Newsletter – 26 August 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

In match play, a player observes a breach of the Rules by his opponent but decides not to act on it. What is the ruling?
A – Both players are disqualified.
B – The player who ignored the breach is disqualified.
C – There is no penalty.

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Andy Ward Trophy – Pairs Knockout

Author: Ian Smith – LGC Seniors Competitions Secretary

We will soon start to prepare the draw for the autumn/winter season senior pairs knockout.

There is a sign-up sheet on the Seniors’ noticeboard – please enter your name by Friday 11th September if you would like to take part. Alternatively send a message to Ian Smith directly on IG (by the same date) and I’ll record your name.

Matches are played over 18 holes or whatever number of holes are available to play. Played between late September and March of the following year. Please see page 15 of the Strategy, Rules and Guidelines document for full details.

Each pairing will include a lower handicap player and a higher handicap player, determined at random using LGC’s IG software. The draw and the date for completion of each round of the competition will be notified in mid September. 

Interclub match – Lymm Seniors (Home) v Huyton and Prescot – Monday 17 August

Reporter: Richard Smyllie (Captain of the Day)

This was the return leg of the match held at their place earlier in the year. Over at H&P we had an excellent day’s golf where they looked after us very well. The downside was that we were soundly beaten 7.5 to 0.5. How could that possibly be? Was it the lack of a suitably motivational team talk before the match from your new CoD? Who knows, but for this return leg your nominated CoD started the day with a degree of trepidation. What if it happened again? That would certainly be the end of any invitation to be CoD in the future.

Thankfully the whole team responded to this dilemma in a glorious fashion and Lymm were victorious by 7 to 1. So, very well done lads and what a relief!!

Given this remarkable turnaround it is certainly worth giving the team a mention:

Andy Timms & Barry Smith2 up
Mark Lyons & John Woodward2 and 1 up
Richard Smyllie & Ron Thornton1 up
Phil Perry & Sammy Lee5 and 4 up
Peter Willson & Steve Gosling2 and 1 up
Paddy Moran & Bob Mycock4 and 3 down
John Armstrong & Ian Goodman6 and 4 up
Tommy Lawless & Arthur Nuttall2 and 1 up

In this terrific result there were some notable achievements. Ian shot his best ever score on the front 9 although his joy at this was not necessarily shared by his opponents. Nevertheless, they were great company and gracious in defeat as were all the opposition. After an up and down display by myself, I had to rely on my steady playing partner Ron to dig us out of the odd hole. This included a staggering putt on the 18th which had it not been for the flag intercepting the ball, could well have sped off the putting surface. A wonderfully victorious putt and again some well disgruntled opposition. They were fine and accepted their defeat with good grace (albeit through gritted teeth)!

Steve kept the opposition under control but the turning point in their game was Peter’s 14ft putt from off the green for a birdie on the 13th.

Many thanks to Karen and Josh for providing the food which was a very good pie and chips.

Thanks to all for your valiant efforts and for making the compilation of this report considerably more pleasurable than the first one.

Tatton League – Tuesday 18 August

Reporter: Mike Pigott

Tuesday saw the penultimate round of this year’s Tatton League played at Heyrose Golf Club. Heavy overnight rain made the course a bit more manageable than in the draught period, but the greens were still very challenging and two paced.

Four very good scores of 40, 39, 37 and 37 from the Lymm team saw us win the team event comfortably on the day and move into an eleven shot lead with the Birchwood round to come in September.

The overall team scores are as follows: Lymm 758 points, High Legh 747, Antrobus 723, Heyrose 720, Birchwood 718 and Styal 670.

So the last round looks like a shoot-out between Lymm and High Legh, so fingers crossed for a strong last round.

Well done to all the team members who played in tricky conditions on a course where the Slope Index is unusually low, meaning the Lymm players handicaps were significantly reduced from when playing at Lymm.

It is hoped to arrange an end of season get together where all the people who have made themselves available for the team will play an 18-hole competition. If there are any other seniors who wish to put their name forward for next year’s team, then they will also be welcome to play.

Fun Game – Bottle of Wine competition – Friday 21 August

Reporter: The Editor

With ‘Far-flung Foster’ still on his jollies last Friday, a very brief report this week for the bottle of wine competition. Yet another victory for Les Williams who wins another bottle of high-quality vino. Ladbrokes have now opened a book on which will happen to Les first – a single figure handicap or alcohol dependency. Well played Les, can you make it three bottles of red in the same year?

Results

WinnerLes Williams33 points
Runner upSteve Gosling32 points (CPO)
3rd placeJohn Armstrong32 points

Happy Mondays Report – 24 August

Reporter: Peter Willson

A slightly chilly start (12 deg. C) but by the finish only a few fluffy white clouds against an azure-blue sky were to be seen and the temperature had risen to 21 deg. C.

What a perfect day for golf and for some of us – it turned out to be true – namely “Big” Ken Pearce – what a start he had 26 points on the front 9 followed by another 15 points on the last 6 holes – 41 points, surely one of the highest scores this year. The nearest competitor was Colin Chisnall with 33 points – although he did have the pleasure of scoring a birdie 2 on the 13th. He admitted to a poor, thinned tee-shot but this was followed by what can only be described as a wonderous 90 plus foot putt from the far end of the green. 

Colin’s score contributed to the overall winning total for team – Colin Chisnall, Alan Thomas and John White with an average of 30 per player. 

Second place – Les Fecitt, Paul Foster, Ken Pearce and Ron Thornton – 28.5 per player.

Total of 19 players – 2 x 4; 3 x 3 players and pair 1 of 2 

No Happy Mondays next week as it’s the late Summer Bank Holiday. Normal service resumes on Monday 7 September (yes, September is nearly upon us).

