This Friday (2nd August) we are having a ‘fun comp’. The format this year is Texas Scramble.

We are hoping to go out in teams of four.

Normal Texas Scramble rules apply. And note the following:

• 15-hole comp, stroke play.
• All four players must use at least three of their drives. Mark each individual’s drive on the scorecard.
• To calculate handicaps we will use the simpler method of 10% of the aggregate course handicaps:
  Add up your course handicaps, and divide by 10. Do not round up or down any figure after the decimal point.

If you need to go out in a team of three, use at least four drives each.

Lymm V Sale, interclub friendly, Friday 26 July

Reporter: Mike Bennett (CoD)

It was a very good day for Lymm, winning the match 6-2

Our guests from Sale not only enjoyed playing the course but also really appreciated the excellent lunch.

The results were as follows:

Mike Bennett & Mark Pickles: W 5&4
Ian Whitehead & Barry Smith: W 3&2
Trevor  Williamson & Mervyn Roberts: W 3&2
Paul Lennie & Sammy Lee: W 2&1
Andy Timms & Dave Meir: W 1up
Bob Mycock & Phil Perry: L 4&3
Russ Jones & Steve  Bird:  L. 2&1
Peter Willson & Barrie Simpson:   W 2&1

Hawkstone Park Away Day

Reporter: Mike Bennett

There were 16 players due to attend, but unfortunately Colin Crail went down with illness the night before and sadly missed the event.

Day 1
Playing Old Course 

All arrived safely and the sun was shining.

Playing for the Hawkstone trophy: a four-ball better ball pairs competition.

The results were:
1st Place with 38 points
Colin Chisnall and Mike Bennett

2nd Place also with 38 points 
Mike Kendall and Steve Gosling (ghost)

After the competition we enjoyed a few drinks before getting ready for dinner. Food excellent and the wine was flowing.

As is happens, the majority of the people in the dining room were from Lymm Golf Club as there were also 10 ladies from Lymm!

Surprisingly. most of the guys went to bed at a reasonable time in preparation for day two.

Day 2 (Best 3 scores counting) 
Playing Championship Course

When we tee’d off the weather was really good but after the front nine deteriorated to consistent rain.

The results were:

1st Place(with 108 points)
Alan Thomas , Jeff  Ashurst, Colin Chisnall, Mike Bennett

2nd Place (96 points)
Mike Kendal, Ken Pearce, John Hayes, Dave Craggs

After the competition Les Williams announced the results of the two days and presented the prizes.

Colin Chisnall and Mike Bennett won bottles of wine on both days so they decided to auction 2 bottles. This raised £35 courtesy of Jeff Ashurst, which will be donated to prostate cancer. 

A big thank you was extended to Les Williams by all the players for not only organising two superb days of golf but contributing significantly to the prize fund. When you think of what Les has gone through during the last six months it was a great effort on his part.

Everybody left the venue saying, “roll on next year”.

Bottle of Wine Comp, Friday 26 July (and problems signing in)

Reporter: Paul Foster

This comp ran alongside the home match against Sale.

In 3rd place was Eric Cox with 31pts, R/up was Brendan Laing with 32pts.
Winner of the day and the recipient of a specially selected bottle of wine from the brobdingnagian Gosling cellars was Peter Broady with an excellent 33pts.

Once again ‘dead eye’ Peter [ known to some of his friends as ‘Boring Broady’ ] hit every fairway off the tee.

Six members managed to sign in, and these names were shown on the results page on the club website. Pete Broady, amongst others, couldn’t sign in, hence Peter’s name wasn’t on the club website as the winner.

A bit of discombobulation occurred on the patio following the round where it was noted a number of players were able to sign in for the competition on the day, but others could not.

The club website incorrectly allowed a 3 hour time slot on the day to sign in, 11am till 2pm. Six members managed to sign in, and these names were shown on the results page on the club website.

Pete Broady, amongst others, couldn’t sign in, hence Peter’s name wasn’t on the club website as the winner.

This issue has now been resolved.

For all future Seniors Friday ‘Bottle of Wine’ competitions, members need to sign up in the usual way, up to 2 weeks in advance, and then drop your completed card into the box outside the pro shop.

Happy Mondays Game – 29th July 

Reporter: Peter Willson

A wonderfully dry, sunny day with some fluffy white clouds and a gentle breeze. Dry ground conditions and there is some run on the ball.

Game: Team Stableford 

The conditions certainly suited Mike Bennett who is continuing his recent run of great golf with 2 wins last week and being part of the winning team today – he scored a very impressive 41 points over the 15 holes played including 2 birdies – one for 5 points on the 7th 

Winners: Mike Bennett, Bob Mycock and Richard Yates – 28.7 points per player 

Joint Second: 
Tony Lambert, Phil Lomas and Steve Rowley /
Steve Bird, Phil Perry and Dave Waggitt

Both teams had 27.7 points per player

The Mitre Cup, Tuesday 6 August

Reporter: Mike Bennett

The Mitre Cup will be played next Tuesday

Here are the pairs, showing tee times, course handicap, and playing handicap:

11.06
Mike Bennett 24, 23,
Les Williams, 22, 21

11:15
Steve Gosling 17, 16 
Arthur Nuttall 20, 19                                    

11:24
Mark Pickles 8, 8
Peter Wilson, 23, 22

11.33
Ron Thornton  31, 30
Peter Broady 17, 17

11:42
Andy Timms  9, 9
Phil Perry 27, 25

11.51
John White  20, 19                                 
Rob Taylor 30, 28

12.00
Trevor Williamson 15, 14                            
Barry Smith 24, 23

12.09
Art Laird 25, 24                               
Phil Ormesher 25, 24

12.18
Keith Melia 23, 21                               
Jeff Ashurst 31, 30

12.27
Mike Pigott 4, 4                                     
Bob Ellison 22, 21

RESERVES :
Colin Hughes
Phil Lomas
Sammy Lee
Bob Mycock

Please note it is our intention to play the Competition over 15 holes. The format of the competition will be Four Ball Betterball, Stableford 95% of Course Handicap. Whilst your opponents are not yet established, this will be completed later today and will be put on the Senior Notice Board as from tomorrow. Please note that the Ladies have a Competition tomorrow, therefore you need to establish with your opponents their up to date Handicaps before commencing your Round. Should you wish to have a meal after the Competition, it is up to each player to organise this with Karen, prior to commencing your Round. If you could do this on the Monday, that would be even better.

IMPORTANT : Could all players selected, including Reserves, confirm their availability to Mike Bennett ASAP. 

email: bennett10@aol.com
mobile: 07866 603760

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 1 August) 

Tomorrow we will book tees for the Peter Herrity Trophy (our annual charity game). The trophy is played over 18 holes, yellow tees.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 4 August

Obituary for George Winterburn

By Alan Thomas

I knew George on and off the golf course. We were part of a group of four couples who caravanned together often. George would keep us amused at our BBQ evenings, with tales of his travels and his job with Nuclear Fuels.

He was an avid reader, very knowledgeable, and eager to share his knowledge, not all of which greatly interested us! One example is a 30-minute explanation on the gauge of Spanish railway lines, which we never let him forget!

George’s interest in railways, and differences between national gauges, developed while employed at Sellafield, where he was tasked with supervising the movement of flasks (railway trucks) of nuclear waste around Europe.

As for golf: George was a member of LGC for about 40 years, and one of the original members of the senior section. He also enjoyed mixed competitions with his wife Christine. For three years, George helped me organise monthly social evenings at the golf club, which including booking artists, providing budgets, arranging meals and table planning.

George was an all-round good man, fairly quiet, but very knowledgeable, and who would help anyone out. It’s a cliché to say that he will be sadly missed, but for many of us at LGC and in Lymm in general, this rings very true with George Winterburn.

We send our heartfelt condolences to Christine, Rachel, Samantha and family.

George Winterburn’s funeral

The funeral will be held at Walton Lea Crematorium, Chester Road, Higher Walton. WA4 6TB. at 14:40 on Thursday 8th August.

The service will be followed by a reception for all family and friends, here at Lymm Golf Club.

We are light on news this week due to the fact that no senior events were held last Friday.

The Mike Smith Plate (singles knockout).

We have now reached the semi-final stage, with John Armstrong, Steve Barlow, Keith Melia and Peter Broady hoping to make it to the final:

Happy Mondays, 22 July

Game – Team Stableford 

6 teams – 17 players 

Dull, cloudy, soft wind and no rain – 20 deg. C

Winners: Alan Copeland, Steve Gosling and Phil Lomas – 29.3 points per player (ppp)

2nd: Steve Barlow, Eric Cox and Ron Thornton – 27.7 ppp

3rd: Les Fecitt, Ken Pearce and Peter Willson – 25.3 ppp 

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (25 July)

Please be ready to book at 8pm because 9th August will be a busy Friday morning, with a lot of competition for slots.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule, for Sunday 28 July

Padeswood and Buckley Outing (4th July)

Reporter: John Hayes

[ Editor’s note: apologies for the late publication of John’s report. The original seemed to have got lost in the ether. ]

The club senior’s group arranged for 20 of us to enter the Senior Open at Padeswood and Buckley G C last Thursday. After the 45 minute drive from Lymm everyone arrived in good time to enjoy a bacon butty before the first tee time of 10 40 am. The course and surrounds were in great condition on the day, particularly the greens which were fast and true, causing one or two difficulties for the first few holes whilst adjustments to weight of putt were being made.

