GOLFERS
FROM TASTER SESSION TO WELSH OPEN CHAMPION
ROYAL Ly tham and S t Annes’ Jamie
Van Wyk enjoyed the biggest win of his career at the Welsh Men’s Open Strokeplay Championship, at Conwy where he visited for a golf taster session as a kid
It meant the 24-year-old had good memor ies of the Nor th Wales links course, two rounds of 68 helping him to a two-shot victor y over Formby ’ s Christian Johnson
The Welsh challenge was spearheaded by Oswestr y ’ s Tom Matthews one shot further back in third place
Van Wyk had just come bac k from competing in Australia and was able to turn a number of recent top 10 finishes there and around England into a first national Open title
“ This is the biggest win of my career so far, it is massive to win a national championship so I am buzzing,” he said “I led going into the final round there last year, and could have won
ing
at Ly tham Green D
ive Golf Club at the age of 15 or so, so I have fond memories of coming here as well
“ The weather was good, and it was great to be in the position of going into the final round with a lead However the finish at Conwy is pretty tight so it was only af ter I found the fair way at 18 that I was able to relax
“ I have been there or thereabouts a few times without crossing the line for a win, but I felt confident out there today ” Af ter graduating with a first c lass degree in golf management from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, Van Wyk is working three jobs to fund what he hopes will be a final year as an amateur golfer before turning pro
“ I have three par t-time jobs to fund my golf, in the golf c lub, working in a warehouse and also getting my licence as
a taxi driver,” he explained
“It means a lot of late nights with all that, but results such as this make it worthwhile
“I am hoping to go to Tour Q ualifying School at the end of this year, turn pro and do as well as I can to play Challenge Tour or DP Wor ld Tour next year ”
Van Wyk came through a strong field in Conwy “Congratulations to Jamie on a strong performance, four rounds under par taking him to an impressive 10 under,” said Wales Golf competitions manager Dan Fullager
“ The Conwy course was a fantastic challenge in good conditions for many of the best amateur golfers in the UK, while the staff and volunteers played a massive part in the smooth running of the event
“ It was good to see a strong Welsh challenge with Tom Matthews leading the way, and with seven Welsh golfers in the top 25 ”
Jamie Van Wyk with the Welsh Men’s Open St rokeplay t rophy at Conwy.
WEST LANCS ROSE SERIES WIN FOR CHLOE
WREXHAM ’S Chloe W illiams won the Rose S er ies opener at West L ancashire Golf Club as the popular ladies golf tour headed to the region for a triple header
The 30-year-old fired a four-underpar round to win by one and pic k up with winner ’ s cheque for £10,000
It ’ s a second Rose S er ies victor y for the Wrexham and Liverpool football fan who won the finale at Bear wood Lakes in 2023
“Any win will always feel like the best, but for me af ter the weekend of watching Wrexham make histor y going back to bac k to bac k promotions and then Liverpool winning the Premier L eague, this little treble was right up there
“I have played West Lancs a number of times, so I feel like I know the golf course well I drove the ball great, which
allowed me to play more aggressive and I managed to take my chances when I could ”
Chloe, who then fle w out to Asia where she finished tied 33rd in the L adies European Tour e vent in Korea, had her dad and coach Paul W illiams on the bag for the win on Merseyside “ To have dad with me was amazing, honestly one of the best things I could ask for His experiences paid a huge part in my victor y All that ’ s left to do now is for ever ything to align again when he’s with me to get a LET win
The 53rd ranked tour player last season, now has her sights set on a couple more big goals “I would love to get my first Ladies European Tour victor y, but my main goal this year is to play in the first ever ladies British Open in Wales, at Royal Porthcawl ”
Chloe Williams after her victor y at West Lancs and pictured with dad Paul
MARK JOINS ENGLAND GOLF BOARD
ORMSKIRK Golf Club member Mark Bardsley has joined England Golf ’ s Board of Directors, following an AGM at Woodhall Spa
He has already begun their initial three-year terms which will see him stand for re-election in 2028
Mark enjoyed a c areer in the consumer finance sector from 1985 to 2008, where he held a number of senior positions, inc luding being a CEO, and spent 11 years setting up and managing successful consumer lending businesses in Czechia, Poland and Russia
Af ter retiring from financial ser vices in 2017, he joined the Board of the Lancashire Golf Union in 2018, before becoming the full-time count y secretar y from 2021-2024 D uring this period, he ser ved as count y handic ap advisor and
was also the voting member for both England Golf and Woodhall Spa Land Holdings ( WSLH), and took a lead role in effecting the membership changes in WSLH which saw the Ladies Associations admitted
W hen joining the Board, he took responsibilit y for the Boy s ’ Under 16 Squad amongst other duties, while he is also a L evel 2 rules official
More recently he initiated the process which saw the Lancashire Men’s Union and Lancashire Ladies Association unify in 2024, to become the largest unified county in England
Mark s golfing journey started at just eight years old, learning the game on municipal courses before joining his one and onl y c lub, O rmskirk Golf Club, where he holds a handicap index of 5 6
STAMFORD
has been a key par t of its development. “ His contr ibutions extend beyond the fair way s, having represented the c lub council as g reen chair man and e ven stepping in to assist with c lubhouse duties,” said c lub professional Mark Smith
He was c lub captain in 1988 and president in 2002
Peter said: “ This recog nition means so much; I feel ver y proud and humbled I have so many memor ies that I will cher ish forever, not forgetting the lifelong fr iends I’ve made along the way. ”
Mark Bardsley has joined England Golf ’ s Board of Directors
Peter Hankey at Stamford
WREXHAM’S PAM RECEIVES
MEMBERSHIP ACCOLADE
WREXHAM Golf Club’s long-ser ving lady member Pam Valentine, has been recognised for her distinguished playing career and contribution to golf administration, as a rules official and her contribution to our communit y in Wrexham and other charity work
Pam, who joined Wrexham in 1966, has become one of the few women to receive R&A Membership
W inning many junior titles in Denbighshire & F lintshire from 1969-73 and representing Wales during the same per iod, Pam won six Denbighshire Ladies titles in the 70’s and went on to represent Wales in the Home International matches in 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 and at the European L adies Team Championships in 1975, 1977 and 1979
Having being proposed for R&A membership, two seconders and about 20 supporters were required, all the responsibilit y of the proposer Then the nomination is considered by the membership committee of the golf c lub and
if accepted your name goes in the “ book” in the c lubhouse which gives other members the oppor tunit y to suppor t your nomination
The membership committee re vie w nominations twice a year and decide who is to be elected to membership Pam was successful in this process and is now one of the limited 1,150 members from GB&I and 950 from the rest of the wor ld who are members of the R&A Women were only admitted to membership from 2015, so this is indeed a great honour for both Pam and e ver yone at Wrexham Golf Club
Attending the induction ceremony in Februar y, Pam, who also had a successful legal c areer working as a solicitor and senior partner, visited St Andrews with her family
Pam said: “ We had the most mar vellous time The welcome from the staff and members was extremely warm Receiving my membership card and links ticket was something else! You are made to feel ver y special ”
Pam Valentine and family in St Andrews
TOPTRACER AWARD FOR TRAFFORD
T RAFFORD Golf Centre has been recognised for its outstanding achievements, winning the O utstanding Achie ver Award at Toptracer ’ s annual European awards
The accolade was collected by director of golf, Pete Styles and operations manager, Michael Clarke and highlights the centre ’ s ongoing success as Europe ’ s busiest golf practice facility, with an impressive year of visitor numbers, lessons delivered and balls hit
W ith more than 500,000 visitors in the past 12 months, Trafford Golf Centre continues to lead the way in making golf more accessible, welcoming 80,000 first-time golfers and delivering an impressive 25,000 lessons with its team of 11 PGA professionals
The facilit y also saw 23 million golf
balls hit across its 53 bay s, fur ther cementing its position as the ultimate destination for golf lovers
S peaking about the achie vement, Styles said: “ We are incredibly proud to receive the O utstanding Achiever Award from Toptracer This recognition is a testament to the hard work of our entire team, the enthusiasm of our customers and our commitment to making golf a sport for ever yone It ’ s been an incredible year of growth, and we look for ward to continuing to push the boundar ies of what ’ s possible at Trafford Golf Centre ” In addition to its success on the range, Trafford Golf Centre’s Dino Falls Adventure Golf – Manchester ’ s biggest adventure golf course and a famous M60 landmark – welcomed an incredible 180,000 rounds played last year And it ’ s
not just golf that keeps visitors coming bac k – the venue ser ved 27,000 lattes and 3,500 of its wor ld-famous buffalo chicken burgers, ensuring an all-round unbeatable experience
Toptracer ’ s V ictor ia Jones, head of sales operations added: “ Trafford Golf Centre is a tr ue standout among Top-
tracer-powered facilities, setting the gold standard for innovation, engagement and grow th in the golf industr y The sheer volume of balls hit, lessons delivered and ne w players welcomed is phenomenal This award recognises their outstanding efforts in driving participation and making golf more inc lusive ”
Trafford Golf Centre remains committed to growing the game, enhancing its offering and continuing to deliver exceptional experiences for both seasoned golfers and those new to the sport
For more information about Trafford Golf Centre, visit their website at: www traffordgolfcentre co uk
Trafford Golf Cent re ’ s director of golf Pete Styles and operations manager Michael Clarke, cent re, with Topt racer representatives
THE CLUBHOUSE REVOLUTION SWEEPING ACROSS UK AND IRELAND
A MANCH EST ER company has found the solution to a growing problem in golf c lubhouses
For many years c lubs have relied on the traditional wooden boards to display the major competition winners each season Most c lubs ine vitabl y r un out of space for all the boards and, in many cases, the boards start to look dated and in need of expensive repairs
Clubscreens believe they have found the perfect solution in a digital system they have de veloped that enables the c lubs to retain their entire histor y in just a fraction of the space by having all the honours boards on one screen that scrolls through all the boards ever y few seconds
Clubscreens’ Char lie Hendr ie explained:
“ We spent more than two years researching and developing our product, speaking with club dignitaries and members who all played a massive part in our research and enabled us to design a system with the appropr iate sof tware to perform the tasks that would help to enhance the look of the c lubhouse and at
the same time capture the entire histor y of the c lub
“ The honours screens will display the board competition winners from the date that the competitions started to the current winners, the pages will rotate and ever y competition will be on display
“ We c an also digitall y enhance the pictures of all the current and past dignitaries and feature these on the system
“ We c an feature c lub facilities, upcoming events and competitions etc
“ The screens c an be programmed to personalise the clubhouse for venues and feature pictures of those celebrating
“Essentially we have created a system that enables the club to discard the usual notice boards and keep ever ything in a central location, creating a much more modern environment
“ We tailor the sy stem to meet the club’s requirements and their budget The system is ver y user-friendly and does not require any technical skills ”
Since launching the system in March, 2024 Clubscreens now have more than
40 golf c lubs, inc luding Bur y, Nelson, Castle Hawk, Padeswood & Buc kley, Denbigh and 2025 Wales Golf Club of the Year winner Hawarden, enjoying the benefits that the system provides
“ Hawarden was our first Welsh install,” explained Charlie “ They dedicated a lot of time and effort into modernising their c lubhouse and the introduction of the Clubscreens digital system proved to be a massive hit with members and c lear ly impressed the judges
“ We understand that there are traditionalists who do not like change, howe ver e ven the biggest sceptics quic kl y warm to the modernisation once they see the system installed
The Digital System will in most cases pay for itself over a ver y short period of time, you only have to look at the current annual update costs, once this has been achieved that annual saving can be spent on other c lub projects
“And let ’ s not forget the inevitable potential re venue generated from the increase in function room bookings,”
TESTIMONIALS
We had a problem with our honours boards As years passed, there was no wall space to fit new boards The only solution appeared to be displaying a limited number of names, or over writing the oldest names. Neither was ideal.
Clubscreens provided the per fect solution We replaced the boards with digital screens which take up a fraction of the wall space and display more infor mation This has enabled us to redecorate our clubhouse providing a brighter, more modern environment.
Clubscreens advised on all options and provided instant response to requested changes to screen content and layout Don Walmsley - Denbigh Golf Club Chairman Match & Handicap
added Char lie
Some c lubs have also inc luded an adver tising screen for their members and external companies to adver tise their business, which can create a substantial
We weren t really sure about the concept of Digitalised Honours Boards but as soon as we saw them in situ we knew it was the way for ward. Clubscreens were so professional, mind blowing act ually, and have completely t ransformed our clubhouse
Some t raditionalists weren’t convinced to begin with, but as soon as they went up all members, without exception, were amazed with the t ransformation They are really easy to amend and update, they can also be used to welcome societies, events and advertising
This is clearly the way for ward for all clubhouses no matter what the sport Andrew Er rington - Hawarden Golf Club Chairman
residual income for the c lub Char lie added: “ We really are helping to bring c lubs into the 21st Centur y and we provide them with lifetime manufacturer ’ s support ”
FEATURING 4 COURTS
Local News
HAWARDEN DELIGHT AT WALES GOLF CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARD
HAWARDEN Golf Club has gone from the br ink of disaster to being named the Wales Golf Club of the Year, thanks to an impressive turnaround and commitment to sustainabilit y over the last five years
Chairman Andrew Errington, chair of handic aps Ken Jones and head greenkeeper Tom Ison joined c lub manager and PGA professional Alex Rowland to receive their award at the Wales Golf Awards ceremony at Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor, at the Twenty Ten Clubhouse
Alex had received a c all from Wales Golf three weeks before the event to say that Hawarden had won “ I onl y told Andrew and we kept it hush hush from ever yone else as Wales Golf had asked us to keep it under wraps, ” explained Alex
“It was a massive secret to keep and I was dying to tell people
“Andrew drove the four of us all down and back in one day ”
The award was linked in to all the work the F lintshire-based c lub has done with sustainability, wild life, course management, how the c lub is governed, how you get on with the New 2 Golf scheme, ladies’ memberships and junior memberships
“ Wales Golf have a strict points system and you have to meet different criteria Across the board we were the most consistent, which is the reason for the award,” added Evertonian Alex
“ The governance of the golf c lub has changed dramatic all y, which was a big tick We went from being a normal golf c lub to Hawarden Golf Limited, which is made up of a board of six directors, a management committee and sub committees
“ We did well on lady memberships the pre vious year and took on board some advice from Wales Golf that increased the number of ladies by another 25% this time around That played a big part in us picking up the award too and got us over the line because ever ything else was pretty much already in place
“ We scored well in the environment section Bob Capper has done an amazing job creating dead hedges around the second, ninth and 18th tees They are basically bug hotels It ’ s a great eco-system but they look great too Tom has also done a great job with the native grass and we also planted 370 new trees in the last two-three years
“ We scored points for course improvements We ploughed money into improving the drainage and have an ongoing bunker project, which we are a third of a way through The six that have been done are of a fabulous standard
“ Tom, was even nominated for greenkeeper of the year, but he just missed out on that one
“ To win the award is off the sc ale W hen I arr ived here 28 years ago, I
BY PAUL C HAPPLE
would ne ver have imagined we would win any award, never mind Golf Club of the Year It is incredible when you think back to 2013 when we were in Hawarden High S chool begging for money from the members to keep us afloat The turnout was 297 out of 320 members to that EGM and they agreed to pay another £130 each to keep us going
“ We were ver y close to going under It was a pivotal moment in the c lub’s histor y and we have really started to be run like a proper business ever since then
“Any c lub can say how friend ly they are, but we genuinely pride ourselves on the welcome we provide here and make sure ever yone feels at home
“ We won’t rest on our laurels and hope that this award will br ing a fe w more members and visitors
“ We had 320 members in 2021 and now we have more than 500, inc luding
28 ne w members in the last couple of months
“I really am confident that this is just the start We’re not ones to sit still and actually we want to build on this award We want the course and the c lub to be lef t in good hands for the next 50 to 100 years I’d hope when I leave it ’ s in a better position than when I arrived
“ This is an award for, not just people here now, but people in the past who have given up so much of their valuable time for the c lub ” Nor th Wales Golf Club won the award in 2019 and of the 16 winners, there have onl y been five from the North
Other award winners this time around from Nor th Wales inc luded L landudno/Maesdu Golf Club, who added another award to their collection with the S ustainabilit y Project of the Year supported by Citation Delamere Forest ’ s James Ashfield
c laimed the men ’ s PING Golfer of the Year award with Royal St David ’ s Ann L ewis getting the PING Women’s Senior P layer of the Year award for the second year running
Wales Golf chief executive Hannah McAllister said: “Congratulations to all the winners, once again it took a ver y high standard to receive one of these awards with plenty of tight competition
“I would also like to thank our sponsors for suppor ting golf in Wales and these awards in particular
“From dedicated volunteers and rising stars to remarkable c lubs, counties, and those with a lifetime of ser vice, these awards showcase what makes our sport so special
“ This e vent is a chance to recognise those who have gone above and beyond, whether through their extraordinar y achievements or their unwavering dedic ation to growing and inspir ing the Welsh golfing community
“ This is a ver y exciting year for golf in Wales as we prepare to host the AIG Women’s Open for the first time All the wor ld ’ s top players will be here in the summer and we hope to use that to give women and gir ls golf a massive boost
“ We have a £1 million legac y fund from Welsh Government to boost facilities and programmes around Wales, which will make a long-term impact –just as happened af ter Wales hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor ”
Hawarden Golf Club s representatives, including manager/PGA professional Alex Rowland, holding the t rophy, with Mike Far rell, Howden Insurance, right
Representatives of Llandudno/Maesdu Golf Club with Ian McGleish, of Citation, right
The dead hedges frame some of the tees at Hawarden wonder fully well
RED ROSE CROWNED ENGLAND GOLF’S COUNTY OF THE YEAR
LANCASH I RE Golf Limited was named Count y of the Year at last month s England Golf Awards, hosted by Mark Chapman at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate
The count y received the award in recognition of its outstanding commitment to growing and modernising county golf
Last year marked a historic milestone for L anc ashire, with the unific ation of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs and the Lancashire Ladies County Golf Association to form Lancashire Golf Limited This landmark move has created a more inc lusive and for ward-thinking str ucture, setting the benchmark for other counties to follow
Demonstrating its commitment to club engagement, Lancashire carried out a count y-wide sur vey to understand what clubs needed most The results have shaped its strateg y, leading to targeted c lub seminars on key topics such as membership recruitment and retention, management, and sustainability - ensuring real, lasting benefits for c lubs across the county
Lancashire has also launched manager networking groups, br inging together groups of eight-10 c lub managers to share best practices, discuss challenges, and strengthen count y-wide collaboration This initiative is already helping to build stronger connections between c lubs and enhance collective problemsolving
In a pioneering move, Lancashire has also par tnered with S outhpor t Golf Academy to create a structured pathway
BIRCHWOOD
BIRCHWOOD Park Golf & Countr y C lub was named the winner of the S ustainabilit y Project of the Year award at Wednesday ’ s England Golf Awards, hosted by Mark C hapman at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate Birchwood Park was presented with the award in recog nition of its outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable practices
Having been a GEO-cer tified c lub since 2013, Birchwood Park has continuously championed initiatives that enhance biodiversit y, impro ve resource efficienc y, and reduce its environmental footprint. For example, the club’s recent work with the Woodland Tr ust has restored 1.2 hectares of wood land, planting a diverse mix of native trees that provide vital habitats for birds, insects, and small mammals, while actively sequester ing carbon to suppor t the UK’s net-zero targets.
for new golfers, aiming to introduce 800 adults and a similar number of juniors to the game A key element of this initiative is linking new players with local c lubs, inc luding Southport Old Links, Southport, and Hesketh Golf Clubs, to create a seamless transition into c lub membership
Lancashire has also reviewed and enhanced its coaching programmes, ensuring a unified and aligned str ucture for boys and gir ls across the county Meanwhile, its Course R ating™ team has achie ved yet another major milestone,
with 95 courses across Lancashire now being officially rated for both men and women from both the red and yellow tees, including two Open Championship venues
Accepting the award, S tuar t L eech, Chief Executive Officer from Lancashire Golf Limited said: “ We’re delighted, and obviously proud to have won this award, as a lot of hard work from a considerable amount of people, inc luding volunteers has made this happen
“ It ’ s been quite signific ant br inging two organisations together - the Men’s
Union and the Ladies’ Association - but we ’ re delighted to do so in what was considered a ver y short timeframe We’re ver y keen to promote golf for men and women throughout the count y and growing the game of golf within L ancashire
“ We’re the biggest county to have unified so far within the countr y and we ’ ve got over 140 clubs, so it ’ s ver y significant We hope we can set the example for others to follow There ’ s a lot of benefits from unific ation It is a process that needs to be c arefull y considered, but
there are a lot of things that go as benefits in bringing ever ything together and ultimately we need to look at things that are going to help the game overall
“It ’ s our job as custodians of the game to make sure that golf is in better shape for those that take over from us and move into the future If we c an make sure that all counties and golf as a game is as integrated as possible, then that ’ s onl y going to put the game in good shape The work doesn’t stop here We’ve got a long way to go and we will continue to press on ”
Amazingly, Birchwood Park has also achieved zero waste to landfill, increasing rec ycling rates by 35% and working with suppliers to enhance pac kag ing rec yc labilit y whilst educating staff on waste seg regation The club has also pioneered a water management sy stem that c aptures and redirects c ar park r un-off for ir r igation, sig nificantly reducing reliance on potable water while pre venting pollutants from enter ing local water ways
Accepting the award, S te ven Norton, general manager at Birchwood, said: “ We ’ re reall y proud as this is a great achievement and testament for all the hard work the team have put in.
“O ur big gest achie vements have been our waste management, in rec ycling as much as we possibly can, working with the Wood land Tr ust in creating more natural woodland on the golf course, and then also the water management, by utilising the water
that r uns off our car park and our roof space to ir r ig ate the golf course, and not have to rely on mains water.
“O ur effor ts were ne ver about the award It was about doing the r ight thing for the r ight reasons and so applying for the award became an af terthought once we realised how much we ’d done and how much effor t had gone in from our team and members, so it ’ s really about being able to acknowledge and recog nise e ver y thing we ’ ve done
“ We are currently installing solar energ y to power the c lubhouse itself and then also some smaller effor ts to continue some of the building blocks that will produce big results in the end. More clubs should look at becoming more sustainable as resources become more and more sc arce, specifically sand and also for water, and we ’ ve got a responsibility to look af ter it for the future.”
Lancashire Golf Limited were named County of the Year by England Golf
The Birchwood representatives receive their award
NatioNal juNior golf
SEt to groW
THE PING Welsh Junior Tour is to expand up to the age of 18 to spread the pathway as wide as possible for young golfers in Wales
Pre viousl y, the P I NG Welsh Junior Tour ran from Under 8’s through to Under 14’s, but from this season there will be a new Under 18’s categor y added to the regular competitions held all around Wales
W hile some of the elite players in Wales will be competing nationall y around the UK and Europe in those age groups, adding an Under 18’s c ategor y spreads the net wider and allows more players to carr y on competing at national level in Wales
“ We have added in another age categor y into the PING Welsh Junior Tour for Under 18’s in order to help shape and
develop the pathway for junior golfers,” explained Wales Golf competitions manager Dan Fullager
“ This in turn provides playing opportunities for those aged 14-17 who may not be able to play in the elite championships based on their Handicap Index
“ This also helps the Wales Golf High Performance team with talent identification, helping to ensure late developers do not slip through the net
“ We have also split up each age group into separate boy and gir l categories so they are not competing for the same priz es, to help encourage more gir ls to participate
“All of these changes come off the back of feedback from parents of players, and we were ver y happy to seek improvements in the competition in any way
“ The P I NG Welsh Junior Tour is a hugely important competition for Wales Golf, allowing young golfers from the ages of six or seven up to enjoy a national competition in a fun and safe environment
“ Now those players will be able to continue doing that up to the age of 17, if that is the right competition level for them There are still Order of Merits in each age group with the final being invite only ” Ian McCallum, P I NG sponsorship
and e vents marketing manager, added:
“ The PING Welsh Junior Tour plays a vital role in golf de velopment across Wales, giving young players of all ages the opportunity to compete, grow, and, most importantly, enjoy the game PING is ver y proud of our continued partnership and fr iendship with e ver yone involved in the PING Welsh Junior Tour and Wales Golf ” This summer, the PING Welsh Junior Tour will visit Mold, Llanishen, Pwllheli, Cradoc, Aberdare, and Haver fordwest,
building up to the F inal held at Carmarthen at the end of September
The P I NG Welsh Junior Tour now looks like this:
Under 8’s – Modified Stableford
Under 10’s – Modified Stableford
Under 12’s – Modified Stableford
Under 14’s – S tableford (Handic ap Q ualifying)
Under 18’s – Net S trokeplay with a Gross Prize (Handicap Q ualifying)
For fur ther details visit the website walesgolf org/ping-welsh-junior-tour
Wales Golf championships team Dan Fullager, left, Rebecca Hawke, right, with PING s Ian McCallum, cent re
A TRIO OF DELIGHTS
Golfers Local ’ s PAUL CHAPPLE has been back over the Irish Sea for his annual Club Choice Ireland t rip to stay and play in the Emerald Isle. This year he was once again joined by friend Scott Booth, a Chester-based PGA professional golfer for the three-day, two-night visit that saw the pair play R athsallagh Golf & Count r y Club, Mount Juliet and Palmerstown House Estate
SINCE 2017 I have been lucky enough to be invited by Club Choice Ireland ’ s T iernan Byrne to visit the Emerald Isle for a three-day, two-night golf break to various parts of Ireland ’ s Ancient East Club Choice specialise in creating a tailor-made golf break for your group In previous years I have always taken one of my golfing buddies with me and we have toured as a pair, mainly around the many fabulous courses in the D ublin area
This year however, I was really excited to be getting back to the Kilkenny and Kildare areas, which are about an hour south of the capital I had visited here in 2022, but now I would get to play the stunning Mount Juliet as well as Rathsallagh Golf & Countr y Club and Palmerstown House Estate
We were here as part of a familiarisation trip with Tiernan inviting a number of other UK golfers who book regular trips with him
Like the two pre vious years, I was joined by my friend and Chester-based PGA professional Scott Booth
O ur day star ted ear l y as we had the 10am S tena Line Hol yhead to D ublin ferr y to c atch, which meant pic king
S cott up from his Chester home at 7 30am in order to be ready to board the ferr y by 9am
Having had a rough crossing the year before when we sailed dur ing storm Kathleen, it was nice to drive across the A55 in dr y and c alm weather with hard ly a breath of wind O ur 90-minute coastal drive and subsequent three-anda-half hour crossing could not have been smoother I say it ever y year, but it never ceases to amaze me just want a smooth operation it is getting all the vehicles and foot passengers on board so seamlessly
Hence, by 9 30am S cott and I were seated and tuc king into a full English breakfast on board before we had even set sail
We docked in D ublin Port by 1 30pm and headed straight down to our first course, R athsallagh Golf & Countr y Club, in County W icklow
The course, which measures 6,328m from the bac k tees, was designed by Peter McEvoy and Chr ist y O’Connor
Jnr
It is set in beautiful parkland with mature wood land lining all the fair ways Scott and I popped in to the pro shop
to grab a scorecard and a drink and were met by the affable director of golf and PGA professional Ted Higgins
We were only playing the front nine holes, so Ted pic ked out some of the standout holes, the sixth and eighth, for us to look out for He also highlighted the Signature 10th hole for us to go and view too
A variety of ditches and ponds bring water into play on many of the holes here and we thoroughl y enjoyed the course
The par three fourth was a lovely short hole with water short right of the green The sixth and eighth holes were both really good matchplay holes with risk and reward opportunities
W ith nine holes complete, we needed to get on the road again for a 50-minute drive to our base for the night at Hotel Kilkenny
We popped up to the 10th tee to see the Signature Hole for ourselves and decided it looked that good that we’d have to play it W ith out of bounds on the left and water up the right hand side, it ’ s easy to see why it has a stroke index of one I was getting four shots off S cott and
managed a cheeky par, nett birdie to win the hole and tie the match I thought I’d just lost!
T iernan and his sister Aoife had organised a drinks reception and evening meal while we settled down to watch the dramatic final round of this year ’ s US Masters Hotel Kilkenny was the perfect spot for this kind of e vent It has 138 bedrooms, a chic restaurant Taste, urban style Pure Bar & Active Club It really is the perfect base for visiting this medieval city on a golfing break
We enjoyed a stunning three-course meal that included vegetable soup, slowcooked beef and an array of tast y mini desserts
T iernan made a speech to thank ever yone for the custom over the years He talked about how he had booked tr ips for 56 golfers in the year Club Choice Ireland first started 12 years ago This year 1,800 golfers are booked in with him
The G uinness was flowing and the Masters was coming to its stunning c limax W hat a memorable e vening we had, and how lucky were we to be in Ireland to watch Ror y make histor y
The following morning we enjoyed a lovely Irish breakfast before heading just seven minutes down the road to call in and see Kilkenny Golf Club
Head pro J immy Bolger was in the shop to greet us and tell us all about the place He was proud to explain how in the 24 years he had been at the c lub he had never had a single complaint about the condition of the course We didn’t have time to play, but borrowed a bugg y and had a dr ive round to see for ourselves Jimmy wasn’t lying The condition of the course was incredible, e ven for mid April The greens were smooth and quick and the tees and fair ways superbly manicured
Kilkenny has an incredible 1,270 members and it ’ s not hard to see why Its c lose proximity to Hotel Kilkenny make it an ideal chose for one of the tracks to play while in this area O thers inc lude Gowran Park, which features five holes within the well-known racecourse
The c lubhouse at Gow ran Park is a memorable one It is situated on the top floor of the grandstand over looking the golf course and winning post, plus panoramic vie ws of the Blac kstairs
The stunning third hole at Mount Juliet INSET : Golfers Local ’ s Paul Chapple playing the hole on his annual Irish t rip in April
Mountains and Mount L einster
For Scott and I, we had a Club Choice Ireland pairs competition to go and get ready for at the amazing Mount Juliet
We were par ticular l y excited to be playing here as it hosted the DP Wor ld Tour ’ s Irish Open in 2021 and 2022 It was also a course where T iger 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 Jac k 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 strategic all y placed throughout ”
The course features some amazing holes
The par three third and the par four fourth will long live in the memor y The third is almost entirel y over water and the fourth is framed perfectly with trees on the lef t and water down the right
The 11th, 13th and 14th holes, are particular ly pleasing on the eye, but all three greens are heavil y 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!
W ith two long c losing holes to finish, and the temperature dropping somewhat, Scott and I were happy to retreat to the stunning c lubhouse with our South Walian playing partners for a couple of Guinness before we checked into the adjacent Hunter ’ s Yard for the evening
The elegant cour t yard of the Mount Juliet Estate is home to the bright and spacious rooms of The Hunter ’ s Yard It is a gorgeous hideaway adjacent to the Jac k Nic klaus-designed course we had just played Hunter ’ s Yard inc ludes treatment rooms and tempting food in the Hound Restaurant, which offers all-day dining
S cott and I were in one of the 93 beautifully appointed bedrooms
Mount Juliet also features accommodation at The Manor House All 32 bedrooms are unique and are named af ter famous figures connected to the area It ’ s only about 200 yards from the first tee Club Choice ’ s brochure states: “ The Manor House is the beating heart of the estate and has been ever since the first Ear l of Carrick and his wife Juliet first made it their home in 1750 S tep through its pillared entrance way and you enter a place out of time: lovingl y preser ved for the present-day ; intimately
updated in the most faithful manner ” W hether you choose the Manor House or Hunter ’ s Yard, Mount Juliet is a golfers getaway of the highest standard
O ur evening meal was sumptuous I had L ambay Island crab crème br ulée, parmesan crisp, pickled cucumber, trout caviar and Guinness bread to start and then a 7oz Hereford beef burger, onion bun, gem lettuce, gherkins, tomato jam, monterey jac k cheese, gar lic aioli and truffle fries
S cott had a braised beef arancini, mustard emulsion, pickled baby radish, smoked Hegarty cheese and lovage oil to star t followed by Andar l Farm pork neck, salsa verde, black kale, navette, pork crackling and cider velouté
We needed to save some room for a couple more Guinness before we headed to bed
The next day we met T iernan for breakfast and said our goodbyes as he headed back to Rosslare and we set off for the one hour drive back up north to Palmerstown House Estate Golf Club, which is in Count y Kildare and is an ideal place to play on your way back to the port for the ferr y to Holyhead
The resort, like many in Ireland, has a magnificently grand c lubhouse and also boasts a 14-bay flood lit dr iving range with Trackman in each of the bays
Palmerstown House Estate course is set in 900 acres of parkland and, like Rathsallagh, was designed by Irish golfing legend Chr ist y O’Connor Jnr and was host to the 2005 Ir ish PGA Championship and the Ir ish S eniors Open in 2007
The course is set amidst thousands of mature trees with impressive bunkering and an exquisite use of water that includes one of Ireland ’ s few island greens The water is in play on 13 of the 18 holes so make sure you either bring a reasonably good game with you or, alternatively, lots of golf balls
The guy s in the pro shop were ver y friendly and helpful as they sorted us out with drinks and a bugg y They suggested holes four, 10, 16 and 18 as the stand out holes, but there were lots of others worthy of note too, inc luding the beautiful par three third hole
The 10th is the Signature Hole and is based on the iconic 17th at Sawgrass It has an island green surrounded by water I played here in 2022 and had a tap in for a birdie two This time I failed to finish the hole having twice found the drink!
The c losing three holes are fabulous and again the “ wet stuff ” features
At 401 yards long with water running along its entirety, the 18th is a wonderful c losing hole that finishes in front of the
magnificent looking c lubhouse
S cott and I agreed that we wouldn’t fancy having a medal card in our hands here each week, but it ’ s fabulous for matchplay or maybe a Stableford
O ur ferr y wasn’t until 4 30pm so we had lunch in the Sindon’s Bar upstairs in the c lubhouse My fish and chips was just what was needed and S cott reall y enjoyed his Rogan Josh
S ad ly, time was up on our Irish visit for another year We sailed home to Holyhead from D ublin and I was tucked up in bed back at home just af ter 9pm
S o if a golf tr ip to this par t of the wor ld is something that might be of interest, Club Choice recommend using Hotel Kilkenny as your base and then play ing Kilkenny, Gow ran Park and Mount Juliet Other courses are available too, but having stayed at the hotel and visited all three courses I can highly recommend this pac kage You could e ven tie your visit in with one of Gow ran Park’s 17 race meetings each year
Rathsallagh and Palmerstown are perfect courses to play on day one, on the way from the ferr y to your hotel or a final round on the way back to the port before you depart for home
W herever you decide to stay and play, contact T iernan at Club Choice Ireland and he will tailor the perfect package for you
Paul Chapple with Club Choice Ireland ’ s Tiernan Byrne, right, at Mount Juliet. The par five sixth hole at Rathsallagh is a real test
A Hunter s Yard bedroom.
Hotel Kilkenny is a g reat base for a golf break in this area.
Scott Booth playing the par three third hole at Palmerstown.
The
• 3 Nights B&B in a 4* Hotel
• 1 Evening Meal
• 3 Rounds of Golf
• Return Ferry From £445 pps*
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• Return Ferry From £635 pps*
EASTHAM WELCOMES NEW CAPTAIN
STEVE Bond has driven in as the new captain at Eastham L odge Golf Club
More than 100 members and guests watched him in action “ Teeing off in front of so many people isn’t something I have had to do before I didn’t feel too ner vous but I hit a bad dr ive that was heading out of bounds until it hit a tree,” said Steve
The 74-year-old decided to raise funds for St Mar y s Church, in Eastham V illage, af ter hear ing that the lady vic ar there did great work to help local under privileged people
“I’m also hoping to raise some money to help buy a piece of sweep and fill kit we need at Eastham that makes a big difference to our greens, ” added the 17handic apper who raised £780 on his drive-in day from a raffle
The retired engineer has been a member at the W irral-based club for 32 years He descr ibed himself as a “nomadic golfer ” before that “I actually played my
BY PAU L C HAPPLE
first ever round of golf in the 1980s at Eastham,” said S te ve, who expects to play as many as 180 rounds of golf during his year in office “I’m a member of the North Cheshire Captains and play a lot of senior golf too I’ve done a chart for my wife of all the games!”
Steve, who lives in Bromborough, has two away days, two Captain s Days and a couple of charit y golf days to plan as well as continuing his work organising a volunteer group of seven or eight members who help out on the course each Wednesday
“ We had a busy winter af ter helping our green staff with modifying two tee boxes as well as extensive work to remodel all the bunkers
“I’ve been helping for the last 10 years and love playing a small part in keeping the course improvements going,” he added
FAB FOUR AT HELSBY
H ELSBY Golf C lub’s ne w officials have dr iven in.
President Br ian Pr ince, c aptain Mar tyn Guest, lady captain V iv Nagle and junior c aptain Austin Osbour ne were all delighted to hit g reat dr ives down the fair way on the first hole The dr ive-in marks the first e vent of their year of office and they reall y appreciated the suppor t of around 100 members, family and friends who were there to see them hit their shots
Mar tyn has chosen Merseyside and C heshire Blood Bikes for his char it y and V iv has selected Alzheimer ’ s Research.
The fiercely contested golf competition was followed by the pr ize presen-
OSWESTRY DUO DRIVE IN
OSWESTRY Golf C lub’s new captain has driven into office at the Aston Park c lub
James Woodward, 53, split the opening fair way with his tee shot.
The 1 6 handicapper, who is a local businessman, joined the c lub at the tender age of nine He has represented the c lub at count y le vel from junior through to now senior
The Lingan Davies Cancer Centre at the Royal S hrewsbur y Hospital is his chosen char ity
The S hropshire c lub’s ne w lady captain has also dr iven into office.
K ath Jones is this year ’ s skipper of the ladies section
K ath, from Oswestr y, was the steward at the c lub for 10 years from 1980 to 1990 with her husband Roy, She was bor n in Ireland and had her own little army of leprechaun helpers to send her on her way at the drive-in She intends to raise money for a diabetics char ity throughout the year
Bramhall captains raring to go
BRAMHALL Golf C lub’s new captains S tephen S heard and Linzi Webster got their year in office off to a cracking star t at their traditional drive-in enjoyed by a big audience of members and fr iends Stephen, handicap 14.9, was a real big hitter af ter being set up by c lub professional Scott Parr y with a huge dr iver on the tee – but for tunatel y onl y for show - he then hit a neat dr ive with his nor mal dr iver.
Lady captain Linzi, handicap 19, was delighted with her clinical drive straight down the midd le which she celebrated in style.
Stephen, who has been a member of the c lub for over 25 years, will be looking to play at least twice a week He also likes to sing joked that he is a member of the oldest boy band in the wor ld ‘ The Three C heddars’ He also enjoys woodwork, house renovation and stained glass work Linzi is looking to play three or four times a week as well as walking in the hills and travelling S he has chosen ‘Support Dogs’ as her charity and Stephen has selected ‘Mind for Stockpor t and Distr ict ’ .
tations in the c lubhouse and the winners on the day were defending champions Adam Jones and T im Hammonds in the gents section with a score of 61 Lady captain elect Janette Wark and Debbie Br iscoe, with a score of 65, were the top female finishers
The c lubhouse was busy again in the e vening for the dr ive-in dinner. The spectacular food was provided by golf c lub chef Peter Rowley and this Handsome Car rot team
Following the meal there was fabulous music by the g roup Split Decision and this had e ver yone dancing the night away. It marked the end of a fantastic day with good weather, g reat golf and lots of laughs.
signs in at
SEAN L ucey is the ne w c aptain at Macc lesfield Golf C lub. S ean, who is the land lord of the C hurch House pub in Sutton, plays off 14 and is an Arsenal football fan He plans to play twice a week this year and will raise funds for Alzheimer ’ s
Steve Bond tees off at Eastham
At Helsby, from left, are junior captain Austin Osborne, lady captain Viv Nagle, captain Martyn Guest and president Brian P rince Photo by Phil Barker ARPS
James Woodward and Kath Jones drive-in at Oswest r y Photos by Ken Done
Linzi Webster celebrates her tee shot
Stephen Sheard with his big driver
Know your rules with...
PETER TURNER
O ur Shropshire-based England Golf re feree with his latest r ules questions to test your knowledge.
1. A player may take relief under penalt y of stroke and distance at any time. Tr ue or False?
2 Sand and loose soil may be treated as loose impediments anywhere on the course Tr ue or False
3 Ian and Tony were playing as par tners in a fourball strokeplay competi-
tion Tony stood c lose to an extension of line behind Ian as Ian took his putt on the 4th g reen Tony ’ s line of putt was similar to Tony ’ s and it would help his play of the hole W hat is the penalty?
a No penalty
b Two strokes to Tony
c Two strokes to Tony and Ian
4 Jonathan’s ball came to rest on the 15th g reen He marked his ball and waited while another player took his putt. Jonathan replaced his ball on the g reen, but before he took his putt a strong gust of wind caused his ball to move a few feet closer to the hole than its or ig inal position W hat is the pro-
cedure?
a He must play his ball as it lies
b He must replace his ball on the spot where he had marked it, and take his putt from that place
c He may either play his ball from the new location or replace the ball on its original spot and play from that place
5. Linda’s ball came to rest on a plastic bag l y ing in the general area on the 12th hole. W hat is the procedure?
a She may pick the ball up and place it, without penalty, on the spot immediately below where it lay on the plastic bag
b S he may remo ve the bag and drop her ball, without penalt y, at the estimated point where her ball was at rest on the plastic bag That point is the reference point for the relief area, which is one c lub length, not nearer the hole and in the same area of the course as the reference point
c S he must either play the ball as it lies, or call it unplayable and take the appropr iate penalty relief
Answers below
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eluR 31 c1 dnas dna esool lios no eht -tup
GOLF FACILITIES BOOST FOR WALES
GOLF facilities across Wales will be transformed this year, with 74 projects secur ing funding from the millionpound Women’s Golf Legacy Fund from the Welsh Government, through Sport Wales
The fund has been established to create a tangible impact for local golf c lubs as a result of Wales hosting its largest women ’ s spor ting e vent, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl this summer
The successful projects were announced today [22 April, 2025] by Jack S argeant, Minister for Culture, S kills and S ocial Par tnership of Wales, at L landudno Maesdu Golf Club – the winning c lub of the Sustainability Project of the Year Award at the recent Annual Wales Golf Awards sponsored by Toptracer
The Minister was joined by c lub personnel, inc luding the women ’ s section and Wales Golf gir ls’ squad players, to hear about the difference the funding will make
The million-pound fund, made available through Wales Golf, is aimed at improving facilities for women, gir ls and people with disabilities at Welsh golf clubs, with on-course toilet facilities and changing rooms the main areas to be boosted
O ver 70 projects at almost 50 golf c lubs will make a significant difference in areas earmarked as being barriers for women and gir ls getting into the sport and joining c lubs
As well as on-course toilets and changing rooms, projects inc lude greenkeeper welfare, disabilit y access and Halfway Houses – even a mobile Swing and Snack Cabin at Mold which can be used around the course and in the local community
Jac k S argeant, Minister for Culture, said, “It ’ s terrific to hear all about the future plans thanks to this £1million fund - it ’ ll make a real, on-the-ground difference to golf c lubs and their members across Wales
important factor in attracting and retaining ne w golfers - and industr y sur vey s show golf course toilets are especiall y important for women and a lack of access to such facilities may help explain a drop in par ticipation rates among period-age gir ls
“ These projects will have a huge impact across Wales, making golf c lubs more welcoming for women and gir ls to play golf,” said Dilwyn Griffiths, Wales Golf head of facilities and sustainability
“ We would like to thank the Welsh Government for providing the funding to create a lasting impact from the AIG Women’s Open being hosted by Wales for the first time
“Clubs have reviewed their facilities, and come up with some excellent ideas and projects that will improve or enhance their offering to members, and the local community
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si no eht .esruoc nevE nehw a r elu -er
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“ This investment will, as showcased at Maesdu Golf Club, promote our nation’s fantastic golf courses whilst taking forward important work to enhance facilities for female players and creating more welcoming environments, with the aim of attracting women and gir ls into the sport
“ This fund is a vital par t of making sure we capitalise on the spotlight that will fall on women ’ s golf when Wales hosts the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl this summer - the biggest female sporting event ever held in Wales These 74 projects will leave a lasting legacy that transforms accessibility and inc lusivity for generations to come ” Feedback from Wales Golf New2Golf participants shows that facilities are an
“ L ong af ter the wor ld ’ s best players have lef t Porthcawl, these facilities will continue to enjoy the benefits of the funding
“At Wales Golf, we know the longterm impact such things c an have bec ause of the legac y lef t behind af ter hosting the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in 2010
“More than 40 facilities around Wales were built as par t of the legac y of that championship, and most of them continue to have a major impact on golf in their communities
“ We expect a similar benefit from these projects ”
Unsur pr isingl y, ne w toilets facilities are the single biggest categor y for projects, with 25 new facilities for women, gir ls, disability access and unisex, 18 of them on-course
Women and girls changing rooms will also see a big change, with 25 renovations planned, one c lubhouse de velopment, along with three greenkeeper welfare units to help ensure looking after the course is a profession for all S ix c lubs - Parc near Cardiff, Machynys near Llanelli, Celtic Manor, Conwy, Wrexham and Pyle and Kenfig, will develop Aspire Pathway facilities for up-and-coming talent
Br yn Meadows in Gwent and Cradoc in Mid Wales will de velop ne w dedic ated women ’ s coaching areas, eight c lubs will improve disability access, with three having new Halfway Houses for on course refreshment
Perhaps the most innovative plan has come from Mold Golf Club with their Swing and Snack Cabin This is a mobile hub facility which can be moved round the course for golfers and the local communit y, with public footpaths on the boundar y of the course
It will also help the c lub take golf, specific all y aimed at women, gir ls and juniors, into venues across the area, such as schools, communit y centres, market day town centres, summer fairs and other such venues, for taster sessions
The AIG Women’s Open will be played at Royal Porthcawl from 30 July – 3 August 2025 T ickets to watch the world’s best golfers in action are available to purchase from £10 at aigwomensopen com with children under 16years-of-age free when accompanied by a paying adult
For more information about the AIG Women’s Open, please visit www aigwomensopen com
At Maesdu, from left, are lady captain Robyn Denholm, manager Sandra Thomas, president Jane Rimmington, Minister for Culture, Skills & and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant, chairman Alastair Bailey, Wales Golf head of facilities and sustainability Dilwyn Griffiths and Wales Golf girls squad player and Youth Panel member Seren Ramsey
SANDIWAY’S NIGEL JOINS HALL OF FAME
SANDIWAY Golf Club’s Nigel Evans
OBE has been entered into the England Golf Hall of Fame at the England Golf Awards Evening at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester
The Hall of Fame only began last year and among the ear ly entrants were Peter Alliss, Michael Bonallack, Dame Laura Davies, S ir Nic k Faldo, Tr ish Johnson, Luke Donald, Georgia Hall, Gar y Wolstenholme MBE and Gerald Micklem
The latest entrants to the Hall of Fame were announced at the Awards Evening and also inducted were Harold Hilton, Tony Jacklin John Jacobs, Angela Uzielli and Mickey Walker
They were presented with their trophies and a full descr iption of their achievements were given to the appreciative packed house by top sports presenter Mark Chapman
Nigel, a Sandiway honorar y member, has represented Cheshire at all levels
He has been involved in national golf administration since 1980 becoming a member of the Cheshire Executive and then president
W ith the EGU Nigel was on the Executive Committee and F inance Committee from 2002-2005 and bec ame a member of the Management Committee in 2005
He was the Board member responsible for National Coaching and Elite Performance from 2005-2011
Nigel was the England Golf chairman from 2012-2014 and was the dr iving force behind the England Golf Union and England Women’s Golf Association
merger
He was president of England Golf in 2015 and later awarded an MBE for ser vice to amateur golf
A well-deser ved honour much appreciated by the Cheshire members at the awards evening
Nigel said: “I felt ver y honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, particular ly as I appear to be the only golf administrator as opposed to a play ing household name
“ W ithout doubt the greatest reward for me is to have had the opportunity to spend 65 years involvement in the sport that I love, 25 years on the Cheshire Executive followed by 25 years at Woodhall Spa in numerous roles
“Coupled with being a member of the team r unning Justin Rose/Telegraph Junior Golf I have been able to travel to many countr ies and would not have
missed it for the wor ld
“I took tremendous satisfaction from leading the team from the EGU that together with the ELGA was able to deliver the merger in 2012 and it was an honour to become the first chairman of the newly formed England Golf in 2013 and their president in 2015
“ In 2014 I was honoured with an OBE by the late Q ueen for Ser vices to Amateur Golf
“I have been a member of S andiway for the past 63 years becoming their first chairman in 2000, captain in 2003 and centenar y president in 2020
“As a player I played for Cheshire at Colts and the first team dur ing the 1960’s and ear ly 1970 s ”
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR HEGGARTY
JOH N Heg g ar t y has become the 2025 C heshire County president
He br ings a wealth of exper ience and talent to the role and he outlined his outstanding c areer in golf with highlights along the way.?John said:
“ I star ted my golf in S cotland at Dumfries and County Golf Club and played in the Scottish Boys C hampionships before tur ning professional in 1975
“ I spent 18 months at a Glasgow course called Hay ton before moving to Shaw Park in Alloa
“I was appointed as assistant professional at Royal Liver pool in 1978 before getting my first head professional professional’s job at W ir ral Ladies, aged 21
“ I spent t wo years there before being appointed as head professional at Royal Liver pool in 1982.
“Some of the roles I have undertaken since then inc lude: chair man of the Nor th Reg ion PGA, PGA board of directors for 20 years, a Ryder Cup board member, captain of the PGA of GB & Ireland, PGA Master Professional (85th in the histor y of the PGA), PGA tutor and examiner, C heshire Count y coach, played on the S unshine and Australian Tour and Royal Liver pool head pro from 1982-2023
“ D ur ing my c areer I have met ver y many people who have had an influence on how to manage people, how to be decisive but not arrogant, to never to be too complacent to ignore advice and most impor tantly to never stop lear ning and improving
“As a proud member of the PGA and a long-time coach to C heshire Golf I was honoured to be asked to become the 2025 C heshire County president.
“ The unified Count y str ucture is stronger for the amalgamation of the women ’ s and men ’ s games and I look for ward to suppor ting all areas of men ’ s and women ’ s golf dur ing my ter m in office.”
Nigel Evans OBE at the awards evening.
John Heg garty
Societies welcome
7 & 5 Day Membership open for 2025/26 - no joining fee Discounted rates for younger golfers
Call Helsby Golf Club on 01928 722021 (Option 1) or email secretary@helsbygolfclub.org to discuss
VICARS CROSS DUO ACE SAME HOLE AT SAME TIME GOLFERS
TWO V icars Cross Golf Club members have made histor y by hitting holes in one on the same hole while playing together!
Mark L eigh and Tom Brownr igg were playing in a fourball competition at the Chester-based c lub when they both aced on the 143-yard long 18th hole
P laying in the final group of the day, Tom, who was partnering his son Colin, was the first to hole when his perfectly struck six iron bounced twice and rolled into the cup for the 79-year-old ’ s first ever hole-in-one
“I had been to the opticians a couple of days before and was told my eyes had deteriorated since my last appointment and that my glasses needed updating,” said Tom, who was an industrial distributor of engineering products before he retired
“It meant I played without my glasses on and so I couldn’t even see proper ly! I could see the green, but not the flag so there was definitely some good luck involved,” added the 23-handicapper, who also enjoys Tai chi
Tom, who lives in Heswall and suppor ts Ever ton, explained: “ We were all delighted when it went in and there were a few cheers from people watching outside the c lubhouse
“ It was Mark’s shot next and Colin said jokingly ‘follow that ’
“Amazingly I had just been watching some PGA Tour golf from the USA and
Hole-in-one for Ian
BY PAUL C HAPPLE
someone had two aces in the same round The commentator was saying the odds were about 10 million to one!”
W ith an eight iron in hand, se ven handic apper Mark then hit almost the exact same shot to join his friend in the hole-in-one c lub
“ We couldn’t believe it It was almost identical Again, the ball bounced a couple of times and rolled in There was a bigger gather ing behind the green by now as people heard about Tom’s ace, ” said drawing office manager Mark
“I have kept the ball and just carr y it around in my golf bag with me as a good luck omen
The 55-year-old was playing alongside Andrew Palin, who has now witnessed seven holes-in-one without having one himself
Mark, from W innington, was or iginally a member at Vale Royal Abbey before joining Pr yors Hayes for a couple of years “ Tom was at Pr yors Hayes with me too and there is a group of us that are all friends and we play regularly together We only joined V icars in October ”
The pair both put a bottle of whisky on the bar for fellow members to enjoy
It marked the perfect sporting weekend for hockey player Mark The Liverpool fan then got to see his beloved Reds win the Premier L eague title the following day
first for Paul
FORMER Walton Hall captain Paul Kennedy str uck a wonder ful six iron to the par three four th hole measuring 174 yards off the white tee boxes for an
Af ter a couple of bounces, his ball disappeared into the cup His playing par tners in the t wo-man Texas Scramble all cheered in delight
It was Paul’s first ever hole-in-one and was dul y celebrated by all the members in the bar following the competition
Mark Leigh, left, and Tom Brownrig g after their incredible aces at Vicars Cross
Ian Hazelwood aced at Bramhall