Mislead night-wanderers, laughing at their harm?
Those that call you Hobgoblin and sweet Puck,
You do their work, and they shall have good luck:
Are not you he?

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2, Scene 1

The author of confusion rules in the LGC Senior Section in these longest days of the year. Peter Willson tells me that he had not reported the correct Division 2 scores last week for the Friday league, and so the Leader Board was incorrect. I think I have now corrected it, showing the top four places in each division.

Both leagues are fairly close run. Just below the top four places after 8 rounds are the following names:

Division 1: 5th, Martin Franks (153 points), 6th= John Hayes (150 points), 6th= Mike Bennett (150 points), 8th Phil Lomas (149 points).

Division 2: 5th= George Clark (149 points), 5th= Stuart Baird (149 points), 7th= Rob Taylor (143 points), 7th= Phil Blake (143 points).

With only two more league matches to go, I think all these players have a realistic chance to win their respective division of the league, by overtaking the top four in each division who are named on the Leader Boards (see here).

***

Note: I am awaiting the Match Report for Round 8 from Peter Willson. I will publish it in next week’s newsletter. I think Peter sent me the wrong attachment in error.

Alas, we now come to more midsummer madness:

Happy Mondays – 26th June 2023

Reporter: Peter Willson

Another “Senior’s Shambles”. It actually was but it was supposed to be a Yellow Ball competition and 3 of the 5 teams played that format. 

Unfortunately the other 2 teams were ruled out for playing a different game!

Results:
1st: Paul Collins, Graham Utton and Peter Willson – 38.3 points
2nd – John Boyle, Ron Thornton and Phil Lomas – 34.7 points
3rd – Richard Yates, Mike Bennett, Colin Crail and Ken Pearce – 30 points

Next week 3rd July – is down as the real Shambles format 

Rules: Use the best and worst individual Stableford score from your team add them together and that’s your team score. 

Consensus seems to be building that we only use “Team Stableford” as our game as we, as a group, seem to have problems in remembering which game we’re playing when the teams are sent out 2 weeks in advance.

The Hinson Cup – Wednesday 12 July 2023

The Hinson Cup is a club competition for all male seniors (55+) of LGC.

The competition is 18 holes off white tees, and is WHS qualifying. Book your own tee time, and inform Steve or Fizz in the Pro’s shop before you play your round that you want to be entered into the competition. Let’s hope that a member of our section lifts the cup!

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 29 June) 

This is the tee booking schedule for play on Friday 14th July, Round 9 of 10 of the summer league. If your name is in the left column, please book for your group. 

Please note there is no senior league for June 30 and and July 7, due to other reserved activities at LGC. Book your own tee times if you fancy playing a friendly game on those dates. There are still slots available.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Match Report for 16th June – Round 7 of Summer League

Date played: 16th June 2023
Game played: Round 7 – Summer Session  
Number of cards submitted: 30 – Division 1, 20 players. Division 2, 10 players.
2’s recorded: 3

Division 1:                       
Winner: Peter White – 34 points (on CPO)
2nd= David Waggitt  – 34 points
Paul Collins – 34 points

Division 2:
Winner: Rob Taylor – 33 points
2nd: Alister Cook – 31 points
3rd: Ken Pearce – 29 points

Notes:
Course very dry and running – played over 15 holes. Sunshine cool breeze at first but heated up to 29 deg. C at finish

Handicaps – New handicaps this week ! 5 incorrectly entered on cards – but corrected. Please check your new handicaps

Scores entered – 6 cards with incorrect scores some due to old handicaps being used, and others due to poor maths.

Happy Mondays 19th June

It has been good to see Andy Howarth visit us from Malaga, and play as a guest in the Monday competition.

