Rules Quiz

Summer League – Round 2

Reporter: Paul Foster

The sun showed up like it had a seniors’ tee time booked, the breeze politely clocked in at ‘gentle encouragement’ and the striped fairways, well, let’s just say they looked forgiving. Welcome to today’s mid spring day round 2 golf report.

Conditions were, in technical terms, ‘absolutely glorious’. Birds chirped, blossoms starting to bloom, Edgar & Allan Crow looking for courtships, and somewhere in the distance a golfer loudly negotiated with a bunker.

However, putting remained….ambitious. Several balls approached the hole with confidence, had a good look, and decided they’d rather not commit. One putt broke so much it’s now being studied by scientists!

Our 4 ball invented a new language or a new dialect or we have all developed a speech impediment, I’m not sure. All 4 of us managed to hit the same clump of trees left of the 12^th with our 2nd shots, one by one emitting garbled cries of arghhhh…. orrrnoooorr…. whaaaaaaa… eeeehhhhhnothere!

Forty two happy golfers stepped out onto the course, with scoring simply sublime, twenty two managed to equal or better their handicap. So, playing to 4 better than your handicap in the 2^nd division, gave you no chance of stepping onto the podium.

As bags were packed and tales were exaggerated, one truth remained clear: on a magnificent mid-spring day like this, even the bad shots somehow felt like they didn’t matter.

Five 2s scored today, Dave Waggitt, Mark Pickles, Rob Taylor, Bob Ellison & Phil Lomas.

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Leader Boards

Seniors Calendar Monday 4 May – Correction

Happy Mondays Report – 13 April

Reporter: Steve Bird

A lovely spring morning greeted 17 players which was an excellent turnout considering there was an Inter Club Match where 16 of our number were involved. Five teams took part, three of 4, one of 3 and one of 2. The course is drying out and some good scores were evident. 

The winning duo were Richard Yates and Colin Crail who scored 36 and 28 respectively with an average of 32 points Needless to say, Richard top scored for the day. 

Gallant runners up were Steve Barlow, Kevin Bocquet, Tony Dixon and John White with an average score of 28.5.

Please note that Monday 4 May is a Bank Holiday so there is no booking to be done this coming Sunday. Members can obviously book social rounds if they wish

Clarification of ‘Gimme’ rule – only applicable for Happy Mondays games

Author: Steve Bird

There have been numerous versions of what constitutes a ‘gimme’ for our Monday matches. Your committee debated this at length last Friday, for example how long IS a putter handle? 

In the end it was decided that a ‘gimme’ would be allowed if the ball was 12 inches (30 cm) or less from the hole. This decision was taken to clarify the many versions that are being used and, in an effort, to speed up play. So now is the time to get out those old wooden rulers from you school days and put them in your golf bags (joke) 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 16 April

Please note that as we are playing a seniors’ match against Helsby GC on the 1st of May the preferred playing times requested by seniors may not be available

Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer A. Explanation: See Rule 12.2b(2). There is no penalty for a player casually leaning on their club in a bunker providing it is not for the purpose of testing the condition of the sand

Rules Quiz

Find the Fact – Paul Foster

Only one of the following statements about our Handicap Secretary Paul “the axeman” Foster is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Paul once played 9 holes of golf with Bobby Charlton
2. Paul has just passed 5,000 beers tasted
3. Paul once won a 9-hole golf competition played on the longest day of the year in Iceland

Answer below

Summer League

Nothing to report this week as last Friday was Easter Friday. It’s back to normal this coming Friday. Round 2 will be played over the first 15 holes. Feel free to carry on just for fun as the course is now fully open. Please check the link below to establish what your latest Senior’s handicap is.

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report

Again, nothing to report this week as we were all finishing off our Easter eggs on Monday of this week. Back to normal next Monday.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 9 April

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 12 April

Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer it 1. True

Explanation: See Definition of Loose Impediment and Rule 15.1.

