Message from Dave Craggs on Handicaps

Our Summer session of best 5 games from 9 commences on Friday 5th April 2024. (The usual 10 league games is not possible due to other games in the calendar.)

The Seniors’ Committee have agreed to adopting the new WHS handicap system which is explained below.

Regards the cut off point for the 2 divisions, the average exact WHS handicap for the seniors is 17.7, Committee therefore proposes Div 1 is for exact handicaps of 18 and below, and Div 2 exact handicaps of 19 and above.

Committee members will be available to assist anyone who has any difficulties with this new system on Friday 5th April.

Wishing all our members and families a very happy Easter.

The new WHS system – How it affects the Senior Section

Reporter Dave Craggs

We are to reset seniors section members handicaps to their WHS course handicap ready for the start of the summer session. Members without a WHS handicap will be assigned their current seniors handicap until such time as they get a WHS handicap index.

One of the major changes introduced with the new World Handicap System (WHS) is the option to submit scores for rounds played less than 18 holes. The EGU encourage all golfers to submit scores for all rounds of golf played. Under WHS you can submit General Play scores to count towards your Handicap Index by completing a card, using the IG app or My England Golf App if you are registered.

Just a reminder of the procedure required to enter scores in the seasonal leagues from April going forwards.

• On Friday morning, enter your name on the start sheet provided outside the pro shop, Fiz or Steve will then pre-register your name ready for you to enter your scores after completion of your round.
• Alternatively, if the Pro shop is already open, just pop inside and let Steve or Fiz know that you are playing in the competition.
• Either way, you must formally register BEFORE you tee off for your round of golf.
• Please exchange scorecards with your playing partners.
• Ensure you clearly identify your name / handicap index / course handicap / playing handicap / start time and which tees you are using. (Typically Yellow)
• Ensure you are on the first tee in plenty of time for your allotted tee time. The target is to leave the first tee at the designated time and not tee off at the designated time.
• It is the players responsibility to enter their score – this can be done via the IG App (the latest version is 2.4.9). The score must be entered immediately following completion of the round.
• In IG the steps to enter your score are as follows:-
  • In the App, press “Competitions”
  • Select the competition for that day
  • Enter your score for each hole played
  • Select “finalise” once all 15 holes have been entered
• The completed (and signed) card must be deposited in the seniors box on the table outside the pro shop as usual.

If you decide to play all 18 holes on any particular day, you should NOT enter the scores for 16, 17 or 18 on your scorecard or into the computer / App at the end of the round, as the competition will be specifically set up for 15 holes only.

Your Handicap Index will be updated at the end of each day. This means that when you open the IG or My England Golf apps the following day and click on My WHS Index, you will see the results from your seniors round. This information can also be seen on the club website, under the “My Golf” menu by clicking on “My rounds” to see all your rounds and “Handicap record” to see your last 20 rounds.

Report for Round 7 of the Winter League 

Reporter: Peter Willson

48 entries – 23 in Division 1 and 25 in Division 2 

Played over 10 holes only. 

The day was dry, cool wind, 10 deg. C and the course continues to dry out. 

All main green in play, no temporaries, but a little bumpy after the Spring maintenance and over-dressing programme

Scores – rounded up to 15 holes Stableford points 

Division 1 

Winner – Dave Meir – 33 points 

Second – Steve Barlow – 30 points (CPO over last 6 holes)

Third – Grahame Brickell – 30 points 

Division 2 

Winner – John Booth – 36 points 

Second – Bob Ellison – 35 points

Third – Steve Bramall – 33 points (CPO over last 6 holes) 

2’s – only 1 this week – John Hayes on the 9th 

Final Results for the Winter League

Reporter: Peter Willson

Weather curtailed League this year. 

Only 7 Rounds played because of a full course closure one week and 2 rounds with temporary greens 

14 players have qualified for the end-of-season Championship game. 

A different winner for each of round with no one winning more than one round 

2’s prizes – 17 sleeves of balls won 

Division 1 

Joint Winners – Paul Lennie and Dave Meir with 156 points each over the 5 Rounds 

Paul led for many of the League rounds – but a fighting final round by Dave enabled him to catch Paul

Third Place – Mark Pickles – 152 points  

Division 2 

Winner – Steve Bramall – 158 points 

Joint Second – 3 players – Dave Craggs, Keith Melia and Joe Priestner  – 151 points each 

See Leader Boards page for results.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (28 March)

“Ay-up love”

Reporter: Mark Pickles

At the time you are reading this, I should be somewhere in East Lancashire, having relieved Bob Mycock of his crewing duties on Charlie Heath’s narrowboat.

Pictured below are the Skipper and two crew, plus Paddy Moran, who kindly gave up his Sunday to help Charlie up the notorious ‘Wigan flight’ of 21 locks. Apparently it was hard work!

I’ve spoken to Charlie a few times. Although he runs a tight ship, he says that Bob is happy enough with the teetotal life onboard, going to bed at 9pm and rising at 5am. Charlie says that Bob is in his element: “he sits quietly on the bow, contemplating nature and writing poetry”.

I’m hoping to return from Doncaster by train next Wednesday. If I’m a day late, I’ll create next week’s newsletter on Thursday.

Winter League – Round 7 – Null and Void 

Reporter: Peter Willson

Mother Nature dealt us another blow as Round 7 had to be declared Null and Void.    Although there were 10 holes open, 4 of them were on temporary greens.

