting anything newsworthy or amusing. You can use the ‘Report News’ tab.

On Monday this week, I gave Ian training for managing the website. I will be available to help out if he has any difficulties while getting used to the technology, although I’m sure he’ll some find his feet. Ian tells me he used to manage an intranet for Citizens Advice.

I won’t be disappearing entirely. I might contribute an article from time to time. And I will be Ian’s reserve, taking over the newsletter when he’s away on holiday, not least because Ian does not possess a laptop PC to work remotely.

I look forward to Ian’s newsletters!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Autumn League – Round 3 of 10

Reporter: Paul Foster

A very peaceful, autumnal day. The kind where the air carries the scent of pine and the sugars of autumn leaves. The fairways stretch out before you in shades of deep green, framed by trees dressed in fiery orange, reds and yellows. No rush, no pressure, just us seniors, the course and the calm pulse of nature around you. All the while, thinking ahead to the sumptuous steak pie that awaits us back in the clubhouse.

Competitors on the day increased to 47.

Three 2s scored for the second week in a row, one each for Tony Dixon, Phil Lomas and Mike Kendal. Mike hit the flag on the 13th with his tee shot, as close to a hole in one as you will ever see.

Some tremendous scores from Mike Pigott (lowest gross of the day) and Martin Franks. Mike played holes 10 to 18 in two under par gross.

Three players this week put the wrong handicap on their scorecard.

Unfortunately the last group out could not complete the allotted 15 holes due to some alarmingly slow play in front of them. Please keep up with the group in front, and be sure to utilize ‘ready play’.

‘Ready play’ is a method for speeding up play where players hit their shots when they are ready, rather than strictly following the traditional rule of playing in order of distance from the hole. The goal is to maintain a good pace of play, by encouraging players to be prepared to hit when they can do so safely, without endangering or interfering with others.

Results:
1st Division winner – Mike Pigott with 33pts
R/up – Barry McGuigan with 32pts on a CPO
3rd – Martin Franks with 32pts on a CPO

2nd Division winner – Alister Cook with 33pts on a CPO
R/up – Les Williams with 33pts
3rd – John Armstrong with 32pts on a CPO

Annual Business Meeting and Lunch, Friday 17 October

Reporter: Dave Craggs

A very enjoyable afternoon with fine dining and good company. 47 members attended the presentation. Andy Timms, club captain, and John Armstrong, retiring senior’s committee chairman, presented the trophies and prizes to the winners able to attend. Pictured above is Tony Dixon, this year’s senior champion, being presented with the ‘green jumper’.

For those not able to attend see attached files of Steve Gosling’s treasurer’s report, John Armstrong’s speech, and the presentation day prize winners.

Happy Mondays Report

Reporter: Peter Willson

A cloudy but reasonably mild start – marred only by a light shower after a few holes. Game: Team Stableford 

6 teams – 17 players 

Winners: Mike Bennett, Colin Crail and Richard Yates – 85 points or  28.3 ppp
Second: Dave Craggs and Peter Willson – 52 points or 26 ppp

Highest Individual Score – Colin Crail – 31 points – it just goes to show what a new set of irons can do to raise your game even further.

Special Commendation – A Hole in One – scored by John White on the 17th. Well done John and it’s not the 1st time he’s managed to hole out in a single shot.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 23 October)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 26 October

History of the LGC Senior Section

Dave Craggs and Rob Taylor have created an up-to-date history of the senior section from the early 1970s to September 2025. I feel that the document deserves its own page, which I have created here with a permanently-visible link in the header menu.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Autumn League – Round 2 of 10

Reporter: Paul Foster

A positively brief report this week after last week’s literary output.

A sizeable increment of players for round 2, up from 25 to 44, good to see. Oodles of 2nd division players joining the competition.

First the figures:
Three 2s scored on the day, one by Steve Gosling, and two by Mark Pickles, who also came in with the lowest gross score of the day.

Five 1st division players scored 31 points !! That dammed missed putt !!!

Five players put their wrong club handicap on their scorecard. Even more scrutiny of your handicap is required as there are 18 changes in handicap this week. We are now on the seniors winter hcap system, so your handicap may well be different to your existing club handicap. PLEASE CHECK on the Handicaps page here.

Results:
1st Division winner – Arthur Nuttall with 31pts on a CPO
R/up – Barry McGuigan with 31pts on a CPO
3rd – Mark Pickles with 31pts on a CPO

2nd Division winner – Alan Ranscombe with a super 36pts
R/up – Alan Copeland with 32pts on a CPO
3rd – Les Williams with 32pts

Annual Business Meeting – Friday 17th October

Reporter: Dave Craggs

The Annual Business Meeting and Presentation will commence at 13:30 on Friday. We anticipate sitting down for lunch at around 14:15. We have 50 members attending the lunch, so come early for a ring-side table!

There are four Committee members stepping down this year from the Seniors’ Committee.  After three year’s service each, Steve Gosling as treasurer, Mark Pickles as communications officer and Peter Willson as Monday booker & Competitions organiser are stepping down. John Armstrong is also stepping down after his year as Chairman,

We thank all four for their invaluable contributions to the smooth running of the Seniors Section.

It is pleasing to note that four members have stepped forward to stand for election to the Seniors Committee at the ABM on Friday.

Happy Mondays Report – 13 October

A dank and grey start to the day which didn’t improve much. However no rain and wind 

Game: Team Stableford. 18 players in 6 teams   

Winners: Steve Barlow; Steve Bird and Ron Thornton – 79 points or 26.3 ppp

Second: Alan Copeland, Steve Gosling, Charlie Hill and Phil Lomas – 102 points or 25.5 PPP.

High score of the day : Ron Thornton – 33 points including 2 x 4 pointers.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 16 October)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 19 October

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Autumn League, Round 1

Reporter: Paul Foster

A wet and wild day. Who needs sunshine when you can have 15 holes of monsoon golf, especially for the late starters who played in heavy rain from the first putt to the final putt. This turned the course into a real test of resilience, patience and waterproof clothing. More than a few players discovered their waterproofs weren’t as “proof” as advertised. From soaked socks to slippery grips it was a day to get back as quickly as possible to the safe haven of the bar and join Art and Alan for a warming glass of red wine. Despite the soggy fairways, puddled greens and plenty of slippery grips, twenty five players showed great spirit and determination to see the competition through. Did that bother us? Of course not, spirits stayed high (and so did the umbrellas) and we saw Dave Craggs and Paul Foster navigating the soggy chaos to finish top of their respective divisions, clearly Paul and Dave are part duck, part golfer..!!

Results

1^st Division winner: Paul Foster with 29pts
R/up: Grahame Brickell with 28pts on a CPO
3^rd: Dave Meir with 28pts

2^nd Division winner: Dave Craggs with 32pts
R/up: Paul Lennie with 29pts
3^rd: Alan Ranscombe with 27pts

Happy Mondays Report

Reporter: Peter Willson

A cloudy start but it turned into a very pleasant late Autumn day which was surprisingly warm. Game: Team Stableford 4 Teams each with 4 players.

Winners: Steve Barlow, Kevin Bocquet, Alan Copeland and Tony Dixon – 108 points or 27 ppp.
Second: John Booth, Dave Craggs, Phil Lomas and Alan Thomas – 106 points.

Highest Individual score – Steve Bramall – 31 points.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 9 October)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 12 October

Subs overdue

Most members have now paid their subs, but there are stil a few stragglers that our Treasurer will approach to see if they want to remain in the Senior Section.

We know things are uncertain at the moment, but it’s still important that you pay your subs. If you don’t think you can pay the whole amount, please contact our Treasurer, who will consider a monthly payment of £2.50 for 12 months, which includes a very modest interest rate. Please note that if you do not make any payment by November 1st, your credit rating could be affected and you might find it difficult to buy things on tick in the future.

Pay £25 into:

Lymm Golf Over 60s
60-20-29
50244779

LGC Seniors at Prestatyn Golf Club Senior 4BBB Open

Twelve of us made our way to the Welsh border, from where we crawled at 20mph – past many traffic-enforcement cameras – along the coast road to Prestatyn.