Interclub match – Lymm Seniors (Away) v Helsby – Tuesday 25 August

Reporter: Steve Gosling (Captain of the Day)

A great day out at Helsby even if the result did not go in our favour. The weather was good, the course was good, the meal of Spanish Chicken was good, the company was good, the result was the only disappointment…. Apart from the joke.

Special mention to Andy Timms who with help from Dave Craggs managed to keep his 100% match record in tact for the season, being the only match from which we gain a point.  So a 7-1 loss…Well there is always next year.

Correction – Championship Game – Friday 11 September

With apologies to our loyal readers, the Championship game will be held on Friday 11 September not on the incorrect date given in a previous newsletter. Please see the full list of qualifiers below:

Tee times for the Championship Game are set out in the table below.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 27 August

Seniors whose names appear in green below have qualified for the Championship Game. This is a stableford competition, from the yellow tees, over 15 holes played off 95% of your course handicap. Please remember to enter the competition on IG once it is possible to do so.

Seniors whose names appear in black have been scheduled for a social game.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 30 August


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer C. Explanation: See Rule 3.2d(4). If a player knows that the opponent has breached a Rule that has a penalty, player may choose whether or not to act on the breach.


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 19 August 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

When should you play ready golf?
A – In match play you should play “Ready Golf” when it is safe and responsible to do so.
B – In stroke play you should play “Ready Golf” when it is safe and responsible to do so.
C – In match play and stroke play you should play “Ready Golf” when it is safe and responsible to do so.

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Find the Fact – John Armstrong

Only one of the following facts about John is correct. The other two are false. Can you pick out the true fact?

  1. Whilst in Kenya John was involved in a bad traffic accident. He was taken by truck to the nearest medical facility which was a leper colony. The nurse that treated his injury was from Lymm
  2. John has played golf at the Home Park Golf Course near Sandringham, a private members’ club for staff and invited guests only. The club has no public tee times
  3. John has been stood next to Big Ben in the Elizabeth tower at the houses of Parliament whilst it was striking 11 o’clock

Answer below

Peter Herrity Trophy – Friday 14 August

Reporter: The Editor

No in depth report this week as our roving reporter Paul ‘Axeman’ Foster is currently in Portugal doing his bit to support the local wine producers. Results for the Peter Herrity Trophy below. Well done to the worthy victor Colin Hughes who was two points clear of the rest of the field. Colin’s victory adds him to the list of seniors who are eligible to play in the Championship Game on Friday 17 September

WinnerColin Hughes40 points
Runner upRichard Smylie38 points (CPO)
3rd placeJeff Ashurst38 points

Happy Mondays Report – 17 August

Reporter: Steve Bird

Firstly, a warm welcome to Keith Edwards who has recently joined our group and will be playing most Mondays and Fridays.

A total of sixteen players made up two teams of 4, two of 3 and one of 2. Again, a good turnout because 16 of our group were playing in the interclub match.

The morning commenced with welcome drizzle and continued overcast with little or no breeze.

The winning team was that of Colin Chisnall, Eric Cox and Alan Thomas with a remarkable average score of 34.3.

Joint runners up were the teams of Bennett, Crail and Yates and Bird, Bocquet, Edwards and White with scores of 29. Top scorers for the day were Eric and Colin with 37 each. A commendable score of 35 by Kevin ‘three trees’ (you ask him) Bocquet was third highest individual score. 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 20 August

Please note: As there is a junior shotgun start on the 20th of August the course needs to be cleared by 12.45. The Friday bottle of wine competition will therefore be played over 13 holes to make sure everyone can take part

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 23 August


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer B
Explanation: In stroke play, players may play “ready golf” in a safe and responsible way (see Rule 6.4b(2)).

Find the Fact answer

Answer 3 is correct; John has stood next to Big Ben while it was striking eleven. Everything in fact 1 is correct other than that it happened in Nigeria. Fact 2 is correct except that the course with royal connections is at Windsor, not Sandringham


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 12 August 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

A player hits their shot out of bounds from the fairway. When dropping the ball under stroke and distance, they must drop the ball as near as possible to the spot from where the last stroke was made, no nearer the hole.
A – True
B – False

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Mitre Cup – 11 August

Author – Arthur Nuttall

The annual Mitre Cup competition between the Ladies and the Gents Seniors took place in glorious sunshine in what many would consider to be ideal golfing conditions.

This always makes it rather tricky when you are looking for excuses in the event that you lose.

Unfortunately, despite a full team of 24 having been compiled and suitably communicated with prior to the match, we were still a couple players light on the day.

Many thanks go to Mike Kendal for stepping in late and particularly Ted Broady, who abandoned the game he was already playing and made his way back to the 1st tee to fill a hole.

This still meant that Colin Hughes had to play a solo game so well done to him for sticking to the task.

It was noted that there was a serious gap in the 95% Course Handicaps being applied (the total for the Ladies being 691 and 478 for the Gents. But this didn’t stop the Ladies from suggesting that they should be receiving even more shots in their favour. A request that was flatly refused before tee-off had commenced!

The final result – a win for the Ladies 416 points to 393. Our hearty congratulations and well played to them.

A big thank you also to all the players that turned up and took part. Despite the disappointment of losing, this was another great event, played in the right spirit and where much conviviality carried over onto the patio for a quite a while after the golf was over. There’s always next year guys!

(With thanks to Trevor Williamson for the photographs above)

Championship Game Qualifiers 2026

Author: The Editor

Please find below the current list of qualifiers for the Championship Game which is due to take place on Friday 11 September. Qualifiers earn their place from the Friday League round winners, trophy winners, overall league winners and knockout competition winners. Some of our more talented golfers have qualified on more than one of the above criteria. The winner of the Peter Herrity Trophy will be added to the list (unless they are already on it).

If you are not on the list and you believe you should be, then please let a member of the committee know.