Find the Fact answer

Answer 1 is correct, Paul did play nine holes of golf with Bobby Charlton. Paul also recently exceeded 6,000 beers tasted (he passed the 5,000 mark some time ago). He also won a 9-hole golf competition played at midnight, but it was at Dounreay in Scotland not in Iceland.

Rules Quiz

Find the Fact – Trevor Williamson

Two of the following statements about Trevor are correct. The other one is false. How well do you know your fellow senior, can you find the false statement?

Playing for Doncaster Rugby Union Football Club, Trevor Williamson, gained a reputation for his “bone-crunching, but scrupulously fair” tackling (a ‘Telegraph’ quote). Apart from winning the Yorkshire shield in 1979, the year was memorable for him for receiving punches from a Triple Crown of opponents, each of them fed-up with being on the receiving end of his tackles – something he remembers with great pride! All three were internationals:

(a) England Centre, Richard Cardus, playing for Roundhay in the Yorkshire Cup (Roundhay became Leeds Tykes)

(b) Scotland Centre, Graham Birkett, playing for Harlequins in a 7-a-side tournament at Doncaster.

(c) Wales legend & British Lion, Terry Cobner, playing out of position at Centre for Pontypool

Answer below

Summer League – Round 1

Reporter: Paul Foster

A short report today.

Thirty two members out on the course to play the first round of the eagerly awaited summer league.

Five players from the 1st division scored 30pts, so lots of head scratching to separate them

Four 2s scored today, Trevor Williamson, Steve Gosling, Richard Yates & Alan Copeland.

Only two hcaps docked today…Grrrrrr……BUT….. all hcaps correctly entered..Hooray….!!

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 30 March

Reporter: Steve Bird

After an overnight deluge the wind was ‘blowing a hoolie’ as the Scots would say, and there were waves on the Ship Canal. One of our number even spotted a surfer. The wind was a strong westerly so the third and fifth holes were particularly challenging.

After the full 18 holes had been open for the weekend the course was back down to 13 holes – I suspect in about five months time we shall be complaining about the fairways being hard and straw coloured!

A good turnout of 22 players comprising two teams of 4. four of 3 and one of 2.

The winners were Steve Bird, Pete Broady, Barrie Simpson and Peter Willson with a average score of 24.25 closely followed by Kevin Bocquet, Alan Copeland and Phil Perry on 24.. Phil top scored for the day on 29 points. 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 2 April

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 5 April

Art Fair and Exhibition in Altrincham

Reporter: Mark Pickles

Thank you to all who have made encouraging and positive comments about the oil painting now hanging in the Legends Lounge. I unveiled it last Thursday at the AGM, where it was well received.

If you’d like a canvas or paper print, of any size up to the original size, let me know, and I will get a price for an archival-quality fine-art print (using the giclée printing technology) guaranteed not to fade or discolour. (I asked my printer how the manufacturer’s can claim that giclée prints, being a relatively new technology, have light-fastness for up to a hundred years. Apparently prints have been tested by blasting them with UV light that is equivalent to 100 years in a bright room.)

If you’re interested in seeing my other artworks, see my new website here at www.markpickles.art. I am presently taking commissions.

I have recently joined the Altrincham Society of Artists, which gives me access to a shared studio. I gave up my own large studio last year because I was spending too much time playing golf to justify the rent! Also, being in the local artist’s group gives me the opportunity to exhibit a few works several times a year, with shared costs for marketing and exhibiting. Our main annual exhibition is in July, at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, where I plan to display four large paintings.

This Easter weekend, we are having an ‘Art Fair’ in Altrincham. Do come along, if you’d like to see me dabbling with a hog hair brush. It’s more fun than watching me shank a 7 iron! I will have some originals and prints on display.

Rules Quiz answer

2 is correct – False. Explanation: See Clarification Immovable Obstruction/1. Any turf leading to or covering an immovable obstruction is not part of the obstruction.

Find the Fact answer

(b) is false.