Players included Mr Captain – Andy Timms, and Phil Young (last year’s captain). Apart from Jeff Acton, the rest of us were all members of the Senior Section, with tee times of 10:20, 10:30 and 10:40.

Naturally, I arrived first, and was out on the practice area, which I had to myself. There is a long driveway to the clubhouse, which runs along the practice area. Mike Pigott, who travelled with Grahame Brickell, told me later that he and Grahame were laughing out loud when, from a long distance, Grahame pointed out a lone figure and said, “I bet that’s Pickles”.

I think I can say that everyone enjoyed the day. The weather was good. Gentle breeze, fairly bright with lightly overcast skies, and no rain forecast until well after we were due to finish playing. The course was in superb condition, with true and fairly-fast greens.

A handwritten note on the first tee cautioned us that crows on the golf course have been stealing golf balls on the third hole. This didn’t stop Mike Pigott – who hardly ever loses golf balls – from miscalculating the odds and opening a box of Pro V1s, only to see a crow swoop down and fly off with his new ball on the third hole. Mike wasn’t the only one. My playing partner Paul Collins and I saw our balls being carried off the third fairway by a pair of crows seemingly acting in tandem, swooping down from on high as soon as the balls landed. I think that that most of the other Lymm players suffered similar losses.

PC and I played with Trevor Williamson and John White. Trevor and John had a great round, with 40 points. The highest score for the whole Prestatyn open was 41 points, and Trevor and John just missed out on the prizes on CPO.

For our internal comp, we all put a fiver in the pot, with prizes for the best and second best round, and a nearest-the-pin. Trevor and John took first of course, Paul and I took second with 35 points. All the remaining four teams posted 34 points. These Stableford scores might seem low, but, for some reason, North Wales golf courses have a notoriously low course handicap and slope rating which, for instance, meant that I had to play off 4, and Paul off 5. Mike had to play off 2! Fair to say, I think that all pairs played well, and well above average for the main comp.

Back to the crows. There are several theories about their thieving behaviour, such as that the crows think the balls are eggs, and are storing them in a winter larder, just as jays and squirrels hide away acorns. Another theory is that the crows simply like collecting and hoarding shiny objects (perhaps to impress a mating partner, like bower birds do). However, when we returned to the clubhouse, I was talking to a Prestatyn member who offered the most convincing explanation. He said there is a former member called Dafydd ‘Dai’ Waggitt who lives in a house overlooking the third green and is suspected of training the crows to collect golf balls, and then hoarding them to impress his wife. I asked, “Is his wife impressed?” He said, “No. She was overheard saying, ‘FFS, Dai; how am I supposed to get into the garage with all these golf balls in the way?'”

Bye bye Lindsay!

Lindsay Fox left Lymm Golf Club today, after 24 years of service, heading for pastures new. I’m sure that I can speak for all of us in the Senior Section in saying that we will miss Lindsay. The seniors’ committee agreed to present Lindsay with a £50 M&S Voucher. Of the few of us in the clubhouse at lunchtime today, Arthur Nuttall, who served for 7 years on the seniors’ committee, was ‘volunteered’ to present the voucher and a card signed by many of us to Lindsay.

We wish her well in her new venture.

Health and Safety News

An unhinged-looking senior, getting ready to start up a chainsaw, was photographed on Monday walking around Lymm Golf Club car park. If you see him again, report him to the office. Under no circumstances should you approach him.

Joking apart, Phil Omersher responded to Dave Craggs’ appeal in last week’s newsletter for a chainsaw. Phil kindly offered it for no payment, suggesting a donation be made to charity instead.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Subs are now overdue!

Our treasurer, Steve Gosling, is not a happy man. He tells me that out of a membership of 95, only 39 of us have paid to date.

I know that not everyone reads the newsletter, and so please tell your regular playing partners that they must pay up as soon as possible. One or two have stated they intend to leave the senior section due to other commitments. We will need to assume that those who have not paid up before the start of the Autumn League are also intending to leave us, and will not be competing in the Autumn League. We cannot function as a large club section without funds!

Steve also tells me that there are some who have put their name on the list for the ABM lunch, but have not paid the £10 for the two-course meal (part-subsidised by the senior section). Steve would like to confirm the catering numbers with Karen as soon as possible.

If you have not already done so, please pay immediately your £25 subs and – if you are attending – the £10 for the ABM lunch. Pay into our main bank account, not the interclub match account. The details are:

Lymm Golf Over 60s
60-20-29
50244779

Seniors’ Turkey Trot 2025

Reporter: Paul Foster

Another wonderful late summer’s day, for all our punters to win this year’s Turkey Trot Voucher. Only three players managed to beat par even with a number of shortened holes (but a few lengthened par 3s to make up) all from the 2nd division. Also good to see a full complement of the Friday wine club in the bar..

Results:

1st Division winner – Paul Foster with 30pts (wife is a vegan!!)
R/up – Trevor Williamson with 29pts
3rd – Steve Gosling with 28pts

2nd Division winner – Steve Bramall with 33pts
R/up – Ian Goodman with 32pts
3rd – Phil Lomas with 31pts

We start in earnest next Friday for the start of the Autumn League…First week we use the WHS club playing hcap as used in the turkey trot. (Note at least 2 players used the wrong hcap LAST Friday, and so please check.)

Happy Mondays Report

Reporter: Peter Willson

A murky misty start to the round and a bit on the chilly side, but after a few holes, the mists cleared and the sun came out, yielding a beautiful blue early-autumn day, with little to no wind.

Game: Team Stableford. 20 players in seven teams.

Winners: Steve Gosling, Charlie Hill and Ron Thornton – 81 points or 27 PPP
Second place: Paul Foster, John White and Peter Willson – 80 points or 26.7 PPP

Highest individual score: Alan Copeland and Steve Gosling – 30 points each.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 2 October)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 5 October

Prestatyn Tomorrow (Thursday 2 October)

Tomorrow Prestatyn Golf Club is hosting a mens’ senior open (4BBB).

I believe that there are going to be 12 of us from Lymm GC, with three adjacent tee times around 10:30.

I suggest that, for our internal competition, we all put £5 into the pot. We can then pay out £30 to the first pair, £20 to the second pair, and £10 for a nearest-the-pin on the short 17th. I’ll make sure everyone approves – or has any alternative ideas – before we tee off tomorrow. In any case, bring some cash!

The weather forecast for Prestatyn is good at the time of writing, and so it should be a very enjoyable day playing this superb championship links. I’ll report the results next week.

And finally…

Craggzy wants a chainsaw, for log cutting. If you have a working chainsaw for sale, please contact Dave Craggs on 07790 976916.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Autumn League

Reporter: Paul Foster

With autumn setting in, and the Autumn League approaching, we will see some necessary changes to our Friday competitions following the recent email from Keith Melia regarding holes being out of action.

For the Autumn League we will be operating the Senior Section’s manual handicap system from round 1. Amended handicaps using the manual system over the Autumn League will be available each week on the LGC seniors web site.

Pre-registering rounds will not be required for the Turkey Trot or for the duration of the Autumn League. The winner will be the best 5 rounds out of a possible 10 rounds.

A minimum of 7 Rounds should be played in the Autumn League. If 6 rounds or less are played, the League will be cancelled.

All Autumn league competitions are scored over 15 holes only. The designated course is the first 15 holes open on that day. (i.e. if hole 1&2 are closed but all others are open, the competition is played over 3-17 for that day).

If fewer than 15 holes are open. The scores achieved on these holes will be pro-rated up to 15 holes for the consistency of recording the players’ league positions in the League.

A sleeve of balls will be awarded to players who score a two on the designated course during the Autumn League. Apart from the overall league prizes and trophies, there will be a small weekly monetary prize (that goes onto your account in the Pro’s shop) for the winner of each division on the day.