Fun Game – Bottle of Wine Competition – Friday 7 August

Reporter: Steve Bird

A turnout of 22 for today’s competition which is a decent number when you consider that 16 of our members were playing in the home match against Ringway. Our tee times were split either side of those in the match which meant that some didn’t start until after 11 am and finished after 2:30.

Another glorious day weather wise with the course, and in particular the greens, looking magnificent.

The scoring reflected the conditions with 9 players playing better or equal to their handicaps.

Results

WinnerAndrew Ransom36 points
Runner upLes Williams35 points
3rd placeMike Kendal33 points

Enjoy your bottle of ‘Chateau Goodman’ Andrew. Pleased to say that card completion and IG records were markedly better this week. Can we ask that if you enter the competition on IG and decide not to play, that you cancel your entry. This saves committee members having to chase non-existent cards. Many thanks.

Happy Mondays Report – 10August

Reporter: Steve Bird

A perfect golfing day greeted 15 players comprising three teams of 3 and three of two.

The winning team Steve Gosling, Les Williams and Steve Bird with an average of 30.66 points.

Runners up were Mike Bennett, Colin Crail and Richard Yates with 29.66 – only one shot per player difference between the teams.

Individual best score was Les with 33 with Richard scoring 32.

Please note that Monday 31 August is a Bank Holiday where traditionally we do not play Happy Mondays. Therefore, there is no roster in this newsletter and no bookings to do this coming Sunday. 

Tee booking for Friday 28 August 2026

As a large proportion of the Seniors Section will be heading off to our Exchange Day at Hazel Grove on the above date there will be no booking schedule issued for this Thursday evening. If you are not going to Hazel Grove and you want to play a social round at Lymm on the above date, please make your own arrangements and book your tee-times on the club website as normal.

Weird Golf Fact

In 1938, a Californian golfer named Ralph Kennedy played 1,000 rounds of golf in a single year — that’s nearly three rounds every day! He even kept scorecards for all of them. I feel sure that his wife gave her full and unqualified support as he set out for the course every morning. Ralph, were he alive today and a member of the Seniors, would not be able to repeat this great achievement, as the IG system currently only allows you to book one tee time per day. That’s progress!


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer B. Explanation: See Rule 14.6b. When dropping a ball under stroke and distance in the general area, a ball must be dropped within one club-length of the point from which the previous stroke was made and in the same area of the course as that point.


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 5 August 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

In stroke play, a player’s ball in a bunker moves due to their removal of a loose impediment in the bunker. They replace the ball on its original spot. What is the ruling?
A – There is no penalty.
B – The player gets one penalty stroke.
C – The player gets two penalty strokes

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Lymm Seniors – Interclub match v Sale – Friday 24 July

Author: Alan Burton (Captain of the Day)

On a beautiful Friday morning the boys from Lymm welcomed the guys from Sale. The course was in fantastic condition.

After bacon and coffee we all set out ready to do battle. As it was on our trip to Sale the match was a very close affair with Sale just edging the match.

After enjoying a very fine meal of fish and chips, the telling of results and jokes we all bid farewell. That brought the end of a perfect day

Winners on the day:

  • Burton & Timms
  • Donnell-Jones & Simpson
  • Armstrong & Lyons

Fun Round – Bottle of Wine Competition – Friday 31 July

Reporter: Steve Bird

The day dawned bright and sunny but around 8:45 a black cloud of biblical proportions approached from the west. I fully expected to see Charlton Heston with his tablets of stone coming down the 3rd fairway but within 10 minutes the cloud and rain had moved on to Manchester and after that it was plain sailing all the way.

The winner was Jeff Ashurst with 32 points. Well done Jeff and enjoy the vino. 

On a point of admin, there were quite a few discrepancies around the collation of results for the above competition. A total of 34 players entered on IG, 30 scores were uploaded but only 26 cards handed in. I hung around until 2:30 to collect the cards that hadn’t been placed in the box but by that time all of our players had gone home.

There was also one (unsigned) card where the player had entered a score on to the system which was three points more than was shown on his card. This may well affect his WHS index which is driven by IG. Sorry about the moan but I can well understand why Mr Foster likes the occasional beer !!

Mitre Cup Match – Tuesday 11 August

Author: Arthur Nuttall

The “Terms of Engagement” have been set and agreed for the match. The format will be a Better Ball Stableford, played over 15-holes.

Just for the sake of clarity for all – this is a two-person team format, where partners play their own balls, score points based on their own net score, and count only the higher points total or best score for the team on each hole. 

The scores from each game will be aggregated through and the winning team will be the one with the most points. This format effectively keeps every game “live” until the very end.

We are exactly the right number of players (i.e. 24) with no further reserves, so please do your best to be available on the day.

Please click here for pairings and order of play.

Welcome back Les!

Author: The Editor

After some time away I am delighted to report that Les Fecitt has joined us back on the fairways, greens (and other less-visited parts) of our golf course. Les, a long-standing member of the Seniors Section and a former committee member, has had his eyesight fixed and is now able to see his golf ball flying off into the distance, regardless of the direction. I had the pleasure of playing nine holes with Les this week and he hit some great shots, including an absolute cracking approach shot to the fourth. Unfortunately, this turned out to be with the ball of another senior who was playing the third. The error was quickly spotted, so no damage done. Welcome back Les, enjoy your golf!

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 6 August

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 9 August


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer B. Explanation: See Rule 15.1b. The player gets one penalty stroke for causing their ball to move.


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 29 July 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

A ball is lost if, after searching for it for one minute, the player declares it to be lost.
A – True
B – False

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Lymm at Silloth Golf Club – A fantastic day

For those who aren’t aware, Silloth Golf Club is a superb, if challenging, course on the Cumbrian coast and in the top 50 of all UK golf courses. 

They kindly ‘gave the course’ to Prostate Cancer Support (PCS) for an Open Competition in support of our charity. The entry of 100 players filled up remarkably quickly, with people coming from all over the country to play. All the entry fees (£6,000) were given to PCS to support underpinning the cost of private PSA testing in the less affluent areas of the country, particularly the North West.

The weather was kind with the expected, but strengthening, breeze typical for a links course.

Lymm was represented by: Dave Meir, Grahame Brickell, Paul Collins and Mike Pigott pictured here with the starter, Grant, resplendent in full Scottish gear.

Seniors Fun Day – Friday 24 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

Well, what a difference a few days make! Gone was the blazing sunshine that had turned the fairways into something resembling the Serengeti, replaced by much cooler conditions that caught more than a few of the Seniors reaching for an extra layer instead of the suncream. Another glorious chapter was written in the history of the Seniors’ fiercely contested “Bottle of Goodman Wine” competition, where pride was on the line and the prize was just enough to keep the winner smiling until the next round.

This week’s star of the show was Ian Smith, who somehow managed to keep the ball on the fairway, avoid the bunkers (mostly), and hole enough putts to claim the coveted bottle of wine. Rumours that Ian had been practising in secret have been denied, although witnesses did report seeing him reading the greens with the intensity of a detective solving a murder.
The rest of the field put up a spirited effort. There were booming drives, miraculous recoveries, and putts that defied both logic and gravity. A few golfers even managed to find parts of the course the greenkeepers didn’t know existed. As always, there was no shortage of advice freely offered after the round – mostly from those who had played considerably worse than Ian. Excuses included the wind, the greens, the bounce, the wrong ball, stiff backs, and one player who claimed his glasses had mysteriously “gone out of focus” on every green.

Congratulations to Ian Smith on a well-deserved victory. We hope the bottle of wine tastes even better than those six-foot putts everyone else left themselves. Better luck to the chasing pack next week – remember, golf is a game where one good round can make you believe anything is possible… until the following Friday!

Results

WinnerIan Smith34 points
Runner upLes Williams32 points

The weather may have cooled, but Tony Dixon certainly wasn’t. Stepping up to the short 13th armed with nothing more than a trusty 9-iron, Tony produced the shot of the season. The ball took a hop, a skip and a cheeky little jump before disappearing into the hole for a magnificent hole-in-one. Whether it was skill, luck or a quiet word with the golfing gods remains open for debate!

Remember, every hole-in-one starts with someone saying, “I’ll just try and get this somewhere near!” In keeping with golfing tradition, Tony very generously left a bottle of whisky behind the bar for everyone to enjoy. Rumour has it a few members were already congratulating him before he’d even signed his card, purely to make sure they didn’t miss out on a wee dram!

Sixty five long years Tony has been trying for a hole in one, (approximately 13,520 attempts) and on Friday he nearly had two! As if one ace wasn’t enough excitement for the day (Les Williams was very excited), Tony very nearly pulled off the impossible earlier at the 4th. His perfectly struck tee shot on the par 4 finished just eight feet from the hole, leaving everyone wondering if we’d need to start checking his clubs for hidden technology.

(Editor’s note: I’m guessing the AI image below, sent to me by Paul Foster, was created by Steve “too much time on my hands” Barlow.

Happy Mondays Report – 27 July

Reporter: Steve Bird

In the absence of an Inter-Club game today we had a very decent turnout of 21 players who made up one team of 4, five teams of 3 and one of 2.

Scoring was difficult due to a brisk westerly breeze combined with drizzle early on and to make matters worse we had to cope with some fiendish pin locations left over from yesterday’s Men’s Club Championship – think putting uphill from off the green, getting within a foot of the pin and your ball returning to you twice (which I witnessed)

Before announcing the results, I must draw your attention to an incident that occurred near the 13th green. I was in a group following Ken Pearce and Eric Cox. We were waiting for them to putt out when we noticed that only Ken was on the green. Where was Eric? To cut a long story short, Eric’s electric trolley had found its way down the side of Sow Brook and he was trying to retrieve it. Only the thick vegetation on the steep bank prevented both Eric and trolley ending up in the drink.

One of our group went up to find out what was happening and at the same time four members who were having a coffee on the terrace also went over to assist. In the end both Eric and Trolley were hauled up the bank to safety.

I guess the message here is to be careful around any water hazards on the course because your life is more important than a golf trolly. Thankfully our dear friend Eric was relatively unscathed, finished his round and will be with us again next Monday.

Turning to the results, the winning team was that of Pete Broady, Alan Copeland, Mark Pickles (good to see you on a Monday Mark) and Dave Waggitt with an average score of 27.25. Runners up were Colin Chisnall, Alan Thomas and John White with a score of 26.6. Too scorer for the day was Colin Crail with 30 points. Colins’ team which included Mike Bennett and Richard Yates finished third with 26.3.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 30 July – Peter Herrity Trophy

On Friday 14 August we will be playing for the Peter Herrity Trophy. This is an 18-hole stableford competition played off the yellow tees. You should play off your normal handicap for a Friday which is 95% of your course handicap.

There is a £5 fee to enter the competition, and all the funds generated will be donated to our nominated charity. The £5 will be debited from your clubhouse account. Please make sure that you enter the competition on IG any time before teeing off if you are playing in the competition.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 2 August

Health and Safety note

I have been asked to remind all members of the Seniors Section that it is extremely important to make sure that you and your playing partners give a very loud shout of fore if you hit a wayward shot and it is heading towards an area where other golfers might possibly be. This should be done as a precautionary measure even if you cannot see other golfers in the area your ball is heading towards.

One of our fellow seniors has nearly been hit three times within the last fortnight and on all three occasions there was no warning shout heard.

Altrincham Society of Artists – Summer Exhibition

Mark Pickles is exhibiting four paintings with the Altrincham Society of Artists at the Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, postcode WA14 2AJ. You can visit until Saturday 1 August from 10am to 4pm.

Over 200 paintings are on display from artists who live within about a 30 mile radius of Altrincham. Apart from the opportunity for the public to browse and purchase high-quality and well-presented framed artworks, there is a competitive element. Awards for various categories will be presented on the last day of the exhibition, on Saturday at 2:30pm. Mark has already been notified that he’ll be collecting a winner’s award in the Still Life category and a commendation in the Portrait category. He believes he also has a chance of winning the Visitors’ Choice award in view of the fact that his large cityscape of Manchester has been chosen to front the exhibition!

Rainbow Trout, Pastel 40cm x 30cm (Winner in the Still Life category)

Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer B. Explanation: See Definition of Lost. A player may not make a ball lost by a declaration. A ball is lost only when it has not been found within three minutes after the player or their caddie or partner begins to search for it.


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 22 July 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

You are a brash, American golfer prone to childish displays of ill-temper. You hit your ball into an area of knee-high fescue. Do you:

  1. Stomp about for a bit around your ball so that you can avoid damaging the surrounding grass during the backswing of your next shot
  2. Telephone your friend ‘Orange Donald’ and see if he can fix it with the R&A to give you a free drop back on the fairway
  3. Pretend you are British and play the ball as it lies without making a fuss

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Seniors Summer Get Together – Friday 17 July

Reporter: The Editor

A big thankyou to Mike Kendal for organising our get together last Friday morning. Blessed by excellent weather everyone who attended enjoyed great companionship, variable displays of golfing prowess and an excellent brunch provided by Karen and all the clubhouse team. Thanks also to Keith Melia who worked hard to provide a format which worked well on the day. It was a real bonus to get so many of the Seniors Section together in the same place at the same time.

There was also evidence that you are sometimes rewarded for doing the right thing. Paul Collins, seeing that Alan Ranscombe had been left to play as a ‘one-ball’ (the way Hitler always played golf) stepped up, left his fourball and joined Alan on the tee. Paul and Alan (pictured below) then swept all before them and took the spoils.

Results

WinnersAlan Ranscombe and Paul CollinsWin £40 each
Runners upPete Broady, Alan Burton, Mark Lyons and Ian WhiteheadWin £10 each

A couple more photographs from the day kindly provided by Colin Chisnall

Happy Mondays Report – 20 July

Reporter: Steve Bird

A perfect morning greeted 15 players with three teams of 4 and one of 3. Not only perfect weather but, for those of you who stayed up last night to watch the right team win the football World Cup and also (with Tommy not quite making it over the line) a Kiwi (the first since Bob Charles in1962) winning The Open, it turned out to be a great sporting weekend. Add to this, Warrington Wolves beating Hull KR and it doesn’t get much better.

Two teams tied for the win both with 119 points and an average of 29.75. So Alan Copeland, Sammy Lee, Tony Dixon and Phil Lomas tied with Steve Bird, Steve Rowley, Barrie Simpson and Kevin Bocquet. Each winner received a net £1 after deducting their £1 stake. By contrast, Ryan Fox received $3.2 m which should keep the wolf from the door for the next few years.

Tony was top scorer for the day with 35 points. 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 23 July

NB. Please remember to enter the competition on IG before you tee off and then fully complete, sign and submit your card. Failing this your score will not be included in the results.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 26 July


Rules Quiz answer

As all members of the Lymm Golf Club Seniors Section know 3) is the correct answer


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 15 July 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

In match play, a player’s correct handicap is 11, but they mistakenly advise their opponent on the first tee that their handicap is 10. After the opponent hits their tee shot, the player realises the mistake. What is the ruling?

A – The player must use the declared lower handicap to calculate the number of strokes the player gives or gets.
B – The player must play the match using a handicap of 11.
C – The player is disqualified.

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Lymm Seniors Golfing Get Together – Friday 17 July – The final details

All those who are registered for the above event should have received an email giving details of the plans for our gathering on the above date. If you registered for the event and have not received an email, then please:

  • Check your email spam folder
  • If your email is not there then contact Mike Kendal by email at kendallymmgolf@gmail.com and he will reply sending you the details. Alternatively, you can contact Mike on 07836 509947

A few important points if you are playing on Friday:

  • Please check the groupings in the email that you received and remember that if you are in a team with ‘a’ after your designated hole then you need to be in place and ready to tee off at 8.50 a.m. You need to arrive in good time to join your group members on your designated tee
  • The email you received sets out the format and how to mark your card and record your team score. At least one team member needs to be familiar with this
  • You should play off your LGS playing handicap (95% of your course handicap). You can find this on IG. It is the same handicap that you would use for a league game or a bottle of wine competition

We hope you enjoy the day. It will be great to all meet up in one group for brunch at the end of the round.

Seniors Interclub match v Davyhulme (away) – Monday 6 July

Match report; Russ Jones (Captain of the Day)

On a lovely warm and partly cloudy day, the Lymm team all turned up on time and enjoyed a coffee.  Stories were swapped by those able to stay awake to watch the England match in the early hours.

The match itself was a friendly game with some of the games taking a lot longer than others.  I was on my Apple Pie when the stragglers came in.

It was in fact an honourable draw 4 – 4.

Winners being:

Russ Jones (COD) & Stuart Baird2 and 1
Paddy Moran & Keith Melia1 up
Dave Donnel-Jones & Arthur Nuttall5 and 4
Koos Alders & Athur Laird2 and 1

The meal of fish, chips and peas I felt was a little underwhelming but was made up for by the apple pie and custard for dessert. The course was in excellent condition, with lush fairways and quick and true greens.  Certainly, looking forward to a return visit.

Gordon Wood Trophy – Friday 10 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

Way back in 1978, the first ever Seniors Trophy appeared – The Gordon Wood Trophy, Gordon was a founder member of the ‘Over Sixties League’ as the seniors’ section was known as in the early days.

In 1982 Gordon Wood died. The following year his widow donated a handsome new replacement trophy to the OSL’s – still in use today. Graham Calder, then OSL leader arranged with the club for a slot to be allocated each year – the trophy match was on the club official Calendar! Now in its 44th year.

Who thought 18 holes was a good idea? Normally, we sensibly stop after 15 holes. Not this week. Oh no. Someone suggested adding another three holes, and, in a moment of collective sunstroke, everyone agreed. Apparently, the plan was to see whether golf balls or golfers would melt first.

Seniors were back in action, bravely (or perhaps foolishly) taking to the course under what can only be described as Sahara-like conditions, proving once again that age brings wisdom….except when deciding how many holes to play in a heatwave.

The extra holes provided ample opportunity for everyone to perfect the “slow shuffle,” admire the mirages on the fairways, and wonder if the drinks buggy had broken down somewhere in the desert. By the 18th, scorecards had become sweat-soaked works of abstract art, hats had shrunk three sizes, and every patch of shade was fought over with more determination than a three-foot putt to win the trophy. The temperature was somewhere between “stinking hot” and “open the oven and stick your head in.” The fairways were so hard that well-struck drives bounced halfway to the next county. By the 12th hole, conversation had dried up along with the ponds. By the 15th, several members were openly negotiating with passing clouds. By the 18th, every bunker looked like an inviting holiday beach, and more than one player considered lying down in it until September. Did anyone notice Edgar and Alan crow sporting stylish new sunglasses whilst hovering in their usual hunting ground near the 11th tee?

There was some excellent golf, notably; Mervyn Roberts scoring 23 pointss on the back 9, Mike Pigott playing the back 9 in 2 under par, Pete Broady had a blob (first one this year I believe) and Ron Thornton somehow scoring 9 pts on 2 holes! I seem to remember a few spectacular recoveries around the course, and the occasional ball that probably rolled a little further thanks to the baked fairways than the player would ever admit. As always, the banter remained in top form, even if the golfers themselves were beginning to resemble overcooked roast dinners.

A huge well done to everyone who survived all 18 holes. Whether you conquered the course or simply conquered the heat, you earned your well-deserved cold drink afterwards. Next week’s forecast? We’re all hoping for “slightly less volcanic!”

Results – Gordon wood trophy

WinnerMervyn Roberts42 points
Runner upPaul Foster37 points (CPO)
3rd placePaul Collins37 Points (CPO)

Happy Mondays Report – Monday 13 July

Reporter: Steve Bird

Sixteen players turned up today comprising four teams of 3 and one of 4. 

After another weekend of soaring temperatures we were greeted by a welcoming cooling breeze which, unfortunately, only served to envelope the course in the pungent smell of smoke emanating from a number of moorland fires that started overnight. The problem was more prominent on the upper land. 

The general course is now bone dry but the new irrigation system is working well because the greens were in superb condition. The rough is thinning out, albeit, still about two feet high. Ball finding was easy although not always for your own.!! 

The winning team was that of Steve Rowley, Ken Pearce and Steve Bird with an average score of 28.5 very closely followed by Pete Broady, Alan Copeland and Ron Thornton on 28.

Top scorer for the day was Ron Thornton on 31 with Steve Bird and John Booth both on 30.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 16 July

Happy Mondays 3 August – Course closed

Due to course maintenance currently planned for the morning of 3 August there will be no Happy Mondays golf on that date.


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer A
Explanation: See Rule 3.2c. If a player declares a wrong handicap and does not correct the mistake before the opponent makes a stroke, if the declared handicap is too low, there is no penalty and the player must use the declared lower handicap to calculate the number of strokes the player gives or gets.


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 8 July 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

In determining if your ball is in a penalty area, whether your ball has moved or what caused the ball to move, you must be:
A – 50% certain as to what happened to the ball.
B – 95% certain as to what happened to the ball.
C – 100% certain as to what happened to the ball.

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Mitre Cup – Tuesday 11 August

The annual Ladies v Seniors Mitre Cup competition will take place on Tuesday, 11 August, with 12 tee-times booked from 10:57 a.m. onwards. 

As things stood last Thursday, 28 ladies had signed up to give us the annual thrashing we rightly deserve. At that point just 19 male seniors had put their heads above the parapet. We need willing volunteers to enter the fray!

There is a sign-up sheet on the Senior’s Notice Board, or you can message our Chairman Arthur Nuttall on IG to get in on the action. This has proved to be a very enjoyable event in past years, so please don’t delay in getting your name down.

Gordon Wood Trophy (Friday 10 July) and Hinson Cup (Wednesday 15 July)

A couple of important Senior dates for your diary:

Gordon Wood Trophy 10 July – a competition for paid up members of the Seniors Section. Played over eighteen holes. Please remember to enter this competition on IG before teeing off. No entry fee.

Hinson Cup 15 July – a club competition for any Lymm member over the age of 55. Played over 18 holes. Entry via the professional’s shop. Entry fee £2

Seniors Summer Get Together – Friday 17 July UPDATE

Author: Mike Kendal

We now have 44 players for the above as well as at least one name on the reserve list. The shotgun start is confirmed at 9.00 a.m. Please arrive no later than 8.30 a.m. so that we can all make our way to our designated tees. Once 15 holes are completed, we will return to the clubhouse for a brunch meal at approximately 12.30 p.m. The subsidised cost of £10 will be debited from the bar accounts of all 44 players early next week. Playing groups and format will be announced in next week’s newsletter.

Find the Fact – Steven Bird

Only one of the following statements about our Happy Mondays organiser Steve is correct. The other two are false. Can you pick out the true fact?

  1. Steve is a classically trained opera singer
  2. Steve’s uncle is the former Test Match cricket umpire the late Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird
  3. Steve once played football against ex-England striker Trevor Francis

Answer below

Seniors Fun Game (For a bottle of vintage chateaux de Goodman) – Friday 3 July

Reporter: Paul Foster

A short report this week.

