Five golden rings? No, just the one’s enough to make Gary’s Christmas
RETURN OF LOST GOLFING MEMENTO IS BEST PRESENT HE COULD HAVE WISHED FOR
A GOLD ring of huge sentimental value belonging to leading amateur golfer Gary Wolstenholme and lost during a tournament has turned up after 12 months.
The signet ring was specially created and inscribed to mark Gary being a member of the winning Great Britain and Ireland Eisenhower Trophy side – the world amateur team championship – in 1998 in Chile.
It was lost when he took part in last year’s British Par 3 Championship at Nailcote Hall in Coventry.
Gary said that he had taken it off to play, as he usually did, but that he remembered being somewhat rushed at the time it was lost.
Before the tournament he had met golfing enthusiast George Bly, as he had some memorabilia including a rare photo of Gary’s dad, Guy, winning the PGA Championship at Saunton in 1966.
“We met in the car park by the putting green before I was due to tee off, so I was rather rushed,” Gary said.
“The photograph of my father was fantastic, so I was very pleased as I have very little memorabilia of him, and this was a very good one, framed.
“So I put it into my car and then the car keys back into my golf bag, but somehow the ring, which I had taken off ready to play, must have fallen out and I didn’t find out until after my round.
“I searched thoroughly everywhere, reported it to the hotel staff at the time, but there was absolutely no sign.
“That is until just a few days ago, when someone playing at Nailcote found it, by the putting green, but quite buried. It was really lucky he was able to spot it.
“He took the ring to the hotel proprietor, Rick Cressman, who telephoned me with the good news.
“I could scarcely believe it. Although the ring was insured, I had never claimed and just regarded it as lost.
“So I was thrilled and came down
to the Midlands this week to meet Rick and the man who discovered it, David A’Ness, to collect it.
“Rick had worked out it was my missing ring because of my initials and the inscription on the inside.”
Gary handed David a magnum of champagne and a piece of golfing memorabilia – a British Par 3 Cham
pionship tee flag signed by tournament host Tony Jacklin and others
The ring has special sentimental value as Gary’s mum had said she wanted to give him something to mark the Eisenhower triumph in Santiago, and it was made and inscribed especially for Gary by a jeweller.
The ring has its roots in Wolstenholme’s time in Leicestershire, with an original gold ring bought when he lived in digs in East Park Road, Leicester, in 1995, melted down and incorporated into the new ring three years later.
Gary, who played in six Walker Cup matches and was twice Ama
teur Champion, said he was absolutely thrilled to be reunited with it.
“It was part of my daily life for so long. I put it straight back on to my finger and hope I never lose it again,” he said.
“It is the perfect Christmas present as it means so much to me in so many different ways.”