We will continue to have 2 divisions. As last year, Division 1 players have a maximum playing handicap of 18. Although Division 2 has more players in it, experience over the past few years since we introduced divisions indicates that far fewer Division 2 players compete in the Autumn and Winter periods. For example, last year, although Division 2 had about 10 more players, only 21 played the necessary 5 rounds or more, compared to 26 in Division 1.

Interclub friendly, home to Warrington, Friday 19 September

Reporter: Andy Timms (Mr Captain and CoD)

And so the series of summer friendly matches drew to a close with our traditional climax of entertaining our friends from “the” Warrington golf club. A slight change to the way the day ran saw us meeting up early for bacon butties and coffee before a slightly later than usual start. This seemed to go down well with the majority of those there, so we’ll be adopting this new arrangement going forwards into next year’s matches.

The match itself was played in largely dry conditions, thankfully, and saw a convincing win for the home team by a score of 6-2. The individual scores were as follows :

Mr Captain & Art Laird – Won 1 up
Andrew Cox & Stuart Baird – Won 2 up
David Donnell-Jones & Ron Thornton – Halved
Steve Gosling & Colin Hughes – Lost 6&5 !!
Pete Broady & Les Williams – Halved
Mike Pigott & Grahame Brickell – Won 4&2
Paddy Moran & Mervyn Roberts – Won 4&2
Mike Bennett & Ian Smith – Won 1 up

The day was then rounded off by a fine fish and chip meal and a presentation including a joke which (even if we all had heard it before) did raise a decent laugh.

A final comment – on behalf of everyone who played in the matches this year, I’d like to propose a vote of thanks for Grahame Brickell and Steve Bird who have both been brilliant this year in their organisation of the matches. Bring on next season…..

Bottle of Wine Competition, Friday 19 September

Reporter: Paul Foster

A mixed bag for the final episode of the Châteaux de Willson challenge. A day for low handicappers it seems, as the top 6 positions were all 12 hcap or less.

Nobody beat par today again out of an improved 29 entry’s, with just one 2 scored, that man PC…!

Please note there were 29 pre-registered for the comp, with only 25 entering their score into Ig, and 24 cards handed in. I repeat, If you enter a comp you must either remove your name if you do not intend to play, or, you must enter your score into Ig.

Results

Winner – Colin Royle with 30pts on a CPO
R/up – Paul Collins with 30pts
3rd – Koos Alders with 29pts

Peter, has by all accounts an exceptional bottle of wine for Colin this week, from the dusty dark corners of his stately residence underground wine cellar, I feel an 1869 Château Lafite Rothschild on offer…!

That’s it for the BoW Fridays this year, bring on the Autumn League…

Full comp results on the LGC website here.

Turkey Trot, this Friday

This coming Friday – 26 September – sees the climax of the Senior Section’s golfing year: the Turkey Trot.

The Turkey Trot is earlier in the calendar this year, the plan being that we would be playing the full WHS qualifying course off the proper tees. Unfortunately, we have had the short-notice plans from LGC that maintenance of all tees is to be carried out over the next few weeks, and drainage work on holes 1 and 12. Therefore, there is no need to enter the competition on IG. Paul Foster will manually go through the cards. There will be no more WHS qualifying rounds in the Senior Section competitions this year, because even if the course fully re-opens in mid October, our senior handicaps will have been manually adjusted after the first two Autumn-league rounds.

Entry to the competition is free to all paid-up members of the Senior Section, who will compete for the massive purse of £60: two £30 cash prizes, one each for the winner of Division 1 and Division 2 respectively. See Paul Foster’s piece above, regarding the divisions for Autumn and Winter.

Although £30 will be unlikely to get you a turkey for human consumption, it will more than cover the top-of-the-range turkey pet food, if you want to give your loyal companion a treat at Christmas.

Subs are due 1 October

It is now time to pay your £25 annual subs, which are due by 1 October.

You can pay the £10 fee for the ABM lunch at the same time. Do not pay into the inter-club match account, use the main Senior’s account, as shown here:

Lymm Golf Over 60s
60-20-29
50244779

Happy Mondays report for 22 September

Reporter: Peter Willson

A beautiful crisp, and yet little chilly, start to the day with clear blue skies. Little to no wind. The course is looking good following the recent rain which has softened it up and the greens are receptive and running true. However the pin positions were still the very challenging ones that had been set up for the LGS Finals Weekend, hence the lowish average scores.

5 teams – 19 players – for the Team Stableford game 

Winners: Paul Foster, Ken Pearce, Mark Pickles and Steve Rowley – 102 points or 22.5 ppp

Second: Mike Bennett, Pete Broady, Colin Crail and Rich Yates – 93 / 23.3 ppp

Highest individual score – Mark Pickles 30 points, which included a ‘2’ on the difficult (today) 13th, with the pin on the very back of the green.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 25 September)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 28th

Galloping Grandads!

Paul Foster went to watch his son and his daughter finishing the Warrington half marathon last Sunday, and much to his surprise, our own Alan Copeland was amongst the good, the bad and the ugly crossing the finishing line.

Alan, it seems, is no slouch in the running the shoes, and posted an impressive time of 1:43:38, which was very similar to the time posted by Paul’s son.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Interclub friendly Lymm versus Leigh, Friday 12 September

Reporter: Grahame Brickell (CoD)

Oh I do enjoy golfing days like last Friday… sun was shining, still warm for the time of year, some dampness on the ground, and as you get to the lounge/bar before the game, the room was fairly full, the coffee & biscuits were going down well and there was good buzz about the place.

Mr Captain, after a gentle nudge from myself, welcomed our guests and we endeavoured to ensure everyone knew who the they were playing with and then we headed out to do friendly battle.

I played with Les W. We found ourselves 1 down after the first due to a lengthy putt from one ‘‘of them”, but following a long edge-of-the green burdie putt at hole 6 from me, we got to the turn 1 up. From there played some solid golf through to 15… where we were sitting pretty, at +2, but up steps their Mr Long putter nailing one from off the green for a 4, needing me to hole my 20ft for a half ..good job I did, they were devastated!

They took 16, with 5 nett 4’s, 17 was halved, down to the last which again was halved. We won 1 up.

Our 1 up win was the lowest winning margin!!
Messrs Craggs & Alders 5&4
2 x 4&3 wins
Only 1 match was halved
Lymm win 7.5  – 0.5

Great games all round with plenty of good spirit being in evidence on both sides.

Roll on this Friday and our last match of the season, Warrington ! Another good win is required to round off the year.

Grahame.

Friday BoW Competition, Friday 12 September

Full results here on the main LGC website. Stuart Baird takes the bottle.

Presentation Lunch and Annual Business Meeting, Friday 17 October

Reporter: Dave Craggs

The presentation lunch this year will be held on Friday 17 October.

The format will be the same as our previous presentation lunches. The business of the ABM will precede the presentation of our 2025 Trophies to those that triumphed during this year.

No long lists to plough through nor boring monologues, just the usual barrel of laughs and a fitting end to another fabulous year.

The ABM and trophy presentation will commence at 1.30pm and we aim to sit down to lunch at 2pm – so please plan to be there before to allow time to enjoy a pre-lunch drink with your friends if you so wish.

A list is now up on the Seniors Section notice board adjacent to the locker room.

Please put your names down as soon as possible so we can have a clear shot at reckoning the numbers for Karen and her team.

The lunch will consist of steak pie and chips followed by apple crumble & custard. The meal will be subsidised to the tune of £8.00 leaving you to pay only £10.00.

If you wish to pay your annual subs of £25.00 at the same time, please pay £35.00 which should be paid to:

Lymm Golf Over 60s
60-20-29
50244779

Ref: ABM-surname

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 18 September)

Happy Mondays tee-booking this Sunday, 21 September

Andy Ward Pairs Trophy

Reporter: Peter Willson

The draw has been made, with guidance and assistance from Russ Jones. Your partners (don’t blame me – it’s the pooter which selects the names and pairings), the draw and dates for completion of rounds can be found on the main LGC website under ‘Upcoming Competitions’.

