Golfers Local June/July 2022

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EMOTIONAL

FOSTER WINS ENGLISH SENIORS STROKEPLAY TREVOR Foster has admitted that his one-shot victory at the English Senior Men’s Strokeplay Championship came as a rich reward after difficult times with injury and mental health struggles.

The Pleasington golfer closed out an emotional victory at Ashridge after enduring a rollercoaster ride in the final round of the 54-hole championship.

Foster carded three rounds of 69, 71 and 76 (the middle round at Berkhamsted) to finish on 216 (+1) . That allowed him to pip two-time champion Ian Attoe to the trophy by the smallest of margins.

An up and down from a greenside

bunker on 17 secured a birdie and left him knowing that a par four at the final hole would earn him victory.

Helped by caddie Andy Walmsley, two putts from the fringe of the 18th green got Foster over the line and left him in tears alongside wife Debbie who had been with him every step of the way.

Foster admitted: “I never thought it would happen. I’ve won the Irish and I’ve won the British, but to win the English is really, really special.

“It was the one I wanted to win – definitely.

“It’s easy to be a loser, but to be a winner you have to work hard and I feel as

if I have worked hard at it.

“Debbie has been an absolute rock for me and that’s why I am where I am.

“I’m not embarrassed to say it and I hope it helps people but I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety for 30 years.

“I’ve had a rock of a wife that’s got me through it to help me win Majors like this.

“I’ve had a false hip six years ago and for people out there, I thought my golf was ended.

“But no – I’ve won the British, this, the Irish and Order of Merit.

“If it helps anybody, you can get out it and you can get through it.

Trevor Foster with his trophy.

“It’s not a nice thing – but you can get through it.

“It’s great that England Golf support things like that– it’s become a big thing has depression and mental health. I help a few people with it and it’s good to battle through it and get to where I am.”

Attoe couldn’t have pushed any harder to try and make up ground on Foster and Bicknell.

After starting with a bogey five, the Worplesdon golfer rattled off five birdies to post a score of 68 and take the clubhouse lead at +2.

That looked like being two or three shots too many as Bicknell and Foster

approached the turn still under par.

But as the afternoon developed Attoe’s score kept getting better and better until Foster steadied the ship and got the job done.

Foster added: “I love Ian to bits – but I didn’t want him winning it. He’s won it twice, I wanted it!

“I think – If I’m honest – Ian’s score kept me going so much.

“It’s been a great week on two fantastic courses.”

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR SALE SENIOR STAR RAWTHORE SALE’S Catherine Rawthore became a two-time English Senior Women’s Amateur champion in May to cap a week of outstanding performances at High Post Golf Club, in Wiltshire.

Six years after her first triumph in the competition, the Sale golfer deservedly added her name to the winners’ list once again with 2&1 victory over Tracey Williamson in the final.

The match was played in a terrific spirit with the Salisbury course bathed in sunshine as the tournament came to a fitting conclusion.

As she held the Wendy Taylor Salver for the second time, Rawthore said: “I’m elated. In the early part of the week I didn’t have the game to challenge but I do go away and work hard on parts of my game so I’m pleased that it all came together in the end.

“It wasn’t a golf course that you could bully your way through so I needed my short game to get me out of trouble a few times.

“I’ve had tough matchplay rounds all through the week. Jane Sly played some terrific golf, Jackie Foster is a tremendous player and then I had difficult games today against Aileen and Tracey who are both experienced and talented players.”

Rawthore’s route to the final was secured with a final hole victory over fellow previous champion Aileen Greenfield in the first of the semi-finals.

The match was nip and tuck with both players exchanging 1up leads but Rawthore did enough to hold on and edge past her close friend to take her place in the final.

Meanwhile in the other last-four tie, Williamson saw off a spirited challenge from Sundridge Park’s Kim Morris and clinched a 1up victory. Morris had held a 2up lead through the first eight holes but Williamson showed her trademark consistency and determination to fight back and take the victory on the 18th green.

Local News GOLFERS HERE’S our June/July edition of Golfers Local. We hope you enjoy it.

We’ve had great fun bringing you all the latest golfing news from across the region for more than 13 years now, as well as providing the perfect platform for our advertisers to get their message across to our local golfing readers.

There are lots of fabulous features planned for the year but we would love to include your club’s news too.

If you have a story for us, whether deadly serious or hilariously funny, as long as it is legal, decent, honest and interesting, we’ll do our best to use it.

Send it to us at: Golfers Local, Cherry Bank Barn, Dark Lane, Burton, Nr Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0AE. Or e-mail: news@golferslocal.co.uk ADVERTISING: Paul Chapple: 01978 449917 or 07956 033265 E-mail: sales@golferslocal.co.uk WEBSITE: www.golferslocal.co.uk PRINTERS: NWN Media, Unit 3, 10th Avenue, Deeside Industrial Park, Flintshire CH5 2UA

Cath Rawthore with the trophy. Photo by Leaderboard.

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Local News

NATIONAL HONOURS FOR HAZEL GROVE HAZEL Grove Golf Club officials, staff and members are delighted to be given the prestigious award of England Golf ’s ‘Golf Club of the Year’.

James Rowlands, the club manager and PGA Professional, who has been at the club for 10 years, outlined the reasons for their outstanding success.

James said: “We got the title by application and we then demonstrated that we offer equality and diversity, and work with local community groups such as the Stroke Association.

“We are Safe Golf accredited and have worked hard to achieve the ‘Women in Golf Charter’ by offering ladies a clear pathway into the club through coaching and mentoring.

“We also highlighted many projects that our fantastic volunteers have completed improving the clubhouse and

BY GEOFF GARNETT course over the past 12 months.

“Over 200 clubs applied for the award with a final shortlist of four.

“The awards ceremony was virtual on the EGU YouTube channel and we organised a members’ event to celebrate being a finalist and then we only went and won with ecstatic celebrations!!

“I would personally like to thank our brilliant management board, very strong team of volunteers and our local membership! Without them we wouldn’t be where we are now!

“We plan on continuing to improve what we offer here at Hazel Grove.

“We have recently updated our practice facilities which now boast an indoor/outdoor coaching studio with Trackman and high-speed cameras.”

At Hazel Grove with the Alistair Mackenzie Statue are James Rowlands, left, and Mick Jones with the ‘Golf Club of the Year’ trophy.

Hazel Grove chairman Mick Jones added: “We are extremely proud to receive this award from England Golf.

“It is real recognition of the huge efforts and commitment put in by all our

employees, members, volunteers in particular the Club’s Working Party, James Rowlands our club manager and the management board team over the past year to continually improve our club.

“Hazel Grove Golf Club is on a real high at the moment and continues to drive improvements and new initiatives and, we believe, it is truly a ‘Club for Everyone’.”

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

Local News

CAOLAN KEEPS HOME FIRES BURNING RHUDDLAN’S Caolan Burford became the first home winner of the Welsh Men’s Open Strokeplay for nine years, in one of the strongest ever showings for Welsh players at the event.

Welsh players took seven of the top nine places, including Royal Porthcawl’s Matt Roberts as runner-up at Ashburnham Golf Club near Llanelli, with Sweden’s David Lundgren in third.

The other Welsh players in the top nine were Patrick Mullins, Whitchurch (Cardiff ), fourth, Tom Bastow, Isle of Purbeck, fifth, Sean David, Pyle and Kenfig, and James Ashfield, Delamere Forest, tied sixth with Richard Hooper, Machynys Peninsula, finishing ninth.

Burford, aged 17, was also one of the youngest winners of the event in a long time, following in the footsteps of European Tour player such as Jamie Donaldson, Eddie Pepperell and Chris Wood in winning the Welsh Open title. Walker Cup player Rhys Pugh was the last

BY HAMISH STUART Welsh winner of the event in 2013.

Burford was also rewarded for preevent planning, using Google Earth to plot his way round the links course. He was the only player to finish under par, with a final round of 69 proving enough to win.

“I felt I executed my game plan very well this week, carrying out the plans I had going into the event, and putted really well,” he said.

“The greens really helped because if you picked a good line and hit the putt then it would go in, which was key for me.

“It is my first major win and also gets me on WAGR (World Amateur Golf Rankings) which is a bonus.

“I knew it was nine years since the last Welsh winner, but I was not thinking of anything other than each shot.

“I had made a clear game plan using

Google Earth to study the course and map my yardages, something I had learned to do through the Wales Golf squads.”

Burford has left college and is concentrating full-time on golf with a view to turning professional in a few years, preferring to stay in North Wales and close to coach Gareth James.

“Working with Gareth has transformed my game over the last four years,” explained Burford. “I went to him after a few Wales Golf squad sessions and my game has improved massively.”

Wales Golf Championship manager David Wilson added: “Congratulations to Caolan for producing some brilliant golf when it really mattered. And it was wonderful to see such strong performances from our Welsh players.

“Thank you to Ashburnham, their staff and their members for once again proving a great host to this prestigious Championship.”

Welsh Men’s Open Strokeplay winner Caolan Burford with the trophy.

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Local News

GATEWAY TO WALES FESTIVAL ATTRACTS MORE THAN 200 GOLFERS GATEWAY to Wales Golf held their fourth Spring Golf Festival over the Platinum Jubilee weekend, taking full advantage of the four-day break to host a record field of more than 200 golfers all of whom were determined to enjoy their staycation golf break.

The competition was held at Northop, Hawarden and Holywell golf clubs and sponsored by the Springfield Hotel & Restaurant, Holywell.

This event is becoming a regular event for golfers from all over the UK, many booking from one festival to the next.

This festival has the support of Flintshire County Council Leisure & Tourism.

Richard L Jones, speaking on their behalf, praised Gateway to Wales Golf for their efforts in bringing so many visitors to Flintshire. He said: “We are delighted that 95% of those attending travel from outside of the county and stay in local accommodation providing a much appreciated boost to local business.”

Festival organiser Tony Godden, director and club secretary at Northop,

worked tirelessly over the weekend to ensure the success of festival. He thanked all members of the participating clubs who ensured there was a warm welcome to Flintshire to all competitors.

Although the weather was disappointingly wet on the final day it didn’t prevent some extremely good scoring.

The three-day event aggregate prize of £150 and winners of the title Gateway to Wales Spring Golf Festival 4BBB Champions 2022 were Chris Wojcik of Gathurst Golf Club, near Wigan and Chorley Golf Club’s Martin Ackers with a superb 129 Stableford points.

The victorious pair scored 44 points at Northop on day one, 42 at Hawarden on day two and 43 points at Holywell on the final day.

The Springfield Hotel & Restaurant also sponsored an aggregate Mixed prize which was won by Ian Broadhurst and Jo White, from Trent Lock Golf Club, Nottingham with 122 points.

They scored 44 points at Northop, 38 at Hawarden and 40 at Holywell.

Winners on the individual competition days, at Northop, were Lee Elson and Malcolm Duggan, of Hollywood Golf Club, Birmingham with 45 points.

The victorious pair at Hawarden were Theresa and Phil Jones, of Ullesthorpe Court Golf Club, Leicestershire with 44 points and the final day at Holywell were Keely Tattersfield (Bromsgrove Golf Club) and Richard Tattersfield (Moseley Golf Club) with 47 points.

Sebastian Janney, managing director of the Springfield Hotel & Restaurant, said: “Congratulations to the winners.

We are delighted to be involved with sponsoring this highly successful golf festival and look forward to supporting next year’s event.”

Gateway to Wales Golf will be holding their Mixed Summer Golf Festival on July 3-5, 2022 at Holywell, Mold and Padeswood & Buckley golf clubs. Entry forms can be downloaded from any of the participating golf clubs, via Golf Empire or by emailing Tony Godden at tonygodden@northopgolfclub.co.uk.

Spring Festival winners Chris Wojcik and Martin Ackers.

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Advertiser’s Feature

WORLD CLASS SHORT GAME AREA OPENS A WIRRAL-based golf centre has reaffirmed its position as the area’s number one practice facility by opening a stateof-the-art short game area.

The new outdoor element at Moreton Hills Golf Centre, which opened in April, includes a nine-hole artificial putting green and a nine-hole artificial chipping green with 20 chipping pods and two revetted bunkers, which are in addition to the existing 300-yard long, 50-bay TopTracer driving range, a Viking Adventure golf course, party room, café and ice cream parlour, a golf shop run by national retailer Major Golf Direct and a six-hole par three golf course that opened last year.

The centre’s owner, Fellow PGA Professional John Andrew, believes there is “no better place to practice in the whole of the North of England.”

He added: “We’re absolutely delighted

BY PAUL CHAPPLE with the finished product. The putting green has the best hi-tech, nylon turf you can get and we can change the speed of it by adding sand.

“The chipping green is fabulous too and the turf has a rubber shock pad underneath so that the ball reacts like it would on a normal green. The pods you chip from have varying length artificial grass 10-40mm to replicate the different shots a golfer can face out on a course.

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John, the former boss of Direct Golf UK, is to create a scorecard with putting on one side and chipping on the other.

“People love adding a bit of a competitive edge to their practice and it’s a great

Moreton Hills owner and Fellow PGA Professional John Andrew tries out the new short game area watched by PGA coaches James Wilkinson and Dr Karl Morris. INSET (from left) are James, Karl and John.

way to gauge if you are improving.

“It’s amazing how few people practice their short game, yet it’s the part that will save you the most shots.”

PGA golf coach Dr Karl Morris, who has numerous high profile clients over the years, will be using the centre to bring many of his customers and Bidston Golf Club’s newly appointed PGA professional, James Wilkinson, has been brought in as part of a hybrid role to specialise in short game coaching.

John said: “James has been a top EuroPro Tour player, winning twice, but has a long-term achilles injury so he is focussing on the teaching side of the game

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for now. He has an amazing short game himself and has the ability to pass his skills on to any standard of golfer.”

James, 36, who has moved down from Carlisle, will spend most of his days at Bidston but some evenings and weekends at Moreton Hills. He said: “In terms of a place to teach, Moreton Hills really is world class and comes into its own. The whole set up is great, but the short game area is fantastic.”

John added: “We’ve created an exclusive short game membership allowing unlimited practice on the six-hole course and short game area for just £29 per month.

“We’re also flipping teaching on its head and are starting total beginners with some putting, then some chipping to establish co-ordination first and then moving them out onto the driving range as part of a six-week course.

“Whether you’ve never played before or are already an established golfer, if you want to improve and you live in the North West, this is the place to be.”

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Local News Matchplay joy for Matt

ALEX LEADS WELSH SWEEP AT OPEN YOUTHS WELSH golfers made it a clean sweep of the major prizes in a strong field at the Welsh Open Youths (Mixed) at Porthmadog.

Alex James, Royal Lytham and St Anne’s, won the event as part of an allWelsh top three, while Wales international Izzy Hopkins, Bristol and Clifton, finished as the top female.

Iestyn McEvoy, Glynhir, and Caolan Burford, Rhuddlan, were tied second in a field which saw a strong entry from England, along with players from Ireland, Scotland and continental Europe in the Under 21 age category.

James, aged 20, a second year student at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, came into the event on the back of some good results on the American college circuit.

He won by five shots from McEvoy and Burford, the only three players to finish under par round the North Wales layout. Hopkins was tied fourteenth overall in the mixed event.

“I have never won a tournament of

this size before, so it was a nice way to start the season in my first event back in the UK this summer,” said James, whose father is from South Wales.

“I have only ever once really been in contention to win before and learned the lessons from that disappointment, which helped me figure out what to do this time.

“It felt good to close it out with two rounds in the 60s and I was really pleased that I stuck to what I had planned rather than getting defensive.”

James is studying finance at LMU and credited the work put in there from the start of the year for his strong form.

“I played really well, kept the ball in play and putted well,” he said. “I felt I had been hitting the ball well, playing in eight 54 hole events since the start of the year and getting a couple of strong finishes.

“I have been working hard, so I put this down to that time spent practicing with the coaches and staff at LMU.” Wales Golf championship manager

Alex James.

David Wilson added: “Congratulations to Alex for what was a dominant performance in a strong field with many of the best Under 21 players from the Home Nations and further afield.

“Seeing an all Welsh 1, 2, 3, in the mixed event was great, with Issy Hop-

kins finishing as the best female adding the icing on the cake.

“The scores showed that Porthmadog set a tough but fair test, while the work of the staff and members there in supporting the event helped make it a great success both on and off the course.”

ROYAL Liverpool’s Matthew Dodd-Berry won the Cheshire Matchplay Championship at Astbury.

Last year’s junior county captain who is off to enjoy a golf scholarship in the USA later in the year, won the 36-hole medal qualifying competition with a gross 138, three clear of Ollie Claireaux (Delamere Forest) to progress to the matchplay stages.

Then, on-form Matt went on to win 7&6 in the final against Hazel Grove stalwart Fraser McCleod.

Running in parallel was the Cheshire Seniors Matchplay Championship with the leading qualifiers over 18 holes being Stephen Hughes (Bramhall) and Ian Quirk (Lymm), both 72 and Cheshire president Martyn Grimley (Ringway) and Stephen Foster, former Cheshire secretary, both 75.

Making it through to the final were Ian Jenkinson (Wallasey) and Martin France (Lymm) after semifinal wins over Alex Fau-Goodwin and Martyn Grimley. The eventual champion was Jenkinson, who won on the third extra hole in the final.

The Handicap Plate trophy in the men’s competition was won by Ringway 14-year-old Cole Self who beat Heaton Moor’s Mike HudsonDavies.

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Ladies News

LUCY MAKES IT A COUNTY HAT-TRICK

BY GEOFF GARNETT

Lucy Jamieson with the championship trophy.

HESWALL’S Lucy Jamieson made it a hat-trick of Cheshire Ladies County Championships after victory at Delamere Forest.

The St Andrews University chemistry degree student was the youngest-ever winner of the championship trophy in 2016, the day before her 16th birthday, and she won it again in the following

year. Her recent win made it three.

She showed her intent in the threeday event as she led in the opening day qualifying rounds with 146.

This won her the Doris Brown Trophy, the Millennium Trophy for the best Intermediate (18-24 years) gross of 72 and the Intermediate Championship.

The competition, which was impeccably organised by the CCLGA committee switched to matchplay following the opening two rounds of strokeplay with the top 16 qualifying and a subsidiary competition for the Sir William Bailey Cup being run in parallel for those outside the top 16.

Lucy beat Zoe Evans, Lauren Jones and Vicky Turner to book her final slot against Delamere Forest’s junior star Immy Williamson who had accounted for Wad Grayson, seniors captain Caroline Berry and Emily McBurney.

Immy also won the handicap prize for the best first round nett of 75.

In taking on Lucy, Immy had the chance to become the youngest-ever player to win the championship at the age of 15.

It was a quality final but Lucy emerged as the worthy winner on two up to complete her hat-trick of titles and retain her youngest-ever winner status with Immy winning the Gladys Dobell Cup as the runner-up.

In the Sir Williams Bailey Cup Rian Moores was the winner, also by two up, against Amy Toft.

The final trophy winner was Sara Spencer who had the best 36-hole gross qualifier for Over 50’s and took the J and A Christian Jones Salver.

The team to represent Cheshire in the Northern Counties Championship at Heswall in June was also selected.

FEMALE PRESIDENT MAKES HISTORY AT SADDLEWORTH ANN Walsh has made history at Saddleworth Golf Club by being appointed as the first-ever woman to be club president.

She joins husband and wife team Dave and Linda Newman who are the captain and lady captain.

Former teacher Ann, has served in various roles at the club after joining 27 years ago with husband John and they enjoy playing together and have had mixed competition success at their club over the years.

Ann had sporting interests and success in badminton, tennis and netball before taking up golf.

She is delighted that the club is moving forward in terms of equality and she was ladies secretary when the equity act was passed in 2010 and she

Saddleworth president Ann Walsh, right, with captains Dave and Linda Newman.

has played her part in seeing it evolve at the club where men and lady members now have equal rights.

The choice of the future presidents will now be the decision of the vicecaptain and lady vice-captain.

DIDSBURY DO THE DOUBLE DIDSBURY made it back-to-back victories in the Mersey Ladies Shield.

The prestigious event has been competed for since 1959 by the five Mersey clubs - Chorlton, Didsbury, Northenden, Sale and Withington and Northenden were the hosts for this year’s competition which had well over 100 ladies in the field.

The day had early weather problems with persistent heavy rain until lunchtime making it difficult for the brave players who battled hard to support their club teams and the later players

managed to enjoy much better weather for their rounds.