Trevor did not receive a punch from Graham Birkett, he played alongside him in a Harlequins team that were short of a player when they visited Doncaster. 

(a) he did receive a punch from Richard Cardus when he tackled him into touch, denying him a try-scoring opportunity.

(c) he did receive a punch from Terry Cobner (and Bobby Windsor) whilst playing against them for Monmouth. They were returning from injury, playing for Pontypool ‘Seconds’ in a Welsh Cup competition.

And here’s the evidence. ‘Hitman’ Williamson second from right on the top row.

Rules Quiz

Find the Fact – Steve Barlow

A bit calmer this week, no explosions. Only one of the following statements about Steve is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Steve was trapped in the lift of a building in Manchester with both members of the boyband Jedward until they were all rescued after 75 minutes
2. Steve once had breakfast with Bruce Forsyth, Jimmy Tarbuck and Kenny Lynch
3. Steve has driven a McLaren F1 sports car at a speed in excess of 200 mph on an airfield in Dubai

Answer below

Seniors Fun Game – Friday 20 March

Reporter: Paul Foster

A perfect early Spring day greeted 38 senior golfers. Crisp clean air that still carries a hint of winter, but without the bite, the sun giving just enough warmth on your face to make you leave the jacket in the bag. The course is waking up after the slumber of a wretched winter. A faint smell of damp earth and freshly cut grass, the kind that makes every deep breath invigorating. The recently dressed greens are basically the course’s way of saying, “Let’s see what you’re really made of.” They looked perfect – smooth and inviting like a snooker table. In reality? It’s more like putting across a marble floor that’s been lightly sprinkled with breadcrumbs. A 6-foot putt casually rolls 12 feet past like it’s late for a meeting. The putt starts on a perfect line, then hits a grain of sand and takes a sharp detour like it’s avoiding traffic. Mike, John, Richard and I reckon we missed more putts from inside 2 feet than England have missed penalties. By the turn, for any putt under 3 feet, we just closed our eyes, switched to left-handed putting and pretended it was for triple bogey (no pressure). We also proposed that we should replace our putters with brooms. I blamed my four putts from inside 5 feet on the 14th on the miss-alignment of Jupiter and as I walked off the green, I briefly contemplated taking up tennis!

Thirty eight players took to the fairways, of which just six members beat par. Just the one 2 scored today, Alan Ranscombe on the tough 13th.

Upon inspection, Bill Berry submitted a card not only legible, but also correctly totalled, internally consistent, and free from ‘creative adjustments’. Authorities are monitoring the situation.

Winner: John Armstrong with 34 points. Takes home a quality bottle of Wine Society Rioja
Runner up: Peter Willson with 33 points

Summer League – Round 1

Next Friday 27 March sees week 1 of the Summer League. We will continue to use the winter handicaps, until such time as the course is deemed ready for WHS by the club, when we will all revert to our WHS handicaps. The league is played over 15 holes (or fewer if 15 aren’t open, with scores pro-rated up to 15 holes). Players can play holes 16 to 18 just for ‘fun’ if they are in play. Please see the Strategy, Rules and Guidance document if you require further detail. Your latest Seniors handicap can be accessed from the link below. Let battle commence!

Seniors’ handicaps

Happy Mondays Report – 23 March

Reporter: Steve Gosling

Monday saw 17 golfers eager to explore the forgotten land as they headed out for the first Monday 15 hole comp of the year.

The weather was a bit cooler than last week, but pleasant enough for some very respectable scoring. 8 of 17 scored to their handicap or better.

Nobody came close though to Stephen Rowley who with the help of a 5 pointer on the 11th amassed a very decent 37 points for the day, which helped carry his teammates Steve Gosling and Dave Waggitt to victory with an average of 29.3.