Five 1st round matches to be played by 14th November; 2nd round by 12th December.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Seniors’ Championship 2025 – Friday 5 September

Reporter: Paul Foster

Another pleasant late summer’s day, with little wind, no rain, and the sun intermittently peeping out from the clouds for the biggest annual prize on offer for the seniors, in a field of 25 players.

Another Rommel to add to the list, John Higgins!

With the ever increasing numbers of buggies, we now have our own version of the ‘Wacky Races’, where the Army Surplus Special and the Arkansas Chuggabug (Alister Cook & Steve Barlow) criss-cross the fairways vying for position.

Five players beat par today out of twenty six entry’s, with two 2s scored, Colin Crail & Barry Smith. Lowest gross score was Mark Pickles.

Seniors Champion for 2025 and winner of the coveted Green Jersey was Tony Dixon.

Results:
Winner – Tony Dixon with 34pts
R/up – Art Laird with 33pts
3rd – Alan Copeland with 32pts on a CPO

Friday BoW Competition Friday 5 September

Ten entries for this weeks 9-hole ‘Willson wine of the week’ competition for those who had not qualified for the Seniors Championship. Alister Cook had the only 2.

Results:
Winner – Les Williams with 21pts
R/up – Ian Goodman with 20
3rd – Martin Lowe with 19p

Interclub friendly, away at Northenden Golf Club, Monday 8 September

Match Reporter: Bob Mycock

The Lymm Team selected by Grahame (the eternal optimist) for the match at Northenden duly turned up for duty, in good spirits and in possession of our swimming trunks and snorkels just in case the River Mersey had burst its banks again after the torrential rain over the weekend.

Luckily, this time the Mersey behaved itself, and and Ron Thornton was able to put away his mankini for another Day (phew). The course however was still showing signs of the New Year’s Day Floods on the front 9 holes, with most of the bunkers GUR and still awaiting repairs. But generally the course was in good condition with mainly lush grass on the fairways.

On to the match, which was played in the a friendly and good spirit, but ultimately resulted in a resounding hiding in Lymm’s favour of 5 1/2 to 2 1/2, or an honourable draw (if you are from Northenden).

Lunch provided the biggest slice of cheese and onion pie (seen this side of Cheshire) with a couple of hidden chips…

Many thanks to the team on the day for a great performance and their support on an impressive away win.

Tatton League 2025

Reporter: Mike Pigott (Tatton team captain)

After the triumph of winning the league last year, this season was a bit of a disappointment. However, after playing the final round at Heyrose yesterday, we managed to finish a creditable 3rd place behind the eventual winners Antrobus and silver medalists Heyrose. Both the leading teams have a bit of a reputation of having a number of spurious high handicappers in their fold so finishing close to them was a fair achievement. And I am told by Andy Timms (Club Captain and deep-thinking statistician) that 905 points was 14 points more this year than we made last year when we won the title.

As Lymm captain of the Tatton side I would like to congratulate Antrobus on their great comeback to win the title and remind them we are only loaning them the trophy for twelve months!

On a personal note I would like to thank the players in the squad for making themselves available and for bearing with me when they weren’t selected, a task I found quite difficult for most games. The following players represented Lymm Seniors during the year: Paddy Moran, Ian Whitehead, Colin Royle, Mike Pigott, Richard Cooper, Steve Gosling, Grahame Brickell, Rick Shaw, Russ Sollitt, Mark Pickles, Andy Timms, Russ Jones, Dave Meir, Martin Franks and Martin France.

The league table finished Antrobus 927, Heyrose 919, Lymm 905, Birchwood 903, High Legh 900, and Styal 850.

All who made themselves available for selection are meeting up for a golfing and socialising day at Lymm on Monday 6th October. Hopefully we can all have a bit of fun, and formulate a way of winning back the title next year!

Abergele Seniors’ Open – 4-Man Team

By all accounts, Peter Broady did an excellent job, as he does every year, organising a Lymm possy of happy and smiling Seniors to compete in the Abergele GC Seniors’ Open last Thursday.

Peter reports: “Sunshine and heavy showers were the order of the day on the golf course. The greens flooded on one occasion but soon recovered when the sun came out again. Despite the weather we enjoyed ourselves”.

Results of Lymm’s in-house competition:

Winners: Trevor Williamson. Ron Thornton. John Booth. Les Williams.    70 points.
Runners up:  
Mike Bennett. Richard Yates. John White. John Armstrong.    63 points.

I spoke to Peter today, who tells me that there were four prizes for the main Abergele competition, with 4th prize on 76 points and 1st prize on 80 points.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 11 September)

Happy Mondays tee-booking this Sunday, 14 September

Andy Ward Pairs Trophy

Do you want to play in the autumn/winter pairs knockout, but have not yet put your name on the list? Please enter your name before this coming Friday (12 September). On Friday, Peter Willson will remove the list from the Seniors’ noticeboard, and create the draw for the competition on I.G.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Urgent: Time to Enter the Doubles Knockout!

As noted in last week’s newsletter, the entry sheet for the Andy Ward Trophy – the Autumn/Winter doubles knockout – is now on the Seniors’ noticeboard.

Peter Willson is concerned that, as yet, there are very few names on the list. In view of the fact that Peter will be making the draw on 12 September, please enter your name as soon as possible if you wish to compete.

Seniors’ Championship this Friday

If you’re competing in the Seniors’ Championship this Friday, 5 October, make sure that you have booked into the competition on IG.

Similarly, if you are playing in the BoW comp on Friday, book beforehand in IG.

Notice of our Annual Business Meeting

Our ABM will be on October 17. This year, there are a few of us who are coming to the end of our three-year stint on the committee, and therefore we are looking for new volunteers to replace us.

If you would like to be on the committee, please put your name on the list on the Seniors’ noticeboard, or speak to a member of the committee. Dave Craggs, our secretary, would be a good person to speak to, because he has a grip on all the business of the committee, including which committee roles are likely to become vacant.

Bottle-of-Wine Competition, Friday 29 September

Well done George Clark, who won the bottle of wine last Friday, in a field of 39 players. It’s nice to see George win. George has watched his good friend and regular playing partner Joe Priestner enjoying much of the glory this year!

You can see the full results on the main LGC website here.

Friendly Away Match at Bramhall Golf Club

John Armstrong reports that score at Bramhall on Monday was 5 – 3 to Bramhall. It was a very close match with no few than four of the matches halved!

John says the golf course was in excellent condition and the greens superb. A few squally showers did not prevent another great day of inter-club golf!

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 4 September)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 7 September

A helping hand

Four of us had a very enjoyable away day at Mere Golf Club on Monday!

After a great day’s golf, after chucking my golf bag on the back seat of my car, I noticed that Steve was preparing to get his new golf buggy into his car. I offered to help, and was astonished at the weight. Steve is a strong man, but his golf buggy is without doubt a two-man lift. Steve is on a waiting list to store the buggy at Lymm Golf Club, but in the meantime will need to transport the buggy home-and-back in his car.

I know that some of the buggies that our members use split in half, and are therefore obviously easier to lift, but please do offer an extra pair of hands to anyone needs to bring his buggy by car.

Newsletter Editor – Mark Pickles

Mike Smith Plate – Singles Knockout

Congratulations to Paddy Moran, on winning the final of the knockout against Jeff Ashurst last Friday. Well done also to Jeff, for making it through to the final after a long spring-summer campaign.

Andy Ward Trophy – Pairs Knockout

Peter Willson will soon start to prepare the draw for the autumn/winter season pairs knockout.

Peter has put an entry sheet on the Seniors’ noticeboard, and so please enter you name by September 12 if you would like to compete.

Each pairing will include a lower handicap player and a higher handicap player, determined at random using LGC’s IG software. The draw, and the date for completion of each round, will then appear on the LGC website.

Match at Home against Davyhulme Golf Club – Friday 22 August

Reporter: Trevor Williamson (CoD)

Lymm were victorious in the return match against Davyhulme Park Golf Club, coming out on top 5 – 3. Having lost  5 – 3 at Davyhulme means it was truly an honourable draw over the two matches.

