Updated Calendar

Our Committee Secretary Dave Craggs has updated the calendar. I have uploaded the new spreadsheet on the Senior Section Calendar tab.

We have a lot of activities for senior golfers in the next month or two. Please take a look at the calendar. And please add your name to the seniors’ noticeboard for any upcoming activities.

Some dates to remember include:


Wednesday 10 July: Hinson Cup (open to all LGC seniors)

Friday 12 July: Gordon Wood Trophy (open to senior section only)

Friday 2 August: Senior Section Fun game (format to be decided)

Tuesday 6 August: Mitre Cup (Senior section versus ladies section match)

Friday 16 August: Peter Herrity Charity £5 entry (open to senior section only)

Friday 23 August: Chairman’s BBQ, starting at 12:00 (see below)

I will send reminders and further details of each of these events a week or two before them. For the Mitre Cup, look out for the list that will go on the noticeboard soon.

Also coming up are the Padeswood & Buckley event on 4th July, organised by John Hayes. And the Hawkstone Park trip on 23/24 July, organised by Les Williams.

Chairman’s BBQ

This year we are having a BBQ on 23 August, after the Friday match, beginning at about 12:00

Please do attend if you can, to make it a good social get together for our section. Food will be provided from our section funds (burger and salad), and Mike Bennett, our outgoing chairman, will provide some bottles of wine.

Mike will put a list on the noticeboard. Add your name to the list if you intend to join us, to enable us to plan the catering.

Round 7 of Summer League, Friday 14 July

Reporter: Peter Willson

A dry breezy day after the early heavy shower passed by. 

40 Entrants – 18 in Div. 1 and 22 in Div. 2 

Some players had curtailed rounds because of the Shot Gun Charity day competition. Their scores will be pro-rated to 15 holes  

Division 1 

Winner: John White – 34 points; 2nd Paul Collins – 32 points; 3rd Steve Gosling – 31 points

Division 2 

Winner: Alan Copeland – 34 points; Les Fecitt – 33 points ; 3rd – Jeff Ashurst and Mike Kendal 30 points 

2’s – only 2 this week – Phil Lomas and Mervyn Roberts both on the 13th.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 20 June)

Happy Monday’s Competition – Monday 17th June 

Reporter: Peter Willson

A dry day with only 1 sharp shower – getting warmer (well a little bit ) 

Game: Yellow Ball 

3 teams of 3 players 

Winners:
Alan Copeland, Phil Perry and Dave Waggitt – and amazing score to 130 points – 10 points over “par”

2nd: Pete Broady, Paul Collins and Peter Willson (the 3 P’s) – 108 points

3rd: Steve Bird, John Booth and Phil Lomas.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

I thoroughly enjoyed our annual trip to play in the Llangollen Seniors Open (4BBB) last Thursday. The course was in great condition, and the surrounding scenery was terrific on our bright and clear day.

Peter Broady and Ron Thornton were the overall winners of the open (each winning a £70 voucher for the pro’s shop), and, naturally, they were the winners of the little secondary competition we had amongst LGC seniors. I was honoured to have marked Peter and Ron’s card.

Peter played the most boring golf imaginable: he hit every drive down the middle of the fairway. The rest of us were enjoying the great variety of trees, and wild flowers in the rough, and an occasional flirt with the River Dee: we watched a guy fly fishing just over the course boundary by the 16th green. But ‘Pedro’ Broady saw none of this. On every hole, he took the short cut: a straight line from tee to green! Ron also played well, and on holes where he had extra shot over Peter, invariably made good use of it.

Thank you Grahame Brickell for organising the day out, including block-booking the tee times for us.

Vale of LLangollen senior golf open, Thursday 6 June

Reporter: Grahame Brickell (LGC Seniors away-day organiser)

20 of were booked in for this years event .. unfortunately one was unable to make it at the last minute … Hope you are feeling better Les W, I’ll put you down for next year. 

It was a great day for golf, bright and dry and as the majority of us fuelled up on bacon or sausage barms and coffee before heading out. The mood in the club room was joyful. Many had a quick putt on the adjacent putting green. Messrs  Moran & Mycock, no doubt looking after their figures, skipped the breakfast and arrived just in time to tee off!

[ Editor’s note: When has Bob ever not arrived just in time to tee off! ]

We were led off by Messrs Broady & Thornton and it was a sound start for PB with a birdie 4 on the par 5 dog leg right… 4 points in the bag and with a solid 21 on both front & back nines posted a leading & overall competition winning score of 42 points – Mr Handicap sec please note! 

Along with Messrs Willson & J White posted a very respectable 39 points to take 6^th place. 

Our own Mr Treasurer (Steve G)  offered a sleeve of balls for our own nearest the pin comp – won by Captain elect – Andy Timms. 

Some participated in large platters of curry rice / chips and nan ..and other fine fare after playing to fuel them for the journey home.

Overall a great day out that I’m pretty certain we all enjoyed and will all look forward to next year. If any senior fancies joining us, just message me. The actual date for next year will come out in November. 

Summer League Round 6

Reporter: Paul Foster

Another pleasant summer’s day, and another great day for golf, but once again we failed to make the most of it, with only 1 out of 38 scoring under par.

