GOLF GEOFF GARNETT
JAMES Rowlands is delighted to have completed an amazing seven years as the professional at Hazel Grove Golf Club after some good golfing experience on the way to his current role.
James said: “I started my PGA in 2003 at Chorlton Golf Club with David Valentine as the club professional and then began working at Ashton Under Lyne Golf Club in 2006 with the late Colin Boyle and I qualified as a PGA Professional in 2007
“My next job was working at Oldham Golf Club from 2008 as the Club Professional before moving toHazel Grove Golf Club in 2012 as their Club Professional
“I would like to thank all the professionals who have helped me along the way for their knowledge and encouragement. I must thank my Dad especially who was not a professional but gave me the foundations in golf from an early age around the North Wales Links of Abersoch Golf Club -we spent most of the time running around so we didn’t hold anyone up!
“Also thanks to the club professional Alan Jones for employing me as a shop assistant which sparked my interest in becoming a PGA Professional.
“Hazel Grove is a very forward-thinking golf club. We are an inclusive club where ladies and men have the same playing rights and pay the same membership fees. Ladies enjoy taking part in the Club Saturday competitions and from this we are going to see some growth in our lady membership numbers.
“Any ladies interested in being part of our club should contact me on 0161 4837272 - whether beginner to experienced golfer we have what you need.
“The new Airport relief road that has now been opened has made our club much more accessible from further away, cutting journey time in half. We are now able to market and promote our club to a wider audience that was once put off by the journey.
“I love working at the club and hope to be here for many years to come! We have a growing membership and thriving junior section that has been developed by the Saturday academy I run every Saturday during the summer months.
“One of it highlights developed from this is our PGA Professional Callum Hughes who is now part of the pro shop team here at the club.
“Callum Started playing golf at HGGC in 2012 as part of our academy and to get where he has is a brilliant achievement.
“We also boast past Cheshire stroke and Match play champion Iain Davie as part of our team here at the club. Iain is now a fully qualified Professional.
“With our excellent team we are going to be organising several Get into Golf group lessons in 2019 to help grow the game and our club membership by engaging with more people.
“I can’t begin to show my gratitude to the club officials and members for all their support over the years. I can only hope that I have done them justice and served them well.
The club now has some brilliant officials in place for 2019 in our new Captain, Simon Ashton, Lady Captain Margaret Farrell and Cheshire legend and long-standing club member Andrew Hill as our President.”
A Three division Stableford at Hazel Grove had division one topped by Ross Tetlow with 34 points ahead of Robert Dawson 32 and Robert Cain 30.
In division two Peter Allen was first past the post with 34 points ahead of David Walters 33 and Carson Williams 32.
Finally in division three Bruce Jordan led in with 32 points from Darren Bridge 31 and Phil Thorley and Neil Harding, both 30.
Grove’s ladies were also in Stableford mode and Lindsey Withers was top of the shop with 23 points from Sharon Hodgkiss 21, Ruth Lupton 20 and Sheila Booth 18.
Avro star Peter Walker showed his class again as he won the Midweek Stableford with 40 points ahead of Kenneth Morrison 39 and Graham Turnock 36.
But in a seniors Stableford Peter had to be content with his 38 pointer putting him in third place behind Frank Cawood 40 and Derek Jones 39.
Busy times at Marple with a Winter League BB Stableford led in by P Law and S Needham with 45 points pursued all the way by V Wolstenholme and J Rogers 44 and D Wilson and J Bawden 43.
A Seniors 15 hole Three Mulligans Stableford saw Cheshire star Mike Field on top with 40 points from Brian Flynn 39 and Jonathan Vasey 38.
A Team Trios at Marple was led in by T Svensson, J Quinn and J Taylor with 62 points from L Clements, M Oldfield and S Taylor who won a cpo on 60 from V Wolstenholme, J Rogers and N Woodhouse.
Marple ladies played a Winter Prize Stableford and it was won by Elaine Jones with 26 points from Janet Singleton 25 and Jean Colclough 24.
Plenty of action also at Reddish Vale with an American Foursomes being won by John Booth and Bob Little with47 from Alan Malone and Eddie Burke 49 and Barry Hammond and John Seaton 51
A Pro’s Stableford was led in by John Northrop with 38 points, well clear of Andy Mackenzie 36 and Danny Wilkinson 35.
In a Wednesday Stableford Andy White posted an impressive 40 points to win from Dave Hamilton 37 and Paddy Weadick 35.
The Winter Order of Merit current standings at Vale see Paul Bruckshaw setting a hot pace with 240 points from Andy Humphrey 290 and Andy Cummings 275.