STAFFORDSHIRE GOLFER NOVEMBER 2023 ISSUE SEVEN
PURSUING A DREAM WITH HARRY FEARN
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS CROWNED
SUGC SHOP NOW OPEN
OUR SUGC 2023 CHAMPIONS
FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the seventh issue of the Staffordshire Golfer where the winter season is well and truly upon us. With course closures all over the County due to Storm Babet golf has been pushed from the forefront of everyone’s minds, but hopefully we’ll all be able to take to the course this weekend. When it rained, it poured!
We have some great stories from across the County in this issue. We’d love you to share this with as many of your members and golfing friends as possible to spread the stories from across Staffordshire. I’d like to give a special shout out to our Senior Men, who headed over to Thorpeness Golf Club to play in the Senior Men’s County Championship.
Unfortunately, the team fell short over the weekend, but we’re proud of their efforts and we hope we can go the distance next season.
There have been plenty of interesting things going on throughout Staffordshire Golf as the curtain fell on the golfing season. We crowned our Champion of Champions at JCB Golf and Country Club, again in the pouring rain. It was great to welcome the club champion of all our County clubs to JCB, but there’s more on that inside. In this issue you’ll see a special feature of all our County champions across the 2023 season. We’ve had a great time at all our County championships this year, and planning is well underway for 2024.
THE TEAM AT STAFFORDSHIRE GOLFER Editor and Production: Medi8 Golf – david@medi8ltd.co.uk Editorial research: Gareth Shaw – secretary@staffsgolf.org.uk Editorial research: Michael Entecott – michael.entecott@staffsgolf.org.uk
A MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTY SECRETARY
We’ve also launched our new Staffordshire Golf Union shop in partnership with 6EZ, we chatted to Harry Fearn about what life was like playing college golf in the United States, and our unsung hero of this issue is county stalwart, Roger Howarth.
I’d also like to take this time to highlight our fantastic podcast channel, we sit down and chat to County presidents, aspiring professionals, tour caddies and many more. It really is a great listen if we do say so ourselves! To browse our series of podcasts, click here. I’ll leave you to read the latest issue, our next one will be a special edition Centenary issue! But for now, sit back and read this great issue and don’t forget to share it with your golfing friends.
IN THE CLUBHOUSE
Congratulations to Alan McPeakes Taskers team for winning the plate. The final took place against Cosby at Beeston Fields in a closely contested match. The match was 3-3 with the final match being decided in the last match. Stand-in captain, Graham Gill won 3 & 2 on the 16th to win the competition 4-3.
Hole in One! Mike Clarke this week during the match against our visitors from Furness Golf Club, Cumbria. The 16th again providing the obligatory clubhouse bottle of Whiskey and giving Mike his third hole in one.
During the weekend of the Ryder Cup Walsall Golf Club held their own Team Europe v Team USA Ryder Cup Challenge! Europe came out on top with a narrow 9.5 to 8.5 victory.
After all the torrential rain that has fell over the past couple of months, including 45.5mm last Friday the new bunkers at Trentham Golf Club have taken it in their stride. They cannot praise enough the design from Gaunt Golf Design Ltd - Golf Course Architects and build quality from Profusion.