Please note:

Twenty players signed up for the competition, only seventeen entered their scores into IG, and just thirteen handed their cards in.

May I remind you all of the club rules concerning this matter:

6.8 Immediately after playing in a competition, all competitors must enter their cards via the IG app and upload a photograph of their scorecard before depositing their original card in the box outside the Professional’s Shop.

Please ensure when uploading a photograph this clearly shows that the card has been signed. Failing to do so can incur a one-week disqualification from club Competitions.

In essence, if you enter the competition, you must enter your scores in IG.

Results

WinnerJohn Hayes33 points
Runner upPete Broady32 points

Happy Mondays Report – Monday 6 July

Reporter: Steve Bird

Just 9 players turned up in one team of 4, one of 3 and one of 2. I suspect a combination of England’s victory in the early hours of Monday morning and an 18 hole away day in the Welsh borders on Tuesday probably accounted for the low turnout.

Winners were Kevin Bocquet and Alan Copeland with an average score of 29.5. Runners up were John Booth, Colin Chisnall and Alan Thomas with 27. Top scorer for the day was Kevin with 31.

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 9 July

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 12 July

Update to Local Rules

For those that may have missed the email from Keith Melia dated 5 July concerning the changes to our local rules, here is a link to the local rules document which includes the changes. Changes concern greenkeeper’s vehicle paths and fixed sprinkler heads near the greens. I hope you find this helpful.

The email also contained clarification (below) on what to do when confronted by a ball resting up against a pile of ‘goose poop’? Critical information which every golfer needs to be aware of before setting foot on the course:

We have also received a request for a local rule to manage ‘goose poop’ on the course that may interfere with play; a local rule is being considered. The rules of golf treat this situation as a loose impediment, no pun intended, which may be removed without penalty provided the ball doesn’t move; please refer to R&A rule 15


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer B. Explanation: Known or virtually certain means more than just possible or probable. It means that either there is conclusive evidence that the event in question happened to the player’s ball, such as when the player or other witnesses saw it happen, or although there is a very small degree of doubt, all reasonably available information shows that it is at least 95% likely that the event in question happened. (See Definition of Known or Virtually Certain)

Find the Fact answer

Fact 3 is correct. Steve played for Walsall FC youth team against Birmingham City youth team when he was 15. He had the dubious pleasure of marking Trevor who, at the age of 16 later that year scored four goals against Bolton Wanderers for the first team and ten years later scored the winning goal for Nottingham Forest in the European Cup Final. Steve’s footballing ambitions ended with that game when he realised he wasn’t going to ‘make it’

Whilst not classically trained to sing opera, Steve did spend a couple of years as a part-time semi-professional classical singer. Dickie Bird is not Steve’s uncle although he did once spend a night at Steve’s house when Steve engaged him as an after-dinner speaker for an Institute of Bankers dinner in Wolverhampton. Dickies fee was a very modest sum and ‘put me up for the night’. Steve had initially approached a former Yorkshire and England fast bowler whose fee was substantially above Steve’s budget!


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 1 July 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

If your ball at rest is lifted by a dog, which of the following is true?
A – You must estimate the spot where ball was lifted and place the ball on that spot.
B – You must estimate the spot where the ball was lifted and drop the ball as near as possible to that spot, no nearer the hole.
C – You must estimate the spot where the ball was lifted and drop the ball within one club-length of that spot, no nearer the hole.

Answer at the end of this newsletter

Lymm Seniors Interclub Match v Bramhall (Away) – Friday 26 June

Match report – John Armstrong (Captain of the Day)

Result at Bramhall was 5-3 to the home team. Why we played in 35-degree heat beggars belief. It was like playing in Spain, without paying the air fare. The course was in excellent condition. No rough, so very enjoyable for all players. They have added a 600-yard hole this year which was quite challenging. The meal of steak pie, chips and veg was nice as we were all expecting sandwiches and salad, the normal meal after matches there previously.

Seniors Fun Game – Fun? Call that fun? – Friday 26 June

Reporter: Paul Foster

A small hardy band of seniors ignored all sensible advice and teed up for this week’s Bottle of Wine competition on what was officially the hottest day of the year. The sunshine also prompted the annual unveiling of the seniors’ summer wardrobe. There was an impressive collection of brightly coloured questionable fashionable shorts, accompanied by milk bottle legs poking out of the bottom. Whether they came for the golf or simply to avoid the gardening remains open to debate. With temperatures soaring, the fairways resembled the Serengeti, the greens were quicker than the bar queue after the round, and finding shade became almost as important as finding the fairway. Water bottles were in greater demand than drivers, and several players were heard claiming their golf balls had started to melt. The tropical conditions produced some distinctly average golf, maybe the heat could explain a few wayward drives (mine), missed putts and the occasional “selective” memory when it came to counting strokes. As always, excuses were plentiful and became more imaginative as the morning wore on. Fortunately, one player managed to keep both their head and their swing cool enough to emerge victorious and claim the much-coveted bottle of wine. A well-deserved congratulations to our winner Paul Collins, who now has the perfect accompaniment to rehydrate after 15 holes in the blazing sunshine. Well done to everyone who survived the heat, completed the course, and made it safely back to the clubhouse. Normal British summer weather, and the accompanying complaints about rain, are expected to resume shortly. In the meantime, members are reminded that suncream is cheaper than Aloe Vera, and that white legs are best introduced to the sun gradually!

Results

WinnerPaul Collins30 points
Runner upRichard Yates29 points (CPO)

Seniors Get Together – Shotgun start, subsidised meal and prizes! – Friday 17 July

No booking schedule for tomorrow evening this week as we have a special treat lined up for you. All paid up members of the seniors’ section are invited to take part in a Seniors Golfing Get Together on Friday 17 July.