Thankfuly it was a little cooler than of late, with only a few drops of rain threatening to spoil our day.

Some great winning scores were posted by:  
Willson & Goodman 7 & 5
Lomas & Simpson    6 & 5
Pigott & Thornton    5 & 3

Despite the score and in acknowledgment of the recent lack of rain, our visitors were complimentary about the general condition of the course and hospitality received. The delicious steak & ale pie and raspberry cheesecake went down well too!

Bottle of Wine Competition – Friday 22 August

Well done to the in-form Joe Priestner, who won the 15-hole BoW competition with 34 points.

Full results of the competition on the main website, here:
https://www.lymmgolfclub.co.uk/competition.php?compid=11590

Away match at Helsby Golf Club

Match Reporter: John Armstrong (CoD)

Glorious weather. There were a couple of brief squally showers, thankfully too brief to spoil the day. The golf course was in excellent condition, both the fairways and greens. 

The meal of sausages in a chilli sauce was very nice, and well served by polite staff.

The result was a reverse of the score at Lymm earlier in the season. This time the honourable draw was in favour of Helsby 5 matches to 3. The winning pairs were:

John Armstrong and Stuart Baird: Won 5 & 3
Mark Pickles and Mike Bennett: Won 1 up
Alan Burton and Phil Ormesher: Won 1 up

Happy Mondays Competition – 25 August

Reporter: Peter Willson

A sunny and warm Bank Holiday Monday morning with a welcome cooling breeze. 

14 players in 4 teams 

Winners: Steve Bird, Dave Craggs, Steve Rowley and Peter Willson – 128 points or 32 ppp

Second: Steve Barlow, Kevin Bocquet, Alan Copeland and Dave Waggitt – 118 points or 29.5 ppp

Highest Individual score – Steve Bird – 35 points.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 27 August)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 31 August

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

The Petter Herrity Memorial Trophy – Friday 15 August

Reporter: Paul Foster

A blistering summer’s day last Friday for this annual trophy competition.

Once again, a pause at the seniors memorial bench to remember Peter, a seniors member who has sadly passed. I never had the chance to meet Peter, but have heard many honourable reports about him.

Seven players beat par today, out of 42 entries. Once again, some of the fairways on the top 9 were bone hard, with the golf ball embarrassingly bouncing in all directions, and forty yard chip and runs ran out nearer 100 yards! I note Peter (Rommel) Barlow is now the proud owner of a shiny, spanking new Formula Ford buggy! A whole new world for Steve.

Some sensational scoring, with the ever popular Peter (2 LLs) Willson taking home the trophy with an incredible 46pts, losing 2.6 shots off his handicap.

Get this: Peter had a hot streak where he scored 38pts (14 under par) in 12 holes, and could even afford to blob the last and still win by 5 points.

Duncan Clarke shot a very impressive 78, and Ron Thornton burnt the course up scoring 41 with a blob.

Five 2s recorded, Franks, Hughes, Pickles, Pigott and Thomas.

Results:
Winner – Peter Willson with 46pts
R/up – Duncan Clarke with 41pts on a CPO
3rd – Ron Thornton with 41pts

Interclub friendly at Home against Ringway – Friday 8 August

Reporter: Russ Jones (CoD)

On a lovely summer morning Lymm GC were looking to avenge the 7-1 drubbing we took at Ringway earlier in the season.

CoD Russ Jones managed to get to the club early to inspire the team and ensure we were ready for revenge.

The course had recovered well after the Course Maintenance works the previous week and the greens were rolling well.

As CoD I played with their CoD with and Art Laird. We started well getting 3 up and never really looked back, winning 2-1.

This was matched by some really good wins by Lymm, and we came in winners 6 ½ to 1 1/2, overall a really satisfying win.

Into the clubhouse where we were treated to lovely Fish and Chips from the catering staff, that went down well with our visitors.

All-round good day. Great result, Good weather, Good Company. What more could you ask for?

Bottle of Wine Comp, Friday 8 August 2025

Reporter: Paul Foster

A pleasant late summer’s day for the latest episode of the Châteaux de Willson challenge.

Only three players beat par today out of twenty five entries, a rather poor show, considering some of the fairways on the top 9 resembled runways at Manchester Airport.

One 2 were recorded, Señor Waggitt on the 9th.

Results:
Winner – Paul Foster with 33pts on a CPO
R/up – Peter Broady with 33pts (the 14th did you Pete)
3rd – Michael John with 31pts

Spookily, the players on the podium were all off 14 handicap!

We have another Rommel ! Ken Pearce, visiting seven bunkers, one pond and umpteen trees!

I heard a rumour that the wine this week for the winner, is a bottle of 1945 Châteaux Pétrus!! Don’t mind if I do….

Interclub friendly away at Huyton and Prescot – Monday 18 August

Reporter: Steve Gosling (CoD))

An overcast day saw 16 intrepid adventurers take a trip down the M62 towards Liverpool.

A warm welcome and a bacon butty was on hand for our first trip to Huyton & Prescot Golf Club

A tricky course with plenty of blind tee shots and dog legs to catch the unknowing out!
Home advantage was definitely a thing.

Congratulations to Andrew Cox, John Armstrong , Peter Willson and Ron Thornton for getting the points in their matches and to Andy Timms and Colin Hughes for a draw.

A loss 5 1/2 to 2 1/2 but an enjoyable first outing to a new course and one we look forward to returning to next year with a bit more course knowledge banked!

[ Editors Note: Tommy Lawless, our Scouser-in-residence at LGC, tells me there is a tributary from the Mersey that runs past Huyton and Prescot. A dolphin made its way up there recently. Tommy says it was found on a pile of rocks with its fins and tail missing. 😂 ]

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 21 August)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 24 August

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

The Mitre Cup – Tuesday 12 August

Reporter: Andy Timms (Mr. Captain)

After a surprisingly damp start the sun came out and did its best to melt the gallant competitors in the annual Mitre Cup challenge between the seniors and the ladies. This year the hope was to stop the long run of defeats we had suffered at the hands of the ladies, and to that end some fine performances were recorded on our side, a notable 38 points on 15 holes from Peter Willson and Alan Ranscome, and 37 from Mark Pickles and Trev Williamson. (The Mitre Cup is a 15-hole comp.)

Sadly, the ladies greater consistency across the whole team proved to be the deciding factor, as they triumphed in the end by a score of 262 points to 257. Still, this represents a closer margin than in recent years, and so the prospects are looking good for next year!

When it came to the presentation, despite much searching, the trophy couldn’t be found! We had to make do with presenting the scoresheet to the winning captain, Catherine Catchpole.

A One-in-a-Million 80th Birthday!

What are the chances of getting a hole-in-one within a few days of your 80th birthday? Quite remote I would have thought, but Barry McGuigan’s recent achievement on the cusp of becoming an octogenarian was part of an even more unlikely round of golf.

Playing at Dunham Forest Golf Club, Barry partnered Mike Pigott in a 4BBB match against Andy Timms and Dave Roberts (now at Dunham, but a former committee member at Lymm).

Mike got a two on the first of the par 3s, and another two on the second of the par3s, and then Barry got his hole-in-one on the third of the par 3s (hole 13). This means that the pair did the first three short holes in a mere 5 shots! Surely some kind of record?

Mike tells me that Barry’s ace was his seventh hole-in-one, which, again, is remarkable achievement.

Apparently the 4BBB match was fiercely contested, but Barry and Mike took it from Andy and Dave on the last hole.

Barrie was presented with his Senior Section ‘jumper’ yesterday for his 80th birthday by our chairman John Armstrong.

Happy Mondays Report

Reporter: Steve Gosling

Five groups set off on a hot morning to enter battle for the gold coins.

Top scorer with 36 was Les Fecitt, followed by Ron Thornton with 35

The top team of the day featured comprised Les Fecitt, Steve Barlow, Ken Pearce and Steve Gosling with a score of 31

Runners up with 29.7 were Ron, Phil Lomas and Ken Narraway.