I must apologise to my playing partners, Stuart White and Rob Taylor for my truly abysmal performance, asking them to look for my ball on every hole…!!! (and not finding many)

Once again there was a card handed in, but no score entered into Ig, and 2 scores entered into Ig, but no cards handed in !!I Also a few handicaps marked wrong on the cards.

Onto the results…

Winner of the first division was Grahame Brickell with 30pts, including a fantastic finish of 17pts on the last 5 holes. R/up was Martin Franks also with 30pts, and in 3rd placed Paddy Moran again with 30pts.

In the second division, the winner was Alan Copeland with the top score of the day, a sensational 38pts, r/up was Phil Ormesher with 30pts, and in 3rd place Stuart Baird with 29pts.

Paddy Moran now leads the way in division 1 from Martin Franks and Mike Pigott.

In the second division, Michael John still leads, with Bob Ellison and Richard Yates in 2nd and 3rd place

No 2s recorded on the day.

Happy Mondays – 10th June ‘24

Reporter: Peter Willson

A bright yet breezy morning but still chilly – 15 deg C with the wind and slow going after heavy overnight rain 

Game : Team Stableford

6 teams – 22 players in total 

Winners:  Mike Bennett, Colin Crail, Les Williams and Richard Yates – 26 points per player 

2nd: Charlie Hill, Phil Lomas and Phil Perry – 25.3 points per player 

3rd: Steve Bird, Alan Thomas and Dave Waggitt – 25 points per player  

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow, Thursday 13 June

Tee Booking Schedule on Sunday for Happy Mondays

Volunteers for raking bunkers

Volunteers are still required for raking bunkers on Fridays, while we are temporarily short of green staff. Please contact Andrew Cox if you would like to help out by raking the bunkers on one or two holes after you have played on Friday. This will free the green staff to do their principal Friday tasks.

Volunteers Required!

Andrew Cox would like volunteers in the section section to help raking bunkers on Friday, after we have played golf.

As you probably know, we are temporarily understaffed by greenstaff. Over the next few weeks this will problem will be made worse, as each member of the greenstaff takes a week’s holiday, in rotation.

Andrew has asked how we can help, the greenstaff suggest that we can rake the bunkers on Friday afternoons, which is a task that is done every Friday in preparation for the Saturday competition. Andrew suggests that those of us who would like to volunteer are nominated bunkers on two or three holes. Please contact Andrew if you think you can help.

Summer League, Round 5, Friday 31 May

Reporter: Paul Foster

A beautiful early summer’s day, a great day for golf, but we didn’t seem to make the most of it, with only 5 out of 39 scoring under par. Note there were a cards handed in that had not had their scores entered via Ig, and some scores entered via Ig but didn’t hand their cards in!!

Thanks and congratulations go to Mike Pigott on his 70th birthday for providing a celebratory shot of Whisky (or was it Whiskey) to all seniors on the day. I can’t believe he’s 70…Mike must have had a very easy paper round..or perhaps non at all..!

Onto the results…

Winner of the first division was Paddy Moran with 33pts, followed by Mike ‘70’ Pigott with 32pts a cpo over 3rd placed John Higgins. (who blobbed the 15th after looking at his score for the first time in the round on the 15th tee)

In the second division, the winner was Ron Thornton with the top score of the day of 34pts, r/up was newcomer Alan Copeland with 31pts, and in 3rd place Michael John with 30pts.

Mike Pigott now leads the way in division 1 with Martin Franks and Paul Collins tucked in behind. These three wise men are 15 pts ahead of the field.

In the second division, Michael John still has a sizable lead going into the second half of the summer comp, Michael stays at 22 under par, playing for a distant second place are Bob Ellison and Richard Yates.

Four 2s recorded today, Alan Burton, John Higgins, Martin Lowe & Peter White.

Interclub Friendly – Hale V Lymm

Reporter: Andy Timms (CoD)

On a day that started with clouds and the odd shower, but ended in bright sunshine, the seniors chosen to represent Lymm at Hale acquitted themselves admirably (well, most of them did)!!

The course itself was in excellent condition, particularly the greens which were fast and true, and as ever we received a first-rate meal following the golf as we’ve all come to expect from this venue. Even the captain’s joke raised a laugh, so all told a good day out and another win for our Seniors team.

Match results – 
Andy Timms & Jeff Ashurst – Won 4&2
Grahame Brickell & Pete Broady – Lost 4&3
John Woodward & Steve Gosling – Lost 3&2
John White & Dave Craggs – Won 6&5
Stuart Baird & Paul Collins – Won 2&1
Phil Perry & Ron Thornton – Lost 3&2
Jeff Chapman & Paul Lennie – Won 4&3
Steve Bramhall & Steve Barlow – Won 2&1

Overall score – Lymm – 5, Hale 3

Happy Mondays – Waltz

Reporter: Paul Foster

Yet another day of mass confusion, deliberation, disputes, debate, conflict and challenges, all for the sum of seventeen English Stirling one pound gold coins. This week’s fun game, the Waltz we had two teams of 2, three teams of 3 and one team of 4. Steve ‘mathematician’ Gosling construed some method of turning all the teams into 3 balls. (that’s why Steve is the treasurer and we’re not).

Weather was fair, with a smattering of rain early doors. Sanctuary was taken with lots of discussions back in the clubhouse, over lashings of hot coffee and a teacake.

