Golf club welcomes new captain
PRESTBURY Golf Club held their Captain’s Day celebrations to welcome new captain Graham Keys.
A renowned knee surgeon before retiring, Graham has repaired the knees of many golfers.
In keeping with the club’s 95-year tradition, the new captain teed off at 7am sharp under the watchful eyes of the club’s nine greenkeepers.
The head greenkeeper, Mark Crossley, retrieved the ball, for which he was given a coin, ‘a guinea’, by Graham.
The new captain, who took over the role in February from Paul Allen, then took his team of groundsmen for the traditional breakfast in the clubhouse before the men’s competition began.
The men’s competition is the largest of the year at the club with 153 players taking part this time.
Councillor Arthur Dicken, chairman of the club as well as of Prestbury parish council, said: “There was drizzle on the day which was bad news but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm at all and everyone played really well.”
Scooping the winner’s title was Andy Greenhalgh with a gross score of 67.
Coun Dicken said: “Andy was delighted and admitted he must have had a bit of luck on his side as well as skill.
“It was an amazing score – usually the winning score would be around 70.”
A party open to all 250 of the club’s members, male and female, was held after the competition.
The club also held another Captain’s Day for female members where they welcomed new captain Shirley Davies.
Coun Dicken added: “Golf clubs have been criticised a lot for being sexist but they are quite equal now.
“We have mixed golf sessions here as well as single sex ones.”
He laughed: “My wife Lynne plays golf better than I do actually – mind you, she was a PE teacher.”
Prestbury Golf Club was founded in 1920 and is ranked 5th in a list of the top 100 courses in Cheshire on website top100golfcourses.co.uk. where it is described as ‘a real Cheshire jewel.’
Coun Dicken said: “It’s fair to say we are one of the leading courses in Cheshire and even the north west.
“That’s because we have a fantastic course which is all down to Mark Crossley, our head greenkeeper.”