BoW Competition on Friday 8 August

I do not seem to have received a report for the BoW comp last Friday, but you can see the results on the main LGC website here.

Paul Foster won with 33 points over 15 holes, beating Pete Broady on CPO.

I have not yet received a report on the home match against Ringway GC on 8 August. If one is forthcoming, I will publish it in next week’s newsletter. Did we win?

Seniors Championship Game on Friday 5th September

Seniors who have won one or more of the Friday games in the from winter 2024 to summer 2025, or won the leagues, or won any of the senior competitions or knockouts, qualify for the Senior Section Championship on 5th September.

Here is a list compiled by Dave Craggs. If you are not on the list but think you should be, contact Dave and explain why you think you qualify.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 14 August)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 17 August

Memorial Trophy

£113.50 was collected for charity at the Memorial Trophy competition. Thank you to all who contributed. See last week’s newsletter for the results of the competition.

Peter Herrity Trophy on Friday 15 August

The Peter Herrity Trophy is also a charity event. The funds will be donated to our nominated charity.

Please make sure that you book online or on the I.G. app before Friday. £5 will be deducted from your clubhouse account. The competition is 18 holes off yellow tees.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Seniors Memorial Trophy

Reporter: Paul Foster

A right ‘Carry On’, Up, down, up down, up down, on, off, on, off, on, off… Umbrellas and water proofs! Little time to play any golf, more time just trying to escape from the rain, and dressing and undressing, and just when all the confounded weatherproofs were donned for the 5th time, out came the sun, and off came the waterproofs…repeat…repeat…repeat.

However, once again some super scores, with eight players breaking par from the forty six entries who played for the Memorial Trophy, invoking treasured memories of seniors who have sadly passed away. I for one paused at the memorial bench, just to reflect on the lives of seniors whose names are shown on the plaques, and a cheery tot of whisky afterwards on the patio in their memory.

We had in our 4-ball, a version of a Barbershop Quartet, all bellowing ‘FORE’ in varying octaves on the 6th, featuring a “ringing” quality achieved through precise tuning and blending of voices. To follow that, Eddie Floyd’s ‘Knock on Wood’ came wafting down the 10th fairway as all four of us managed to hit the same cluster of trees, and Steve ‘the actor’ Barlow, now has a new name…..Steve ‘Rommel’ Barlow after his escapades of visiting possibly every bunker on the front nine…!

Four 2s were recorded, Paul Collins, David Donnell-Jones, Dave Meir (as usual) and Mervyn Roberts.

All cards were marked correctly, except one, which didn’t have a name on it…mine!!

Results:
Winner – Dave Meir with and excellent 34pts on a CPO
R/up – David Craggs with 34pts
3rd – Peter Willson with 33 pts.

The Mitre Cup, to be played on Tuesday 12 August

Reporter: Andy Timms (Mr Captain)

The Mitre Cup, our annual challenge match against the ladies takes place next Tuesday, 12^th August. The match format is 4-ball-better-ball Stableford over 15 holes with the winning team being the one with the highest aggregate score. There are 8 pairs going out from each side with the first tee reserved from 11:03 am. The final pairings will be sorted out in the next day or so, but in the meantime I can confirm that the team will be:

Dave Craggs 
Andrew Cox  
Steve Gosling     
Colin Hughes      
Rob Taylor  
Andy Timms  
Phil Ormesher     
Alan Ranscombe    
Arthur Laird      
Ron Thornton      
Pete Broady 
Mark Pickles      
Sammy Lee   
Arthur Nuttall    
Jeff Ashurst      
Richard Yates     

With reserves:
Trev Williamson
Peter Willson
Alan Copeland

If your name is down as part of what will hopefully be a winning team this year, but you aren’t now able to play, then please let me know as soon as possible so that I can get one of the supersubs off the bench.

Happy Mondays Report for – Monday 28th July

Reporter: Peter Willson

A brief shower at 1st but then a dry, breezy but overall a fine day for golf.

Game: Team Stableford – 15 players, 5 teams 

Winners: Les Fecitt and Paul Foster – 59 points or 29.5 ppp narrowly beating in 

Second place: Phil Lomas and Alan Thomas – 58 points or 29 ppp

Highest Individual Scores – 33 points – Mike Bennett and Phil Lomas.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 7 August)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 10 August

Friday 8 August – BoW Competition

Please note that the ‘fun comp’ scheduled for this Friday will be individual Stableford Bottle of Wine competition. Register on the IG app of the LGC website in where it is listed in ‘Upcoming Competitions’ for 8 August.

Friday 15 August – Peter Herrity Trophy

A week on Friday we play for the Peter Herrity Trophy. This is an 18-hole Stableford off yellow tees. Please enter beforehand in ‘Upcoming Competitions’. The entry fee is £5, which the Senior Section donate to charity.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Bottle-of-wine Competition, Friday 25 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

A sticky hot day for the Châteaux de Willson challenge.

Some super scores on the day. The highlight in the 4-ball I played in was Richard Smyllie smashing his drive down the 14th, leaving a wedge to the green and then sinking the 5-footer for a birdie. A pleasure to watch, and then Richard nearly eagled the 15th with his third shot, a 10-yard chip-and-run.

Four players beat par out of the twenty three entries.

Five 2s were recorded, Paul Foster somehow managed three 2s, others by Dave Meir and Tony Dixon (pity there’s no balls to be won for 2s on the BOW weeks)

Results:

Winner: Alister Cook with 36pts
R/up: Paul Foster with 33pts on a CPO
Third: Ken Pierce with 33pts

Friday may have just been a BoW comp, but we all must treat the round as if it were a competition day. There were 23 cards handed in, 2 members handed cards in but didn’t pre-register the competition, and 1 member pre-registered the comp but didn’t hand his card in or enter his score into Ig.

Rules state: If a golfer pre-registers for a competition but does not submit their scores afterward, they may face a penalty score being applied to their handicap record. This is a common practice to ensure players are accountable for their rounds and to prevent manipulation of handicaps. 

Interclub friendly at home versus Sale GC, Friday 25 July

Reporter: Mark Pickles

Paddy Moran was Captain of the Day, by popular demand, not only for his sportsmanship and captaincy record but for his talent for telling jokes!

Lymm won 5 to 3.

Our winning pairs were:
Trevor Williamson and Art Laird
John Armstrong and Colin Hughes
Mike Bennett and Phil Lomas
Phil Ormisher and Andrew Cox
David Donnell-Jones and Jeff Chapman.

Speeches followed after an enjoyable lunch of chicken curry, and apple crumble with ice cream. Paddy immediately got laughs for his comments on David Donnell-Jones’ recent flop of a joke, and so Paddy put himself under pressure to make sure his own joke didn’t flop! I’m pleased to say that Paddy touched 8/10 on the laughometer, which is a good effort for a clean joke, with none of the smut of Bobby Mycock’s jokes!😉

Hawkstone Trophy 2025

Reporter: Les Williams

Our fourth year of playing for the coveted Hawkstone trophy at our two day jolly at Hawkstone park didn’t disappoint.

Sixteen players turned up for an early lunch with a glint in their eyes and thoughts of winning this year!

First tee at 12:30. Clear sky, and everyone chomping at the bit. The Old Course is an amazing course to play with all holes completely different and challenging.

Result for the day was, in second place, Bob Mycock and Dave Craggs with 44 points, just beaten by the winners Paul Collins and Mike Kendal also with 44 points and with a better back nine on the CPO.

A good crack was enjoyed by all prior to dinner, which as usual was delicious food and good quality wine, followed by watching England ladies progress to the final of the Euro Cup.

Next morning some bleary eyed players discussed how they would dismantle the Championship Course, and so they did with amazing scores from Paul Collins, Jeff Ashurst, John Hayes and Alan Thomas returning a score of 122. The format was best three scores from each four-man team.

A bottle of good red wine for the deserving winners.