Leading the way with a fine score of 8 under par were team El Bandito, consisting of Steve ‘chipped in twice’ Barlow and big Ken Pearce. Their third person’s score selected at random being Steve Gosling.

(Can I just point out if Steve Barlow had chosen Mark Pickles or Steve Bramall instead of Steve Gosling as their ‘ghost’, they would have finished in 4th place….just saying….)

The honourable runners up, a set of fine upstanding young men, who played the wrong format, before correction in the clubhouse were team Top Banana Collins, Foster and Bird. In third were newcomers Alan Copeland, Ray Rigby with Peter Willson. Also rans were team Bramall, Pickles & Gosling. Team Narraway, Cox, Bocquet and Broady, wooden spoonists were team Booth and Lomas who picked Mr Pickles as their third persons score. (if they had chosen Steve Gosling instead, they would still have won the wooden spoon)

A very enjoyable mornings golf had by all.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 6 June)

Happy Mondays Tee Booking (on Sunday 9 June)

Welcome to a new member of the senior section:

Ray Rigby

Hello senior golfers! 
I’m Ray Rigby and have been a member for over 3 years now but soon after joining I was taken seriously ill and couldn’t play for 7 months. I’m now fully recovered and try to play 3 times a week. I’ve been an avid golfer since my early twenties and have been a member of local clubs including Birchwood, High Legh, The Mere, Frodsham and Widnes. Hopefully my nomadic period is over and I am now very happy here at Lymm. I can honestly say out of all of my previous clubs Lymm is by far the friendliest and I know more people here than  all of the others combined!

I look forward to meeting you all over the next year!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

[ I know that a few people have recently joined the senior section. If you are new to the senior section, please send me a photo of yourself and a short write up, to introduce yourself. ]

A long newsletter this week, I’m afraid. Lots to get through, with some cricket news at the end for anyone who is interested. I think that Paul Foster and Steve Barlow might be!

***

Our good form, nay unprecedented form, in the interclub friendly senior matches continues, including an impressive 7–1 home win against High Legh last Friday. Captain-of-the-day Paddy Moran never lets us down! But, hey, he’s a professional sports coach, and so professional-level team inspiration is the least we can expect from him!

And the joke telling seems to be improving too. Paddy, whose son is a professional comedian, can obviously raise a few laughs. Even I managed to get a laugh yesterday (Tuesday) as CoD at Sale Golf Club!

The quality of Lymm’s senior golf is definitely improving, including in the Tatton League. Although our senior section is no longer involved in administration of the Tatton League, we do have members in pool for Tatton League captain Bob Mycock and vice captain Mike Pigott to select from.

The Tatton League has six clubs in it: Lymm, Antrobus, Styal, Heyrose, Birchwood and High Legh. The scoring is the aggregate of 4BBB Stableford points over the season, with four pairs from each club playing in each match. After two matches we are lying 3rd, just 1 point behind Birchwood and 4 points behind Antrobus. However, Antrobus and Birchwood have hosted the first two matches, whereas Lymm has yet to play our home-club advantage.

Interclub friendly, Lymm V High Legh, Friday 24 May

Match Reporter: Paddy Moran (CoD)

A pleasant morning with very good weather for golf saw the men meeting in the clubhouse raring to do battle.

After a quick huddle, beating of chests, chanting of the battle cry and a stern reminder that Steve Gosling told us after his recent win to keep the run going out we went to demolish the opposition 7 to 1.

The secret of success is to have a good partner and I certainly had a man in form in Paul Collins. Well played mate! John Armstrong picked the pairs very well as we had some very good scores recorded.

Pity Bob Mycock, who cried off as CoD. The reason I believe was that he didn’t have a good joke to tell. No problem, I stepped up and brought the house down!

Another excellent meal by Karen and staff and two jokes by the High Legh Captain rounded off a pleasant successful day.

Scores: Lymm 7, High Legh 1:

Paul Collins and Paddy Moran: Won 4 & 3
Ron Thornton and Steve Bramhall: Won 3 & 2
John Woodward and Andy Timms: Lost 5 & 4
Barry McGuigan and Paul Lennie: Won 2 & 1
Grahame Brickell and Jeff Chapman: Won, 1 up.
Duncan Clarke and Phil Perry: Won 5 & 4
Ian Whitehead and Colin Hughes: Won 4 & 3
Peter Broady and Barrie Simpson: Won 7 & 6

Bottle of Wine competitions

Reporter: Paul Foster

Bottle of Wine Friday Comp 17/5/24

Bottle of the finest wine goes to this weeks winner Arthur Nuttall with 35pts, R/up was Bob Ellison with 32pts and 3rd was Barrie Simpson with 30pts. There were 15 runners.

Bottle of Wine Friday Comp 24/5/24

Bottle of the finest wine goes to this weeks winner Steve Gosling (who got the only 2, but no balls for you Steve) with 31pts, on a card play from new member Alan Copeland also with 31pts and 3rd was Stuart White with 28pts. There were 14 runners. 

Interclub friendly, Sale V Lymm, Tuesday 28 May

Match Reporter: Mark Pickles (CoD)

The weather forecast was not at all promising. However, despite some short, sharp showers in the first hour or so, we played mainly in dry and pleasant conditions. The course was in great condition, considering the recent very wet weather. The long holes were playing their full length, with very little run on the ball.

John Armstrong selected another strong team, with some astute pairings. He put me with Barry Smith, which made great sense, because Barry and I are the current holders of the Andy Ward Pairs Trophy. However my mate ‘Baz’ didn’t have a good day. Having badly cut his finger the day before, it affected his grip. He lost confidence and, as the ball failed to get into the air, he developed an ever-worsening reverse pivot that eventually became a pirouette! Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the match, despite our losing 3 & 2. And our playing partners from Sale were great company.

The pork-loin meal after the golf was superb: generous portions and well-presented, followed by a choice of desserts.

I thanked Sale for their hospitality, and told a joke (that will be familiar to Mike Pigott) about Wales, and sheep, bouncing some of the humour off our half-Welshman Bob Mycock, and adapting the joke for our upcoming senior outing to Llangollen next week.

The ‘honourable draw’ was an actual draw of Sale 4, Lymm 4:

Andy Timms and Barry McGuigan: Won 6 & 5
Ian Whitehead and Steve Gosling: Won 4 & 2
Mark Pickles and Barry Smith: Lost 3 & 2
Mervyn Roberts and John Armstrong: Won 6 & 5
John Woodward and Ron Thornton: Lost 2 & 1
John White and John Higgins: Won 2 & 1
John Hayes and Phil Lomas: Lost 8 & 6
Peter Willson and Bob Mycock: Lost 2 & 1

Booking into the Friday competitions: Reminder

Reporter: David Craggs

There seems to be some confusion over booking on IG or the website for a Friday. We are trying to encourage all Senior members to enter Friday competitions to update their WHS handicaps. The procedure is detailed in newsletter 1 of May 2024 below if you are reading this newsletter.

You can book in now for games to be played 31/5/24 and 7/6/24 and book in 12am on 4/6/24 for the game on 14/6/24. NB booking for competition closes the night before the competition is played so you cannot enter on the day of the competition. It is best to enter 24 hours before the competition day or earlier.

Tee-Booking Schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 30 May)

Happy Mondays Tee-Booking Schedule for Sunday 2 June

Seniors’ Open, Astbury Golf Club, 4 June 2024

Reporter: Arthur Nuttall

John Armstrong and I (amongst others from Lymm GC) are playing in the Seniors Open at Astbury Golf Club (near Congleton, East Cheshire) on Tuesday, 4th June.

The Secretary of the club has called me to advise that the couple that we were due to play with John and I have had to withdraw. There is therefore a space for 2 players at our tee time of  09:40.

The cost is £25 per player.

If no one can be found, they have assured us that they will provide a marker for our game. However, it would be great if we were joined by another pair from Lymm GC!

You can apply online here. At the time of writing, the 09:40 slot is still available.

It’s not golf!

I know there are a few cricket fans in our section, including Middlesex CCC supporter and LGC Vice Captain Andy Timms, who might be interested in our senior-section’s interactions with professional cricketers in the past few days!

First up was this pair of senior short-arses: Steve Barlow and Paul Foster who bumped into Jimmy Anderson at Mere Golf Club the week before last:

However, I believe that I top-trumped Steve and Paul by meeting up with Max Holden at Middlesex CCC in the members’ pavilion at Lord’s (hence I had to wear a jacket and tie) shortly after his innings. Max, a top-order batsman for Middlesex CCC, has faced Jimmy Anderson on several occasions, and all the top England pace bowlers in fact, including Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, and Ollie Robinson.

Following Max’s impressive innings of 61, batting at No. 3 in a four-day County Championship match against Sussex, he came to see me and my brother-in-law (Max’s dad) on the pavilion. Max had faced Sussex’s formidable bowling attacking, including England’s test bowler Ollie Robinson, and the West Indies test bowler Jayden Seales. It was nerve-racking to watch as Robinson and Seales were swinging the new ball around, following the early dismissal of the opening batsman by Ollie Robinson.

Max plays for Middlesex in all formats of the game. Last year he scored 121-not-out for Middlesex at Lord’s in the T20, which is the highest ever T20 score at Lord’s by anyone of any team. He plays franchise cricket out of season, including for Dubai Capitals last winter in the International League T20. In July this year he will be staying in Manchester, playing his second season for Manchester Originals in the ‘The Hundred’ tournament under the captaincy of Jos Buttler.

I always feel somewhat dwarfed standing next to my nephew (my sister’s son), not least because I remember picking him up as a toddler, and messing about at football, cricket, tennis and golf with Max when he was a boy. He was always sports mad, and started his sporting excellence in football in fact, for Ipswich Town FC academy. He’s now a dedicated Arsenal supporter.

I have an ambition to be commissioned to paint a portrait to hang in Lord’s, perhaps even in the Long Room! I did enjoy spending time in the Long Room (where we are not allowed to take photographs), and looking at the portrait paintings.

Max gave me a grand tour of the members’ pavilion.

I even got into the home team dressing room, where I was introduced to the Middlesex head coach. I was in awe of the history of this place.

I was a very keen cricketer in my youth (I didn’t properly take up golf until my 30s). I made it into Leeds District Colts as a seam bowler. Here I am at Headingley – the hallowed turf of Yorkshire CCC – in 1976, age 15. (Top row, third from right.)

New members of the Senior Section

As I wrote in the newsletter a few weeks ago, we have some new members in our growing senior section.

To help us to put faces to names, it would be great, if you are a new member, to send me a brief bio and a photograph. I believe that our latest recruit is Ray Rigby. Ray is an established member at Lymm Golf Club, whom some of us know very well. He’s a great guy, always cheery, and we’re delighted to have him join us.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Interclub friendly, Lymm Vs Bramhall, Friday 17th May

Match Reporter, Steve Gosling (CoD)

A bright and pleasant start which turned into a lovely sunny day as the morning progressed.

And the golf proved to be equally nice, with an end result of another victory for Lymm 5.5v 2.5

The good run of home form continued, helped in my match by having an in-form partner in Pete Broady helping us to win our match 3&2

Steve G and Pete B 3&2 win
Mervyn & Phil L.  5&4 win
Dave C and Phil P. 2 down
Stuart & John 2 up
Peter W & Ron. 6&5
Phil C & Mike B 3&2 win
Grahame & John W.  half
John & Trevor. 3&2 loss

Food of chicken followed by sticky toffee pudding went down as well as the captains of the days joke !

So over to the captain for High Leigh to keep the run of good form going!

Dave Craggs took this photo on the day, with the caption: ‘On your marks, get set, go’:

Book on the IG App for Round 5 of 8 on Friday 31st May

You can now book on the IG App, or the main LGC website, for the Seniors’ summer league competition on Friday 31st May. If you are playing in the competition, you must book in before you play.

Search for ‘upcoming competitions’ and select ALL MEMBER FRIDAY COMPETITION (SENIOR SECTION) for 31st May.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 23 May)

Please noted that Grahame has revised the times from those he originally sent out.

Happy Mondays – 20th May ‘24

14 Players 
Game – Yellow Ball 

Conditions – dry, overcast with some sunny spells light breeze – course continues to dry out. Rough still long in places

Winners: Steve Bird, Pete Broady and Peter Willson – 108 points 
2nd: Les Fecitt, Tony Lambert and Richard Yates – 102 points

Happy Mondays Tee-booking schedule for Sunday 26 May

Wishing you well, George

Our chairman, Mike Bennett, asks all members to keep George Winterburn in their thoughts and prayers as he is not very well at the present time.

A lot of you will know that George has suffered a lot of serious illnesses since 2001 but has proved time and time again that he is a fighter.

We all wish you well, George 

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Peter Broady, who recently turned 80, posted a great score in Round 1 of the Watkin Cup on Saturday off his handicap of 16. Pete’s 66 off the white tees was the best net score of the day, in a field of 151 players. He came second in a card play off. This makes Pete the first of our senior section to qualify for the Watkin Cup Final in September. (There are 6 rounds of the Watkin Cup, and the best 9 net scores in each round qualify for the final.)

Very well done Pete!

Lymm V Helsby Interclub Friendly – Friday 10 May 2024

Match Reporter : Art Laird (CoD)

Lymm Won 4.5 to 3.5

The third game of the Interclub series 2024 – against Helsby at home

The weather forecast looked very promising and in fact the day was true to forecast, no rain, very warm and sunny and a light breeze – just great

It was the second week of a full 18 holes open, following the wettest of all months – the course was in good condition thanks to the green staff who were continuing their efforts throughout the day – they were all very courteous to the players making way as necessary – a few of us wrestled with the bunkers but moral of the story was not to in there in the first place !! Pick and place was on the closely  mowed areas only

David Craggs and I played against some stiff competition with low handicaps – we did lead the way for a while until the competitors stepped up a notch and were 1 down going into the 17th – we won the 17th going down the 18th all square – despite both the home players having poor drives some good fortune levelled the game on the putting green – All Square !
At one stage it looked not too good for Lymm but with the last three matches coming good the win was secured – the second win this season
Match 2 – won 1 up
Match 3 – lost 8 and 7
Match 4 – lost 5 and 4
Match 5 – L 2 down
Match 6 – won 3 and 2
Match 7 – won 2 up
Match 8 – won 3 and two

The after match food was up to the usual top notch standard – all be it for some of us rather too much but far better that way than the other and of course the beer and wine slid down rather well

Good luck to the Interclub matches coming thick and fast in the coming days.

Bottle-of-wine Comp (running alongside Helsby match)

15 entries. Warm and sunny morning.
Winner was Bob Ellison with 30 points
The runners up with 29 points were Mervyn Roberts and Paul Foster.

Bob will receive the bottle of wine. Well done Bob!

Ringway V Lymm – Interclub friendly, Wednesday 15 May

Match Reporter: Grahame Brickell (CoD)

Lymm lost 3 to 5

Why is it that some people forget about early morning  traffic & roadworks  especially as you are heading towards manchester!! There is life East of Lymm!

Anyway .. everyone eventually got there for the 8.40, 2T  start .. and from the 1^st Tee  the course looked in fine nick ..it was a bit damp in places after the heavy late Sunday downpour but overall, greens / fairways and the bunkers, especially the latter, were all in excellent shape, 

Better shape that some of us Lymm golfers, given we went down 5-3 !!