Second place was shared by 2 groups, both scoring an average of 28. The groups being Andy Timms, Kevin Bocquet and Alan Copeland  and the group of John White, Sammy Lee and Phil Perry

Hopefully we have 15 holes open now going forward.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 26 March

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 29 March

NB. If you have your name down for the interclub match against Leigh then you will have been omitted from the booking sheet below. If for any reason you don’t make the team you can just book yourself onto one of the tee-times below.

Rules Quiz answer

Answer 3 is correct. See Clarification Advice/2. Information obtained by observation is not advice.

Find the Fact answer

Answer 2 is correct. Steve had breakfast with Jimmy, Kenny and Brucie (good game, good game!).

Rules Quiz

Find the Fact – Rob Taylor

How well do you know your fellow senior? Which of the following facts about Rob are true and which are false?

1. In June 1976 Rob was travelling in an armoured vehicle which drove over a landmine. Other than being temporarily deafened Rob suffered no major injuries. Five days later exactly the same thing happened again. This time Rob was evacuated on a medical helicopter
2. In February 1996 Bob was evacuated from Canary Wharf forty-one minutes before an IRA bomb detonated killing 2 and injuring over 100 people
3. In June of the same year, Bob was evacuated from the Arndale Centre. 75 minutes later an IRA bomb (the largest on British soil since WW2) exploded

Answer below

Winter League – Final Round

Reporter: Paul Foster

The final round of the Winter League produced a myriad of scores and tales to be told in the bar.

The winter greens I’m convinced were designed by someone who’s never actually seen a golf ball roll. One putt bobbles left, the next one hops like it’s avoiding landmines, and the third one stops halfway like it’s suddenly remembered it left the oven on at home. I hit what I thought was a perfect putt from four feet; it took two bounces, changed postcode, and finished closer to the Manchester Ship Canal than the hole. At this point I’m not even looking at breaks anymore, I’m just aiming for the general county and hoping for the best. As Ian Goodman pointed out, my 15-foot putt on the 8^th finished approximately 1” from the hole but spent most of its journey in mid-air!

Nineteen players from the 1^st division, and twenty-two players in the 2^nd division.

No 2s scored today, and not even a sniff of a par at hole 5. Official statistics reveal; birdies – nil, pars – nil, near emotional breakdowns – several, green hit in regulation – classified, confidence levels – under investigation. In conclusion, the 5^th will be remembered not for birdies or pars, but for its incredible ability to humble every golfer who dared to challenge it. Future players on this winter hole are advised to approach it with caution, realistic expectations, and possibly a dream that someday a par will be achieved. Officially a par 3, but emotionally a par 12.

The returning antipodean Mr Craggs equalled the league high of 30 points (rounded up to 12 holes) and receives the largest cut in handicap this year. Love it!

To protect his identity the following senior’s name has been changed. Let’s call him Bill Berry. After careful examination of Bill’s submitted scorecard, the committee would like to congratulate him on producing one of the most creatively completed cards of the Winter League. Unfortunately, while the artistic use of scribbles, mystery numbers, an incorrect handicap, a name in the wrong section, scores completed for holes 10 to 17, (we only played one of those holes) and what appears to be a hieroglyph marked on the 16^th, it made the actual score slightly difficult to determine. The marker’s signature resembled a weather chart. In the interest of maintaining golfing standards, and basic handwriting, the committee politely reminds players that scorecards should ideally include, correct name in the correct place, a correct handicap, a score for each actual hole played, a marker’s signature, a player’s signature and numbers that belong on a golf course rather than in a cryptography puzzle. We look forward to the next submission and remain hopeful that, one day, we may even be able to read it!

        Results

Division 1

Division 2

Final standings for the winter league

Division 1

Division 2

That concludes the Winter League, now onto the Summer League.

Winter golf has worn me down. Muddy fairways, frozen fingers, silly hats, flags stuck in the middle of uncut grass, and a ball that feels like a rock. You turn up on a dark miserable Friday morning full of hope, and leave wondering why we bothered. But summer golf… that’s the dream, fresh cut fairways, warm afternoons, and a round that ends with a cold beer on the patio. The kind of golf where the ball actually flies (off grass and not those pesky mats), the greens roll true, and you don’t need four layers just to swing a club. Bring on the sunshine and proper golf!