A light lunch was enjoyed by all before returning home while looking forward to the challenge again next year.

Memorial Trophy Competition on Friday

We play for the Memorial Trophy on Friday. Please make sure that you enter for the competition on I.G. or on the LGC website the day before.

I got this photo in an email from a ‘Ronald Craggs’, telling us that the Memorial bench has been spruced up ready for the competition.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 31 July)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 3rd August

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Summer League Round 10 of 10

Reporter: Paul Foster

A bumper edition this week. Settle down on your favourite settee, grab a large glass of Pinot Noir and enjoy…

A fine warm day with cloudy intervals, and when the sun did shine it got jolly hot, out came the silly hats, and red went the milk bottle legs emanating from an assortment of Gunner ‘Lofty’ Sugden shorts. A great day for golf, judging by the results, and the smiling faces all around the course, also on the patio where Les Williams remained after his round for most of the day.

Fifteen players beat par on Friday, lots of hcaps to be docked by England Golf..!

Forty seven entry’s for the final round of the long Summer league, punters have been jockeying for position since last March, now it’s all over.

Twenty three players from division 1, and twenty four from division 2.

Just to irk our esteemed treasurer, four 2s were recorded. Martin Franks managed two 2s, on the 2nd and the 9th. Others by Paul Collins and a marvellous 2 for Rob Taylor, both on the 13th.

Top of the pile and the highest stableford score for the 1st division, and the lowest gross by anybody in the summer league was that man Martin Franks. With a quite an astonishing 38pts, finishing 1 under par gross after 15 holes. Congratulations for sure. Martin’s round consisted of 2 birdies, 12 pars and 1 bogey.

Just Martin Franks managed ‘keep a six off your card’, (not surprisingly) in the 1st division, but no one managed a ‘keep a seven off your card’ in the 2nd division.

Division 1 Results:

Winner – Martin Franks with 38pts
R/up – Barry McGuigan with 33pts on a CPO
3rd – Steve Gosling with 33pts

Division 2 Results
Winner – John ‘the singer’ Hayes with 33pts
R/up – Alan Copeland with 32pts on a CPO
3rd – Mike Kendall with 32pts

With Martin’s fantastic last round, the 1st division Summer League Trophy is shared between Paul Collins and Martin Franks.

No change from round 9 in division two, so Joe Priestner and Stuart Baird share the 2nd division Summer League Trophy. Hearty congratulations to all four players.

Interesting snippets of information from the Summer League:

In the 1st division the following players managed a ‘keep a six off your card’; Martin Franks (4 times!), Paul Collins, Ian Whitehead, Mike Pigott and Duncan Clarke,

In the 2nd division the following players managed a ‘keep a seven off your card’; Art Laird, Mike Bennett twice, Joe Priestner, Alan Copeland three times, Mervyn Roberts and Colin Hughes.

Just seven players competed in all 10 rounds, top score in the 1st division was Martin Franks with 38pts and top score in the 2nd division and summer league high was Barry Smith with a phenomenal 39pts.

There were 109 birdies, including twenty five 2s and 1 eagle scored over the ten rounds, with 479 rounds of golf played by 80 players.

All looking forward to the Autumn league???

[ Editor’s Note: See the Leader Boards page for the full list of results. ]

Happy Mondays Competition – 21 July

Match Reporter: Peter Willson

A dry yet warm and humid day with virtually zero wind.
Game: Team Stableford
13 players, 4 teams
Winners: again for 2nd week in a row – the guys out last came in to collect the spondoolics – Mike Bennett and Colin Crail – 58 points or 29 ppp
Second: 2 teams on 28.8 points per player.

Highest Individual scores: Alan Copeland and John Mather – 33 points each

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 24 July)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 27 July

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Gordon Wood Trophy – Friday 11 July

I do not seem to have received a match report for the Gordon Wood Trophy from Lord Lucan’s Foster-child. In fact I’ve not seen him for ages. Does anyone know where he is? No doubt Paul is enjoying life in some exotic locale, and will turn up at Lymm again one day??

However, the full results of the Gordon Wood Trophy are published on the main LGC website here: https://www.lymmgolfclub.co.uk/competition.php?compid=10811

Congratulations to the trophy winner Stuart Baird, with 40 points. And well done runner-up Ian Whitehead, with 39 points, posting an impressive gross score of 75.

I played first thing in the morning on Friday with Paul Collins, with whom I was scheduled to play in a four-man team at a Maxitours event at Lancaster Golf Club in the afternoon, with fellow Lymm members Steve Lamont and Peter Gold. A few days before, PC had proposed the mad idea – to which I agreed – of playing the Gordon Wood in the morning, and then driving straight to Lancaster, an idea that turned out to be even madder on the day, as temperatures reached about 31 deg C !

Even worse, as it turns out, we had decided beforehand to go in Paul’s car, which is a massive Audi EV (i.e. it is fuelled by milk-float technology). As Paul and I started to suffer ‘range anxiety’, he switched off the A/C. In hindsight, we should have gone in my 10-year-old Renault Megane diesel, as Paul and I did last month to a Maxitours event at Conway. My car averages 65 miles to the gallon (seriously), and does nearly 700 miles on a full tank, even with the A/C blasting out air as cold as a fridge! As for ‘Carbon footprint’ – for anyone who is into ‘Mad Ed’ Milliband’s UK-net-zero ideology – I think an economical diesel car wins hands down. Most of our electricity, be it generated (or imported), is still from carbon fuels, and the (diesel) energy used for mining for nickel, cobalt, lithium, graphite, tantalum… for manufacturing batteries is phenomenal. Milliband doesn’t care, because these ‘conflict minerals’ are mined by fossil-fuel-profligate Communist China in Africa and therefore don’t affect his UK ‘Net Zero’ claims… (Apologies for this rant to my good friend Paddy Moran, whom we all know for this right-to-Leftist bias.)

However, PC and I managed all 36 holes. In fact my Pedigree Chum played the best of all of us, including Steve and Peter who turned up at Lancaster at 13:00, fresh and ready-to-go an hour before tee-off. PC and I recovered from a full day’s playing golf in arduous heat after a couple of pints of cold lager and good meal in a local pub!

Happy Mondays game – Monday 14th July

Reporter: Peter Willson

A warm day but with a gentle breeze, temperatures thankfully much lower than last Friday and over the weekend just gone. Cloudy skies but some sunny spells
Game – Team Stableford.

5 teams – 17 players

As is often the case – whilst players were waiting expectantly on the terrace – the last group of “Tail End Charlies” came home to claim victory but only by the smallest of margins – 1 point.

Winners: Eric Cox, Ken Pearce and Ron Thornton – 89 points or 29.7 ppp
Second: Steve Barlow, Alan Copeland and Peter Willson – 88 points or 29.3 ppp

Highest Individual Score – Peter Willson – 38 points

Please note no game on Monday 4th August – as the course is closed for Summer Maintenance works.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 17 July)

Tee-booking tomorrow is for our Memorial Day. 15 holes, WHS 95% Stableford, yellow tees.

There will be a collection bucket on the bar in memory of those passed. Proceeds to our chosen Charity and to fund the bench/plaques. “Tots on the Bar” will be courtesy of our secretary Dave Craggs who will provide a bottle of whisky.

Prestatyn Senior’s Open 4BBB – Thursday 2 October

Following last week’s note about Prestatyn GC’s senior open on 2 October, it’s good to see that eight of us have booked the 10:30 and 10:40 slots. As you can see from this screenshot I’ve just taken, there are still slots available if you’re interested, from 10:00 to 10:50.

Book Early!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Message from Keith Melia regarding the anticipated BBQ last Friday

Dear Members of the Seniors Section

We are aware that the members expecting a B-B-Q on Friday 27^th June were disappointed that this was not provided, and had not been communicated to you beforehand. We also received several comments regarding the quality of the food served, that it did not meet with expectations. We sincerely apologise that there was no communication regarding the B-B-Q and that the food served was not well received, we are therefore inviting all those who had paid for the B-B-Q to have a complimentary breakfast barm after they’ve played this Friday (either bacon, or sausage, or egg).