Brickell & Armstrong – L
Pickles & Pigott -L
Hughes &  J White – W
Smith & Cox – W (AC beating his brother, but not wearing a team shirt!!)
Broady & Gosling – L
Collins & Roberts – W
Hayes & Melia & Lennie & McGuigan … say no more ! 

The chicken dinner was excellent as was the Dunham Massey Big Tree bitter .. 

Well done to our organiser .. John A 

Happy Mondays – Monday 13 May

A fine morning, but only 14 turned out to play the Happy Mondays team competition. The format was Team Stableford.

The winning team, with 26 points, was:
Phil Lomas
Pete Broady
Ken Pearce.

Tee-booking Schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 16 June)

Happy Mondays Tee-Booking Schedule for Sunday 19th May

New members of the Senior Section

It is great to see the senior section growing, and to see some new faces. If you are a new member, please feel free to send me a brief bio, and a photograph, to introduce yourself to the section via the newsletter.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Lymm v Hale, Interclub Friendly, 3 May 2024

Match Reporter: Peter Willson (CoD)

Lymm won, 5 to 3

The second game of the Interclub series 2024 – this time against Hale Golf Club. 

The day was cloudy with a chilly wind blowing but it stayed dry.  

The Greenstaff have worked so hard to get the course back into more playable condition – the grass in the rough was still on the long side but the course is drying up and there was some run on the ball. The move onto a full 18 holes and the removal of mats on the close mown areas on the previous weekend required some adjustments. 

A decision was made to allow pick and drop in the rough as the residue of grass cuttings would have hampered play.

The food was up to the usual high standard – with the traditional Steak pie, chips and veg followed by that favourite apple crumble and custard – served piping hot

The Matches were all close run affairs in the main but Lymm emerged victorious – 5 games to 3. Is this the start of a winning season for LGC?

Andrew Cox and Andy Timms – Won 1 up
Duncan Clarke and Steve Gosling – Won 2 up
Paddy Moran and Bob Mycock – Lost 2&1
Pete Broady and Peter Willson – Won 2&1
John Hayes and Colin Hughes – Halved
David Donnell-Jones and Martin Lowe – Lost 5&4
Steve Barlow and Ron Thornton – Won 3&1
John Armstrong and Barry McGuigan – Halved

Bottle-of-Wine Comp, Friday 3 May

Here are the results of the individual Stableford game, running alongside the match with Hale:

Held over 15 holes:

23 players 

First – Joe Priestner – 32 points 
Second – Jeff Chapman – 29 points (CPO over last 6 holes – 17 points)
Third – Bob Ellison  – 29 points (CPO last 6 holes 16 points)

Well done Joe! Enjoy the wine!

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow: Thursday 9 May

Padeswood and Buckley G C Senior Open on Thursday 4^th July 2024

Reporter: John Hayes

There is now only one place to be filled in the total number of 20 places reserved for the day out as detailed above.

Tee times are ranged from 10 40 am up to 11 20 am in a 4-Ball Better Ball format. The cost is £18 per head with cash prizes on offer to the best results in our group as a subsidiary competition. It is always possible to win the main competition run by P and B but you would need a very good score from past experience!

Refreshments are available before and after golf at your own expense!

If you wish to play, or need further information, please contact John Hayes.

John Hayes will sing in Purgatory – Tickets Available

Our bass singer in residence, John Hayes, will be singing at the RNCM, Manchester, with the Altrincham Choral Society and the Manchester Philharmonia.

Edward Elgar – a Roman Catholic – wrote the Dream of Gerontius for voices and orchestra using the words of a poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman, exploring the theology of Purgatory. The words relate to the journey of a man’s soul on his deathbed. The soul begins to shrink away from Paradise and God, realising that it is yet far from pure enough to live eternally in Paradise, and begs for purgatorial cleansing.

It’s a powerful work, widely regarded as Elgar’s finest choral work. I am planning to go with my wife, who studied classical piano and viola at RNCM.

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

We had a hint of summer today. Dave Craggs was out giving the seniors’ memorial bench a spring clean and a varnish. As you see, the Senior Section has added a further horizontal plank to the backrest to accommodate a second row of plates. Dave tells me that he’s not taking reservations for the new row though. It’s a matter of first-come-first-served!

Friday booking: Important news

Reporter: Paul Foster

For the next seniors comp on the 10th May, we all need to sign up for the comp in the Ig app or online in the Lymm Golf Club website and select

In the Ig app:
Competition
Upcoming

Scroll down to

All member Friday competition (Senior section) Friday 10th May

select Enter Competition

then repeat select Enter Competition

Done..!

If you need to cancel your entry there is a Withdraw button on the same page.

On the Lymm Golf Club website:

Click Competitions

click Upcoming

scroll down until you see

All member Friday competition (Senior section) Friday 10th May

Select Online Sign-up

Select Continue

You will be entered into that competition.

Done..!

If you need to cancel your entry there is a Withdraw button on the same page.

This will be the procedure for all future seniors competitions.

Your sign up can be activated up to 11 days before the seniors competition.

[Editor’s note]
For those of us who play in the white-tee competitions at the weekend, the process is familiar. Entering the senior Friday league will be almost the same. The only difference is that, for the Friday league, you cannot select your playing time. Grahame Brickell will continue to send out the tee-booking schedules for everyone’s tee time.

