Harry revives Vale junior role
REDDISH Vale Golf Club members and staff were delighted to see Harry Darby take on the role of Junior Captain for the club, the first junior to do this for three years.
The 14-year-old, who is a student at Wright Robinson Sports College will be leading a now-thriving junior section and he hit an impressive drive down the first fairway at the Captain’s Drive-in ceremony.
Harry said: “I first began to play golf when I was about eight when my auntie would take me to the driving range but I did not start playing frequently until I was 12.
”My progress in golf has changed massively and this is down to the lessons that I have had with the Vale assistant professional Abbie Cowlard and being able to play regularly on a good course.
“My golfing inspiration is Jordan Spieth because he is such fn to watch on the course and has a great swing.”
The development of junior golf is a big aim with the Vale professionals and their long-serving professional Andrew Myers explained: ” I feel strongly about the importance of developing junior golf. Golf has so much to offer all people and especially young people, but in this day and age we are competing with things like Xboxes which certainly weren’t around when I was a kid, and it is getting harder to interest kids in the ‘real thing’.
“I dread to think where golf will be in another 30 or so years if more is not done now to actively encourage junior golf.
“Two years ago we had zero juniors at Reddish, so I decided to do something about it and took over as Junior Organiser. A coaching structure has been established, we have the ‘beginners’ and the ‘intermediate’ groups every Sunday afternoon with a competition once a month.
“Abbie runs the junior coaching and is a good teacher, and very good with the children. We now have twelve junior members who have handicaps and play regularly, one of which happens to be my son Daniel who is twelve and playing off 16.
“There is a good camaraderie between the juniors who enjoyed Laser Quest which was followed by rock climbing and pizza on their Christmas trip out! We are keen to welcome more juniors into the game and we have a pathway in place to guide them from total beginners to competent players.
“This year we have our first Junior Captain for a few years in Harry Darby. We have a new structure of junior competitions with order of merit for the overall winner.
“We also have a Junior Open taking place on Monday 13th August, one kind member has donated a £250 prize for first place!
“Several club members have made donations towards the development of the Junior Section and I am delighted that people are really getting behind it.”
Cheadle ladies were in singles Stableford action and Wendy Goodwin was top of the shop with a fine haul of 38 points taking her clear of Maire Eaton 34 and Alison Childs 33.
A Seniors qualifier medal for Cheadle’s men had the divisions topped by cricket legend Chris Maudsley 64 and Geoff Dicken with a stunning 61.
Disley’s men played a monthly medal as a Shanghai Vase qualifier and topping the three divisions were Mark Woodhead 65, Vincent Petrykowski 66 and ex Captain Paul Evans 69.
A Midweek Stableford at Disley was a close affair with Simon Wright top of the tree with 42 points, one more than John Robinson, Michael Robinson and Brian Cotter.
Disley ladies played a medal and Shanghai qualifier and Jane Byatte led in after a cpo on 67 with Anne Booth followed by Bi Suk Knowles 68.
Avro’s men played for the Flight Sheds Trophy and former Didsbury legend Bob Collins led in with 67, four less than Peter Roles with Chris Robinson, Peter Meadows and Tim Bochenski all on 72.
A singles Stableford for Gatley’s men had Matthew Milnes first past the post with 38 points, five more than Graham Fletcher and Joseph Huyton.
Tracey Gibbon was unstoppable in a singles Stableford for Gatley ladies posting a huge 44 points to finish 15 ahead of Angela Griffiths.
Heaton Moor legend John Howarth led in a singles Stableford for the Development Trophy with 42 points from John Booth 40 and Anthony Spellman, Mike Roberts, David Halton and Paul Willoughby, all 38.
The Development Cup was won by Peter Williams with 42 points from Elizabeth Jordan 37.
Moor’s ladies played for the Maxwell Cup and it needed a cpo on 41points to see Tina Benson home from Joan Clark.
A Seniors Stableford at New Mills was won by Trevor Oxley with 35 points from Kieth Wright 34 and John Tennant 33.
Medal action for New Mills men saw division one won by Keith Wright with 33 from Ian Harding 69.
In division two Tim Sigley was out on his own with 63, six shots clear of Jeff Stewart and Bernard Pickering.
New Mills ladies played a Stableford for the second round of the Warren Cup and in a tight finish Elizabeth Milne posted 35 points, one more than Maureen Harrison.
Mellor and Townscliffe ladies had a close result in a singles Stableford with Alison Davies winning a cpo on 33 points from Paula Ryan, one more than GA Southworth.
Medal action for M and T’s men saw division one led in by Ian Jones with 67 from John Heginbotham 69 and Stephen Crosthwaite, Andy Duncan and Ian Palmer, all 70.
Division two had DJ Edge winning a cpo on 69 from David Mellor, one less than Michael Peden.
Romiley’s men played the third round of the Handicap Cup and junior star Brooke Snape showed his three handicap class winning a cpo on 69 from David Blood with Mark Jones and G Taverner a shot back.
There was some hot scoring in the latest round of the Romiley Junior League led by Clifford Sidibeh with 43 points from Alex Jones 41.
Romiley ladies played a Stableford for the professional’s prize and Sharon Dinneen was out on her own with a great haul of 42 points, six more than Audrey Jones, Sally McRoberts and Janet McRoberts.
The Manchester Alliance’s Inter Club Knock outs, the biggest of their kind in the country, have seen 32 clubs battle through to round two. The Dunham Forest Trophy holders Manchester face a spicy local derby hosting North Manchester after beating Dukinfield in round one.
The rest of the draw featuring our local clubs is: Hazel Grove v Harwood, Bury v Houldsworth, Houghwood v Romiley, Stockport v Bolton Old Links and New Mills v Mottram Hall.
The City Glass Men’s Foursomes has also reached the last 32 with teams aiming to reach finals day at Houldsworth GC, who won the trophy in 2017.
They made an early exit in the preliminary round and now look forward to hosting the final.
The draw featuring our local clubs is: - Bramhall v Dukinfield, Bramall Park v Ashton-under-Lyne, Prestwich v Marple, Romiley v North Manchester.