There was also an internal competition for our group, the winners and runners-up being awarded cash prizes for their efforts Eventually the winners in our group were our Senior’s Chairman Mike Bennet and Stuart Baird, with a better-ball score of 37 points, giving a narrow victory on count-back over second place score of 37 points by Ron Thornton and Dave Meir. In third place with 35 points were Dave Craggs and John Hayes. Well done, Mike and Stuart.

As to the main competition, Mike and Stuart’s excellent round meant that they finished in fourth place in the guest member section. The winners were on 40 points and the runners-up were both on 38 points. (In the home member section the winning score was 42 points).

The weather conditions were fine and free of rain but there was a fairly strong gusty wind and the temperature was a bit on the low side for the time of year.

One of our more modest members, Bob, was at pains to point out during the “apres-golf” socialising that there had been only one gross birdie made by our group, noting that it was made on the hardest hole on the course. He declined to say who had made this unique birdie but I have my suspicions.

[ Editor’s note: Did Bob claim that he hit his gap wedge 190 yards into the wind? ]

All in all it was a great day out with good golf in beautiful surroundings – we all look forward to repeating the experience next year.

Paddy beats his age !

Paddy Moran, age 79, scored 78 gross (40 points Stableford) in last week’s Gordon Wood Trophy.

We believe that Paddy is the first ever member of the senior section to beat his age in an official 18-hole competition. A rare feat indeed! Congratulations Paddy!

Gordon Wood Trophy – Friday 12 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

Forty four player took to the fairways, with some super scores. Five players scoring under par, three scoring a magnificent 40 pts.

In 3rd place was Paddy Moran with the low gross score of the day shooting 78.

In 2nd place was Trevor Williamson also with 40pts.

But top of the pile, and a richly deserved win was Alan Thomas,

again on 40pts, including a 2 at the 2nd, and a magnificent par at the 16th, (one of only 2 players to par the 16th).

Five players recorded 2s, these were; Paddy Moran, Mark Pickles, Alan Thomas, John White and Trevor Williamson..

There were five birdies recorded at the 11th even though it seems to get longer and narrower each time we play it.

A great day enjoyed by all, and many congratulations to Alan Thomas.

Lymm Golf Club Gents Hinson Cup – Wednesday 15 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

This was a club competition open to all club members over the age of 55, played off the white tees.

Senior section members had to be guided to the white tees, and introduced to the 16th tee..!

Sixty two player took part with four senior section members in the top ten. These were Michael John, Les Fecitt, Steve Barlow and winner of the Hinson Cup Martin Franks, who scored a splendid 40pts, shooting a gross 77 in the process.

Congratulations Martin…!!!

Happy Mondays – 5 July

Reporter: Peter Willson

A dry and partly sunny day with a light breeze and a tad warmer
6 teams took part – 20 players
Game – Team Stableford

Winners: Les Fecitt, Charlie Hill and Ron Thornton – 27 points per player
2nd: Alan Copeland, Ray Rigby, Peter Willson and Richard Yates – 26.75 points per player
3rd: Steve Bird, Eric Cox, Steve Gosling and Tommy Lawless – 24.75 points per player

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 18 July)

If you are named in the first column, please book tomorrow at 8pm for Friday 2nd August.

Note that 2 August will be our Fun Game. The format this year is Texas Scramble.

Happy Mondays tee booking:

Happy Mondays – 8 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

A super summer’s day for the Monday candidates.

Due to an away inter club friendly on the same day, just 4 teams ran for parliament.

Team stableford was the manifesto of the day, everyone played to the same rules with no spoilt ballots.

First past the post were; leader of the party Ray Rigby, ‘4 point’ Perry, ‘Muddy’ Lomas and Bocquet with an average score per person of 25.25pts. A landslide victory..!!

Runners up were; leader of the opposition ‘silly hat’ Fecitt, Rigby, Copeland, Booth and Waggitt with a score of 24.75pts per person.

In 3rd with a marginal seat were the coalition team of Chisnall, Thomas and Bramall

Alas, in 4th place (last….!) and this week’s monster raving looney party, were team ‘returning officer’ Foster, Rowley, and Tony Lambert (despite a super round from Tony) with a pathetic 21.66pts per person.