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS EVENT
TROPHY
WINNERS
CLUB
Mens Fourball Better Ball
Beddows Trophy
Jak Turner & Nathan Hirst
Beau Desert Golf Club
Boys Under 12 Championship
Eric Hassell Salver
Alfie Turner - Gross
Trentham Golf Club
Alfie Wilby - Nett
Brocton Hall Golf Club
Boys Under 14 Championship
Brian Cox Salver
Liam Jinks - Gross
Druids Heath Golf Club
Sam Taylor - Nett
Ingestre Park Golf Club
Boys Matchplay
John Slaughter Trophy
Oliver Perks
Beau Desert Golf Club
Boys Open Championship
Keith Hodgkinson Trophy
Ronnie Groves
Enville Golf Club
Boys Open Red Tee Gross
Spencer Pickin
Leek Golf Club
Boys Open Red Tee Nett
Josh Heath
Trentham Golf Club
Boys Championship (Gross)
James Thompson
Walsall Golf Club
Walter Coleman Salver
Oliver Perks
Beau Desert Golf Club
Mick Morgan Salver
Ronnie Groves
Enville Golf Club
Boys Championship Red Tee Gross
Theo Kirtley
Leek Golf Club
Boys Championship Red Tee Nett
Oliver Carter
Leek Golf Club
James Thompson & Oscar Jones
Walsall Golf Club
Oliver Carter Lewis Foxall Austin Rogula
Leek Golf Club
Boys Championship (Nett) Boys Under 16 Championship
Boys Team Championship
Dathan Goblet
Junior Club Team Mens Championship (Gross)
James Beattie Salver
Zarak Curley
Leek Golf Club
Mens Championship (Nett)
Legge Cup
Oliver Perks
Enville Golf Club
Youth Championship
Britannia Cup
Ronnie Groves
South Staffs GC
EVENT
TROPHY
WINNERS
CLUB
Mens Team Championship
Scarf Shield
Tom Rowlands, Jak Turner, Ben Wellings
Bloxwich Golf Club
Geoff Marks Trophy
Graham Sands
Uttoxeter Golf Club
Staffs Champion Club Golfer
Division 1
Paul Morris
Oxley Park Golf Club
Staffs Champion Club Golfer
Division 2
Tom Watkiss
The Wergs Golf Club
Seniors Championship (Gross)
Church Trophy
Mike Deeley
Enville Golf Club
Seniors Championship (Nett)
Macbryde Salver
Ian Guest
South Staffs GC
Seniors 4BBB Stableford (Nett)
Cox Chalice
Paul Morris & Colin Woolley
Oxley Park GC & Enville GC
Seniors 4BBB Stableford (Gross)
Thomas Trophy
D Stott & Colin. S. Heard
Stone Golf Club
Seniors 4BBB Medal (Gross)
Loader Trophy
Colin Woolley & Mike Deeley
Enville Golf Club
Seniors 4BBB Medal (Nett)
Henwood Trophy
Phil Chambers & Mark Rose
Oxley Park Golf Club
Zarak Curley
Leek Golf Club
Mike Deeley
Enville Golf Club
Louis Cope
Beau Desert Golf Club
Membership Individual
Men's Matchplay Senior Matchplay
Squire Trophy
English Schools Championship Champion of Champion - Men
The Ivan Forster
James Johnston
Whittington Heath Golf Club
Champion of Champion - Seniors
The John Keen
Terry Eardley
Burslem Golf Club
Champion of Champion - Junior
The Mike Tunnicliffe
Alfie Turner
Trentham Golf Club
Tony Clements
Uttoxeter Golf Club
Mike Smith
Uttoxeter Golf Club
Centenary Bowl
STAFFORDSHIRE’S UNSUNG HERO ROGER HOWARTH In this issue we have another great chat with Roger Howarth. Responsible for course ratings, rules and winner of the Len Turner award, he has given years of service to the Union. In this interview, we discuss his role within the Union and some upcoming changes to the World Handicap System. my hand and saying yeah I am. Following that I went on this two-day training course at Trentham, run by Ernie Steen. Ernie and another guy run this course, and at the end of the two-day course, that I found really fascinating, really interesting, Ernie comes up to me and says, Roger, you said you seem to have done reasonably well with this course, would you be interested in becoming a team leader? And once again I went, not understanding entirely what was involved in that, I went certainly that’d be very nice, thank you very much, yes. And away we went. And that was eight years ago. I joined with Sandra, of course, Sandra Fraser, who’s been doing course rating before me, oh, five or six years earlier than that. She was doing some work just for ladies golf. And then Andrew Dathan joined us as well for a short period. Gareth Shaw: Tell me about your journey into golf. How did you get into the game?
the referees? Has that always been a kind of interest of yours when you got into the game?
Roger Howarth: Well, I suppose I started playing golf when I was a teenager, but not seriously, because I was a cricketer. So I didn’t really start playing golf until I was nearly 40, which is about, I think, in terms of getting my swing right, about 25 years too late really, only when I got too old to bowl quick as a fast bowler in a cricket game. I joined a club when I first moved up here, went to Ingestre, was there for 13 years and I’ve been here at Brocton [Hall Golf Club] now for 23 years since then. I love the game, I play it all the time. Now I’m retired, it’s kind of the day job.
R.H: That was a fateful day! I went to a seminar at Trentham Park that was run by Gemma Hunter from England Golf, who was head of the rating and so forth at the time. This was 2015, I think, or 2014 it might have been. Gemma, at the end of this conversation that she was talking about handicap changes and CONGU at the time, she said “we’re just beginning to introduce this new scheme of rating to get a better system for getting a standard scratch score. We’re importing the American system course rating system. I wonder if there’s anybody here in the room that might be interested in taking part in that?”
G.S: And how did you get involved more in the county team in terms of the course rating side of things and
I can remember the fateful day of me actually sort of gently raising
And between us, we managed to get through the whole of the first cycle of course rating to get all 46 courses in the county ready and rated for the World Handicap System. Of course when we started in 2015, the World Handicaps System was just a glimmer in somebody’s eye. We had no idea what we were doing, why we were doing this course rating, except to get a better value for standard scratch score. G.S: Roger, thank you for everything you do in Staffordshire, you do an amazing job and thank you for your service. If you would like to listen to the full podcast with Roger, click the link below. CLICK HERE
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS JCB Golf and Country Club 30th September 2023 Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs held its inaugural Champion of Champions competition at the JCB Golf and Country Club on the 30th September. A strong field of 79 competitors played for one of three trophies. Every affiliated club was given the opportunity of sending their Men, Senior and Junior 2023 champion to take part. The day started warm, bright and sunny but by lunch time the weather had changed to a drizzle and as the last few groups finished their round, it had turned to persistent rain. Special thanks must go to the ball spotters and referees who stayed out on the course for over the six hours of the competition with little cover. The three age groups were keenly contested over a course of 6680 yards with a par of 72. Add in some very tricky pin positions, this was a true test of golf. Entering the final three holes there were five contenders for the men’s trophy, separated by only three shots. The eventual winner, with a level par of 72 was Whittington Heath’s Champion, James Johnston, with runner up, Simon Higgins (Lichfield Golf and Country Club) two shots back and third place went to Greg Peters (Ingestre Park) a further shot back. The Senior competition was also a closely contested affair, with Burslem Golf Club’s champion, Terry Eardley, winning with a gross score of 80. Colin Heard (Stone) with a score of 83 taking the runner up spot on count back from Paul Hancock (Wolstanton) in third place. The Junior age group, was won by Alfie Turner, Trentham Golf Club’s Men and Junior Champion. Alfie returned an extremely good score of 79 to win by two shots from Max Simpson (Trentham Park). Jensen Berridge (Dartmouth) finished third with a score of 82. The three trophies are named in honour of three people who dedicated much of their life to Staffordshire Golf. The Men’s, Ivan Forster Salver. Ivan was President of the County Union in 1988 and 1989. The Senior’s, John Keen Salver. John was County President in 2006 and 2007. The Junior’s Mike Tunnicliffe Salver is dedicated to the memory of Michael Tunnicliffe who did so much to promote the growth of junior golf in the county. 1. James Johnston being presented with the Ivan Forster Salver by County President, Andrew Dathan 2. Terry Eardley, with the John Keen Salver, with Sue Keen and the County President
Special thanks go to Srixon Golf who donated the prizes for this competition and to JCB Golf and Country Club for the use of the course and the facilities.
3. Alfie Turner with the Michael Tunnicliffe Salver with Averil Tunnicliffe and the County President
Full results can be found on the County website, www.staffsgolf.co.uk
GET WINTER READY! Playing golf in the winter can be quite challenging, but with the right equipment, you can continue enjoying the game you love throughout the year. It’s crucial to have these essential winter golf items, as listed below. If you haven’t got them yet, head down to your local golf club pro-shop to get winter ready! Waterproof Jacket: While a waterproof jacket may seem like a significant investment, it’s a long-term asset for your game. It provides the assurance that you can perform at your best, regardless of the unpredictable weather. Modern designs are thinner, lighter, and offer more flexibility, ensuring you can swing comfortably. Look for customizable fit options and check the waterproof warranty. Waterproof Trousers: A matching pair of waterproof slacks is a must for winter golf. These pants not only keep you dry but also prevent mud from soiling your nice trousers. They add an extra layer of warmth, and some even feature fleece-lined pockets for hand warmth and zipped ankles for easy wear. Mid-Layer: The mid-layer is your go-to garment for most winter days. It’s essential to find one that suits your needs and budget. Some prioritise warmth, while others focus on protection from the elements. A comfortable fit that allows for unrestricted movement is vital. Base Layer: On extremely cold days, a base layer worn underneath your polo shirt can help retain body warmth and prevent the cold from taking hold. Consider the fit and style that works best for you. Gloves: Ensure you have the right gloves for different weather conditions. Mittens keep your hands warm between shots, while all-weather gloves provide an alternative solution. Don’t forget to carry rain gloves for a secure grip during wet rounds.
Hats: Hats are essential for maintaining body heat. There are various styles, including beanie hats (available in the Staffs Golf on-line shop), bobble hats, caps and waterproof bucket hats. Choose one that suits your comfort and style. Umbrella: A good-quality umbrella is your first line of defence against rain. It’s not just for keeping you dry but also for protecting your gear, such as gloves and towels. Hang these items over one of the umbrella’s spokes to keep them dry. Footwear: Invest in sturdy, reliable golf shoes for the winter. Spiked shoes provide extra grip on muddy lies and frozen mats. Choose a style that’s easy to clean, as winter rounds tend to accumulate dirt. Consider black shoes to hide dirt better or opt for a separate, less-expensive pair for winter play. Waterproof Golf Bag: Many golf bags are fully waterproof, helping you deal with wet conditions and preventing sodden grips and soggy gloves. Additional Accessories: Consider adding winter wheels to your trolley for muddy conditions, switching to a yellow golf ball for better visibility in low light, and investing in castle tees of the perfect height for your driver, especially when hitting off mats. These small adjustments can significantly improve your winter golfing experience. By collecting these essential items, you can transform your winter rounds from a slog into an enjoyable experience.
WHAT’S THE RULING? If your ball comes to rest under a parked car, what is your next move? Do you… A) Play the ball as it lies B) Push the car out of the way with your playing partners C) Get free relief if the car is not readily moveable See back page for the answer
PRO TIP - TRUGOLF ACADEMY Do you feel like you get stuck in the downswing and can’t figure out why you aren’t hitting straighter shots? With this video from TruGolf Academy at Whittington Heath Golf Club you will find the key to hitting the ball straighter, just in time for your Winter League competitions!
PURSUING A DREAM WITH HARRY FEARN At the age of just 17, Harry Fearn made the decision to swap Staffordshire for the United States in his bid to achieve a life goal of turning professional. After seeing the success of former Staffordshire County squad member, and now DP World Tour player, Richard Mansell heading stateside was the goal from a young age. We caught up with Harry in our podcast series, chatting about US college golf and his Tour aspirations.
Gareth Shaw: Where did it all start for you? Harry Fearn: My dad was a golf pro, so I started really young. I started at the age of two, so I’ve been golfing for a while! I started in the County when I was age ten or eleven. There are a lot of tournaments that I travelled for. I went to America to do the World
championship, I played in European Championship, and all the England [Golf] events. I’ve done it all. Then at the age of 17, I signed to go to America. It was a pretty big step, but it was a good decision for sure. G.S: How did you get the bug? Did you go down to the club with your dad and just hit balls?
H.F: Yeah, I mean I use to play football as well, but I stopped at the age of 13. I kind of knew golf was my main route for success. But yeah, I remember my dad cutting a Scotty [Cameron] down and all the other clubs. Ping helped me out a lot as well, so I was grateful for that. G.S: Was that a tough decision moving away from football?
H.F: I was a much better golfer than football player! Obviously all my friends played football. But we all kind of knew like, that’s top 1% of people who are good enough. I knew I was better at golf and that I had a better chance this way. G.S: Moving through those junior ranks and the pathway into County golf, and now into senior golf, how did you find that transition? Were you nervous at any points and did you think, ‘do I belong here?’ Did you doubt your ability or were you always confident that you could hold your own on the golf course? H.F: I was really good in the U16s and I had a good ranking. I did really well in the McGregor so that gave me a lot of confidence and then I had a really good first year in America. That’s how I stood my ground. I would say I had a good successful four years over there. I’m not the most confident guy, but I try to show that I’m confident on the golf course. We did a lot of mental performance when I was in America, confidence is key. G.S: What were your strengths on the golf course? Was it driving? Was it short game? Or was it all round? H.F: Driving. Always has been, always will be. I’m pretty accurate, I’m not the longest compared to some of the guys who were on my team in America but I can hold my ground off the tee and I’m definitely straight.
G.S: Talk me through the process of going to the States. Did you get scouted? What was that process like to get over there?
through it with the lads and then you change as a person. You develop, and you’re becoming an adult for sure.
H.F: They were sitting at the McGregor, in the clubhouse. I always knew that I wanted to go. I told my parents pretty early, but we had the discussion straight away, just at the McGregor. They said, you’ve had decent results, and we can get you there straight away basically. Then I signed within the year. My best route was definitely junior college for me because I wanted to go to a decent D1 [college], but to go to a better D1, it was definitely junior college. George helped me with that. Then the coach reached out to me whilst I was on the golf course actually. Then yeah, I signed. I still did my A-levels. Education is pretty important, so I did that. But I always knew I was never going to college over here.
G.S: Do you become more self sufficient? You’ve got to do it, and nobody else is going to do it for you. Is that kind of the case?
G.S: What was that experience like going over there, especially as you said at 17? H.F: They call it the honeymoon period at the start. It’s pretty cool. I started in Iowa, so it’s not the best for weather or anything but the first month was really good and it helped that I performed well. But the lads, I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of people, especially at the start and the coach was amazing. The competition dies down at the end of October and that’s pretty hard and you want to come home. But you get through it, and you get
H.F: Exactly. You learn what other people want and you share the same goal with the team, so they push you on, just like we push each other on in the County. But it’s to an extreme as well, you’re living with the guys every day. Every day is the same both academically and on the golf course. G.S: I know from working with players out in the States that it’s intense. From studying and practicing to assignments and exams. You don’t have much downtime off the golf course or out of the classroom as well? H.F: Yeah, so a big thing I learned when I transferred to D1 is managing time. That’s the biggest difference. We have google calendars and schedules every day and we get checked up on that, so timing is pretty big. Academics is definitely huge part of life over there, but you’ve got to practice managing your time. If you would like to hear more stories from Harry’s time in America, then click here to listen to the full discussion in our podcast series. CLICK HERE
CLUB IN FOCUS - LEEK GOLF CLUB The team at Leek Golf Club have sent across all the latest news from their club. We loved hearing about all the great things that have been going on and we couldn’t wait to share them. If you’d like to see your club feature here, send us a round up of your recent highlights to Gareth Shaw at: secretary@staffsgolf.org.uk It has been a busy few months at Leek Golf Club, with their members seeing success in both county competitions and in the North Staffs and District Golf league – and a hole in one from a new member!
31st August 2023 Congratulations to Leek Golf Club Junior Luke Sherwin on winning the U12s red tees nett event on the Rob Rock Junior Tour at The Astbury Golf Club.
9th September 2023 Congratulations to James Tee, Zarak Curley, Lewis Foxall, Dave Robinson, Martin Hall and Ross Salmon on winning the NSDGL Haughton Salver Knockout for Leek Golf Club. A fantastic 2-1 win against Astbury Golf Club at Trentham Park Golf Club.
10th September 2023 Leek Golf Club Juniors, Spencer Pickin and Theo Khalifa represented Staffordshire Under 14s team vs Shropshire & Herefordshire and both won their matches.
10th September 2023 Leek Golf Club Junior Captain Lewis Foxall travelled to Ashbourne to take part in their Junior Open. Junior Captain Lewis Foxall won Division 1 with 36 points
9th October 2023 Congratulations to Zarak Curley of Leek Golf Club who beat Simon Farmer of Trentham Golf Club 1 up in the Staffordshire Men’s Matchplay Finals at South Staffordshire Golf Club.
Hole in One Congratulations to Steve Perkin of Leek Golf Club on his first hole in one. After joining the club less than a month ago, he has now completed the 4th hole with a 7 iron. Well Done Steve.
ONLINE STORE NOW OPEN! At the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs we have been working hard behind the scenes to bring an online store to life. This is to give the option to our team players and county members to get their hands on some Union branded apparel and equipment. The store opened earlier this month and it’s already been a big hit with players and members. We’ve chosen to work with high quality brands, and ones that aren’t available in most shops across the county. Brands such as Vessel, MiiR, Stance and Melin are all available with exclusive discounts to all Staffordshire Golf Union members. More products set to be added to the store in the coming weeks and months. If you would like to know more about the shop then listen to the latest episode of our podcast with our County Secretary, Gareth Shaw and Ben Thompson from 6EZ Group. Click here to listen.
Is there someone at your club that goes above and beyond? Has there been a hole-in-one or an exceptional score? Do you have a special event happening in the coming months? Have you redecorated the clubhouse? We want to know! Let us know of anything exciting going on at your club and we’ll try and find a spot in the next edition! E-mail: secretary@staffsgolf.org.uk
Click here for more information on the SUGC
Make sure you’re following us on social media to keep up with all the latest news from around Staffordshire: @staffsgolfclubs @staffsgolfclubs Staffordshire Golf Union www.staffsgolf.co.uk
Answer: C – Get free relief if the car is not readily moveable.