Alliance in great shape for centenary
THE Manchester and District Golf Alliance is the biggest organisation of its kind in England catering with a variety of competitions for over 110 clubs within a radius of 30 miles of Manchester Town Hall including all of our local clubs.
The Allliance has done this since being formed 99 years ago and is looking forward to celebrating a spectacular Centenary in 2024.
A big part of their programme is running Inter Club match-play competitions in five categories which are played during the spring and summer months – Dunham Forest Trophy for the professional and six top amateurs, City Glass Trophy for Men’s Foursomes, Archie Preston Trophy for Mixed Foursomes, Men’s Seniors and the BMW Junior Team Challenge.
The Alliance runs Winter competitions at a variety of clubs, which include Order of Merit competitions for Professionals and amateurs, with one half played before the festive season and second half early in the New Year which members from all of the affiliated clubs can enter with details to do this being available on the Alliance website – www.mdga.org.uk.
Alliance President Ian Brooks of Bolton Old Links GC said: “A happy new golfing year to all of the golfers in the Alliance.
“We are now halfway through the season after a very successful run-up to the Christmas break with record numbers attending the weekly events and no cancellations due to bad weather.
“I am looking forward to the second half which begins at Hart Common GC on February 15 and concludes with President’s Day at Chorley GC on April 26.
“We will be making the draws for the Knock Out competition soon and this will be displayed on our website.
“We are already planning for the 2024 Centenary season by booking courses and some special events will be added to our normal programme.
“Our thanks go out to all professionals, amateurs and sponsors who support the Alliance every week and here’s hoping for a dry start and finish of our season led by our Captain Scott Jackson the professional at Disley GC.”
Avro’s men played their latest Winter League Stableford and in division one Gareth Roberts was a clear winner on 41 from Stephen Callaghan 37, Pail McKinney 35 and Phil Normanton 34.
Kevin Barker topped division two with 40 ahead of Ian Anderson 38 and John Wetherell and Tim Bochenski, both 37.
There was a full house at Romiley for a Texas Scramble and it was a tense finish with the fab four of N Clapham, S Thompson, C Leigh and G Nuttall first past the post with 40.0.
Next in on 41.0 were A Jackson, J Abbott, P Himsowrth and S Heginbotham, N Cousins, G Roberts, D Ogden and S Stones, G Williams, L Hopkins, T McGlinchey and J Edwards, E Graham, C Tipping, R Nuttall and D Pearson and C Cooke, D Murray, S Blurton and I Harrison.
It was also close in an 11-hole Yellowball Stableford for Romiley ladies.
Winning a cpo on 41 were D Booth, D Houghton and H Craven from L Williams, R Hale and J Harman, six clear f I Wright, J Purcer and L Schofield.