– regards Keith.

Gordon Wood Trophy this Friday (11 July)

Our annual Gordon Wood Trophy competition takes place on Friday. This is an 18-hole competition, off yellow tees, for members of the senior section only.

Please make sure that you enter the competition in ‘Upcoming Competitions’ on the main LGC website, or the IG app, before Friday, just as you do for the senior’s league competitions. (The Pro’s shop is not involved in this competition. There is no entry fee. The prize for the winner is funded by the Senior Section.)

Interclub friendly away at Davyhulme GC

Match Reporter: Trevor Williamson (CoD)

A good time was had by all who played in the Seniors’ match at Davyhulme Park Golf Club on Monday 7th July.

The weather was fine and warm, the course was in good condition, and everybody enjoyed the splendid carvery, followed by sticky-toffee pudding and custard in the clubhouse afterwards.

The website of the club, the 4th oldest in England, describes the course as ‘deceptive in its challenge’. Whilst three pairs, David Craggs/Trevor Williamson, Andrew Cox/Art Laird, and Ian Whitehead/Peter Willson rose to the challenge, home advantage prevailed in a 5 – 3 home win for Davyhulme.

Lymm players look forward to reversing this match score when Davyhulme visit Lymm in September. Lymm is certainly no less of a challenge, so it will be interesting to see which team comes out on top over the two matches.

Report for Fun Game played on Friday 4th July

Reporter: Peter Willson

Game played for “A Bottle of Wine” before the Captain’s Charity Day competition held 

Game: Individual Stableford – over 15 holes 

23 Entries  – Some players didn’t manage to complete the full 15 holes before the Charity Day shotgun start competition began – but their scores have been pro-rata’d to 15 holes.

Winner: Stuart Baird – 38 points 

Second: no less than 4 players on 34 points but the leader after card count-back was the ever-present Pete Broady. 

Bottle of Sainsbury’s best red plonk to Stuart.

Captain’s Charity Day

I do not have a report for the Captain’s Charity Day, and unfortunately I was unable to participate, being away on holiday. I suspect that Keith Melia will update LGC on the day’s events in his ‘Friday Message’.

However, I have received this photo of the team that came third. As you might guess, the team shirts were conceived by Bob Mycock, ever in touch with his feminine side. It looks to me like Bob got out his sewing machine to repurpose an old pair of curtains!

Watkins Cup Round 4

I do not usually report on the Saturday competitions, but of the 154 competitors last Saturday we had some senior-section notables.

Firstly, ‘Pedro’ Broady posted 85 gross: a great score off the white tees, and 5 shots under Peter’s white-tee handicap of 19 on the day (now down to 18). Peter’s score qualifies him for the Watkins Cup Final on Finals Day in September.

Paddy Moran played very well, and equalled his age, scoring 80 gross (2-under for the day). That’s a remarkable achievement off white tees. Almost exactly a year ago, Paddy beat his age off yellow tees with a gross 78 in the Gordon Wood Trophy, as I reported here.

Also remarkable was Mike Pigott’s card. Coming in at net level (78 net 71), Mike scored four consecutive birdies on holes 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 10 July)

Please note that although Mike Kendal tries to accommodate requests for preferred tee times, he obviously needs to make adjustments when we have an interclub home match on Fridays, including Friday 25 July, when we invite Sale GC.

Happy Mondays Tee-booking schedule for Sunday (13 July)

Prestatyn Seniors’ Open 4BBB – Thursday 2nd October

Prestatyn Golf Club is a great championship links that I’ve played many times. Its open competitions are a great way to play and are great value for money.

There is a seniors’ 4BBB open comp on Thursday 2nd October, costing £25 (£50 per pair).

Paul Collins and I have booked for 10:30. As you can see from this screenshot I’ve just taken from the BRS booking sheet, there are many free morning slots still available. It would be great to see some familiar faces there. Perhaps we could have our own internal competition if there are enough of us.

Here is a link to the Prestatyn opens on the BRS site. And here is a link to Prestatyn Golf Club.

I don’t doubt the free spaces will start to fill up in the coming weeks. And therefore, in the famous words of Fred Pontin (there is still a Pontins holiday camp at Prestatyn): “Book Early”. 👍

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

When is a barbeque not a barbeque? When it’s a boiled hot-dog sausage in a finger roll, apparently.

Apologies to all who were disappointed with our summer social event last Friday. I believe that our Treasurer Steve Gosling – who handed over Senior Section surplus funds to subsidise the event – is discussing the matter with the Chair of House.

The only redeeming point is that we’re ‘seniors’, and are therefore likely to forget what we ate for breakfast this morning, let alone what we had for lunch last Friday. In fact, I can’t remember anything about the BBQ at LGC last Friday… ???

My wife has just told me that, in fact, I wasn’t at LGC last Friday! We were driving down to a cottage on the Norfolk Coast, from where I’m writing this newsletter.

Summer League – Round 9 of 10

Reporter: Paul Foster

Cloudy intervals, with the sun peeping out occasionally, but all in all a reasonable day for golf.

Seven players beat par on Friday, just two from the 1st division.

Forty-one entry’s for the penultimate round of the Summer league, punters have been jockeying for position since last March, and now it’s all down to the last round…anybody sweating…???

Eighteen players from division 1, and twenty three from division 2.

Just one 2 recorded, well done Barry McGuigan on the 13th, a very tricky hole on Friday, with OOB looming just a yard from the green, and just a few yards from the hole..

Division 1 Results:
Winner – Richard Smyllie with 33pts
R/up – Paul Collins with 31pts
3rd – Grahame Brickell with 30pts

Division 2 Results:
Winner – Richard Yates with 33pts on a CPO
R/up – Stuart Baird with 33pts
3rd – Dave Craggs with 32pts

Still leader in division one is PC Collins, with a five point gap over Colin Royle, and six point lead over Paddy Moran.

Long time leader in division two Joe Priestner, has been caught by Stuart Baird, both on 162 points, and it’s now a 2 horse race. Alan Copeland is some 8 points back.

No one managed ‘keep a six off your card’, from the 1st division, and equally, no one managed a ‘keep a seven off your card’ from the 2nd division.

Remember that the last and final round, 10 of 10, of the summer league has had to be rescheduled to Friday 18th July, as noted in last week’s newsletter.

Happy Mondays report, Monday 30 June

Reporter: Peter Willson

A very hot day – little wind and when the sun came out later on… Wow!

Game – Team Stableford – 22 players in total in 6 teams 

Winners: Pete Broady, Tony Dixon and Les Fecitt – 94 points or 31.3 ppp

Second: Alan Copeland, Eric Cox, Ian Goodman and Charlie Hill – 118 points or 29.5 ppp

Best Individual scores – 35 points – shared between Pete Broady and Peter Willson  

Padeswood and Buckley Trip – Tuesday 1 July

Reporter: John Hayes

Today saw 24 intrepid recycled teenagers venture across the border to enjoy a day of golf at Padeswood and Buckley GC Senior Open.

After the great heat of the previous day the weather turned out to be cloudy and cool, in fact ideal for playing golf. As usual the greens were quite slick and the course in good condition for golf. Within our own “mini-competition” there was a close contest for the winning score. After cross-checking score cards, very willingly done by Paul Lennie with my grateful thanks, the winners turned out to be Sammy Lee and Grahame Brickell, with 39 points after a card play off on the back 9. They were closely followed by Paul Collins and Pete Broady also on 39 points and, in third place, Club Captain Andy and Dave Meir. Given that our regular handicaps were reduced to 85% for the day these were excellent scores. After a time spent in the clubhouse catching up on the gossip, we all wandered back to the Cheshire plains, possibly thinking about a very enjoyable day out and revisiting all those putts we shouldn’t have missed.

Photo courtesy of Dave Craggs showing the winning pair receiving their acclamation from the crowd.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow – Thursday 3 July

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 6 July

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles