Crossley out to improve Prestbury
PRESTBURY Golf Club has a proud reputation of having one of the top courses in Cheshire and the North Region having staged top County and Open Regional Qualifying competitions for many years.
They recently appointed a course manager in Mark Crossley and he is delighted to be given the opportunity to work at Prestbury and will look to improve the course even more. Mark said: “I got into golf as a junior playing with my father but football and cricket always came first.
“My father owned a landscaping business and this got me used to working outside as I worked for the business from the age of 13 during school holidays and weekends.
“I began green keeping as a summer worker at Skipton GC and this led to a role in the following summer closer to home at Nelson GC in 1999.
“During that year I joined Myerscough College where I completed my Foundation Degree in Turf Science and Golf Course Management which included a work placement in the sunshine of Tenerife.
“During my final year I was offered a first assistant’s position back at Nelson GC where I spent two years before moving to Stockport GC where I had previously volunteered to help in course preparation for the Regional Open Qualifying.
“At Stockport I really learned a keen eye for detail that is essential to manage any golf course.
“After three years at Stockport I was offered the chance to become course manager at Mickleover GC and I will always be grateful to them for giving a 24-year-old a chance to make a name for himself and five years on I found myself at Chesterfield GC where we held many county and Midland events.
“Not only did we improve the quality of the course but also wrote the club’s first Course Policy Document, upgraded all the machinery and installed a state-of-the-art £250,000 irrigation system.
“I greatly enjoyed my time at the two Derbyshire clubs and will always be grateful to them for the help, guidance and support they offered me.
“In order to keep progressing my career I knew that I had to apply for the position at Prestbury when it came up and for some reason the club decided to appoint me and three months on I could not be happier. “I have had a wonderful reception by members and staff, the kind you hope for but never really know until you get there.
“Prestbury has a stunning course and it is all about improving it further.
“We are planning to redevelop all the bunkers on the course, more in tune with the original Harry Colt style bunkers as well as the teeing areas, two problem greens as well as much agronomy work such as changing the composition of the grasses on the greens.”
Prestbury manager Neville Young added: “Mark has made an immediate impact on the course and all at the club are looking forward to him and his team continuing their good work in the coming years ahead to make the course one of the best in the North of England.”
James Robson certainly found the Prestbury course in great condition as he posted a massive 46 points to win a midweek Stableford by seven points from Matthew Delany.
It was closer in a medal on President’s Day at Prestbury with Martin Constable winning a cpo on 69 from Carl Phelan with Mark Mellor two shots off the pace.
Par action for Prestbury ladies saw Debbie Baker win division one on +1 from Jillian Morris level par.
In division two Margaret Simons won a cpo on +1 from Gill Usher.
Alderley Edge’s men played over two days for the Captain’s Prize and in round one the pace was set by Luke Foden with a stunning nett 58 seeing him five clear of Tom Troup.
Round two was won by S Edwards with 65 but hot on his heels and maintaining his momentum with 66 was Luke Foden to win at a canter with a total of 124 seeing him ahead of S Edwards 133 and M Fox 134.
Alex Weare was a top junior at Tytherington reaching a scratch handicap before taking on a Golf Scholarship in the USA for three years.
On his return he rejoined Tytherington after finishing his studies this summer and quickly made an impact by winning the club championship.
Alex was joined by Carole Ryder who won the Ladies Scratch championship which she had not won for seven years.
The other winners were Ian Mathers, who took the Seniors championship for the fourth successive year and Eileen Jones won the Ladies Seniors title – a great achievement after only playing for three years and getting down to a fine nine handicap.
The best nett scores were posted by Tom Hulme, Jane Ambler, Neil Macleod and Jean McKillop.