Golf Union dinner breaks new ground
THE Annual Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs Annual Dinner broke new ground by inviting ladies and juniors to enjoy a great night of awards and entertainment.
The Mere Resort were once again excellent hosts providing a great setting, fine food and top class service for a full house of men, ladies and juniors who enjoyed a colourful, very friendly and sociable occasion.
In 2021 lady guests were invited to the CUGC Centenary Dinner for the first time and it worked so well that it was decided to add to this with juniors invited and there were also some special awards given during the evening.
County Boys Junior Captain Ben Currie (Wilmslow Golf Club) was also there along with several junior team members the first time this has happened in 101 years!
The main guest was Les Wilson, the President of England Golf who hails from Lancashire UGC and Greenmount Golf Club.
The evening had Simon Dangar as the MC and comedian and actor Vince Earle providing the entertainment at the end of a memorable evening.
It was also a special night for CUGC’s secretary Peter Whitehead who is retiring after six years of dedicated and much appreciated service to Cheshire golf.
Les Wilson paid tribute to CUGC President Martyn Grimley and the outstanding work done by the CUGC, particularly junior golf and he presented the Centenary Plaque to Astbury Golf Club’s 2021 Lady Captain Linda Stevens.
Les also presented the England Golf ‘Club of the Year’ trophy to officials from winners Hazel Grove GC.
The first of the new awards went to Junior Golfer of the Year and it went to a very proud Daniel Hayes (Bramhall Golf Club) who gave an excellent response to his award.
Also new were awards to the top two junior golf organisers Isobel Parry (Ringway) and Dave Parsons (Heswall GC).
The other new award was for Outstanding Achievement was given to Dave Sanders, a true legend of Reddish Vale GC.
The team player of the year was Jack Nicholson (Vicars Cross GC) and Matt DoddBerry (Royal Liverpool)was the Order of Merit winner.
The final award was to the County Seniors Player of the Year and it was taken by team manager Gareth Bradley.
CUGC President Martyn Grimley presented the awards and also gave an excellent speech outlining all the hard work done by so many volunteers in clubs and the county which keeps Cheshire very high in the England Golf rankings.
Avro Seniors played Turkey Trot Stableford and picking up the biggest bird was Bob Holt with 36 from Jack Leech 33 and Tim Bochenski and Tom Bagshaw, both 32.
The FS Hill Stableford Trophy at Avro was won by Stephen Callaghan 36 from John Isherwood 35 and Peter Roles 34.
Avro ladies were in Stableford action with the 18-hole winner being Gabby Hampshire
33 from Kirtsy Balderson 32 and the 9-hole winner was Linda Delahunty 11 from Doreen McGarrie 10.
A Two Ball Texas Scramble at Alderley Edge was won by the dynamic duo of Richard Walker and Andy Young after a cpo on 62.0 from S Allen and C Cartwright.
A singles Stableford at Davenport saw the four divisions topped by Paul Robinson 37, Iain Faulkner 35, Mike Rigg after a cpo on 33 with David Powell and Charles Parry after a cpo on 35 with Michael Holmes and Neil Healey.
Davenport ladies had a 14-hole Stableford won by Christine Thwaites after a cpo on 29 with Carol Cooke.
The 9-hole winner was Christine Deacon after a cpo on 15 with Vivienne Stanley.
A Bogey at Mottram Hall saw division one won by David Simcock+2 from Rob Jones +1.
In division two Jason Harney was first past the post on +4 from Andrew Hockenhull +3.
Prestbury ladies played a Lady Captain’s choice Team of three 14 hole Stableford and top of the shop with 76 were J Morris, Elaine Fawkes and M Wood one more than J Duncan,
J Higson and T Moorhouse and Angela Riordan, Y Dodd and C Sutton.
A Ladies Stableford at Styal was won by Christine Buxton after a cpo on 27 with Helen Billington, one more than Andrea Savin.
A Styal Seniors Winter League Stableford had Paul Carr on top with 40 from Hoard Dickson 39 and David O’Neil 37.
The Saturday Stableford at Styal had division one topped by Cole Brown after a cpo on 35 with Anton Barnskey and Ifti Ahmed.
Tom Greenhalgh led in division two with 37 from Brian Appleby 36 and Dennis Chester and Richard Armstead, both 34.
There was a full field with a waiting list for the latest Manchester Alliance fixture at Bramhall Golf Club, one of the top courses and clubs in the region.
The quality of the course was reflected by some excellent scoring with close contests in all sections.
Local professional Jamie Howarth (Davenport) was the top individual pro with a fourunder-par score of 40 points, two more than Jack Wiggans (Chorley) and Alistair Waddell (Chorlton).
Jamie made it a double as his usual very reliable club partner Paul Robinson in the pro am section boosted the team score to 44 to finish ahead of Jack Wiggans and Graham Moores (Chorley) 43 and Disley duo of Ian Ridgway and Chris Jenkinson.
It was also tight in the am am section with Charles Herbert (Reddish Vale) and Ross Birch (Stockport) on top with 43 from Ian Fearns (Stamford) and Paul Ralph (Hazel Grove) 42 and Mellor and Townscliffe’s hot pair of Chris Lee and Andy Duncan 41.
Tom Fenton (Styal) completed the prizes by winning the nearest the pin competition.