Keeping on course in testing climate
GOLF clubs in the modern era need to be on the ball both on and off the course and there are many unsung heroes who love their club and put in many hours of valuable voluntary work.
Also playing a big part in a club’s success are the staff, all of whom have busy work schedules and need great expertise in dealing with the demands of members and visitors.
Stockport Golf Club is blessed with some very dedicated and professional staff who go the extra mile using their skills to make their club a pleasure to be a member of and a delightful place on and off the course for the many visitors to the club and work together as a real team.
One of the first concerns in any club is the condition of the golf course and their course manager for six years Adam Harrison is key to this and has endured some testing times this year.
Adam, who has worked at the club for six years, said: “Like most other golf clubs we have had a terrible period of poor weather when a half hour downpour can result in 71 hours work getting the bunkers back into play.
“Keeping consistency throughout all areas of the course is a priority and we are also balancing the long term course improvement programme and giving the staff training on new equipment.
“We also have an exciting bunker initiative using a new rubber base and look forward to the improvements that this will bring.”
Stockport professional Gary Norcott, who has also been at the club for six years, is very busy with coaching and retail in his excellent pro shop and he outlined some of the extra problems that occur on an almost daily basis that he has to deal with.
Gary said: “These include competing with the internet, having long working days in the summer without a break, balancing tee times between roll ups, small societies, visitors and members and finally doing business in the ‘low season’ which has not been helped by winter weather in recent years.”
Paul and Tina Hill have been the club stewards at the club for 25 years and seen many changes during their time.
Paul said: “Tina and I have had so many good experiences from the members of the club but the one that stands out is the amount of goodwill and generosity received at our daughter’s wedding in 2013.
“We try to strike a balance between pricing and maintain good quality and service and enjoy the pleasure the members and visitors get from playing the course and using the clubhouse facilities.
“We always aim to maintain the traditions of the club and encourage new members to use the excellent clubhouse facilities.”
The final word came from Jayne Scowen the assistant to the club secretary for six years.
“I enjoy being treated like a member of the family with genuine warmth, generosity, kindness, consideration and respect and appreciation of the varied work that I do.
“These include confidentiality, understanding other points of view, awareness of personal data information and being the point of contact between members, staff and committee.”
The final word came for Jayne Scowen who has been assistant to the secretary for seven years.
“I enjoy being treated s a member of the club family with genuine warmth, generosity, kindness, consideration and respect and an appreciation of the varied aspects of work that I have to deal with.
“These include confidentiality, understanding other points of view, awareness of personal data information and being the point of contact between members, staff and committee.”
A Midweek Stableford at Avro was won by Graham Turnock with 34 points putting him clear of Michael McDonagh and Ken Fairfield, both 33 and Derek Ellershaw and Stephen Callaghan, both 31.
A Wednesday Stableford at Reddish Vale was won by Neil Goddard after a cpo on 35 points with Wasif Yousaf.
Bramall Park ladies played a Festive Team of Three Stableford and it was led in by the hot trio of P Hulme, Judy Read and Michelle Pretty with 60 points ahead of Doreen Robinson, S Souter and F Stafford 58 and J Coutts, R Day and E Curwen 57.
Hazel Grove’s men showed their adaptable skills in a Three Clubs and a Putter Stableford and Michael Stewardson was a clear winner on 36 points ahead of David Hall, Jonathan Turner and Alan Carey, all 33.
Grove’s ladies played a Three Am Stableford and the legendary skills of Viv Carroll saw her lead her team of M Worsley and S Hodgkiss to win a cpo on 43 points from K Edwards, G Davidson and K Rodgers.
Marple’s men played a Spirit of Christmas Stableford and in division one Michael Lowe won a cpo on 29 points from Mark Oldfield, one more than Brian Valentine.
In division two Walter Derry was out on his own with 32 points from Peter Clarke and Robert Southwick, both 30.
The draw has been made for the Manchester Alliance’s scratch knock out and features a very strong field on 32 local professionals aiming to reach finals day on Sunday April 8 at the traditional venue of Ashtonon-Mersey Golf Club.
The day will feature the semi-finals and final of the main competition as well as the semi-finals and final for the assistant professionals.
Looking to retain his title is Styal Golf Club’s Alistair Waddell who won a dramatic final in 2017 against defending champion, the vastly experienced former European Tour player, Phil Archer (Birchwood).
This followed a 4/3 semi-final win over another former champion Graham Cox (Lymm).
Defending the assistant’s trophy is Jamie Howarth (Davenport), a former junior at Marple Golf Club, who beat Stand’s Rob Batchelor 2/1 in another close contest.
The draw for round one sees Waddell visiting Hazel Grove to take on Ben Thompson and Phil Archer visits Davyhulme Park to take on their professional Martyn Hamer.