The weather was fair with high clouds, the overnight rain had passed, and the temperature was 10 deg. C with light breeze 

As is the case when a Round has to be cancelled a Bottle of Wine was the prize this week

Winner with an impressive 29 points over the 10 holes – Steve Bird 

Second: Alan Thomas – 26 points and 

Third: Bob Ellison – 25 points (on a CPO down to the last 2 holes)  

Next Week – is Round 8 from 8 due to the League being reduced from the usual 10 rounds, because of the saturated ground conditions over the past weeks 

It’s “still all to play for” – in both Divisions 1 and 2  

Tee-booking Schedule for Tomorrow (Thursday 21 March)

Winter League – Round 6 of 8

Match Reporter: Peter Willson

A cold day only 5 degrees but it felt much colder with the stiff Easterly breeze. 

47 entrants and at least 5 NR’s

Division 1 – 27 entries. Division 2 – 20 entries 

Only 3 players bettered their handicaps this week, with 31 players in the “no change” zone and 13 playing worse than their handicaps   

Handicaps – only 2 incorrect handicaps used and corrected this week. There will be 9 handicap changes next time – please check your handicaps before Friday’s game 

Three 2’s scored this week – Tommy Lawless – 9th , Paddy Moran – 13th and Ian Whitehead – 5th 

Division 1 – Winner this week is Peter White with 32 points followed by Tommy Lawless with 31 and Colin Crail on 30.

The Division 1 leader is still Paul Lennie with Dave Meir and Mark Pickles following 4 points behind. Andrew Cox and Mike Pigott are a further 5 points back 

Division 2 – Winner this week is “Super” Joe Priestner with 31 points followed by Keith Melia and Peter Willson with 30 points 

Steve Bramall maintains his position on the top of the pile but his lead has been cut to 1 point by Joe Priestner. John Higgins is a further 5 points back 

Only 2 rounds to go and it’s still all to play for !

Happy Mondays – 11th March

Reporter: Peter Willson

Game – Best 2 from 3 or Best 3 from 4 

Played over 14 holes – 9th closed for new bunker build .

6 teams – 19 players 

Weather – dry, no wind, cloudy and 6 deg. C

Winners:
Steve Gosling, Mark Pickles and Dave Waggitt: +11 (11 points better than level 2’s)

Men’s Committee Annual Business Meeting – Thursday, 7pm

LGC main committee will hold its business meeting tomorrow at 7pm. Please try to attend if you can. Its own rules stipulate that at least 30 members attend in order to form a quorum, but last year that number was not reached, making it impossible to ratify the measures.

The main men’s committee supports our senior section committee, with Andy Timms representing us. The whole club benefits from the work of the men’s committee. If you can attend tomorrow, it would be much appreciated.

Mike Smith Plate

The entry sheet for the Mike Smith Plate – Summer Individual Knock-out is now on the seniors’ noticeboard. Please add your name if you wish to compete.

Peter Willson will take the list down on Friday 5th April in order to do the draw.

No booking schedule for tomorrow

Grahame Brickell informs me that he does not need to do a booking schedule for tomorrow, because Friday 29th March is Good Friday.

Goodbye Charlie

Charlie Heath, my best friend at LGC, is leaving us for pastures new, although many of us are hoping he will return to LGC occasionally to play as a guest.

Charlie and his partner Irene will be spending much of their time in Charlie’s native Doncaster, on Charlie’s super new narrowboat, to be moored in a marina at Doncaster. Charlie will be rejoining his old club: Doncaster Golf Club. However, Charlie and Irene will continue to be based in Cronton (on the Cheshire/Merseyside border).

I’m sure everyone in the senior section wishes Charlie well in his new adventure, and I know that I will be far from the only LGC senior to miss him!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Winter League – Round 6 – declared Void 

Reporter – Peter Willson

The day started with a light drizzle which by the time 8.00 am arrived it had turned into steady light rain and increasing windy gusts.

3 groups / 10 brave souls started out in the rain but only got to the 4th, 3rd and 2nd holes before deciding it was too wet. Many other players arrived, most doing a circuit of the car park, before heading home for some warmth and drier conditions.

The round was declared null and void due to no players completing the minimum required 9 holes 

On a lighter note several of us retired to the clubhouse to seek shelter and a bit of heat. 

It was a pleasure to see Dave Meir armed with a bottle of Bushmills finest whiskey in honour of his “significant birthday” – we toasted his health and then we also retired defeated by rain as well. 

Perhaps next week we will get the chance to play Round 6 after 2 false starts. 

Still 3 rounds to go of the 8 Rounds available following the extension to the number of League games due to the atrocious weather in February

Happy Mondays

Reporter: Peter Willson

A remarkably Spring-like day after a chilly start with a slight frost. Blue skies, no wind and the course continues to dry out

Game – Team Stableford

18 players – 5 teams 

The Winners – Mike Bennett, Colin Crail and Les Williams – 23 points per player (Nobody was more surprised than this trio – who didn’t expect to win)

2nd – Steve Barlow, Steve Bramall, Dave Craggs and Peter Willson – 22.3 points per player 

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (7th March)

Navy-blue team shirts

For all who have put their name in the list for interclub matches, please remember that you will need a team shirt in order to be selected. Please order as soon as possible from Steve in the Pro’s shop. Steve needs at least 6 orders before he can justify getting the shirts made up with the LGC logo.