We will continue to use the winter handicaps, until such time as the course is deemed ready for WHS by the club, when we will all revert to our WHS handicaps.

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report

Nothing to report this week as the course was scheduled to be closed for maintenance. Normal service will be resumed next week.

Tee booking schedules for Friday 3 April and Monday 6 April

As the dates above are Easter Friday and Easter Monday there are no Seniors’ booking schedules. Please make your own bookings on IG for social golf.

Rules Quiz answer

False. See Definition of Penalty Area. If the colour of a penalty area has not been marked or indicated by the Committee, it is treated as a red penalty area.

Find the Fact answer

All three facts are true! If Rob were a cat, he would now only have two thirds of his lives left.

Rules Quiz

Golf fact

Mary Queen of Scots may have invented the idea of the caddie. She played golf in the 1500’s and had a military cadet carry her clubs, possibly the origin of the word “caddie.”

Winter League – Round 9

Reporter: Paul Foster

Early starters in the penultimate round were greeted with classic ‘British Spring’ conditions – steady rain, soggy fairways, only 8 holes open, and all on winter greens. It makes you question your life choices. A number of canny souls quickly decided being at home was the better option and pulled out. As the morning went on, the weather mysteriously improved for the later golfers, who enjoyed much drier conditions. The result? Record low numbers for the winter league with the field considerably smaller than usual. Those who did battle the elements deserve credit – if not for their scoring, then certainly for their commitment to keeping round 9 alive. Or at least for keeping the bar busy afterwards!

The entertainment continued in the car park, where I witnessed a small gathering of ‘experienced’ golfers in deep conversation – or at least attempting to be. With hearing aids at varying levels of effectiveness, the discussion quickly turned into a full volume exchange of shouts. “Where’s your card?”; “Eh?”; “Flat white for me“; “I haven’t seen him”. Several minutes passed with each gentleman confidently replying to questions that nobody asked. At one point three different conversations were happening simultaneously, none of which appeared to be related. Eventually everyone seemed satisfied that something important had been communicated, and they all retired to the bar for a bottle of red wine, (you know who you are). Great being a member of the seniors!

Just 6 players from the 1^st division, and 13 players in the 2^nd division.

No 2’s scored today.

All handicaps entered were correct for the first time ever, and all but 1 card was meticulously completed, well done all.

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Going into the final round of the winter league:

Steve Gosling still leads the 1^st division followed by Paddy Moran and Paul Foster.

Mervyn Roberts still leads the 2^nd division, followed by Paul Keenan and Barry Smith.

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 9 March

Reporter: Peter Willson

A chilly grey and gloomy day with little bit of mist to start – however the rain held off and the skies lightened somewhat.

5 teams – 18 players – 3 x 4 players; 2 x 3 players

Good ol’ Team Stableford format 

Winners: Mike Bennett, Colin Crail and Rich Yates – 77 points in total – 25.7 points per player.

Yes, they did again; last out and most of the other competitors waiting in the clubhouse with bated breath for their card! But through a “schoolboy” accounting error all was nearly lost. A swift re-count and the spoils were theirs to take home (again!).

In second place: Kevin Bocquet, Dave Craggs and John Hayes – 75 points or 25 points per player.

Highest Individual scores – Mike Bennett – 30 points and Steve Bramall – 29 points. Mr Handicap Secretary – I draw your attention 🙂

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 12 March

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 15 March

Rules Quiz answer

Answer 1 is correct. There is no penalty. See Rule 6.2b(6). If a player’s ball in play lies in the teeing area, they may lift or move the ball without penalty and play it from a tee or the ground anywhere in the teeing area.

Rules Quiz

Find the Fact – Andrew Cox

Only one of the following statements about Andrew is correct. The other two are false. How well do you know your fellow senior?

1. Andrew was once involved in a traffic accident with the late Harry H Corbett (Harold Steptoe from Steptoe and Son). Andrew claims that the accident was not his fault
2. Whilst in a hotel in Japan, Andrew enjoyed breakfast on two consecutive mornings in the hotel restaurant. Breakfast was not included in his booking. He had unknowingly ‘crashed’ two separate wedding parties, and the guests were too polite to point out his error
3. Andrew was a member of the Bell Vue Aces speedway team competing frequently at the National Speedway Stadium in Gorton, Manchester in the 1970’s

Answer below

Winter League – Round 8

Reporter: Paul Foster

After months of winter conditions that tested all members patience, with saturated fairways, slow play, continuous rain, having to play a short course, and harsh conditions – there was real relief among members that spring golf may finally be on the horizon. This was the first day’s golf for many weeks when we were not dressed like Sherpa Tensing!

Scores reflected the improving conditions with nine players from 23 in the 1^st division managing to score under par, and five players from 16 in the 2^nd division also beating par.

Two 2s scored today, Paddy Moran & Russ Jones.

Two incorrect handicaps entered from the 1^st division and two also from the 2^nd division.

Lowest gross of the day belonged to Paddy Moran & Dave Meir, both finishing just 1 over par.

In the 1^st division, second place was decided on a count-back from four winners with equal points, in what can only be described as the most dramatic non-winning moment in seniors section history, round 8 produced a finish so tight that several calculators, two pencils, one pair of reading glasses and twelve fingers were required to separate the contenders. After an intense review of scorecards, the 4 players scored a total of 29 points, Grahame Brickell scored 14 on the back 6, Paddy Moran, Barry McGuigan & Tony Dixon scored 13 points. Paddy, Barry & Tony scored 7 points on the back 3, Paddy & Barry scored 3 points on the last hole. (Editor’s note: I’m losing the will to live). Both scored 3 on the hole 3, 2 points on hole 7, 2 points on hole 8, finally Paddy beat Barry by scoring 4 points on hole 11 to Barry’s 3 points. (All this is explained in the handicap rules).

Post-Round Reactions:

One contender blamed a temporary lapse in concentration caused by Edgar and Allan Crowe

Another cited ‘winter mats trauma’

Meanwhile Grahame quietly waltzed off with the glory whilst everyone else argued over decimal margins.

Moral of the day:

In golf, every shot counts – especially the ones you thought didn’t matter at the time

And remember, nobody remembers who finished second……

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SENIORS’ HANDICAPS – link below

Results

Division 1

Division 2

Steve Gosling still leads the 1^st division followed by Paddy Moran, John White & Mike Pigott.

Mervyn Roberts still leads the 2^nd division, followed by Paul Keenan, Bob Ellison and John Hayes

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 2 March

Reporter: Steve Bird

It appears that Spring is trying very hard to meet the meteorological timetable for a start date of 1st March. This morning we were greeted by watery sunshine, no precipitation, daffodils and green keepers lightly mowing fairways. In short, the sap is beginning to rise!

A total of 16 players today made up two teams of four, two of three and one of two. For the first time in many weeks we were able to play holes 1 – 13.

The winning team with an average score of 27.75 were Alan Copeland, Charlie Hill, Steve Bramall and Steve Bird. The latter top scored with 31 points and I had the pleasure of watching Steve Bramall pitching in from a full 100 yards on the 12th for a 4 pointer.

Runners up with a creditable average of 26.75 were Colin Crail, Mike Bennett, Richard Yates and Tony Dixon. 

Point of Admin:

Last night’s bookers will have noticed that the morning of 16 March was unavailable for booking in view of the course being closed for Spring maintenance. I apologise for this, but my original Seniors’ calendar said the maintenance was being done on the 23rd, so the club must have brought this forward by a week. So apart from a couple of minor amendments the schedule and bookers are the same for the 23rd as for the 16th.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 5 March

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 8 March

Rules Quiz answer

Answer 3 is correct. See Rule 9.7b. The player gets one penalty stroke and must replace the ball or ball-marker.