Anyone for a recount…????

Bottle of Wine Competition – Friday 5th July 

Held whilst Captain’s Charity Day competition being played: 

Winner: Alan Thomas – 31 points – on CPO 
2nd: Steve Gosling – 31 points
3rd: Tommy Lawless – 30 points CPO

Gordon Wood Trophy – Friday 12th July

We play for the Gordon Wood Trophy this Friday. This is an 18-hole annual competition, off yellow tees, for the senior section only. There is a monetary prize for the winner, and a trophy that will be presented at our annual business meeting at the end of the season.

Sign up for the competition in the Pro’s shop before you play. If you arrive before the Pro’s shop opens, write your name on a list that will be on the table, ready for Steve of Fizz to collect when they arrive.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 11 July)

Please try to ready to book at precisely 8pm, because Friday 26th will be a busy morning with potentially a lot of demand for free tee slots.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 14 July

It looks and feels autumnal today. I am hoping that summer is not over and we will soon see a return to warmth and sunshine! However, the Summer League is now over, curtailed to 8 rounds due to bad weather at the start of the season, and due to a very busy summer calendar.

The game on Friday (5th July) will be a bottle-of-wine competition. This is because it is Captain’s Charity Day, which will be a shotgun start at lunchtime, in which some members of the senior section are participating.

Congratulations:
Paddy Moran, winner of Division 1,
Michael John, winner of Division 2.

See the Leader Boards page for the full results.

Summer League Final Round

Reporter: Paul Foster

What a difference a day makes, earlier in the week it was parasols, silly hats and sun cream, Friday was umbrellas, waterproofs and woolly pullovers, crazy British weather!

Today there were 3 cards handed in, but no score entered into Ig, and 1 score entered into Ig, but no card handed in !!I

Onto the Friday’s results…

Winner of the first division on Friday was Colin Crail with 34pts, including a fantastic finish of 20pts on the last 7 holes.

R/up was Mike Pigott with 31pts off 3 handicap, tremendous stuff Mike, and in 3rd place Peter White with 30pts.

In the second division, the winner was Alan Copeland (AGAIN) with the top score of the day (AGAIN) of 35pts

R/up was Jeff Chapman with 33pts, and in 3rd place Steve Bird with 32pts.

Four 2s on Friday, Colin Crail, Mike Pigott, Peter Willson and Richard Yates.

So that’s it folks, the end of the Summer League.

Paddy Moran is king of the castle and wins Division 1 from Martin Franks by 1pt, with Mike Pigott in third place.

Michael John wins Division 2 by a country mile, Mervyn Roberts sneaks into the r/up spot and Mike Kendall in 3rd place.

Noted scores of the summer session were the 44pts scored in the first round by Michael John and scores of 38pts by Martin Franks, Arthur Nuttall and Dave Meir, some impressive scores there.

In total, 6 players out of 41 (who had completed at least 5 rounds) finished under par.

Bring on the Autumn session which starts on the 4th October, with amended divisions.

Hinson Cup – Wednesday 10th

Next Wednesday is the Hinson Cup, an annual competition open to all male seniors (55+) of Lymm Golf Club.

The competition is Stableford, off white tees. To enter the competition, sign up in the Pro’s shop, as we do when we play in the usual Midweek Competition.

Gordon Wood Trophy – Friday 12th July

We play for the Gordon Wood Trophy a week on Friday. This is an 18-hole annual competition, off yellow tees, for the senior section only. I believe that we are to sign up in the Pro’s shop to enter the competition. I will confirm before next week.

Mitre Cup – Tuesday 6th August

Mike Bennett has placed a sheet on the noticeboard for you to add your name if you are interested in being selected for this year’s Mitre Cup on Tuesday 6th August.

The Mitre Cup is an annual competition between the Ladies Section and the Senior Section, followed by a get-together afterwards, with refreshments and presentation of the cup and other prizes.

Happy Mondays Tee-Booking Schedule (on Sunday 7th July)

No tee-booking schedule for tomorrow

There is no tee-booking schedule for tomorrow because there is a Green Golf Events Day on Friday 19th July.

Stockton Heath Festival

Dave Craggs not only does a great job as secretary for the senior section, but he is the organiser of the Stockton Heath festival, which begins tomorrow, 4th July until Sunday 7th July.

Here is the website explaining the events.

https://www.stocktonheathfestival.co.uk/

In the festival’s art exhibition, there will be over a hundred artworks, including two by me, and two by Dave Craggs!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles