Ainley departs Stockport post
AT Stockport Golf Club’s Annual General Meeting the retiring captain John Ainley expressed his appreciation to the members for helping him and his wife Alison have such an enjoyable year.
He thanked retiring president, Peter Bennett, and members of the Committee for their support throughout the year and reported that the Club finds itself in a healthy financial position with a clear plan to maintain its reputation as one of Cheshire’s premier golf clubs.
Membership levels and visitor numbers remain high, catering maintains its excellent reputation, but the ongoing programme of drainage works continues to be challenged by the recent downpours thrown at it by Mother Nature.
The new Club Captain for 2017/18 is Les Jowsey, who has been a member for seventeen years.
He has previously been a member at Arcot Hall GC, Robin Hood GC and Hazel Grove GC, where he was Captain in 1990/91.
He retired some years ago from financial services to spend more time with his wife Diane, the Retiring Lady Captain!
She enjoyed herself so much, both socially and on the course in her year of office that she was keen to carry on the lifestyle by supporting the new Captain during his year.
Marital equality and harmony (!) is being fostered further this year with the appointment of the new Lady Captain Irene Hegarty and her husband Brendan who becomes the Club President. Brendan’s formative golfing years were spent at Shaw Hill Golf Club, where his father was both Captain and President and his mother Lady Captain.
He met Irene, whose father was a member at Kings Norton Golf Club, at Manchester University and they have brought their family up in the Stockport area, beginning their association with the Club in the early 90’s. Brendan was appointed a Queens Counsel in 1992 and before retiring, he was a Specialist Senior Circuit Judge (Mercantile). He was also the President of the Manchester Tennis and Racquet Club from 2013-16.
The new Captain, without giving his age away to the meeting, explained that as one of the oldest Captains of the Club, he felt he should visit the doctor to check his health before accepting the nomination.
He was pleased to report that most things were OK physically, but that there were one or two outstanding questions regarding his sanity! At the end of the meeting, Les insured his early popularity by buying all those present his first (of many) rounds of drinks as Captain.
Bramall Park’s men played a Par competition for the President’s Prize and Alan Tattler claimed top spot with +4 from Jonathan Hudson and Ian Fensom, both +3.
Park’s juniors played a Stableford for the McIntosh Trophy and it was won by George Bell with 34 points, nine clear of Nathan Hopley and T Henderson.
Park’s ladies were also in Stableford action with Donna McIntosh leading in with 34 points from Patricia Philip 30 and D Garrett 28.
A singles Stableford for Bramhall’s men was a close affair with Robert Kenyon winning a cpo on 37 points from Charles Beadle, one more than Phillip Gray and Stephen Ellis.
Bramhall ladies played a singles Stableford in four divisions and topping the divisions were Katie Marriott with 33 points, Dianne O’Brien 26, Carolyn Eadsforth 29 and Rosa Sheard 33.
Hazel Grove’s men showed their adaptable skills in a Three Clubs and a Putter Stableford led in by Anthony Peel with 36 points ahead of Michael Wilkinson 34 and Trevor Davies 33.
A singles Stabelford for Grove’s ladies had division one topped by Vivienne Hudson with 24 points, one more than June Dawson and Valerie Walters.
Margaret Morley was the star turn in division two with 25 points and in division three Lindsey Withers had the top sore of the day posting an impressive 28 points.
The Jubilee Putter at Houldsworth was won by Roger berry with his nett 65 taking him four shots clear of Danny McCoy.
Houldsworth Captain Dave Raynor won a medal after a cpo on 67 with David Flint and The Webb Cup was won by Mark Merifield with a 36-hole total of 135 from Philip Armstrong 138.
Recent competitions for Reddish Vale ladies saw Mr Captain’s Prize won by Anne Gosling with 37 points and the Friendship Day with Heaton Moor and Houldsworth won by the top trio of Lynsey Warburton, Margaret Worrall and Ann Somers with 39 points.
Mike Radcliffe was an emphatic victor in a Wednesday Stableford for Vale’s men posting 40 points to finish ahead of Frank Frost 37 and Jason Leech 35.
Marple’s men played the first round of the Winter League and setting the early pace were M Burke and C Osborne with 29 from S Simposn and P Clarke 28 and S Jeffs and soccer legend Craig Frisby who led in five pairs on 27 points.
A singles Stableford for Marple ladies was a tight contest with Mary Gilbody winning a cpo on 25 points from Pat Owens and hot on their heels with 24 were Karen Buchanan and Janet Singleton.