Abi and Graham in for Cheshire double
ENGLAND Golf celebrated its Centenary in style at The Midland Hotel in Manchester where it was started on the same date in 1924.
There was a huge attendance of representatives from across England in attendance, many from Cheshire, as the England awards for 2024 were presented on a very special occasion for golf.
One of the stars of the show was Sky Sports Golf Presenter Nick Dougherty who outlined all of the achievements of all of the nominees for the awards before announcing the winners and interviewing them.
Cheshire were proud to have two winners on the night in Abi Frodsham and Graham McCormack.
Wallasey Golf Club’s Abi Frodsham picked up the England Golf Volunteer of the Year award for 2024.
Abi has delivered golf in nine schools to over 500 children, and as acting Junior Organiser at Wallasey, she marketed and delivered the Girls Golf Rocks programme and follow-on sessions.
At Leasowe, Abi supported community sessions for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and has volunteered with Liverpool Football Club Foundation at LJMU Game On girls’ campaign, inspiring young girls in Liverpool into sport.
Also nominated for the award was Melissa Clapham (Romiley Golf Club)
After picking up her award, Abi said: “My heart was beating a lot! It was a really nice surprise and I was a bit nervous walking up in front of all those people but it was cool, it means a lot.”
One of final awards which had no nominations declared was for the– Lifetime Service Award.
So it was a big and very pleasant surprise for CUGC stalwart Graham McCormack when Nick Dougherty announced that he had won the award.
Graham has been involved in junior golf in Cheshire for over 40 years.
Starting initially as Junior
Organiser for his home club Birchwood, he went on to manage and run the Mid Cheshire Junior League which involved 24 clubs from across the county. The league went on to become what was one of the largest junior leagues in the north of England.
In 2011, he was elected to serve on the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs Executive. At the time, Cheshire only ran an U18 team, and in 2012 he volunteered to create a Cheshire U14 group to encourage talented youngsters to realise their full potential.
Under Graham’s guidance, many of the youngsters went on to represent teams within the county at a higher level.
After being presented with his award, Graham said: “I’m gob-smacked, this came out of the blue. I’m delighted but I’ll just keep my head down and keep going.
“When I see juniors coming through, they all improve. There’s only a handful at the end who go on to make the very top
but at the end of it all, if their handicap has come down, they’ve learned a lot, and they learn life skills, which is what it’s all about. It’s not just about golf, but we teach them to lose and how to handle losing.”
A ladies Stableford at Alderley Edge was won by Liz Gardner 19 from Sue Kendrick 17.
Prestbury ladies were also in action in a 8-hole Winter league and on top with 21 was Shirley Osbaldeston well clear of Caroline Harrison-Croft 17, Elizabeth Thomas 15 and Jacqui Bickerton, Jillian Morris and Michelle Pretty, all 14.
A 12-hole Texas Scramble at Styal was tight with G Moorhouse, A Barker, S Elms and R Metcalfe winning a cpo on 31.0 from S Joyce, J McGregor, C Gormley and A Ghost with G Stevens, A Barnsley, L Cullen and L Davis next in on 32.0.
The City Glass Men’s Foursomes is one of the oldest Manchester and District Alliance’s Interclub knockouts’
It features teams of
seven pairs of whom five players should be under nine handicap and the other nine between 9-20.
It was originally called
the Cavanagh Timber Foursomes until the sponsors changed to City Glass a few years ago.
The current trophy holders are Davenport GC
who will host this year’s finals day.
They have drawn Werneth Low GC in the preliminary round and the local clubs in this round are Heaton Park v Alderley Edge, Shrigley Hall v Vale Royal Abbey.
Through to round one with byes are Macclesfield and Tytherington.