Find the Fact answer

Answer 2 is correct. Andrew and his wife did unknowingly crash two wedding breakfasts. He was a speedway rider, although not a member of the Aces team. Andrew never met Steptoe.

Rules Quiz

The early history of Lymm Golf Club

Author: J M Goodier 26/2/2003

Although Lymm Golf Club opened in 1907, the history goes back before then, and is closely tied up with the building of the Manchester Ship Canal and the opening of the railway through Lymm.

The Manchester Ship Canal Company owned the land on either side of the present course of the canal and used part of this for depositing the spoil from the digging of the waterway. This accounts for the elevated land which houses holes 3 to 10. The construction of the canal also involved diverting the course of the River Mersey by building a short canal called Butchersfield to join two parts of the river together to the north of the land fill site across from the 6th green. Previously, the river had flowed behind the sixth green, alongside the ninth hole and in front of the clubhouse. It had then meandered round the practice ground, along the 11th fairway and in front of the 12th tee to eventually pass behind the 5th green where part of it can be seen to this day. The Ship Canal was opened in 1894.

The coming of the railway through Lymm opened up the village to Manchester businessmen who could commute each day and yet be able to live in a pleasant country village. One of these was Mr Alfred Watkin who lived at Dane Bank House. Morning conversations took place between these businessmen on the train and the idea of a golf club was formulated. Mr Watkin worked for the Ship Canal Company and in fact later became its Chairman. No doubt he was influential in the spoil heap being made available for construction of a nine-hole golf course. Mr Watkin was the first President of the club and, of course, has given his name to one of the major club competitions The Watkin Cup.

The first captain was Mr Boumphrey who lived at another large Lymm house Baycliffe, on the shores of Lymm Dam. It is very probable that virtually the entire early membership comprised of people of this sort. Very few ordinary people could play golf in those days. The course continued as 9 holes with a clubhouse where the present greenstaff sheds are now, until the early seventies, when, as a result of a freak accident on the level crossing to a farmer, the club was able to purchase the lower land and extend the course to 18 holes.

from John’s book “The First 100 Years at Lymm Golf Club”, copies available from the Club’s Office.

Winter League – Round 7

Reporter: Paul Foster

Another thoroughly miserable day, with heavy conditions testing both patience and perseverance. A slightly better day though than the previous two Fridays. A number of the more intelligent players wisely decided to remove their names from the play list, opting for warmth and comfort over a battle with the elements. For those who did tee up, play was slow and extremely hard work. The saturated fairways offered little run, and scoring reflected the tough conditions. Just five players from the field managed to score under par, a commendable effort given the circumstances. All in all, a day to forget, as far as I’m concerned. Let’s hope for better weather – and better golf – next time.

Competitors on the day – a new low of 29, 16 from the 1^st division and 13 from the 2^nd division.

Two 2s scored today, Koos Alders and Dave Meir.

Two incorrect handicaps entered from the 1^st division, and one from the 2^nd division.

Please check your seniors handicap (see link below).

Results

Division 1

Division 2

The winter league tables are starting to take shape now we have five rounds entered. Steve Gosling leads the 1^st division followed by Mike Pigott, John White and Paddy Moran. Mervyn Roberts leads the 2^nd division, followed by Paul Keenan, Bob Ellison and Alan Ranscombe. Game on….

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 23 February

Reporter: Steve Bird

Today’s weather word is “gloopy”, which means ‘semi fluid in consistency’ i.e. muddy. It can also mean ‘overly sentimental’, a term with which I’m sure our happy band are familiar with, particularly after one too many.

Ten holes open with a temporary green on hole 7. Sixteen players today with two teams of four, two of three and one of two. 

The winners were Pete Broady, John Mather and Steve Bird with an average, bang on par, score of 20. Steve top scored for the day with 22.

