Knowles has the know-how
TYTHERINGTON Golf Club’s new course manager Chris Knowles comes into his new role with a great level of experience across the golfing world and he is relishing his new challenge.
Chris said: “As a junior member at Lilleshall Hall GC in Shropshire I played a bit of golf with my father and grandfather.
“I always loved the setting of the golf course and I was and still am very passionate about the wildlife that one finds on a golf course.
“At the age of 16 knowing that I wanted to work outdoors and maybe on a golf course I started a BTEC first in Land Use at Walford College in Shrewsbury which included day release at the Telford Golf and Country Club.
“I enjoyed this so much that I decided that green keeping was for me and I enrolled at Myerscough College in the three-year BTEC National in Turf Science and Sportsground management which included a six-month placement at the Belfry during the 19913 Ryder Cup and a six-month placement at the Abbotsley GC in Cambs..
“After completing the course in 1995 I was lucky to secure a year’s placement at the Double Eagle Club in Ohio which was voted as the second-best golf course in the world in 1995 by the Golf Digest magazine.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience but had to return to the UK in 1996 and secured a job at The Forest of Arden up to and including the Alamo English Open.
“Whilst at the Forest I heard that the position of deputy head green keeper had become available at Seedy Mill GC (now Lichfield Golf and Country Club and part of the Club Company).
“During the interview I heard the position was actually for head green keeper and my interview went well because at the age of 22 I was appointed as head green keeper.
“After six challenging but enjoyable years a chance then arose for a head green keeper’s position in Germany.
The Men’s Captain’s Prize Day at Wilmslow was a tight affair with Tim Jackson posting 70 to win by a shot from Mark Patrick, William McLeod, Chris Morfitt and Sam Proctor.
The monthly medal at Alderley Edge had Andrew Marshall topping division one with 67. One clear of Mike Troup and Michael Davies.
In division two Mike O’Regan won a cpo on 67 from Brian Pennington.
Edge’s ladies played a medal to find their MDLGA Bunty booth qualifier for 2017 and Wendy Rule was an emphatic winner on 71, four clear of Celia Berent.
Styal ladies were also in medal mode with Joan Doyle first past the post with 74 from Diana Prow 76 and Pat Chadwick 79.
Styal juniors played the latest round of their summer series and Jack Muir won a cpo on 20 points from Max Nicholson.
The David Horsey medal at Styal saw Ryan Owen lead in with 67 from Rob Sanderson 68 and Howard Rice 70.
The latest Styal Seniors Stableford was won by Malcolm Hollins with 37 from Kit Clucas 36 and Mel Mason 35.
It was neck and neck in a Thursday Stableford at Shrigley Hall with Roderick Scott winning a cpo on 39 points from Barry Horrocks and Brian Hopkins.
In the monthly medal at Shrigley Mark Kleynhans topped division one with 63 from Mark Knight 66 and in division two Peter Duffy posted 72 to finish four shots clear of Eamon McGeady.
Macclesfield’s men played a Stableford for the Captain’s Charity and in division one the main man was Chris Massey with 40 points, one more than Simon Paddock.
Division two honours were taken by Ron Blench with 40 points, two more than Derek Payne, Paul Baguley, Ray Sheldon, Andrew Grist and Bob McGrouther.
A singles Stableford for Macc ladies saw Sue Orwin show her class with 34 points to lead in from Andrea Cheetham 33 and Sue Gibson 32.
The Fourth Summer medal at Davenport saw the divisions led in by Bradley Cooke 68, Phil Enstone after a cpo on 68 with Joseph Fletcher and Don Sutherland after a cpo on 72 with Philip Marland. Davenport ladies enjoyed Lady Captain’s Day and none more than Dorothy Sandham who led in with 71, two shots clear of Tina Brown, Luisa Bryceland and Lynda Jones.
A singles Stableford at Mottram Hall had four players locked on 38 points with the cpo going in favour of Adam Bunt from Graham Roche, Kieren Hall and David Stevenson.
Prestbury ladies played their MDLGA Bunty Booth qualifier and in division one England girls star Isobel Wardle led in with 38 points, two more than Barbara Boyd.