Thirteen intrepid golfers set out – although in true Seniors style there was a degree of confusion as to which game we were playing – it was that old favourite: Team Stableford

Results :
1st with 31 points – Phil Perry, Alan Thomas, John Booth and Dave Waggitt
2nd – 26 points – Pete Broady, Steve Barlow and Peter Willson
3rd – 25.3 points – Ken Narraway, Eric Cox and John Boyle
4th – 22.3 points – Mike Bennett, Bob Mycock and Andy Howarth

Tatton League – Away at Birchwood 15th June

Reporter: Bob Mycock

Lymm had a tough day at Birchwood for Round 3 of the Tatton League, with the four teams posting 35, 34, 34, and 32. This means we have slipped from our second place, but the next round is at Styal, where we did well last year.

At least Mark Pickles collected a bottle of wine for one of the spot prizes: nearest-the-pin-in-2 on the longest Par 4.

Senior Summer League on 7th July

There has been some confusion as to whether or not we can play the summer league on Friday 7th July, which is Captain’s Charity Day.

David Craggs has just informed me this morning (22 June) he will not be doing a draw for tomorrow. If would like to play on 7th July, please make your own booking. There will be no league game on the 7th.

My nephew breaking records at Lord’s

There is only one Middlesex CCC supporter I know of in the senior section (Andy Timms), but some of you know that I keenly follow the progress of Middlesex top-order batsman Max Holden, who is my nephew (sister’s son).

In the T20 Vitality Blast against Kent last week, Max scored 121 not out off 59 balls, despite not starting until half-way through the Power Play (batting at number 4). This is the highest ever individual T20 score at Lord’s (by any team), and the fast ever individual T20 century at Lord’s (by any team). It’s the second highest Middlesex-player T20 score on any ground. Here is a compilation of his boundaries on YouTube.

Max is an enthusiastic (left-handed golfer), and full member of a London golf club, but does not get much chance to play. I intend to play with him for the first time when this cricket season is over.

Middlesex comes to Old Trafford in early September to play Lancashire in the County Championship. I will certainly be going to watch!

Here is a portrait painting I did of Max (about 60cm x 40 cm) when he joined the Middlesex Academy 11 years ago, age 14.

I have stopped doing portraits now, and am working (from my studio near Altrincham) on a massive panoramic city scene of Manchester.

Send me your news!

If you have anything that you think might interest your friends in the senior section, please to send me material.

Tomorrow I am giving some training to Rob Taylor and Steve Gosling on how to create and publish this newsletter and manage the website. And so I look forward to having Rob and Steve as guest editors. I’m sure they will come up with some fresh ideas!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

David Craggs, Captain of the Day at Hale last Wednesday, was hoping to build on Captain Paddy’s success of the week before.

It has been reported to me that whilst Dave Cragg’s joke was certainly the longest on record, and it elicited a loud response, most of the sound came from groans rather than laughs!

Here is Dave’s report:

Return Away Match at Hale, Wednesday 7th June

Captain’s Report: David Craggs

The only cloud appearing on the day was the result.

The weather was a touch nippy for the first few holes but soon warmed up with a cloudless blue sky. The course was in excellent condition and the greens watered by hand were very fast.  A few changes to the par 3’s  since last year challenged both teams.

As always the glorious 12^th hole (left) was the signature hole.

The game finished and we had a fine dining meal and an attempt at a joke by me which was probably rated the longest this season to date.

At home against Hale in May Lymm lost 4.5 :3.5 and we faired even worse playing away with Hale winning 6:2.

Our worthy two winning pairs were Paul Collins/ Mark Marsland and Paddy Moran/Duncan Clarke.

Must try and do better against our next opponents Davyhulme away game on Monday 10^th July.

Match Report for 9th June: Round 6 of the Summer League

Date played: 9th June 2023
Game played: Round 6 – Summer Session  
Number of cards submitted: 33 – Division 1, 19 players. Division 2, 18 players.
2’s recorded: 0

Division 1:                       
Winner: Paul Collins – 31 points
2nd: Paul Foster  – 30 points
3rd: David Waggitt – 30 points

Division 2:
Winner: George Clark – 36 points (on CPO of last six holes)
2nd: Eric Cox – 36 points
3rd: Alan Ranscombe – 32 points

Notes:
Course very dry and running – played over 15 holes. Sunshine cool breeze at first but hotted up to 24 deg C at finish. Handicaps – All correct this week !

