Annual dinner a fantastic event
THE 66th Annual Dinner for the Manchester & District Golf Captain’s Association was held at the Worsley Marriott Hotel and Golf Resort on what was yet another splendid evening attended by 100 Members and Invited Guests many of who are members of Cheshire clubs.
The Top Table Guests included the County Union Presidents of Derbyshire Peter McGrath, Cheshire Tony Gregory and Lancashire John Moorcroft with after dinner speaker, James (Jim) Robertson who is a former Criminal Defence Solicitor and Procurator Fiscal - Scottish Crown Prosecution Service.
Also present were Presidents and Captains of Associated Captains Societies.
Worsley Marriott Hotel and Golf Resort provided excellent service with the catering being of a high standard which was very much appreciated by all of those present.
After the meal the President of Cheshire, Tony Gregory (Stockport GC and a previous Captain of the Manchester Captains in 2018-19) was the first speaker who shared an eclectic assortment of amusing stories before Proposing a Toast to the Association.
Captain’s Captain Bernard Stone (Manchester GC) responded to the Toast by thanking Tony for his kind words then gave a resume of his year and related his story about the Northumberland Match and how the visitors had left the Trophy at home whereupon, Danny Finlay produced the missing Trophy and presented it to the Captain.
Bernard spoke of his time on the Manchester & District Executive and how he has enjoyed his Captaincy then thanked everybody for their support particularly Tony Draper and David Sanders for their organisation of the Annual Dinner.
He then announced the President, Captain and Vice Captain nominations for 2024 as being Geoff Sable, Steve Misell and Peter Keown respectively.
James Robertson concluded the evening’s entertainment with very amusing stories about his life as a criminal lawyer in Scotland and was very entertaining and well received.
Tony Gregory said: “It was a very enjoyable evening with a great atmosphere in the room and a good occasion to introduce the incoming President Geoff Sable and Captain Steve Misell”.
The Sunday Stableford and latest Winter League at Avro saw Roy Whalley in hot form posting 42 to finish ahead of Andrew McGarrie 40 and Curtis Fisher and club legend Vic Tarr, both 39.
There was a close finish in division one in a singles Stableford at Hazel Grove with Iain Cole first past the post with 29, one more than Marc Cookson, David Walters and Sean Manion.
In division two it was also tight with Jack Pogson winning a cpo on 31 from Kevin Donnelly, one more than Kevin Thorman.
Matthew Allcock was in a league of his own in division three with 34, eight clear of Geraint John and Jamie Allen.
Marple Seniors played a Three Man Texas Scramble and it needed a cpo on 26.0 to see G Hallam, T Stopford and M Burke into top spot from T Morrell, T Barton and D Lewis.
They were well ahead of K Wigley, J Crowder and Mike Field who won a cpo on 29.0 from A Stobbie, D Wilkie and R Ridings.
Lewis Heath was in control of a midweek Stableford at Marple with 26 to lead in from Robert Wilkinson 23 and Colin Blease and Stuart Henderson, both 22.
Marple ladies showed their adaptable skills in a Three Clubs and a Putter Stableford with Sue Chapman on top with 26 from Linda Rogers 24, Lynne Andrew 23 and Karen Graham 22.
Reddish Vale’s men played a Team of Four Stableford with the best three scores counting and on top with 131 were the fab four of C Farrow, D Wilson, N Crewdson and S Waite.
Next in with 128 were P Coll, A Malone, C Byrne and Vin Costello and G Loughlin, J Ford, C Logue and M Short 125.
A Midweek 12-hole Mixed Stableford at Stockport was led in by Robert Spence 30, well clear of John Delany 27 and Michael Buckley, Cheshire legend David Peel and Adam Melville, all 26.
Bramhall ladies had a Team of Three Stableford over 13 holes won by Sue Carter, Gill Hymers and Judith Rose with 55.
The 9-hole winners were Sasha Kaye, Joanne Moore and Kath Westwell 39.
The Close of Season 13 hole winners were Lynn Enoch and Annabel Proffitt 33 and the 9-hole winners were Paul Low and Joanna Moore.
The final competition of the first half of the Manchester and District Alliance’s winter competitions finished in dramatic style at magnificent Mottram Hall.
Defying the awful weather prior to the competition Mottram provided a full 18 holes for a full field and in condition praised by all players with some excellent greens.
Alliance Captain Don ‘Wet, Wet’, Wet Milligan was delighted by the day in all aspects as he escaped his fourth postponement of the season and edging closer towards Doug Craig’s record!
As always there was great competition in all sections with the individual pro section won by reigning O-o-M champion Jamie Howarth (Davenport) with 42 seeing him clear of Ian Ridgway (Disley) 40 and Phil Kelly 39.
It was closer in the pro am section with Elliott Tickle (North Manchester) and Mike Clinch (Blackley) posing 46 to edge home from Callum Blinkhorn and Andy Potter (Leigh) 45 and Phil Kelly and Martin Dwyer (Stamford) and Jamie Howarth and his Davenport star Paul Robinson both 44.
It was even closer in the nerve-tingling Am Am section with a cpo on 44 won by Darron Tickle and Gary Connell (Blackley) from Jay Dempsey (Cheadle) and Mike McGhee (Davenport) and Tony Green and Andy Shaw (Leigh)
Harry Doyle (Davenport) won the nearest the pin prize.
Alliance President Ian Brooks gave deserved thanks to all at Mottram Hall, desk manager and techo genius Jim Cunliffe and all of the players for their support in a testing but successful first half of the season and looking forward to when the action is resumed in February at Hart Common.