Because we are now already within 11 days of May 10, you can already enter into the competition. If you are playing on May 10, try it now. If you have any problems, contact me (Mark Pickles) or any member of the committee.

The reason we are doing this self-sign-up – following Paul Foster’s discussions with John McCue and Fizz – is to remove the burden from Pro’s shop. As you get used to the system, you will find that it is just as easy as writing your name on the list, or entering the Pro’s shop to ask to be entered into the competition.

Summer League Round 4

Reporter: Paul Foster

Well, what a difference playing without mats proved to be! ‘Bring back the mats or logs’ I heard bellowing across the fairways…!

Of the 47 players, only one played under par, 15 were in the zone and a record 31 were below the zone.

Incredibly, there were two players scoring two 2s each, with a total of eleven 2s on the day, quite an achievement, but the par 3s were shorter on the grass tees. These were Mike Kendal and Grahame Brickell with two 2s each, others scoring 2s were Michael John, Ken Narraway, John White (a marvelous chip in), Paul Foster, Trevor Williamson, Charlie Hill and Barry McGuigan

Winner of the first division was Mr Consistency Mike Pigott, followed by Grahame Brickell, and in 3^rd place Paul ‘the putter’ Collins.

In the second division, the winner Michael John with the days only score under par, coming in with 35pts, r/up was Ken Narraway, and in 3^rd place was Alister ‘the jam man’ Cook

Martin Franks still leads the way in division 1 with Mike Pigott and Paul Collins in hot pursuit.

In the second division, Michael John extends his already phenomenal lead to 19 points, Michael is now 22 under par, playing for a distant second place are Bob Ellison and Dave Craggs.

There were a number of incorrect handicaps on the scorecards, meaning signed cards did not match the finalised card in IG, please check your handicap index and your 95% playing handicap before you play. Four of the top five positions in the 2^nd division had incorrect handicaps on their cards.

[Editor’s note]
The Summer League is now reduced to the best-5-from-8. We have had to use one of our 9 scheduled Fridays for the rearranged friendly match versus Warrington.

The Mike Smith Plate Summer Knockout

Reporter: Peter Willson

The Preliminary Round is nearly complete – only 1 game still to be scheduled before Friday’s preferred cut-off date. The winners move onto Round 1 proper.

Round 1 – completion date 31st May

To the players in this round if you now don’t wish to take part or feel you will be unable to complete your game before the end of May – please let me know. 

I have 4 players who would like to take part but missed the first selection of games and can still be substituted in your place.

Lymm V High Legh (Away) – Thursday 25 April

Match Reporter: Dave Craggs (Captain of the Day)

The only way is up – we hope. Lymm Seniors Match Report. Inter- club Friendly Match, Away versus High Legh.

After two postponed games due to weather we ventured to “The Club at High Legh Park” for our first of twenty matches in our 2024 season.

The Club at High Legh Park is now part of The Club Company – a collection of 16 premium country clubs across England including Tytherington GC.

Starting at 9.06 am from 5 tee positions we played 18 holes with no mats. Preferred lies through the green. The fairways were still wet and the rough was wetter with newly mown grass. A few showers but generally the weather was kind to us.

We knew there was going to be a power outage throughout the day so when we finished we were limited to a bottle or cans of drink. First time I have tried the Guinness zero which was good.  As no electricity we had sandwiches and a bowl of crisps followed by a slice of cheesecake. It was even difficult visiting the gents as no lighting, just use your imagination!

Phil Perry and I were the first out against their Captain Mike off 16 and a past club Captain Brian off 12 who had just returned from Portugal. He played like a 12 handicapper and we lost 2 and 1 but a very enjoyable game. The transition from mats to grass was personally difficult. The highlight on one hole was Phil holing a net 2 and Brian slotting a long put for 2, home advantage!

Now for the bad news for our stalwart organiser John Armstrong. Lymm lost 5.5 to 2.5.

Wins by Tommy Lawless with new senior member John Woodward and Trevor Williamson with Stuart Baird. Halved game by Grahame Brickell and Steve Gosling. Well done to them.

Next home game is against Hale on 3rd May and it looks like we have a strong team out so I wish them the best of luck but most importantly enjoy the game.

Match results:

Dave Craggs & Phil Perry – Lost 2&1

Tommy Lawless & John Woodward – Won 2&1

Alan Burton & Jeff Chapman – Lost 2&1

Jeff Ashurst & John Higgins – Lost 7&4

Trevor Williamson & Stuart Baird- Won 3&2

Paul Collins & John White – Lost 2&1

Phil Lomas & Barry Smith – Lost 1dn

Grahame Brickell & Steve Gosling – Halved.

Happy Mondays – 29 April

Reporter: Peter Willson

A breezy day but it stayed dry however in the stiff breeze it was very chilly. The course is drying up nicely and the green staff are doing Sterling work in getting the long fairway and rough grass cut and collected  

Game – Team Stableford

23 players in 7 teams – it was  a close run affair – again

Winners – Steve Bramall, Les Fecitt, Richard Smyllie (newly joined the Seniors) and Peter Willson – 23.8 points per player

2nd – Mike Bennett, Richard Yates and Les Williams – 23.7 points per player

3rd – Mel Davies and Phil Perry – 23.5 points per player

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 2 May)

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

Summer Knockout – Mike Smith Plate

Unless you have a preliminary bye, please remember to play the preliminary round of the summer knockout by 3 May.