The final result was in the hands of the last group out with Didsbury lady captain Adele McNeillie and her fine partner Georgina Mosquera battling it out with Sale’s Julie Matthews and junior star Ella Carr.

The final hole saw Georgina keep her nerve when she holed a tricky five-foot putt for a par for a total of 39 points to see her team move to 208 points for their top six pairs, three points ahead of Sale.

13

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

N E P O W NO

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Course Feature

FUN IN THE SUN AT RHOS ON SEA AS A Yorkshireman, I have always loved the North Wales coastline since summer holidaying there several times during my childhood.

So, when Rhos on Sea professional Lee Harpin invited me over to the Llandudno-based course for the first time I jumped at the chance.

Teeing off first at 8am on a beautiful spring morning made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

What struck me immediately was the amount of water hazards on the course.

The area that the course occupies is reputed to be the original bed of the River Conwy. There remains a stream known as Afon Ganol that runs roughly south to north and through the centre of the course. The low-lying ground and oldfashioned run-off drainage systems meant that Rhos on Sea Golf Club was

The opening tee shot at Rhos on Sea.

BY PAUL CHAPPLE beset with flooding problems until recently when the current owner invested in a complete overhaul of the drainage on the course – testament to which is the very few days that have been lost to flooding since.

As the club’s website suggests though.

“There are numerous water hazards but these will only catch the very errant shot, for those who hit the ball straight there are very few problems.”

The first hole, playing into the wind was a real tough opener. It features a huge double green, that it shares with the 16th, with lots of run offs.

The second was a little shorter but distance control with the second shot was key with there being a hollow in front of the green to swallow up anything just

The Rhos on Sea clubhouse.

The Afon Ganol runs through the centre of the course.

The McKenzie-style green on the 10th.

short. These humps and hollows around the greens are another common feature throughout and are a clever way of creating a really interesting challenge.

You play up towards the boundary of some lovely properties where people were enjoying an al fresco breakfast as I three-putted in front of them. You then

SUMMER GREEN FEES

There was a 100-yard difference between the white and yellow tees at the third, with the hole being a par five off the whites and a four from the yellows.

Rhos-on-Sea Golf Club

1ST APRIL - 31ST OCTOBER

WEEKDAYS £40 SATURDAY £45 SUNDAY £40 JUNIOR £20 1-3PM (WEEKDAYS & SUNDAY) £35 1-3PM (SATURDAY) £40

TWILIGHT GOLF (AFTER 3PM EVERY DAY)

£20

GROUP GREEN FEES

(NOT INCLUDING TWILIGHT) 8 OR MORE PLAYERS £5PP CHEAPER 16 OR MORE PLAYERS £10PP CHEAPER

T: 01492 548115 E: golfshop@rhosgolf.co.uk W: www.rhosgolf.co.uk Glan Y Mor Road, Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, North Wales LL30 3PU

15

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

Course Feature

A view back up the 17th to the mounds that protect the front of the green.

play a run of varied par fours. In fact, from the yellow tees the first seven holes are all fours. Then, like buses, two par threes come at once on the eighth and ninth. Playing down wind on my visit, they were just flicks with a short iron and I actually managed my first of two twos on the eighth.

The 10th turned back into the wind and included a ditch running at 45 degrees to the hole that features a McKenzie style two-tiered green.

The 11th was the third par three in four holes and the 12th was a par four where you could really open your shoulders off the tee. Interestingly, prior to local government reorganisation the course lay across the two counties of Gwynedd and Clwyd. On the 12th tee it

was possible for a right-handed golfer to tee up in Clwyd while his feet addressed the ball in Gwynedd. While the club now sits within the confines of Conwy County, the old boundaries still apply to the towns of Llandudno to the west and Colwyn Bay to the east.

The 15th is another great par three with another two-tiered green, although I would say that as it was here I made my second two of the round on a day when the rest of my golf was not too hot.

The 16th doglegged a little left and shared the double green with the first and then it was on to two great closing holes.

The 17th is a real birdie chance for many, particularly down wind as it’s just 303 yards from the yellow tees and has a

The stunning island green 18th hole at Rhos on Sea.

bowl shaped green that encourages most shots down towards the pin. A couple of mounds in front of the green prevent only the biggest hitters from any chance of knocking it on in one.

And so to the closing hole that I had been looking forward to playing ever since Lee’s kind invite.

The signature 18th hole has an island green completely surrounded by water and is a great way to finish your round in front of the clubhouse. I struck a good nine iron to cover the 128 yards from the yellows but plugged in the greenside

bunker less than 10 feet from the flag and failed to get out with my first effort.

I was round in less than two hours, but what an enjoyable couple hours it was.

Rhos on Sea pride themselves on being one of the friendliest golf clubs in North Wales. Paul and Alan were very helpful in the shop and the couple of members I spoke to briefly were lovely.

In summary this parkland course, because of its location by the sea, plays very much like a links course at this time of year. It has fantastic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys and is a

haven for wildlife.

It has fairly wide fairways, raised tees and fast and true greens, several of which are Mackenzie-style on two tiers. It is very fair for the average golfer but also a good test for the low handicapper.

Several years ago the club planted 8,000 trees on the course and these are now offering great definition to the holes making them very picturesque and anyone who is revisiting the course having not played here for a few years will find it to be completely different and well worth another visit.

OPEN WEEK 2022 MONDAY 1ST AUGUST

Mixed Betterball Stableford - £17

Max hcp: Men 28, Ladies 36 Sponsored by Bubble Hut, Llandudno

TUESDAY 2ND AUGUST

Rhos-on-Sea Golf Club

Seniors Betterball Stableford - £17

Max hcp: Men 36 (Over 55’s) Sponsored by Sovereign Funeral Services

WEDNESDAY 3RD AUGUST Ladies 6/6/6 Stableford - £17

Max hcp: 36 (Teams of 3) Sponsored by The Foot Clinic, Colwyn Bay

THURSDAY 4TH AUGUST

Gents/Ladies/Mixed Stableford - £17

Feedback from last year’s Open Week

“The organisation of the events and the condition/ presentation of the course was exceptional... It was our first visit to the club and we were so impressed that it’s already in the diary for next year.”

Mike & Gill

DAILY & W EKLY NEAREST-TE HE-PIN prizes up

Max hcp: Men 28, Ladies 36 (Teams of 3) Sponsored by Meat on the Corner Family Butchers

HOLE-IN-O

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DAILY NEAREST-TH E-LINE pri zes up for gra

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T: 01492 548115 E: golfshop@rhosgolf.co.uk W: www.rhosgolf.co.uk Glan Y Mor Road, Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, North Wales LL30 3PU

FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST

Men’s Betterball Stableford - £17

Max hcp: 28 Sponsored by Pete Thompson Home Improvements

SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST 4 Player Texas Scramble - £20

Max hcp: Men 28, Ladies 36 (No mixed) Sponsored by W.F Clayton & Co Ltd

SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST

Men’s Individual Medal - £17

Max hcp: 28 Sponsored by Parisella’s Ice Cream of Conwy

BOOK ONLINE AT www.rhosgolf.co.uk

16

Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Fantasy Golf League 2022 Pos Team name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91

WILKY’S WONDERS MILLI’S MUPPETS 2 MILLI’S MUPPETS 1 SOUTHPORT OLD LINKS 1 MEAN MACHINE 2 SANDBURY 2 “SHEILAS WHEELS” JONS BOYS ONE THE GOLDEN DAWN SMUDGERS STARS 2 JONS BOYS TWO DREADNOUGHTS JAN’S BOYS SMOOTH SWINGERS 22 ILLUMINATI MANNING’S MASTERS CLIFFS CHAMPS MILLI’S MUPPETS 3 MAGGIE’S BACK GB ALL STARS FETTLERS ALL STARS 2 “TWO AMIGOS” BILL’S BANDITS VALLEY WACKERS MARTINO’S SWINGERS 1 JONS BOYS THREE YOUNG COOK BURNS LAST MINUTE 3 HIT N HOPE 22 DON’T GO LEFT SANDBURY 1 ROYS HOPING AGAIN SUSIE BLUES FAIRWAY SHUFFLERS CHADDY ENDERS 3 OFF THE TEE AND THE EYES HAVE IT FIVE FOR FOUR FOR ONE TWINS JUST A TWO SANDBURY 3 DEEP DIVOTS VIK’S VIKINGS BROTHERS IN ARMS 3 WELSH WIZARDS FITZ’S FAVOURITES THE BROTHERS HARTLEY’S HEROES SHIFTYS OLD LINKS 3 CONVERTING CHIMPS MEAN MACHINE 3 DAVY VI SHORT IN THREE DIPPERS TARTAN ARMY CLINKS CLOWNS MY WAY OR FAIRWAY SCTATCHERS 22 TINKS TEN JUSTINS JOKERS SMUDGERS STARS EASY LIKE ERNIE LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER PROBABLES BASELINE KINGS YOZZERS ALLSTARS BALLYBUNIONS SEABED 2 THE HORTON HACKERS BACK UP NORTH HERBIE’S HEROS WELL ROUNDED MOB CROSSBAR AGAIN TERIBUS 5 COSMOPOLITAN LONGWORTH IRELANDS OWN FAIRFIELD 1892 PARK THREE HENRYS ARMY CYMRU AM BYTH FLIGHTS OF FANTASY SEABED 5 CLEAN MACHINE BROTHERS IN ARMS 1 TICKET IN A RAFFLE LAST MINUTE 2 THE FADERS RAIN MAN THE POULTER-GEISTS YANKS A LOT

Manager

Pts

Pos Team name

ROBERT WILKINSON ANDY MILNE ANDY MILNE STEVE LEDDY ROBERT WILLIAMS ALAN PERCIVAL RUSS WILLIAMS JOHN MYERS BRIAN MOUNTAIN DAVE SMITH JOHN MYERS DENIS FOSTER JAN MEADOWCROFT MIKE HOLLINDALE BRIAN MOUNTAIN KEVIN MANNING CLIFF CLINKARD ANDY MILNE EAMONN O’DONNELL GRAHAM BROADFOOT MARK REDFERN RUSS WILLIAMS BILL MEADOWCROFT ROD BOARDMAN ALAN MARTIN JOHN MYERS JOE FILDES DON SUTHERLAND MIKE HOLLINDALE GWYNFOR JONES ALAN PERCIVAL ROY MARSH DAVE HOLLIN BETH DAVIES STUART GARFORTH NEIL MAGUIRE STUART DAVENPORT STEPHEN DAVIES JOE FILDES RAY KEMBLE ALAN PERCIVAL JOHN LEARY ALAN KITE KEN GOUGH BARRY WINFIELD ALAN KITE ALAN KITE ALAN HARTLEY GRAHAM SCHAFER JOHN L. DAVIES ROBERT WILLIAMS DAVID EVANS BERNIE VOLLER STUART DAVENPORT RAY KEMBLE CLIFF CLINKARD IWAN WILLIAMS MIKE HOLLINDALE JOHN BELL RAY KEMBLE DAVE SMITH TOMMY WYNNE JASON EDGE BRIAN MOUNTAIN JOHN L. DAVIES MICHAEL HUGHES PAUL BAXENDALE IAN WHITE TERRY BRENTNALL PATRICIA HERITAGE STUART DAVENPORT GRAHAM ROUND BRIAN MOUNTAIN BILL SMITH JOE FILDES DEREK HOWARD GED SHEEHY STUART GARFORTH ALF B EDWARD SHIELDS WIL.G.JONES MIKE WORRALL IAN WHITE PAUL FISHER KEN GOUGH BRIAN MOUNTAIN DON SUTHERLAND DENIS FOSTER ERNIE BURFORD TOMMY WYNNE JOE FILDES

7255 7170 7155 6775 6695 6545 6375 6250 6165 6125 6115 6075 6070 6070 5840 5815 5800 5600 5570 5520 5515 5510 5325 5315 5310 5300 5285 5240 5215 5175 5160 5155 5105 5060 5015 4940 4915 4895 4875 4840 4835 4830 4810 4810 4805 4800 4800 4745 4735 4725 4725 4695 4670 4660 4655 4655 4650 4650 4620 4550 4540 4535 4525 4505 4495 4450 4430 4430 4410 4410 4405 4390 4355 4350 4340 4320 4300 4280 4280 4275 4265 4260 4245 4240 4230 4225 4210 4200 4180 4160 4160

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182

LAST MINUTE 1 SHADS LADS MEAT RUNNERS ROY’S TAVERNERS MALPAS MOLLIE PARK ONE TIGER MAYBE BACK MINFFORDD LAD RAHM IT IN TIMPERLEY BIGSHOTS PUTTATHONS A ZUMBURAKS COMPY’S POWER FADERS DANGEROUS DAVE SEABED 6 BALD EAGLE 3 PEPPERS ARMY BIRDIE HUNTERS OMG NAVY BLUES VILAMOURA 4 BRONCOED LEFTY VALLEY POUNDERS GALLON THREE JESTERS ARMY 1 TERIBUS 6 TERIBUS 1 S.O.L.CENTENARY 2026 THE 500 CLUB SEABED 8 SEABED 3 TERIBUS 2 FLINT OLD BOYS 2 FAIRWAY REBELS BALD EAGLE 1 FLINT OLD BOYS 3 WEDGE WORLD 71 BALLS FOR A 2 OOB LEFT S.O.L. LEFTIES BROTHERS IN ARMS 2 LUVABEVVYWITHSEVVY DAVY V TIMPERLEY BIGSHOTS 3 COMPY’S SAND SAVERS COMPY’S EAGLE CREW EDGE OF THE BATH LLEYN LEGENDS 3 BRANDY SPECIALS SHORT IN TWO SHROPSHIRE LAD FAIRFIELD FOREVER BARTY 1 SEABED 4 NICE ‘N’ EASY SHROPSHIRE LADY EAGLE EYE SEABED 1 SANDO BIRDIE CHALLENGE TOUR 2021 LOADS O’YANKS FROSTY GOLFERS BARTY 2 SHAKEY 3 UNDER THE RADAR VALLEY SMACKERS UNITED NATIONS THE PEOPLES CLUB S.O.L. MELDREWS VICTORY TOE LINE HIT ‘EM STRAIGHT PARK TWO CAPTAIN STRIKES BACK OWPOPOLSOP WILD BUNCH GALLON TWO WORTH A PUNT CHIP AND RUN 54 ANDY CAPP ROYS NORTON NOMADS COMPY’S LUCKY PUTTS TEAM BOBBY JONES CAN ONLY DO BETTER SPINZILLA THE E STREET BAND MIXED BAG POSSIBLES PIN AND IN PUTTATHONS C REEKIN HAVOC THE BOOTT ROOM

Manager DON SUTHERLAND GWYNFOR JONES STEPHEN DAVIES ROY MARSH BOB TAYLOR ALF - B CRAIG WYNNE WIL.G.JONES JOHN L. DAVIES IAN CUTHBERTSON CHRIS MUGAN BRIAN MOUNTAIN IAN COMPTON DAVE HOLLIN IAN WHITE STEVE DAVIES EDWARD SHIELDS GWYNFOR JONES STEVE BOND STEPHEN DAVIES DEREK HOWARD STEPHEN DAVIES TONY MAGUIRE GARETH BRADLEY LEE OLDFIELD BILL SMITH BILL SMITH STEVE LEDDY JASON EDGE IAN WHITE IAN WHITE BILL SMITH DAVE BEALES BETH DAVIES STEVE DAVIES DAVE BEALES DEREK OLDFIELD BRIAN MOUNTAIN GWYNFOR JONES JEFF DAVIES KEN GOUGH TOMMY WYNNE DAVID EVANS IAN CUTHBERTSON IAN COMPTON IAN COMPTON LES EDGE PHIL SOUTH BOB POWNELL BERNIE VOLLER JOHN WILLIAMS STUART GARFORTH PAUL BARTON IAN WHITE JOHN L. DAVIES MELANIE WILLIAMS W.MANNING IAN WHITE MARK SANDERSON ANDREW HARTLEY GED SHEEHY GAVIN OLDFIELD PAUL BARTON JOHN SHAKESHAFT GED SHEEHY ROD BOARDMAN ALAN HARTLEY STEVE LEDDY NEIL BANNISTER DEREK HOWARD JOE FILDES ALF B DAVE KIRKWOOD GEORGE THRELFALL BOB TAYLOR GARETH BRADLEY TONY MAGUIRE ALAN HARTLEY KAREN RIMMER ROY MARSH IAN COMPTON JOHN S.ASPERY PAUL BIRCH GAVIN OLDFIELD PAUL BAXENDALE BERNIE VOLLER BRIAN MOUNTAIN DEREK OLDFIELD CHRIS MUGAN TERRY BRENTNALL GARY BOOTT

Pts 4160 4130 4120 4115 4110 4100 4090 4080 4070 4025 4010 4005 3990 3980 3975 3970 3965 3955 3945 3940 3930 3915 3865 3860 3860 3845 3840 3835 3815 3815 3795 3780 3770 3765 3760 3755 3730 3725 3710 3690 3660 3635 3635 3625 3625 3620 3595 3580 3580 3575 3570 3535 3495 3480 3470 3470 3440 3440 3430 3420 3380 3375 3370 3355 3355 3335 3330 3300 3290 3270 3265 3260 3230 3230 3225 3220 3220 3215 3215 3210 3180 3180 3165 3165 3150 3150 3130 3105 3020 3020 2990

Pos Team name 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250

WHAT RETIREMENT ???

BANGOR BOY AVENUE ALL STARS SHROPSHIRE LASS RAINBOW NATION SANDO EAGLE TERIBUS 4 JUNCTION RAIDERS STEAMYS COLLYS MATE HIGH FADE TEAM HERITAGE CRYSTALS ONE DARKSIDE 3 GALLON ONE VALLEY HACKERS DARKSIDE 1 COMPY’S BIRDIE TEAM MY BONEHEADS DEGSYS NO.1 GANG TERIBUS 3 BEANIE FC NORTH EURO ALLSTARS CELTIC WARRIORS MEAN MACHINE 1 SANDO PAR “SPARTANS” WHICH IRON BULLYS BIG HITTERS BLUEKIPPER CINK THAT LONG PUTT DAY AND THE WINNER IS THE HEARTBREAKERS CALL ME MOLE FLINT OLD BOYS 1 STILL HOPEFUL BERGER TO GO HI 3 PUT JESTERS ARMY 2 GRAND PAR OSWESTRY SCOT TWINS EDGE OF THE WORLD P & M UNITED COLINS CADDIES HARDERTHANUTHINK PUTTATHONS B HARRYS ARMY LOT VALLEY RAIDERS TRAVELLERS DON’T GO RIGHT DARKSIDE 2 SHAKEY 2 DAVY IV “HOLE IN ONE” ONLY ON MERRITT FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN 3 GREG’S FETTLERS ALL STARS 1 WHITE SHIFT SHANKERS SHANKSALOT SHAKEY 1 SHIFTYS OLD LINKS 1 COMPY’S PAR PATROL TIGER SAND FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN 2 I’LL JUST PLAY ANOTHER LILY MAY

Manager JASON EDGE WIL.G.JONES DENIS FOSTER CLAIRE WILLIAMS ANDREW HARTLEY MARK SANDERSON BILL SMITH BARRY WINFIELD MARK WINDOW STEPHEN DAVIES DAVE MAGUIRE MICHAEL HERITAGE JIM COLLINS IAN RIVE GARETH BRADLEY ROD BOARDMAN IAN RIVE IAN COMPTON ALLAN S MARTIN DEREK BROWN BILL SMITH LEWIS WINDOW TERRY BRENTNALL ANDREW HARTLEY ROBERT WILLIAMS MARK SANDERSON GEOFF OUSEY DEREK OLDFIELD PETE LITTLER KEN GOUGH JOE FILDES STEVE BOND PAUL BAXENDALE ROB HUGHES DAVE BEALES GEOFFREY BOOTT JOE FILDES MARK WINDOW LEE OLDFIELD W.MANNING D.MCKAY BRIAN MOUNTAIN LES EDGE P & M UNITED KEN GOUGH KENNETH MCKAY CHRIS MUGAN EDWARD SHIELDS BARRY WINFIELD LES EDGE GWYNFOR JONES IAN RIVE JOHN SHAKESHAFT DAVID EVANS DAVE HOLLIN GWYNFOR JONES JOHN MAGILL PAUL GREGORY MARK REDFERN JOHN L. DAVIES GAVIN OLDFIELD JOHN SHAKESHAFT GRAHAM SCHAFER IAN COMPTON STEVE FLOOD JOHN MAGILL JOHN L. DAVIES RUSS WILLIAMS

Pts 2945 2920 2920 2920 2905 2875 2875 2870 2855 2840 2840 2825 2815 2805 2795 2795 2785 2785 2745 2730 2720 2705 2705 2695 2695 2695 2675 2670 2620 2595 2595 2590 2565 2565 2555 2545 2500 2490 2490 2475 2465 2440 2420 2405 2400 2395 2375 2365 2340 2325 2325 2320 2315 2285 2285 2275 2255 2240 2240 2215 2180 2180 2070 2060 2030 2005 2000 1990

TRIO OF £50 WINNERS REVEALED WELL this month we can reveal our March, April and May manager of the month winners.

March’s top dog, and winner of £50 to spend at his home club’s pro shop, is Andy Milne. Our April winner is Mersey Valley member John Myers, from Warrington and May’s winner is Ellesmere Port’s Kevin Manning, who won by an incredible 740 points with 3,940.

In the cumulative league, it’s Robert Wilkinson in top spot on 7,255 points. Andy Milne holds second and third place.

At the end of the season the overall winner will receive £300 of credit to spend in their club’s pro shop. The runner-up will receive £200 of credit and third will get £100.

DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD WITH AN ADVERT IN YOUR GOLFERS LOCAL Delivered to more than 300 golf clubs, driving ranges, golf retail outlets and hotels across the North West, North Midlands and North Wales for nearly 14 years. From Lancaster in the north to Shrewsbury in the south. Rochdale in the east to Aberdovey in the west – we’ve got it covered.

CALL 01978 449917 OR EMAIL sales@golferslocal.co.uk

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Local News

Know your rules with...

PETER TURNER Our Shropshire-based England Golf referee with his latest rules questions to test your knowledge.

1. Bernard was due to play at 11am in a Stableford competition. He was late for his tee time, and played his tee shot at 11.03am just after the others in his group had left the teeing area. He is penalised two strokes for the first hole.

True or False?

2. Fiona’s approach to the third green goes into a bad lie in a greenside bunker. She can call the ball unplayable, and drop it outside the bunker on an extension of the line between the flagstick and the ball’s original position, under a penalty of two strokes. True or False?

3. Ann was playing in a match and hit her tee shot on the 4th into a stream.

She found her ball in the stream and made a stroke at the ball, even though the flow of the water was causing the ball to be moving down stream. What is the penalty? a. No penalty b. 1 stroke c. Loss of hole 4. Terry hit his tee shot on the 8th into an area of deep rough. He played a provisional ball in case his first ball might be lost. The provisional ball finished in a good position in the fairway.

He and his group searched for the first tee shot for two minutes and 50 sec-

ASPIRATIONS TO BRING RYDER CUP TO BOLTON CONTINUE

onds. At that point one of his group found a ball that might be Terry’s in a poor position under a gorse bush.

Three minutes had already elapse by the time Terry was able to get the ball to identify it. The ball was found to be Terry’s but in a very bad lie. What is the procedure? a. As three minutes had elapsed before Terry identified the ball as his, the ball is lost and he must return to the teeing area and play another ball under penalty of stroke and distance. b. As the ball was found within three minutes the ball is not lost and continues to be the ball in play. c. As Terry considers his original ball to be in an unplayable position, he may play the provisional ball under penalty of stroke and distance.

5. Tony’s ball came to rest in the general area very close to a bridge that crossed a ditch that was designated a penalty area. The bridge interfered with his follow through, and the Local Rules stated the bridge was in the penalty area. What is the procedure? a. As the bridge was in the penalty area Tony gets no free relief from the bridge. b. Tony may claim free relief as the bridge is an immovable obstruction. c. Tony must play the ball as it lies or call it unplayable.

Answers below 1. False - In a Stableford, if a player is late on the tee, but arrives within five minutes of his tee time, two points are deducted from his total points for the round. Rule 25.1c applies. In a medal he would be penalised two strokes to be added to his score for the first hole.

2. True - Rule 19.3b gives a player an additional option if that ball is deemed by the player to be unplayable in a bunker. He or she may take relief and drop it outside the bunker using back on the line relief, but with a penalty of two strokes. One to remember for those who don’t like bunkers.

3. A - While under Rule 10.1d a player is not normally allowed to make a stroke at a moving ball, one of the exceptions to that Rule is when a ball is moving in water, either in temporary water or

water in a penalty area. As Ann’s ball was moving in water in a penalty area, the stream, she incurs no penalty.

4. B - As Terry’s ball had been found within three minutes of the start of the search, it is not lost even though he did not identify it within the three minutes period. Terry’s original ball is still the ball in play, and he either has to play it as it lies, or take unplayable relief under the appropriate penalty.

5. B - Under Rule 17 (Penalty Area), a player gets no relief for a ball in a penalty area for such as an abnormal course condition, embedded ball or unplayable ball.

However if a ball lies in the general area and an obstruction, such as a bridge situated in a penalty area, interferes with his or her swing or stance the player gets free relief under Rule 16.1.

Have you got a rules query you’d like clarification on? If so, email news@golferslocal.co.uk and Peter will provide an answer for you

How the Hulton Park course could look if the appeal is successful.

REGENERATION business Peel L&P has reaffirmed its commitment to invest £240m in Bolton and help put the town on a global stage with plans to appeal Bolton Council’s decision to reject its revised plans to redevelop and restore Hulton Park.

The plans to create an iconic sporting venue and healthy living destination at the historic estate provide a once in a generation opportunity for Bolton and the North West and will help to level up the region.

Despite Bolton Council approving earlier plans in 2018 which were followed by Secretary of State approval in 2020, Bolton Council’s Planning Committee went against officers’ recommendations and refused a much improved proposal back in February before the local elections.

The revised proposals are worth £1.6bn in wider socio-economic benefits and would create a legacy for Bolton with 1,000 new jobs over 20 years, restoring and opening up community access to the historic Hulton Park for the first time in its history. The plans would also create a new golfing academy, quality housing including affordable homes, a health and wellbeing hub, food and entertainment spaces, a village hall and community allotments.

The project is conditional on Hulton Park securing the rights to host the

Ryder Cup tournament in 2031 or 2035.

The vision is remains within Bolton’s sights as the historic estate is one of only two English venues shortlisted by UK Sport and Ryder Cup Europe for the 2031 event.

Peel L&P’s revised plans take on board further feedback from the community with better transport proposals including a new Park Avenue to relieve congestion in Westhoughton, more environmental improvements and fewer homes on Green Belt land.

Addressing the decision to submit an appeal, Richard Knight, director of planning and strategy at Peel L&P, said: “We already have planning permission to redevelop and restore Hulton Park following the secretary of state’s approval in 2020 so we were very disappointed that Bolton Council refused our revised and improved scheme as it takes on board more local feedback and really is a once in a generation opportunity to invest in Bolton and level up the region.

“This level of investment will only happen if Hulton Park is able to secure the Ryder Cup in 2031 or 2035 and we remain committed to securing support for the development as we know the extent of the benefits it will bring to Bolton and the North West. These include better housing choices, more jobs, improved transport, new health and wellbeing facilities and a golfing acad-

emy for the entire community.

“It is an ambitious scheme but one that Bolton deserves and needs. We want local people to be proud of what their town can achieve and get behind these revised plans as opportunities like this do not come along every day and the benefits will last a lifetime.”

Mike Blackburn, chair of Marketing Manchester, added: “The hopes of the North West hosting The Ryder Cup at Hulton Park in 2031 or 2035 remain very much alive and I believe this is a prize worth fighting for, and look forward to a positive outcome.

“If Hulton Park does gain planning consent and is selected to host one of the world’s greatest sporting competitions, Bolton and the wider region would see substantial benefits in terms of in-bound tourism for many years to come, as well as creating some outstanding community facilities benefiting the local community.”

Alongside the submission of the appeal, Peel L&P will also be in discussion with local people on the revised plans, including the Community Liaison Group set up for the project.

A series of community events and activities are also being planned at Hulton Park over the coming months, including a community archaeological dig with The University of Salford, walking tours, a summer fete and an arts event.

NORTHOP GOLF CLUB

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Hole-in-One News

LOCAL GOLFERS PROVE THEY ARE SIMPLY ACE!

Ollie Claireaux after his ace at Astbury.

At Delamere, from left are: Simon Locket, John Lightfoot, Mike Bebbington, Steve Round, David Hill and Simon Gresty.

A DENBIGH senior golfer has hit his first hole-in-one after more than 70 years playing the game.

Peter Wharton’s ace came on the 14th hole at his home club during a Senior Open in May. “I was playing with low handicap golfers and their balls had all come up 10 or 15 yards short so I made sure I had plenty of club by using a four wood. We thought my ball would be on the green but when we couldn’t see it I just presumed it had gone over the back and started looking there with one of my playing partners,” said the 25-handicapper former hotel owner.

“It was only when the third player checked in the hole that we realised it had gone in.

“It felt magical when I saw it in the hole. My dad and brother were both single figure golfers and they’ve had eight aces between them, but this was my first,” added Peter, who lives in Rhyl after moving to North Wales from Birmingham 36 years ago.

The ace didn’t hit Peter too hard in the pocket either. “We were last in and everybody had already had a drink or two so nobody wanted one as they were all driving.”

Peter remembered to keep the ball and has bought a small display from a trophy shop in Rhyl for the ball to take

Peter Wharton after his ace at Denbigh.

Chris Hynes on the seventh at Avro.

pride of place.

Delamere Forest member Ollie Claireaux made it a hat-trick of aces when he holed in one during the opening qualifying round at the recent Cheshire Matchplay Championships at Astbury Golf Club.

The +3.6 handicap Cheshire player said: “The hole was 187 yards straight into wind, so I calculated it was playing at least 205 and I hit a flighted knock down four-iron. My playing partners Sam Long (Delamere Forest) and Fraser McLeod (Hazel Grove) and myself were all delighted when the ball went into the hole!

“There were obviously celebrations on the tee, but my family benefited the most by cracking open a bottle of Champagne on my behalf !”

The ace helped Ollie to a first round score of 72 and, still inspired, he posted 69 in round two to finish on 141 in second place behind the eventual champion Matt Dodd-Berry (Royal Liverpool) in the qualifier. Sadly, he did not progress far in the matchplay rounds.

Avro Golf Club member Chris Hynes has hit his first ever hole-in-one.

The 21.3 handicapper aced at the par three 167-yard seventh hole when his tee shot flew into the hole to set up suitable 19th hole celebrations.

David Young and Neil Forster celebrating the ace at Didsbury.

Alastair Morton is all smiles on the 8th at Grange Park.

Denise Booth on the 15th hole after her hole-in-one at Romiley.

Chris was using a replica antique TaylorMade driver for his memorable tee shot and he is now looking forward to adding more aces to his tally.

The 19th hole at Delamere Forest Golf Club saw three handicapper Steve Round and his friends celebrate his first ace in style.

Steve, a member of the Cheshirebased club for eight years, said: “I played with my friends and accompanied by Dave Hill who was walking his young springer spaniel.

“The ace, which was my first-ever, came on the 152-yard par three 12th using my eight-iron from the tee.

“The traditional celebrations lasted a long time on our return to the club!”

Didsbury Golf Club member David Young hit an ace on the sixth hole during a Saturday competition at his home club and almost made it a double on the 18th!

Playing alongside Neil Forster, who almost aced himself on the sixth, he holed his tee shot on the 152-yard sixth and then lipped out on the 160-yard long final hole.

There was plenty of whisky consumed at the 19th to celebrate the one that did go in.

Bromborough member Alastair Morton has hit his second hole-in-one less than two years after his first.

The 10.9 handicapper and playing partner Duncan Smith were playing in a Seniors Open Fourball Betterball at Grange Park Golf Club with two players from Haydock Park when he struck his latest ace on the 155-yard eighth hole.

“I took out a six iron from my bag and struck the ball well. To my delight the four us saw the ball disappear into the hole. My playing partner Lee Mitchell took a picture on the green and I also received a bottle whiskey from the club,” explained Alastair, who has been playing golf for 56 years.

“My other hole-in-one was at Bromborough in August 2020.”

Huyton and Prescot Golf Club member Denis Mason has hit his second ace more than 40 years after his first.

The 54-year-old central heating fitter from Huyton used a four iron on the 180-yard 14th hole at his home club.

The 11 handicapper’s first ace was at Allerton Municipal as a teenager.

Romiley Golf Club member Denise Booth has hit her first ever hole-in-one, 42 years after first taking up the game.

The 10.1 handicapper finally made her dream come true when playing with Audrey Jones at her home club in May. It was a cool and breezy day when she hit her six hybrid up the steep hill to the

126-yard 15th hole.

The ball landed at the front of the green and bounced towards the flag but neither Denise nor Audrey could see the bottom of the flag.

Audrey said: “If you can’t find the ball on the green, look in the hole.”

Not wanting to be presumptuous, Denise approached the green with a chipper but found the ball in the hole.

She said: “I’m delighted to have had a hole-in-one after 42 years of playing golf, and I hope the teasing from my golfing friends will now stop!”

Manchester Alliance officials were scouring their records for the last time an ace was achieved in their competitions after one in the Team of Four competition at Whitefield Golf Club.

It came on the 185-yard 15th par three from Simon Daniels who was part of the team led by Bury Golf Club professional Chris Bibby.

Simon is a scratch golfer and used his trusty five iron from the tee.

The shot landed a foot from the pin and then dropped into the hole for a noisy ace which also contributed valuable points to the team score enabling them to take second spot in an event with 35 teams in attendance and then celebrate in the normal fashion back at their club.

21

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

Pro News

CHARLES WINS PRO OF THE YEAR AWARD

Charles le Sueur, left, with Alderley Edge chairman David Lee.

ALDERLEY Edge professional Charles le Sueur is the Foremost Golf ‘Golf Industry Awards Professional of the Year’ winner.

The award was presented to Charles to display in his shop by Andy Martin of Foremost Golf with Charles being chosen from 990 golf professionals in the UK. The criteria for the award are – proactive elite marketing programme, central payment, store presentation, proactive coaching and working with the golf club.

Charles said: “It was a bit of a shock

BY GEOFF GARNETT to be even nominated let alone win the award.

“It’s always nice to be recognised for something you do and this has made all the work worthwhile.

“I would like to thank all the people who have worked on the committees at the club over the past 10 years for being so supportive of what I do and also the team at Foremost for providing me with so many initiatives to save me time and help me grow my business.”

Alderley Edge chairman David Lee added: “The council at Alderley Edge are extremely pleased to have Charles as the club professional.

“He has been a great strength during the difficult times of Covid over the past couple of years and has played a vitally important role in the membership recruitment process.

“We continue to hold Charles in great esteem and the fact that he has won the Professional of The Year award is something we are extremely proud of. He really is a great professional.”

NATIONAL AWARD FOR ROMILEY PRO ROMILEY Golf Club professional Graham Drabble has been named Elite Marketing Professional of the Year at the annual Foremost Golf awards.

Graham told club members: “For those that may not know, GD Golf was recently shortlisted for the annual Foremost Golf awards this year, and we won it!

“That’s right, I am proud to say that we are now an award-winning business!

“Of course, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the great team I have around me including Ben Davies, and not forgetting the support that you, the customers, continue to show us year on year. Thank you for everything!

“The award is in recognition for the hard work and continued effort that the team and I put in to operating GD Golf and how we link Foremost Golf ’s services, such as the weekly newsletter, campaigns and

Graham Drabble, right, is presented with his framed award by Foremost’s Andy Martin.

promotions, click and collect and many more to provide you with the best allround service possible.

“The award is a great way to kick off the early part of the season and will most definitely inspire us to continue

our good work going forward.

“Thank you again to everyone for showing your support!”

Foremost Golf Executive Andy Martin came to the club to present Graham with his framed award.

22

Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Travel Feature

KILKENNY DOESN’T DISAPPOINT AS ANNUAL IRISH TRIP RETURNS

The stunning par three third hole at Mount Juliet. INSET: Mount Juliet’s Manor House.

After being unable to travel for the previous two years due to the pandemic, Golfers Local editor PAUL CHAPPLE made his normally annual trip to Ireland last month courtesy of Club Choice Ireland. In this edition he’ll tell you all about his experiences in Kilkenny when he visited the Mount Juliet Estate, Hotel Kilkenny, Kilkenny Golf Club and Gowran Park.

MY PREVIOUS Club Choice Ireland trips had always revolved around the many fabulous courses in the Dublin area. This year however, I was really excited to be getting my first taste of the South East of Ireland with visits to various courses in the Kilkenny and Wexford areas.

My day started early as I had the 9am Stena Line Holyhead to Dublin ferry to catch, which meant leaving my home on the Cheshire/Wales border by 6.30am.

Fortunately it was a beautiful Spring morning with hardly a breath of wind and my 90-minute coastal drive and subsequent three-hour crossing could not have been smoother.

Arriving to equally nice weather in Dublin was ideal and, having enjoyed a full English breakfast on board, I was ready to head straight down to my first port of call, the wonderful Mount Juliet, which was about 90 miles south.

I was particularly excited to be playing here as it will host, for the second successive year, the 2022 Horizon Irish

Open, which I had enjoyed watching on TV last year.

It was also a course where Tiger Woods and Ernie Els have both won in the early 2000s when Mount Juliet hosted the American Express Championships.

The estate’s website says “Both water and sand play a part in the types of challenges that have come to define Jack Nicklaus’ outstanding golf courses, and our 18 holes embody his ambitious, mischievous approach to course design. Five lakes have been constructed, which enhance six of the holes, while over 80 bunkers have been strategically placed throughout.”

With this in mind, I decided to play from the amber tees which totalled 6,554 yards rather than the tougher blue or black tees… and with my game still very fragile, this was a wise choice.

You don’t need nor want a blow for blow account of my round, but the standout holes for me were the stunning par three third hole where from the

championship tee, for example, you will have to contend with 180 yards of carry over a shimmering lake. From my amber tees it was a much friendlier, but still very scary shot of 140 yards.

The par four fourth hole is also a special hole with a narrow fairway and more water up short and then right of the putting surface.

The 11th, 13th and 14th holes, are particularly pleasing on the eye, but all three greens are heavily guarded by bunkers and water.

You arrive at perhaps the course’s most unusual feature on the 16th, where you will find a walled green almost entirely surrounded by a bunker!

With two long closing holes to finish, and the sun still very hot, I was delighted to retreat to the stunning clubhouse where I was able to enjoy my first pint of Guinness ahead of a quick chat with golf operations manager Paul O’Neill.

He explained: “We get lots of UK business. They can either fly or ferry into Dublin or get the ferry into nearby Ross-

lare from Fishguard. They know they can get value for money down in this part of Ireland. They love the golf and the hospitality in this part of the world.

“The standard of golf courses over here is very good.

“We deal closely with Club Choice Ireland as a tour operator and try and make those extra special touches for groups that use them in terms of putting on tea and coffee before they play or finding them a little private area within the members’ bar.”

The Manor House has a Michelin star restaurant that has been on site for the last five years. All 32 bedrooms are unique and are named after a famous figures connected to the area.

It’s only about 200 yards away from the first tee.

Leisure Centre with Spa treatment, archery, equestrian. When our guests arrive we want them to not want to leave the resort.

Club Choice’s 2022 brochure states: “The Manor House is the beating heart

of the estate and has ben ever since the first Earl of Carrick and his wife Juliet first made it their home in 1750. Step through its pillared entrance way and you enter a place out of time: lovingly preserved for the present-day; intimately updated in the most faithful manner.”

The second hotel on the estate, situated alongside the clubhouse, is the Hunter’s Yard, which has 93 bedrooms and a Hound Restaurant offering all-day dining.

Whether you choose the Manor House or Hunter’s Yard, Mount Juliet is a golfers getaway of the highest standard.

A capacity crowd of 15,000 spectators each day will enjoy this summer’s Irish Open here, and with an estimated TV audience of 350 million, the estate’s profile is set to rise.

After saying my farewells to Paul, it was time to jump back in the car for a 30-minute drive north to the medieval city of Kilkenny where my final stop of day one was Hotel Kilkenny.

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

Travel Feature

An aerial shot of Gowran Park.

The approach to the first hole at Kilkenny Golf Club..

The refurbished clubhouse at Kilkenny.

The four star hotel is located just a 10minute walk from the city centre and includes a leisure centre with a gym, 20m swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

It has a lovely Taste Restaurant, but I was keen to sample the delights of its Pure Bar, which offers fantastic bar food in a more informal setting.

I opted for grilled fillets of sea bass on a crisp citrus salad, with warm baby potatoes and a tomato and tarragon salsa.

It was superb, as was the couple of pints of Guinness that preceded it.

Suitably replete, I decided to have a short walk before the daylight went. It turned into a particularly short walk as I found a great little pub, The Sceilp Inn, opposite the hotel’s entrance and stayed there for the remainder of the evening.

It was an early start on day two as I was meeting Kilkenny Golf Club’s general manager Mark Ruddy, a former PGA professional, for a look around at 8.30am.

The club, based in the heart of Kilkenny, celebrated its 125th year last year and, like Mount Juliet, it has a major champion as a former winner there as

Hotel Kilkenny.

Padraig Harrington was the 1992 Scratch Cup champion.

Mark took me out on a buggy and explained how the par 71 parkland course is renowned for the quality of its greens, which are small and undulating. They were 10.5 on the stimp on the morning of my visit.

We drove down the opening hole in a buggy so Mark could show me the impressive first hole that has a blind tee shot and then drops down steeply to the green.

Mark then showed me a couple of the club’s iconic par threes. He talked about how, despite having 1,100 members, the club try and go above and beyond when it comes to looking after its UK visitors.

He said: “We try to be more than just a golf club. We work closely with the hotels in terms of getting golfers in and out of the course by booking them taxis.

“We have a group from North Wales that have been coming here for 40 years.

We keep some tee times free for them at a weekends, even if it’s a competition day.

“Visitors tend to use Kilkenny as their base. They then travel out to the likes of Mount Juliet and Gowran Park.

“The advantage of coming to this part of Ireland is how much cheaper the golf is. A game here at Kilkenny on a Saturday is just 35 euros. You can play midweek and enjoy a main course meal for just 40 euros.”

The Kilkenny course is based on quarry land and so it drains well and is playable 12 months of the year, but August, September and October are often popular with UK visitors.

Despite there being a little bit of rain in the air, and more forecast for the rest of the day, I was gutted I didn’t have time in my busy itinerary to actually play. I did get chance to have a look around at the refurbished clubhouse, which looked great, before it was time to head off for another, sadly all too brief, look at Gowran Park where I met up with course manager Joe Scriven.

Already renowned for its racecourse, in 2001, Gowran Park developed a unique 18-hole golf course too. The course meanders in and around 130 acres with five holes within the racecourse boundary and the remainder in the mature woodland and lake settings of the Annaly Estate.

Paul’s hotel room at Hotel Kilkenny.

With the magnificent backdrop of the Blackstairs Mountains, this course par 71 course has some great holes, Gowran Park is a wonderful parkland golf course with tree-lined fairways and superb greens complimented by various water hazards, lakes and streams.

The first three holes are positioned inside the race track with the first tee beside the winning post. There are no trees on the these holes, however, strategically placed bunkers, lake and a tricky third green make these holes challenging to navigate. The fourth hole is the signature hole on the course – a fantastic hole based on the 13th at Augusta. Playing to 100ft tall trees in the distance, you have to avoid the trees to the right and the creek to the left, expect to play your second over the creek which surrounds the green. This hole was voted as being one of the Top 100 Holes in Ireland recently.

Water comes into play on the final three holes of the first half where the climax is the par three ninth hole under the watchful eye of guests in the clubhouse.

Stroke index one is lurking on the par five 12th hole which is a dogleg right with water coming into play off the tee

if one cuts it too fine. The par three 13th hole is the last with water until your approach to the 18th green. However before that the 15th hole awaits, it is arguably the most picturesque hole on the course with no bunkers, no water, just a corridor of fairway caught between two rows of more 100ft tall trees.

The clubhouse at Gowran Park is a memorable one. It is situated on the top floor of the grandstand overlooking the golf course and winning post and has more panoramic views of those Blackstairs Mountains and Mount Leinster.

So if a golf trip to this part of Ireland is something that might be of interest, you would be best advised to contact Club Choice Ireland via email info@clubchoiceireland.com, Freephone 0800 285 1490 or visit their website www.clubchoiceireland.com.

They truly are the experts in golf in Irelands Ancient East and given the glowing recommendations from the courses and hotels I visited; you will be in good hands.

For me, I was now heading south to Wexford, but more of that in our next edition.

Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Golfers Local June/July 2022

Charity News

ANGUS TAKES INCREDIBLE IRON MAN CHALLENGE ON A WIRRAL-based golf professional who almost lost his life in an horrific cycling accident 10 years ago is to compete in a gruelling Swiss Triathlon event in July to raise funds for charity.

Angus Law, the director of golf at Moreton Hills Golf Centre, will swim 2.4 miles in a lake, cycle 112 miles on mountainous terrain and then run a 26.2 mile marathon to raise funds for Maggie’s Hospice.

Completing the event will be an incredible achievement for the Scotsman who had to be resuscitated when he hit a dry stone wall in The Lakes doing 50mph on his road bike in 2012.

“I had actually died but by complete chance, the Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue team were passing and they saved my life.

“I broke my back in two places and had a 15 hour operation on my left arm and also on my face. I was put in an induced coma and was in hospital for months,” explained Angus, who will turn 57 on the day of the triathlon in July.

“I’m still recovering now, but I have been training daily since January.”

The former Wirral Golf Club head pro, who has also worked at Bidston, Sandiway and Caldy, lives in Wallasey with his wife and two children. He had already completed five triathlons prior to

The Christie benefits from generous Macc MACCLESFIELD Golf Club captain Pete Lloyd and lady captain Wendy Higgins have presented a cheque for £5,212.56 to their chosen charity of The Christie.

They went to the newly opened Christie Building in the Cheshire town to present their cheque to The Christie’s community fundraising officer Louise Dawson.

They reflected that the onset of the pandemic was not a great time for sport but this did not subdue their passion and commitment to help raise funds for their chosen charity and the great support they were given by club members and friends.

Wendy Higgins and Pete Lloyd present the cheque to Louise Dawson, centre.

Angus Law in Iron Man action in 2008. INSET: Angus at Moreton Hills Golf Centre.

BY PAUL CHAPPLE his accident so knows how tough it’s going to be. “I have a few time goals in my head, but essentially I just want to finish in the designated time.”

Angus, who is the younger brother of

fellow pro golfer Jim, has chosen the hospice after losing two friends, Paula Roberts and Kevin Haggar, recently to cancer. “I am raising funds for Maggie’s Wirral, at Clatterbridge because they provided support to my friends when they needed it most and they continue

to support their families.

“They do a fantastic job, so anything I can do to help raise some money for them will really help,” explained the Taekwondo black belt.

To donate to Angus Law’s charity, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/angus-law1

GREAT AINTREE DAY FOR HEATON MOOR LADIES HEATON Moor ladies have enjoyed the Ladies Aintree Day for six years and this year just over 100 ladies, suitably dressed for the occasion, supported the charities for lady captain Julie Stonehouse and captain Ahmed Gada.

Julie’s charity is Samaritans Heaton Moor and Ahmed’s is Centre Point - a homeless young people’s charity.

The day raised £800 for the ladies

Aintree Day at Heaton Moor.

section and the sale of raffle tickets for Easter Hampers £718 for the captains’ charities.

Due thanks were given to Jeanette Butterfield for selling the tickets, Alan Butterfield and Pete Jordan for organising the race betting, Kay Lee for arranging the flowers and setting up the prize hampers and all of the ladies who helped set up the room.

Paint it Pink!!!

BRAMALL Park held a Bank Holiday weekend of events to raise funds for Breast Cancer Prevention.

The ‘Paint Bramall Park Pink” weekend included a men’s competition and a mixed ‘Think Pink’ competition, which was supported by shops and local businesses.

A Ladies’ ‘Pink Day’ also helped swell the coffers with all money raised going towards the Nightingale Charity.

Even the men dressed in pink for their competition at Bramall Park.

FORMER FOOTBALLERS TAKE PART IN STICK ‘N’ STEP CHARITY DAY PRYORS Hayes Golf Club were fantastic hosts for the Annual Charity Golf Day supporting Stick ‘n’ Step charity which raised over £17,000 for the cerebral palsy charity.

There were 36 fourball teams playing from across the UK and the day was again organised by Sky Sports commentator Rob Palmer in his role as the charity ambassador.

Various sporting legends were again in the field including ex-Liverpool footballers Robbie Fowler and Steve Staunton and the winning team was Terry Hill, Brian Edge, Mike Hill and Ralph Page who was the oldest player at 83 years.

There was a keen contest on the par three ninth to win a special edition black Honda CB1000R motorbike, courtesy of Smith’s Honda.

The traditional evening’s entertainment and auction added more to the funds and Stick ‘n’ Step head of operations Sarah Smithson gave deserving thanks to all who had given great support on the day which was endorsed by Rob Palmer.

Stick ‘n’ Step provides free conductive education sessions to children with cerebral palsy helping to improve mobility, independence and boost selfconfidence, enabling every child to reach their personal potential.

The Rob Palmer team, from left, is Tony Grant, Robbie Fowler, Rob Palmer, Jim Mitchell and Steve Staunton.

26

Golfers Local June/July 2022

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Club Directory 18-HOLE COURSES

LOCATION

MIDWEEK (From)

WEEKEND (From)

PRO TEL.

SEC TEL.

Abersoch GC Aldersey Green GC Allerton Manor GC Alsager GC Barlaston GC Bidston GC Birchwood GC Bull Bay GC Chester GC Chorley GC Chorlton cum Hardy GC Crewe GC Denbigh GC Denton GC Disley GC Helsby GC Henlle Park GC Henllys GC Holyhead GC Leigh GC Llanymynech GC Maesdu GC Mellor & Townscliffe GC Old Padeswood GC Oswestry GC Park GC Pennant Park GC Poulton Park GC Prestatyn GC Pryors Hayes GC Pwllheli GC Reddish Vale GC Rhos on Sea GC Rochdale GC Royal St David’s GC St Deiniol GC Vale of Llangollen GC Vicars Cross GC Walton Hall GC Woolton GC Wrexham GC

Abersoch, North Wales Nr Tattenhall, Chester Liverpool South Cheshire Nr Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs J1 of M53, Wirral Birchwood, Warrington Amlwch, Anglesey Chester City Centre Heath Charnock, Chorley South Manchester Haslington, Nr Crewe Denbigh Denton, Manchester High Peak, Cheshire Helsby, Cheshire Oswestry Beaumaris, Anglesey Holyhead, Anglesey Culcheth, Warrington Pant, Oswestry SY10 8LB Llandudno, Conwy Stockport Padeswood, Nr Mold 2 miles SE of Oswestry on A5 Southport Golf Links Whitford, Holywell Warrington Prestatyn, North Wales Oscroft, Nr Tarvin, Chester Pwllheli, North Wales Stockport Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno Rochdale OL11 5YR Harlech Bangor, North Wales Llangollen, Denbighshire Chester J10, M56 Nr Warrington South Liverpool Wrexham, North East Wales

£43 (£22 winter) £25 £17 (£14 senior) £25 (£15 winter) £15 From £20 £26 (£15 winter) £35 (£22 winter) £45 (£20 winter) £45 £17.50 £35 (£25 winter) £26 £20 From £15 £25 (call for promo rates) See website for details £30 £40 (Twilight £25) £30 £30 (£20 winter) £45 (£27 Twilight) £20 (£20 winter) See website for details £25 (Sun-Fri) £14.80 (see website for details) £25 £15 £25 £20 (before 3pm) £40 £40 (£25 winter) £40 (inc Sun, £20 after 3pm) £30 (call for promo rates) See website for details £25 (£18 winter) See website for details £30 (£20 winter) £14.70 £40 (book online) See website for details

£48 (£28 winter) 4+ discounts £30 £20 (£17 senior) N/A £27.50 From £25 £31 (£20 winter) £40 (£25 winter) £50 (£22.50 winter) N/A £22.50 (inc Bank Holidays) £40 (£30 winter) £32 £25 (Sundays after 1pm) From £20 £35 (call for promo rates) See website for details £30 From £45 (Twilight £30) £35 £40 (£25 winter) £65 (£27 Twilight) £40 (£30 winter) See website for details £30 (Saturdays) £16.80 (inc Bank Holidays) £30 £17 £40 £24 (inc Bank Holidays) £45 £45 (£32.50 winter) £45 (£20 after 3pm) £35 (call for promo rates) See website for details £30 (£22 winter) See website for details £30 (£25 winter) £19 £45 (book online) See website for details

01758 712622 01829 782157 0151 428 7490 01270 875700 01782 372795 0151 638 3412 01925 825216 01407 830960 01244 671185 01257 480263 0161 881 9911 01270 585032 01745 814159 0161 336 2070 01663 764001 01928 722021 01691 670680 01248 811717 01407 763279 01925 762013 01691 830542 01492 875195 0161 427 5759 01244 547401 01691 610535 01704 535286 01745 563000 01925 825220 01745 854320 01829 740140 01758 701644 0161 480 3824 01492 548115 01706 522104 01766 780361 01248 353098 01978 860906 01244 335174 01925 263061 0151 486 1298 01978 351476

01758 712622 01829 782157 0151 428 7490 01270 875700 01782 372795 0151 638 3412 01925 818819 01407 830960 01244 677760 01257 480263 0161 881 5830 01270 584099 01745 816669 0161 336 3218 01663 764001 01928 722021 01691 670680 01248 811717 01407 763279 01925 762943 01691 830542 01492 876450 0161 427 2208 01244 638688 01691 610535 01704 512694 01745 563000 01925825220 01745 854320 01829 741250 01758 701644 0161 480 2359 01492 549641 01706 643818 01766 780361 01248 353098 01978 860906 01244 335174 01925 263061 0151 486 2298 01978 364268

9-HOLE COURSES

LOCATION

MIDWEEK

WEEKEND

PRO TEL.

SEC TEL.

Baron Hill GC Betws-y-Coed GC Gatley GC Hartford GC Plassey GC Rhyl GC Sandfield GC & DR St Melyd GC Westminster Park Woodside GC

Beaumaris, Anglesey Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0AL Heald Green,Cheshire Northwich Eyton, Nr Wrexham Rhyl, Denbighshire Bridge Trafford, Chester Prestatyn Chester Holmes Chapel

£15 (£25 for 18 holes) £15 (£25 for 18 holes) £15 (£25 for 18, Twilight £15) £15 (£25 for 18, Twilight £15) £12.50 (£15.50 for 18 holes), Twilight £6 (£9 for 18) £10 £12.50 £11 (£19 18 holes) £13 (£21 18 holes) £12 (£15 18 holes) £12 (£15 18 holes) £8.50-£9.50 (£7.50 snr/jnr) £9.50 (£7.50 jnr) £16 (£24 18 holes) £20 (£28 for 18 holes) £5 £5 £13.80 (£19.80 18 holes) £16.50 (£22.50 18 holes)

01248 810231 01690 710556 0161 437 2091 01606 871162 01978 780020 01745 353171 01244 301752 01745 854405 01244 680231 07583 984090

01248 810231 01690 710556 0161 437 2091 01606 871162 01978 780020 01745 353171 01244 301752 01745 854405 01244 680231 01477 532388

WEBSITE www.abersochgolf.co.uk www.alderseygreengolfclub.co.uk www.allertonmanorgolfclub.com www.alsagergolfclub.co.uk www.barlastongolclub.co.uk www.bidstongolf.co.uk www.birchwoodgolfclub.co.uk www.bullbaygc.co.uk www.chestergolfclub.co.uk www.chorleygolfclub.co.uk www.chorltoncumhardygolfclub.co.uk www.crewegolfclub.co.uk www.denbighgolfclub.co.uk www.dentongolfclub.com www.disleygolfclub.co.uk www.helsbygolfclub.org www.henllegolf.co.uk www.henllysgolfclub.co.uk www.holyheadgolfclub.co.uk www.leighgolf.co.uk www.llanymynechgolfclub.co.uk www.maesdugolfclub.co.uk www.mellorgolf.co.uk www.oldpadeswoodgolfclub.com www.oswestrygolfclub.co.uk www.parkgolfclubsouthport.co.uk www.pennant-park.co.uk www.poultonparkgolfclub.co.uk www.prestatyngolfclub.co.uk www.pryorshayes.co.uk www.clwbgolffpwllheli.com www.rvgc.co.uk www.rhosgolf.co.uk www.rochdalegolfclub.co.uk www.royalstdavids.co.uk www.bangorgolf.co.uk www.vlgc.co.uk www.vicarscrossgolf.co.uk www.waltonhallgolfcourse.co.uk www.wooltongolfclub.com www.wrexhamgolfclub.co.uk

Prices can change during the year so please contact the respective clubs to confirm green fees before you make your visit.

WEBSITE www.baronhill.co.uk www.golf-betws-y-coed.co.uk www.gatleygolfclub.com www.hartfordgolf.co.uk www.plasseygolfclub.com www.rhylgolfclub.co.uk www.sandfieldgolf.co.uk www.stmelydgolf.co.uk www.westminsterparkgc.co.uk www.woodsidegolf.co.uk

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Our beautiful course is set over two levels contained within a loop of the River Dee. The club overlooks Chester Racecourse, is less than a mile from the City Centre, and has fine views of the Welsh Hills. The dining facilities are excellent and our Michelin-trained chef offers a full range of menus. A warm and friendly welcome is always guaranteed.

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Great Scott!

NORTH WALIAN ANNOUNCED AS NEW R&A CAPTAIN PENMAENMAWR member Clive Brown will become the 2022/23 captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews when he drives in at the Old Course in September.

A renowned Welsh international golfer, Brown has enjoyed a long and successful amateur career, including captaining the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team in their victorious 1995 match at Royal Porthcawl and the 1997 match at Quaker Ridge.

The Welsh Amateur champion in 1971, he made 65 appearances for his country in the 1970’s in the Home Internationals, the European Team Championship and the Snowdonia Trophy. He represented GB&I at youth level in the EGA Trophy in 1972.

He was non-playing captain of the Welsh international team in 33 international matches in the 1980’s and the winning GB&I team in the EGA Trophy in 1990 in Oporto. He led the GB&I team in the St Andrews Trophy and the Eisenhower Trophy at the World Amateur Team Championships, both in 1996. He also captained the GB&I Palmer Cup team to its only victory in the match in 2000 and again in 2001.

Born in Llandudno, Brown was educated at Wesley College, Dublin and John Bright Grammar School, Llandudno. He graduated with a BSc in Economics from University College, Cardiff and began his career as an accountant

Penmaenmawr’s Clive Brown.

with Deloitte in Manchester, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1975.

He spent seven years as a lecturer in accounting at the University of North Wales in Bangor before moving to a role at the TSB Group developing training courses for senior management. In 1992, he became a partner at Dunn and Ellis in Porthmadog. He retired in 2011 and became an associate with the firm.

He became a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1995 and has served on a number o Committees. He was chairman of the Championship Committee in 2017 and

of the Open Championships Committee from 2018-19. He has also chaired the Amateur Status Committee since 2019 and served on the General Committee and Membership Committee in recent years.

He served as a rules official at a number of major professional championships and leading amateur championships and was chief recorder at The Open from 2011 to 2015.

As well as The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Brown, who plays off a handicap of seven, is an honorary member at Royal Porthcawl, Royal St David’s,

A CHESTER-based PGA golf professional has hit two albatrosses within 11 months of each other.

Scott Booth, who owns and runs Chester & North Wales Golf Academy with his wife Alison, struck both the twos on par fives at Eaton Golf Club.

The former Chester and Cheadle golf club pro explained: “The first one was last June on the fifth hole. I hit a driver and had 204 yards to the pin so I used a four iron. I knew it was close but had no idea it went in until I saw my ball in the hole.

“The second was in May this year when I was playing with Alison. It came on the eighth hole. I hit a really good drive round the corner of the dogleg and only had 158 yards to go.

I only needed a nine iron and again, I didn’t see it go in, but Alison did.”

The 47-year-old, who turned pro 32 years ago, added: “I’d never had an albatross previously and most of the fellow pros I’ve spoken to are still waiting for their first one, so to get two in such as short space of time feels great.”

Maesdu, Conwy, Porthmadog and Rhuddlan golf clubs.

As well as being a member of Penmaenmawr, he also plays in the Narwhals, Aberconwy Past Captains and seniors golf societies.

The 70-year-old lives with his wife Christine in Penmaenmawr. They have two sons, Graham and Benjamin, who are both keen golfers.

Penmaenmawr president George Owen said: “Congratulations Clive from everyone at Penmaenmawr Golf Club and we hope you will thoroughly enjoy your term in this prestigious office.”

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Scott Booth has hit two albatrosses.