The event will be a fifteen-hole team competition (details of the format in next week’s newsletter). There will be a shotgun start at 9.00 a.m. (to be confirmed) with the intention of getting the teams back together in the clubhouse for some post-round analysis by around noon. The entry of just £10 includes brunch after your round, together with high-quality prizes for the top two teams. Your entry fee allows for a £5 subsidy from Seniors’ funds. The cash will be debited from your club account before the event, with refunds for cancellation only possible by close of play on Wednesday 15 July.

Please register your interest by the closing date of Monday 13 July by sending an email to Mike Kendall (kendallymmgolf@gmail.com or by messaging him on IG. A sign-up sheet will also be pinned to the Seniors noticeboard as soon as this newsletter goes live.

There is a limit of 44 players so it will be first come first served. Book early to avoid disappointment!

Teams will be drawn at random, and you will be advised of your playing partners and starting hole in advance of the day. No team switching will be allowed!

Happy Mondays Report – 29 June

Reporter: Steve Bird

After sweltering weather in recent days a welcome return to near perfect golfing conditions with hazy sunshine and a cooling breeze.

Sixteen players turned up to play – two teams of 4, one of 3, two of 2 and one player who made up a team of three with two (not paid up) Seniors. Needless to say the latter card was ineligible which was a pity because our guy scored 37 points!

One of the teams of two did not complete the requisite 15 holes. 

Of the ‘survivors’ the winners were Steve Barlow and Barrie Simpson who averaged 30.5

Runners up were Mike Bennett, Andrew Cox, Colin Crail and Richard Yates with an average of 26.5.

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 5 July


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer A. Explanation: If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence (including a dog) lifted or moved a player’s ball at rest, there is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated). (See Rule 9.6)

Golf facts

During World War II, Augusta National didn’t just close — it was converted into grazing land. Around 200 cows and 1,000 turkeys wandered freely over the fairways, munching azaleas and stripping bark from trees. Prisoners of war were later brought in to help repair the damage once the course reopened.


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman

Newsletter – 24 June 2026

Featured

Rules quiz

When taking relief from an abnormal course condition in the general area, the ball must be dropped in:
A – A relief area of one club-length and can roll up to two club-lengths.
B – A relief area of one club-length and must come to rest within the relief area.
C – A relief area of two club-lengths and must come to rest within the relief area

Answers at the end of this newsletter

Friday 3 July – Tee times

Please note that the course needs to be vacated by 12.45 p.m. on the above date due to the Captains Charity Day shotgun start. Those who are booked into the later tee times, and who are keen to complete 15 holes, might want to ‘shuffle up’ the order to give yourselves time to complete your round.

Summer League – Round 10

Reporter: Steve Bird

Our Handicap Secretary Paul Foster is now back in Blighty and Friday found him in North Norfolk where I believe he frequented the Sandringham Estate and went catching crabs in Cromer. He avoided bumping into AM-W (the one who doesn’t sweat but regularly visits Pizza Express in Woking) but remarkably when catching a bus in the back of beyond unbelievably met our very own Stuart Baird – what are the odds on that?

Friday was a lovely day and after a false start a few weeks ago could it be that summer is finally here?

Thirty five competitors took part and the results were as follows :

Results

Division 1

WinnerMartin Franks37 points
Runner upDave Waggitt33 points
3rd placeAndrew Cox32 points (CPO)

Division 2

WinnerGeorge Clark34 points (CPO)
Runner upRon Thornton34 points
3rd placeAlan Copeland29 points

Four players scored 2’s, Russ Jones on the 5th and Koos Alders, George Clark and Martin Franks all on the 13th. Please see Mervyn to claim your sleeve of Dunlop 65’s.

So, the results of the Summer league are in. Please see the results table below for the final standings. Hearty congratulations to Martin Franks for his fantastic performance in week 10 which catapulted him into first position in division 1 and to Steve Bird and Alan Copeland the worthy joint winners of division 2. Our treasurer will remit the winnings to all those placed in the top 2 of both divisions and the winners will receive their trophies at the AGM.

Summer League – Final Results

Division 1

WinnerMartin Franks164 points
Runner upSteve Barlow160 points
3rd placeMichael John159 points

Division 2

Joint winnersSteve Bird & Alan Copeland152 points
3rd placeArt Laird150 points

Please access the full updated league tables from the link below:

Leader Boards

Happy Mondays Report – 22 June

Reporter: Steve Bird

A fine sunny morning greeted 15 players composed of one team of 4, three of 3 and one of 2. One team didn’t complete the full 15 holes for totally the opposite reason why a team didn’t make the full 15 only three weeks ago. Then it was torrential rain, today it was the heat – sums up our British weather!

With the course playing to proper summer conditions and plenty of roll on the ball there were some impressive scores. 

The winning team with an average score of 30.3 was Pete Broady (who is on a ‘streak’ following his win on Saturday), Steve Gosling and Peter Willson

Runners up were Steve Bird and Alan Copeland with a score of 29.5. Top scorers for the day were the two Alans, Copeland and Thomas both with 34 points. 

Tee booking schedule for tomorrow Thursday 25 June

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 28 June

Weird golf fact

In 1971, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first—and so far, only—person to play golf on the Moon. He smuggled a six‑iron head attached to a collapsible handle and hit two balls during the Apollo 14 mission. He claimed one went “miles and miles,” though later analysis showed it travelled about 40 yards in lunar gravity. (Editor’s note: Based on personal experience lunar gravity seems to be a factor on holes 3, 6, 12, 16 and 18 at Lymm GC!)


Rules Quiz answer

Correct answer B. Explanation: If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by dropping a ball in a one club-length relief area measured from the nearest point of complete relief in the general area, and not nearer the hole. (See Rule 16.1b) A player has completed taking relief when the ball is dropped in the right way andcomes to rest in the relief area. (See Rule 14.3c(1))


Newsletter editor: Ian Goodman