Annual Business Meeting – Election of Committee Members.

Reporter: Dave Craggs

Whilst this may seem an early request we would like all members to give some thought to putting their names forward to join the Seniors Committee

The end of our financial year sees a small number of our 9 elected members completing their term in office .

We therefore have a few seats to fill at this year’s Annual Business Meeting which is on the 18th of October (concurrent with the Presentation Lunch) .

We need volunteers now please!

A list asking for nominations will be pinned on Friday onto the Senior’s Notice Board in the Locker room. (Statutory rule)

The suspension of the rule for seconders has been made permanent and the Guidance Notes and Rules have been amended accordingly. (Statutory rule)

If you would like to give something back to the Senior’s by joining the Committee, please either.

• Add your name to the list.
• Speak to any member of the existing Committee or
• e-mail/ phone the chairman, Mike Bennett, if you can’t get down to the club in person.

If more applications are received than seats available voting papers will be prepared, and a runoff will be held at the ABM.

The closing date for applications is the 16^{th of} October ( 2 days before the ABM)

Many thanks

Dave Craggs, Secretary to the Gents Seniors committee.

Nomination sheet attached:

Match Report for Round 3 of 9 – 19 April 2024

Reporter: Paul Foster

Div 1

Winner John Armstrong 36pts
R/Up Mike Pigott 33pts CPO
3rd Dave Meir 33pts

Div 2
Steve Bramall 36pts
R/Up Bob Ellison 35pts CPO
3rd Mervyn Roberts 35pts

2s recorded were:
Tommy Lawless
Mike Pigott x 2
Grahame Brickell
Dave Meir

Tee Booking Schedule for Tomorrow (Thursday 25 April)

Results from the Happy Monday’s – 22nd April

Reporter: Peter Willson

A goodly turnout – on what didn’t promise to be a good morning – 22 players / 7 Teams. Drizzle at 1st but mainly dry until the end

Game – the infamous Yellow Ball. Some really good scores, in-fact some very impressive one’s – the best team score on a single hole was 14 points on the 9th, which was aided by one player – new joiner Alan Copeland chipping in for 8 points. This feat was matched twice by Les Fecitt scoring 2 x birdies both for 8 points courtesy of the Yellow Ball bonus 

Winners: Alan Copeland, Steve Gosling and co-opted player Ray Rigby – 101 points

2nd on a CPO : Pete Broady, Les Fecitt and John White – 98 points 

3rd: Steve Bramall, Colin Chisnall and Alan Thomas – 98 points 

Tee Booking Schedule for Happy Mondays – Sunday 28 April

Round 2 of 9 of the Summer League

The golfing gods are still keeping us in winter conditions, and extremely wet winter conditions at that.

Last Friday’s comp was over 11 holes: 13, 10, 11, and 2 to 9.

Although we entered our results into the IG app, there are of course still no WHS handicap adjustments.

I have updated the leader boards page. Martin Franks (31 points) and Paddy Moran (33 points) continue their superb winter form, topping Division 1. And our Division-2 specialist, Michael John (31 points), maintains his seemingly unassailable lead.

Mark Pickles, yours truly, is on particularly bad form (22 points), and has booked a putting lesson!

Update 18 April:
I now have the results (based on card play off) for last Friday:

1st Div
Winner Arthur Nuttal with 38pts
R/up Paddy Moran with 33pts
3rd place Paul Lennie with 31 pts

2nd Div
Winner Eric Cox with 33pts
R/up Mike Bennett with 33pts
3rd place Mike Kendal with 33pts

Three 2s today
Andrew Cox on the 2nd
John Armstrong on the 5th
Paul Foster on the 9th

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 17 April)

The match on 3rd May will be a bottle-of-wine competition, due to our home match against Hale GC seniors.

Happy Mondays Booking for Sunday 21 April

Here is the booking schedule supplied by Peter Willson for play on 3 May. In order to maintain maximum confusion, and to eschew popularity, Peter, bless him, has decided on yet another 3-ball comp (‘Waltz’) for the four-man teams:

Summer Knockout Matches

Peter Willson tells me that there have been some queries regarding the number of holes rules for the Summer Knockout competition, and has asked me to clarify it in this newsletter.

Our knockouts are played over 18 holes, where possible. If the course has limited holes open due to weather conditions, players should play the number of holes open on the day.

Do you have any news to report?

We all have interests outside of golf. I’m invariably fascinated by the activities that my playing partners pursue in their retirement. I reported a two weeks ago on Charlie Heath’s passion for boating. I’d like to do a feature on the pastimes of another of my fellow Yorkshiremen, Dave Waggitt, if he approves.

And did you know that Duncan Clarke is an aspiring artist?

Stockton Heath Festival 2024

Did you know that Dave Craggs is the organiser of the Stockton Heath Festival (first week of July)? Here is the festival’s shiny new website:

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

I will certainly be attending some of the events, not least because Dave has suggested I exhibit-for-sale one or two of my paintings in the arts festival. I have submitted these two, oil-on-canvas, 70cm x 60cm framed. A bargain at £400 each, with 20% going to the Stockton Heath festival charity.