A new captain takes the reins
HAZEL Grove Golf Club’s new captain, Iain Cole, has a rich Scottish heritage in golf having been born into a golfing family and first hit a golf ball back in the 1960s at Linlithgow when he was three to four years of age.
Iain has been a member of Hazel Grove for 30 years and works as a senior policy advisor with HM Customs and Revenue.
His current golf handicap is 6.5 (he thinks that he is a bandit off seven) and his best handicap was four and he was proud to have been a category one golfer for the past ten years or so.
A current shoulder injury has restricted his playing in the past 12 months but now he is back to full fitness and with the aid of Grove pro, James Rowlands, he is aiming to get back to five in 2018.
Iain said: “Apart from my own course any Scottish links course would be my favourite and of these probably Royal Dornoch is the top one and I have been fortunate to play in their annual Carnegie Shield each year.
“My favourite hole at Grove is the 18th as it is tough into a breeze with a drive over water, trees left and right and a tricky shot from 120-150 yards into a true Mackenzie green.
“Walking off with a four is always a good result and a tap to the club’s course designer, Alister Mackenzie, who has his carving standing proudly looking over the green – a tap to the golfing gods!
“I trained as a PE teacher and sports psychologist so sports has always been my main hobby in one form or another and nowadays it is more about staying healthy – I like to juggle and have been known to unicycle, and my pure recreation is with family where I enjoy cooking and all things French – cuisine, wine and holidays visiting friends and any my French family.
“I do not support any football team but support Scotland Rugby and I am fortunate that I can watch all their home games in Edinburgh.
“I will be supporting two charities during my year in office – Young Minds, which is the UK’s leading charity championing the well being and metal health of young people – and is supported by the Royals Harry, William and Kate – and also England and Wales Blind Golf.
“This provides visually handicapped people with the facility to train and compete in the game of golf and it is dear to my heart for personal reasons as I was once almost blinded by an errant golf shot. I will be hosting a medal in 2018 in support of the charity.
“I will also be competing in the Macmillan 2018 Challenge playing four local courses in a day and I will split any money raised between my two chosen charities.
“My own personal golfing highlight was playing around Carnoustie to five handicap in the year that Padraig Harrington won. I had watched a young Rory McIlroy play there as an amateur and few weeks later played in front of the stands with friend who was a member there and we played off the white tees – it remains the toughest Open venue I have played.
“My chosen players in a four ball would be Payne Stewart – because I have shared the joys of colourful plus fours for as long as I watched him when he was alive, and he would have a tale to tell.
“Then there would be Gary Player – because of his longevity and fitness ethos. He also stopped once, back in the 60s, to let my father play his shot at Carnoustie – he was practising for the Open and my father was on the adjoining Burnside course and he was always a gentleman.
“Finally there would be Seve, who was one of a kind and a magician with any club from any position – and PG Wodehouse as he would be able to keep you amused for hours on end with all of his golfing tales.
“My personal challenge to all club members and all golfers who come to Hazel Grove is to come off the 18th with a smile. We are a friendly club with much to offer to golfers of all abilities – they will not be disappointed as the 19th hole awaits them to share tales of mirth, golfing exploits or just sheer bravado on the course.”
The captain’s drive-in at Avro had Roy Whalley, Wayne Griffiths and David Ferguson out on their own with 83 points, which was a massive 14 points ahead of Peter Walker, Bryan Neil and Ian Anderson.
A Seniors Stableford at Avro was won by Kevin Moore with 39 points from Kenneth Morrison 36 and John Isherwood and Bryan Neil, both 31.
A Christmas Stableford for Disley ladies, had Linda McKay on top with 34 points from Maeve Jenkinson 33, Leigh Duffy 31 and Sue Thompson and Debbie Eyre, both 29.
Cheadle ladies played a 9-hole Stableford and Susan Shaw was first past the post with 17 points from Jayne Warren 17, Jacquie Popplewell 13 and Chani Ganatra 12.
Lee Wells was untouchable at Gatley in an Xmas Fayre Stableford posting 43 points to finish miles ahead of Neil Paton 32, Colin Miller 31 and David Smith 30. Romiley juniors played the latest round of their 9-hole Winter League and Bradley Snape led in with 19 points, two more than his sister Brook with L Knowles next in with 16.
Mellor and Townscliffe ladies were in singles Stableford action and Brenda Gee was a clear winner with 30 points from Christine Bartlett 26 and Pat Phillips 25.
A singles Stableford for M and T’s men had inform Paul Todkill on top of division one with 29 points from Paul Wilkinson 28 and John Collinson 26.
In division two the consistent Ian Appleton was out on his own with 33 points from Robert Davies 29 and D Edge 26.
Withington Golf Club were superb hosts after taking on the popular Joanne Morley Junior Challenge competition following the earlier postponement of the competition at Sale Golf Club with the problems caused by Storm Brian.
A bright sunny day, good course conditions and a record entry of players from well over 20 clubs in the region saw some great golf played by boys and girls under 16 years who were all a credit to their parents, junior organisers and clubs both on and off the course.
Golfing legend Joanne Morley has a fantastic record at amateur and professional level having played in the Curtis Cup and the Solheim Cup, on the LPGA and LET for several years, and also vice captain for a winning Solheim Cup team. She has been involved in the competition for more 20 years.
Once more she was there to see off all of the players and present the prizes.
Also giving help and encouragement on the day were Withington officials Simon Morrow and Paul Higgins and Captain Martin Keates who enjoyed watching the players in action, and it was also good to see Cheshire Junior organiser Graham McCormack giving his support to the competition.
Due to light shortage the competition was reduced to 16 holes and there was the usual tight finish needing a cpo on 36 points to decided the destiny of the coveted Joanne Morley Trophy won in 2016 by Daniel O’Gorman of Sale Golf Club.
Sale Junior Captain Adam Carr won the cpo from Daniel Beck (Styal), to take the trophy back to Sale, closely pursued by James Hobson (Sale) 35 points with the other boys’ prizes being won by James Ashfield (Delamere Forest) and Ryan Anderton (Chorley), both 34 and Henry Brogan (Delamere Forest) 33.
Leading in the girls was Bronwyn Parker (Styal) 35 from Josie Plowman (Manchester) 32, Josie Cowap (Crewe) 32, Amy Sarjantson (Didsbury) 29 and Imogen Williamson (Delamere Forest) 26.
Nearest the pin prizes went to Will Lord (Ringway) and Carina-May Teirney (Crompton and Royton) and the best u11 years and under prize was taken by Ben Brogan (Delamere Forest).
The final prizes on offer were the team prizes with the top team from Styal (Jack Muir, Bronwyn Parker and Daniel Beck) posting an impressive 103 points to lead in from Delamere Forest’s Henry and Ben Brogan and Oscar Doran 94.
Thanks go to the generous sponsorship given to the event by The Golf Foundation, Martin Wild from Callaway Golf, Marriott Worsley Park, Alderley Edge Golf Club, Sale Golf Club, Styal Golf Club, the Boomers and Swingers DR, the Trafford Golf Centreand The Aviary Golf in Timperley.