Society of Captains raise a toast at The Mere
THE Society of Manchester and District Golf Captains was founded in 1955 and goes from strength to strength with over 600 current members.
The Society enjoys a busy programme of competitions and matches against other Captains’ Societies and the hard work put in by their industrious officials was recognised by an excellent attendance at the splendid facilities of The Mere Resort for their annual dinner.
The principal and distinguished guests were Nigel Evans OBE, the President of England Golf, and Gavin Caldwell, the Captain of the R and A.
Tony McMunn, the President of Lancashire GU, brought along the English Counties Champions Trophy won by the Red Rose this year and which was first won in 1926 by Cheshire GU at Formby Golf Club.
Gavin Caldwell proposed a toast to the Society giving an entertaining and enlightening insight into his career and the work being done by the R and A for the benefit of golfers.
Tony Draper (Chorlton GC) the Society Captain replied and covered all of the results and work done by members of the organisation and announced that he would be succeeded in 2016 by Brian Ashfield (Chapel-en-le Frith GC).
The evening was concluded by Paul Mahoney, a sports journalist with the Independent who told stories of his work in meeting some of the game’s legends.
High Legh Park Golf Club’s fine new course lay-out and excellent greens saw another full and high quality field produce a string of good scores.
Alliance stalwart Craig Corrigan is enjoying a great season and he kept up his good form winning the individual pro prize with a sixunder-par haul of 42 points seeing him home from Anthony Millar (Ellesmere) and Graham Cox (Davenport), both 41.
The pro am section was also highly competitive with Ringway’s Dave Brunton having an excellent partner in Lee Tilley (Saddleworth) as they combined superbly for a top score of 46 points.
Chasing hard were Colin Moroney and Andy Fletcher (Bolton Old Links) 45 and Andy Palmer (Chorley) and Andrew Johnson (Bolton) who won a cpo on 44 from Graham Cox and his Mere Partner Anton Johnson and Phil Archer and Dave Smith (Birchwood).