Disruptions to the Seniors’ (Friday) Summer League in June and July

Reporter: David Craggs

It is noted on the booking sheet for 30/6/23 that Green Golf Events Tour starts from 8.32 am (31 tee times) so it has been decided that round 9 of the Summer 5 from 10 game cannot be played.  If anybody wants to play prior to 8.32 am you can book yourself in.

Friday 7/7/23 is Captains day so again no game can be played.

Friday 14/7/23 Rylands Golf day shot gun start at 10.56 am and course has  to be cleared by 12.45pm.  On this day  we can all play the round 9 of the Summer 5 from 10 game but if the last teams to tee off have to leave the course before finishing hole 15 their scores will be rounded up to 15 holes?

Friday 21/7/23 play round 10 of the summer 5 from 10.

Handicaps

Bob Mycock and Paddy Moran of the handicap subcommittee will be meeting this afternoon to review handicaps. Therefore, please check your latest handicap before you next play in a seniors’ event. I will update the handicaps page on this website as soon as I receive the new list from Bob.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

We live in strange times. Bob Mycock came to Lymm Golf Club on Monday specifically to practise!

Eric Harper’s Funeral

Eric Harper’s funeral will take place at 11:20 on Friday 16th June at Walton Lea Crematorium, Warrington.

Members of the senior section who knew Eric well will be attending the funeral.

Eric’s funeral coincides with our morning bookings for Round 7 of the summer league on Friday 16th June. However, the committee has decided that if anyone wants to attend Eric’s funeral, and yet wants to play in Round 7, they can play in the afternoon. Simply cross your name off the morning booking, and choose any time you want to play in the afternoon. The seniors’ competition box will remain on the table outside the pro’s shop until evening.

Match Report for 2 June: Round 5 of the Summer League

Date played: 2nd June 2023
Game played: Round 5 – Summer Session  
Number of cards submitted: 36 – Division, 23 players. Division 2, 13 players.
2’s recorded: Phil Blake; Mark Marsland; Mike Pigott x 2; Steve Barlow; Mark Pickles

Division 1:                       
Winner: Phil Lomas – 39 points
2nd: Mark Marsland  – 35 points
3rd: Mike Pigott – 33 points

Division 2:
Winner: Colin Chisnall – 35 points
2nd: Ken Pearce – 33 points
3rd: Phil Blake – 32 points

Notes:
Course dry and running – played over 15 holes. Sunshine cool breeze at first but warmer at finish 21 deg C.

Handicaps on cards all correct this week!

Handicaps

The handicap sub-committee will meet next week to review handicaps. I will update the Handicaps page of this website following the review.

There have recently been some complaints, comments and suggestions going around the senior section on the subject of handicaps.

The seniors’ handicapping is based on a system created by our secretary Rob Taylor in the early days of the senior section.

Although Bob Mycock now chairs the handicap sub-committee, Rob still takes an interest and advises. Following some recent contention, Rob has examined the cases, and assures us: “The system is sound and all decisions are definitely statistically based and can stand any scrutiny”.

Therefore, if you feel the handicapping systems is unfair, and is not promoting the interests and goals of the senior section, please approach Rob Taylor, who will gladly show you the spreadsheet that is being used, and why your senior handicap is what it is.

However, at the last committee meeting (last Friday), our chairman Mike Bennett said we will review the handicapping system at the end of this season, and we will try to ensure the membership is in general agreement.

The simplest-sounding solution is ‘WHS’, but, for whatever reason, many senior members have not maintained their WHS, and others self-identify with a curiously low-to-medium WHS handicap that does not correspond to the cards submitted in the winter and summer leagues over the past 12 months.

Tee Booking Schedule tomorrow (Thursday 8th June)

This is the tee booking schedule for play on Friday 23rd June, Round 8 of 10 of the summer league. If your name is in the left column, please book for your group. 

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles