Breaking all records!

It has certainly been a record-breaking autumn, winter and early spring, with more rainfall than any of us can remember. And it’s looking like we will see record-breaking delays to the start of the season. The Gents’ Spring Medal, scheduled for Saturday 20 April, has already had to be cancelled (a four-man team event is now scheduled for April 20).

Other golf clubs are also struggling to get their courses summer-ready, hence the postponement of our first two away inter-club matches (Warrington and Leigh), causing a headache for John Armstrong to rearrange things.

Michael John has certainly been breaking the records. He is by far the youngest senior in our history to graduate from Division 1 to Division 2. And in his first league game in Div 2 – using his generous WHS handicap – he posted the lowest ever Div 2 gross score, resulting in a mighty 44 points for 15 holes! Michael was an incredible 12 points clear of the runner-up, Mike Bennett.

However, Div 2 players need not fear Michael running away with the Div 2 league trophy. He’s got his eyes on bigger prizes. Our baby-faced bandit tells us that he’s going to skip the Senior Friday comps in order to conserve his handicap for the Saturday white-tee comps.

There were some excellent Div 1 scores on Friday, all based on WHS handicap, which were not adjusted because we were playing off mats on the winter course.

Division 1:

1st Martin Franks: 38 points (beating Dave Meir on CPO)
2nd Dave Meir: 38 points
3rd Paddy Moran: 36 points.

Division 2:
1st Michael John: 44 points
2nd Mike Bennett: 32 points
3rd Eric Cox: 32 points.

See the Leader Boards page for full results of Round 1 of 9.

2024 Calendar Updated

I have now updated the Senior Section Calendar page with an updated spreadsheet provided by Dave Craggs. This is the reflect changes to dates for inter club matches, namely Warrington away now 21/6/24 and Leigh away 24/6/24.

Tee-Booking Schedule for Tomorrow (11 April)

Happy Mondays Tee Booking

Peter Willson has asked me to include the Happy Monday tee booking schedules in the weekly newsletter. Therefore, expect to see following kind of booking list every week. The booking for Mondays is done at 8pm on Sunday evenings two weeks in advance.

Strategy, Rules and Guidelines document up-revised

The Committee have updated our LGC Senior Section – Strategy, Rules and Guidelines document which has now been placed on this website. A hard copy will be placed on the Seniors Notice Board in the plastic folder provided. The document will be further updated prior to the Winter session.

Tee-booking schedule for today (Thursday 4 April)

Charlie’s Voyage

Yesterday I arrived safely into Doncaster Boat Club with fellow Yorkshireman Charlie Heath. Charlie sends his thanks to Bob and Paddy for their invaluable help on the ascent to east Lancashire. LGC seniors really is about, as we say in our rules, friendship and camaraderie!

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, including, at times, the hard work. I learned a lot about the fascinating history of the canals, some built in the late 1700s. They are of course the first infrastructure for moving large quantities of materials and goods without which there could have been no Industrial Revolution.

Here are a few snaps:

I have developed a huge respect for Charlie in the past week. He’s a true friend for life. It’s amazing where senior golf can take us, hey!

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.

News from the Seniors’ committee on handicaps

There was much to discuss at the committee meeting last Friday, not least handicapping, and how best to align with the new – and more flexible – WHS handicapping scheme when it is introduced in April.

Both Paul Foster and Andy Timms have done a lot of research and thinking on how best to move forward. Andy – who represents the seniors on the main LGC men’s committee – and Paul have had discussions and communication with, variously, John McCue, English Golf Union, Cheshire Golf, and Steve and Fizz in the Pro’s shop. (Fizz is on the main LGC handicap committee, and has agreed to help the senior section to transition to WHS.)

Andy Timms has received agreement from English Golf, Cheshire Golf, and LGC to allow us to submit our scorecards for 15 holes (or less) in the main golf season (as determined by LGC).

The senior committee voted unanimously to move senior handicapping over to WHS from April. However, with Paul Foster being away on holiday last Friday, we were unable to ratify the details. Full details will follow in the weeks to come, including the possibility of allowing the ‘bottle of wine’ competitions (on interclub-match days) to be included for registration of WHS handicap.

The Winter League

Due to yet more rain last week, and the playable holes reduced to eight, last Friday’s match did not quality for the winter league, which would have reduced the league to the best 5 from 7.

However, the committee have decided to extend the winter league until the end of March (it was due to finish in mid March), which means the league will be 5 best from 9.

The reason we have done this is because we do not want to start the seniors’ summer league (due to start in mid March) until April, by which time we will have introduced the WHS handicapping for 15 holes.

Due to this extended winter league, the summer league will likely be reduced to the best 5 from 9.

Bottle of Wine Comp – Friday 23 Feb

Reporter: Peter Willson

Winner Jeff Chapman – 19 points
Second place Steve Gosling – 18 points (CPO over last 1 hole – 3 points)
Third place Sammy Lee – 18 points

Notes
Only 8 holes open – 1 on temporary green – Round declared VOID

Bottle of Wine to the winner

Rain and slight breeze: 8 deg.

Happy Mondays

Reporter: Peter Willson

Dry conditions, slight breeze, cold start light frost 1 deg. C 

6 teams – 20 players – Game: Yellow Ball played over 11 holes – 9th out of commission for construction of new bunkers 

Nobody lost their Yellow Ball 

Winners: – Steve Barlow; Dave Craggs; Charlie Hill and John White – 90 points 
2nd – Tommy Lawless; Phil Perry and Alan Thomas – 86 points 

Please note that next Monday’s competition (4th March) is cancelled due to repairs to the bollard system on the main drive.

Signing-up time

With the main season just a month away, do not forget to sign up to the interclub matches and the summer knockout (Mike Smith Trophy).

For those who have not played in the interclub matches before, please note that you will need a navy-blue LGC shirt. Speak to John Armstrong for details.

Senior Section Calendar

Dave Craggs has updated the senior section calendar. I have put the new spreadsheet on the calendar tab. Dave is also working on updating the senior-section rules, in time for the main season and our move to WHS.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (29 Feb)

Winter League – Round 5 of 8

Match Reporter: Paul Foster

Well what a day last Friday proved to be!

Three players played scratch golf: Mike Pigott, Mark Pickles and Martin Franks.

Trevor Williamson nearly played to scratch, scoring 9 pars out of the 10 holes. Phenomenal senior golf by any standard!

We had the most participants, most changes in handicaps, most players beating their handicaps and fewest players playing below the zone. Bob Mycock had two 2s on the day. And Steve Bird scored 5 pts on one hole.

51 players, with 20 playing better than their handicap, 29 in the zone and only 2 below the zone (not to be named, unless somebody asks)

Winner of Division 1 was Trevor Williamson with 39 points, followed by Bob Mycock, Martin Franks and Mark Pickles on 35 points.

Winner of Division 2 was Dave Craggs, with an all-time record of 42 points! (and an all time record chop in his handicap to go with it). The runners up were Steve Bird and Martin Lowe on 35 points.

Just three rounds to go and it’s hotting up in both winter league divisions.

Paul Lennie leads the way in division 1 with Dave Meir, Mark Pickles and Mike Pigott hot on his trail.

In the second division, Steve Bramall still tops the list, but the lead has been cut to 4 points by Jim Wilson and Joe Priestner.

Happy Mondays

22 players took part in this week’s competition of Team Stableford.

The results were as follows:

1st Place.   21.25points:
David Craggs, John Booth, Mark Pickles and Alan Thomas

2nd Place.   21 points
Pete Broady, Steve Barlow,and Tony Lambert

3rd  Place.    20.33 points
Steve Gosling, Steven Bird,and  Steven Perry.

Tee Booking Schedule for Tomorrow (22 Feb)

Beware Internet, Email and Banking Scams

Barely a weeks seems to pass without one of our members being scammed or defrauded or having his email account hacked. Internet fraud is on the increase, and some of it is becoming very sophisticated.

Some banking and credit card frauds are beyond our control, and there is little we can do to prevent attempts or actual instances of theft. In one recent case one of our members was defrauded by someone who successfully applied for a car loan using ‘identity theft’. In such cases, the bank, or the loan company, takes responsibility and recovers the funds (or writes them off). But, of course, it is a hassle if it happens.

There are many scams and infiltrations to our phones and computers that we can prevent and avoid. As a rule of thumb, do not click on links in emails unless you are absolutely certain of its source, and you are absolutely certain the source itself has not been hacked. If you receive an email from a friend asking for a ‘favour’ or ‘help’, be very cautious, because it is likely that friend’s email account has been hacked, and if you click on the links in that email, you will suffer the same fate.

Here is the latest advice on the Gov.uk website, including advice on how to report Internet scams.

https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing

Padeswood and Buckley G C Senior’s Open Thursday 4th July 2024

Reporter: John Hayes

Once again it is time to think about summer golf and visits to other courses.
In the past few years a number of us have enjoyed a day out at Padeswood and Buckley Golf Club on the day of their Senior’s Open, being a course that is usually in great condition and has an interesting layout.

This year the date is Thursday 4th July.

A block of tee times has been booked for this date and most of the participants last year have indicated that they would like to play again this coming summer.

There are a number of places remaining to be filled and details are as follow.

The club is situated on the west side of Chester and it takes about 50 minutes by car from Lymm GC going via the M6 and A55. Tee times are ranged from 10:30 to 11:20 teams of four, the competition being played in pairs in “Four-ball Better-ball” format. The entry fee in total is £18 per head, which includes £15 for the Padeswood and Buckley fee and £3 for our own internal competition prizes.

The leading pairs within our group will receive a prize based on the score submitted in the main competition, with first pair getting £15 each, second £10 each and third £5 each, presented immediately after the last of our rounds.

If you would like to join the group for this day out please contact John Hayes to confirm your place. No payment is requested at this stage – he will contact you in a few week’s time when payment is due.

The Dave Craggs Mystery

Who would have thought that Dave Craggs, who has never won a Friday competition in his years in LGC Seniors, would win the last two Fridays in a row!

And who would have thought he would win with an all-time record score of 42 points (aggregated for 15 holes)!

What’s his secret? Perhaps he has been taking Paddy Moran’s tips on eternal youth (including intermittent fasting, avoiding bananas, and a rigorous daily workout followed by a cold shower)?

Or perhaps there is something more mystical going on. By coincidence, my wife and I were walking near Stockton Heath last Sunday, and we saw a man standing in the middle of ploughed field, wearing a triangular hat, holding a large pole in one hand and the number “5” in the other.

I zoomed in with my phone camera, and exclaimed, “it’s Craggzy” !

We walked a little further, and I stopped a lady walking in the opposite direction to ask if she knew what that man in the field was up to. She said, “beats me; he’s there every Sunday, in exactly the same spot, holding a pole on top of an equilateral triangle, and wearing a triangular hat; the only thing that changes is the number”.

I’m guessing that Dave has got involved in some kind of Pythagorean numerological cult, but, credit where credit’s due: it’s working wonders!

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles

‘Round 5 of 9’, Winter League

Match Reporter: Paul Foster

Regrettably, last Friday’s round has been declared null and void, as there were three winter greens in use.

Seniors’ rules state;

“If 3 or more greens are on “temporary” positions, irrespective of everything else, the round will be deemed to have been cancelled”

A bottle of Chateaux De Lymm will be awarded to Dave Craggs, who had the best score of the day.

2’s recorded on the day were achieved by Paul Lennie and Peter Broady, both at the Somme hole (9th).

With the shortened course and some elephant sized holes, there were some impressive scores on show Friday, with eleven players scoring under par and only two of 34 who played unable to reach the zone.

The day started badly for Steve Bramall, whose wheels fell off, literally, on the walk up to the 10th tee. He arrived at the tee with just a dust cover off one of his trolley wheels, no trolley, no clubs. Meaning a sprint back to the pro shop to hire a trolley (and of course he had no cash) then a sprint back to catch us up on the 10th winter green. Unsurprisingly Steve didn’t stop breathing like a Grand National winner until the 5th hole..!

So no change in the division tables or handicaps…Boooo……!!!!

Please note, the winter session is now best 5 from 8.

Happy Mondays, 12th Feb

Match Reporter: Peter ‘Conffusion’ Willlson

The day was cool with slight breeze but it stayed dry. 

12 holes open – with the 8th hole being particularly generous for points scored – due in the main to the tee being moved forward, onto the fairway and beyond the humps

Game – Best 2 from 3

7 teams played – 27 players 

Winners: Dave Craggs, Mark Pickles and Charlie Heath – 58 points

2nd: Paul Collins, Dave Meir, Mike Pigott and Trevor Williamson – 55 points

3rd: Colin Chisnall, Tommy Lawless and Alan Thomas – 54 points

Note 27 players took part – only £26 in the pot – would the missing player please see Charlie Heath to complete his prize money from the winnings total. Thank you.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (15 Feb)