Runners up were Steve Gosling, Steve Rowley, Tony Dixon and Ken Pearce with an average of 18.5.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 26 February

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 1 March

Rules Quiz answer

Answer 3 is correct. See Definition of Lost. A ball does not become lost as a result of the player declaring it to be lost. A ball is lost only when it has not been found within three minutes after the player or their caddie (or partner) begin to search for it.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

Did you know?

The 18th green at Lymm once sat on the ‘wrong side’ of the road. Before the major course redesign in the 1970s, golfers had to cross Whitbarrow Road mid‑round to play several holes. It was charming… and mildly hazardous. The modern layout was created specifically to bring all 18 holes onto the clubhouse side, giving Lymm its current, much safer flow.

Winter League – Round 6

Nothing to report as unfortunately the course was closed for the second Friday running (see photograph immediately above). Standings and handicaps remain as before.

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 16 February

Reporter: Steve Bird

At 8 a.m. in steady rain I drove the few hundred yards from my home to the club not expecting to see anyone waiting to play but, lo and behold, there were about half a dozen hardy souls, brollies up, about to start the 8 holes that were open for play.

Whilst my clubs were in the car I was struggling to summon up the enthusiasm to get muddy and wet and justify this to Mrs B. So, I ducked (geddit?) out and returned to the warmth of home. 

I guess I’m just a soft southerner and it’s right what they say about those tough guys ‘oop north’, but today I just wasn’t up for it – along with many others I hasten to add. 

So, I have to apologise and say that I don’t know whether or not there was a competition but if there was, congratulations to everyone who took part just for turning up!

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 19 February

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 22 February

Rules Quiz answer

Answer 2 is correct. See Rule 18.2a. The player’s ball is lost because the three-minute search time has passed and they did not identify their ball in a reasonable time.

Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Rules Quiz

Backdrop to our 3rd and 5th

Author: The Editor

Winter League – Round 5 (not played)

Reporter: Paul Foster

Friday’s golf conditions could have been best described as orthopedically unsound. A relentless combination of rain, wind, and a general murkiness that transformed the course into something resembling a hippopotamus spa, rather than a place to swing a club. The fairways I believe were fully saturated having finally accepted that drainage is more of a suggestion than a rule. Greens would have been technically present, though indistinguishable from the surrounding countryside and well struck putts would have moved at a lightning pace of approximately zero. Any ball landing anywhere would have plugged so deeply it probably would have had to apply for planning permission. In a rare display of mercy and common sense, thankfully the golf course was closed, saving golfers from sodden shoes, muddy socks, total despair and the need to explain to loved ones why their trousers weighed six kilos. All in all, an excellent day for not playing golf. No shots docked (damn!), no balls lost or drowned and no seniors gone missing in the pond-like bunkers.

In summary: Wind: ‘aggressive’. Rain: ‘unrelenting’. Visibility: ‘optional’. Course status: ‘wisely closed’. Golfers: ‘dry, smug and alive’.

We’ll regroup when the course returns to being grass instead of soup.

Seniors’ handicaps

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 9 February

Reporter: Steve Bird

The weather greeting us this morning was described by one of my teammates as ‘benign’ and whilst I would normally relate this word to a harmless disease, it also can mean ‘gentle and kindly’ which is exactly how I would describe the 14 souls, comprising 2 teams of 4 and 2 teams of 3, taking part. The course had taken a battering at the end of last week and was still drying out although the upper land was, as always, in good condition. 

The winning team with an average score of 25.5 were Messrs Chisnall, Lawless, Bocquet and Rowley with Kevin top scoring for the day with an impressive 29.

Runners up were Messrs Broady, Pickles, Mather and John Bramhall (not to be confused with Steve Bramall) with an average of 22.5.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 12 February

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 15 February

Rules Quiz answer

Answer 2 is correct. See Definition of Boundary Object. Any gate, steps, bridge or similar construction used for getting over or through a boundary wall or fence are not part of the boundary object.