February has arrived. Snowdrops are flowering optimistically in the garden, and this morning I heard a song thrush trying out a few repetitive phrases, giving a hint of his repertoire for spring. We’ll start to hear blackbird song later this month, and woodpeckers drumming, and perhaps a skylark dropping unbroken melodies from the heavens onto the golfers at Lymm, noticed at least by “he who has ears to hear…”.

Back to earth, and some mundane but important outcomes of the LGC Seniors committee meeting last Friday:

Committee Meeting – Friday 27 January

Slow Play:
The pace of play is becoming almost intolerable for many members. Perhaps, for future seasons, as the size of the senior section continues to grow, playing singles in groups of fours is no longer realistic. For now, we are trying to limit the first groups out to three players. Therefore, if you are not on the original booking, and opportunistically add your name to play on a Friday, please do not book into any of the first three slots. Select a place in a later group. We want at the very least to prevent queues developing on the 1st tee (as they did last week) in the first half hour of play.

Lost ball in area of general play:
In autumn we introduced a temporary rule that allowed us to drop a ball if the original was lost in an area of general play, such as a fairway dense with fallen leaves. We have now removed this temporary rule, as leaves on the fairway are no longer a problem. If you lose a ball, the normal rules of golf now apply, including a maximum of 3 minutes to search for the ball.

Inter-Club Matches for 2023
We put a list on Seniors’ noticeboard at the end of last year, asking members to append their name if they would like to be included in the draws for the inter-club friendly matches. John Armstrong, who is responsible for organising these matches, is surprised at the low number of people on the list (only 38 so far). John expected more names, especially because we have two extra venues this year, Sale and Bramhall (I think).

Please add your name to the list before the season begins in April, in order that John can include you in his team plans for both home and away matches. Please note that you will need a navy blue team shirt in order to be considered. Enquire with Steve in the Pro’s shop if you have not already purchased one.

Match Report for Winter League: 4 of 10 – Friday 27th January

Weather dry and cool; ground still muddy in places, with no run on the ball. This was round 4 of 10 (round 3 was abandoned last week due to the ice).

Results:

Division 1:
1st: Paddy Moran (34 points on countback)
2nd: Martin Franks (34 points)
3rd: Steve Gosling (32 points on countback over Charlie Heath)

Division 2
1st: Phil Perry (36 points)
2nd: Tony Lambert (34 points, on countback)
3rd: George Clark (34 points)

See the ‘leader boards’ tab for current leaders of those who have played all three rounds.

Happy Mondays – 30th January

Eleven intrepid golfers set out on a slightly overcast and chilly morning 6 deg. C with a gentle breeze which slowly increased during the morning but it stayed dry.

2 x groups of 4 and, a 3 ball bringing up the rear.

Game: best 2 from or 3 from 4

Winners: Steve Gosling, Bob Mycock, Graham Utton and Peter Willson – 108 points or +18 over the average of 6 points per hole for 3 from 4

2^nd – Paul Foster, Sammy Lee and Steve Rowley – 70 points or +10 over 4 points per hole  

3^rd – Steve Barlow, Colin Chisnall, Charlie Heath and Paddy Moran – 99 points or +9 over 6 points per hole

Match Reporter: Peter Willson

Weekend competition: Best 2 from 4

Another great effort from members of the senior section on Saturday: the first-place team included Mark Lyons, Alan Burton and Martin Franks.

Martin is evidently on good form, and shares the top of the Senior Section leaderboard with Charlie Heath.

 

And Finally

Returning to heavenly song. John Hayes, our bass singer in residence, will be singing with the Altrincham Choral Society in a programme featuring John Rutter’s Requiem.

The Altrincham Choral Society is a choir of professional standard, which often performs with professional orchestras, and in which my wife used to sing alto soprano! We saw John perform with them last year in Hale, in a programme featuring Haydn’s The Creation.

For tickets, or more information, visit altrinchamchoral.co.uk or ask John Hayes.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles