Staffordshire Golfer - #11 June 2024

STAFFORDSHIRE GOLFER

JUNE 2024

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the eleventh issue of the Staffordshire Golfer, it’s been a busy start to the season with events and competitions coming thick and fast. The last week or so has certainly been a welcome change from the miserable weather we all endured at the start of the season. Most courses have now made the change to summer rules, with plugged lies and placements now seeming a lifetime away.

We’ve been all over the County, seeing a great standard of golf on our travels. Our junior and men’s County teams have all been in action, with various teams all putting in good performances to kick start their seasons.

In this issue we sat down with former European Tour player Simon Wakefield who discussed his life on Tour, what got him started in the game and what he’s up to now alongside plans for the future. It’s an interview not to be missed as he talks about his experiences as a junior golfer which took us back to our childhood of playing golf 24/7 throughout various summer holidays!

We also showcase the ‘new’ golf course at Ingestre Park Golf Club. The greenkeeping team have been hard at work to get the course ready for the 2024 season and it’s certainly been worth the wait. If you do get the chance to head down it’s an opportunity not to be missed, and a great place to start if you’re looking to play at all

THE TEAM AT STAFFORDSHIRE GOLFER

Editor and Production: Medi8 Golf – nathan@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

Welcome to the eleventh and latest edition of the Staffordshire Golfer. It’s wonderful to see the sun shining and the golf courses bustling with activity. I’m fortunate enough to be able to travel around the 47 wonderful courses in our Union, and it’s great to see so many people

back out on the golf course after what was a horrible winter. It felt like the rain was never going to stop, and the green staff have done an incredible job at all of your golf clubs to get the courses in top condition for the competition season.

In Staffordshire alone, we’ve witnessed over ten competitions in the past two months, with many more on the horizon. The standard of golf has been at an all time high, with incredible under par scores winning junior events. It really does show the future of our County is in good hands when the time comes. It’s also great to see that the players are seeing the rewards from all the hard work over winter, with our winter training programmes giving a helping hand. Practicing

our 47 Staffordshire clubs. We also highlight the fantastic additions to both the South Staffordshire Golf Club and The Chase Golf and Country Club with their new driving ranges, both opening in recent weeks. We also highlight Peter Baker’s spectacular playoff win in his first Legends Tour event of the season.

At the time that you’re reading this planning is already well underway for issue 12. So if you have something interesting happening at your club over the upcoming weeks then please let us know as we would love to include it in our next issue. Also tell us if you’ve had an exceptional competition score, a hole-in-one or if any of your members have done something worth shouting about. This e-magazine is here to showcase all the great things our County clubs and members do, and we’d love to highlight your club in our future issues…

your golf in the dark winter months isn’t on the forefront of everyone’s minds, but it just goes to show you get out what you put in.

Back to this issue, we feature part one of an exclusive interview with DP World Tour and former Staffordshire player Simon Wakefield. Additionally, I got the opportunity to explore the newly redesigned golf course at Ingestre Park. The work the team have put in to get the course in the condition it’s in is incredible, and the members are now getting to experience it for themselves.

Enjoy your time on the greens, and we look forward to seeing you in the next issue.

Happy golfing!

IN THE CLUBHOUSE

Thank you to Wilson Golf for supporting our first Junior Order of Merit event.

With the increase in temperature our County Secretary has been putting our SUGC umbrella to a different use! You can purchase your own via our shop.

Congratulations to Richard Mansell for qualifying for the US Open at Pinehurst, but there’s more on that inside!

A NEW START FOR INGESTRE PARK GC

Ingestre Park Golf Club members are delighted to see a return to normality, following the upheaval around the planned route of HS2. It was announced in 2013 that the planned route came right through Ingestre Park, effectively cutting the golf course in half. Therefore the club embarked on a full transformation, with only five of the original eighteen holes still remaining.

We spoke to the team back in Issue 2(link), where Martin Cox and Peter Helmm discussed the challenges that HS2 was bringing to the golf club. As detailed in the video below, the team are delighted with the condition of the course and are looking forward to how it improves over the coming weeks and months.

The golf course redesign was also helped by the junior section who planted trees around the golf course. These were then added to the Queens Canopy Map, a project launched by the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy in partnership with the Woodland Trust.

The new holes opened on 4th May, and the team at Ingestre are already receiving fantastic feedback on the redesign. We sent along our County Secretary, Gareth Shaw, to chat with the team to find out more information. For a full in-depth review of the new holes at Ingestre Park please watch the video below.

WHAT’S THE RULING?

If you take a practice swing while the ball is on the tee and hit the ball – what happens next?

A) Re-tee up your golf ball for no penalty

B) Play from where your ball finishes

C) Choose another golf ball from your bag and claim a one stroke penalty

See back page for the answer

SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB UNVEIL NEW DRIVING RANGE

The South Staffordshire Golf Club has unveiled its brand new renovated driving range. The old driving range has been replaced with a wooden structure allowing members and guests to practice all year round, even during the increasingly wet weather.

South Staffordshire Professional and Legends Tour Order of Merit winner, Peter Baker, hit the ceremonial tee shot before a Gala Dinner took place on Friday, April 26th. The Harry Vardon designed course still remains true to the 1908 layout, but this step in a different direction has been done with the future of the club and game in mind, as Alan Chapman, Chairman of South Staffordshire Golf Club told the Express and Star.

“We have had the driving range for a while, but it wasn’t covered and while people could go down there, when there was bad weather, it was poor.

As Chairman, I’ve been wanting to develop the kids section and ladies section and, to do that, you need covered areas as they can’t have consistent training when it’s the winter and it’s wet and they get fed up because training isn’t on, so they’ll go elsewhere.”

Alan continued: “That means we’ve never been able to develop a juniors section, so that was the main reason that we did this.

It’s massively improved the facilities and what we can offer our members as we’re offering them more value for money because they can come down in all weather and use the range, whereas they couldn’t do that before because it was wet.

“It’s a better facility for our members and enables us to do so much more with the junior section and ladies’ section and keeps people engaged.”

Chris Gaskell, President of the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs, commented: “It’s great to see my own club taking the next step into attracting a new generation of golfers.

It’s so important to engage junior golfers and to provide facilities that will keep them coming back for more.”

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AT BLOXWICH GOLF CLUB

Bloxwich Golf Club is this year celebrating its 100 years anniversary. The South Staffordshire club established in 1924, has marked this special occasion with a weekend of commemorative events, culminating in the unveiling of their Centenary stone.

With 144 years combined and continuous membership between them, honorary life members John Baugh and Paul Bottrill were invited to unveil the stone. The ceremony was witnessed by Bloxwich Golf Club’s current and past Presidents and Captains, members and visiting guests representing Bloxwich’s neighbouring clubs.

John Baugh, a proud and distinguished member for 77 of the Club’s 100 years, spoke about his time at Bloxwich and how over those years the course has changed from being wide open with views from the clubhouse across many of the holes, to the mature tree-lined parkland course it is today. John also noted a significant date in the Club’s history, that being in 1988 when some 300 members contributed an additional interest free loan of £400 on top of their annual subscription to purchase 790 shares, equal to 87.7%. This majority enabled the formation of Bloxwich Golf Club (1988) Ltd at which point ownership became that of the members. Today, that control remains with the members.

It was the end of the first World War that paved the way for a stretch of land to be purchased on which the course sits today. In 1919 and for a mere £55.00, 96 acres of green belt land was bought from the Duke of Sutherland by local greengrocer Howard Pinson. It was subsequently sold on for much more, when at the same time the Georgian manor house known as the Field House was also purchased. Today, that original building bought for a clubhouse at the time of the Club’s establishment, is still home to its members and visitors alike.

The course layout has changed little over the years with individual holes occupying the ground they were originally laid out on. Nine holes now form an outer loop and nine an inner loop to the course which features many natural hazards. It will certainly be a test for those golfers participating in this year’s Staffs Amateur Championship, which Bloxwich is proud to be hosting.

SIMON WAKEFIELD - WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT ON THE DP WORLD TOUR

In the latest episode of the Staffordshire Golf Union podcast we sat down with former European Tour player, Simon Wakefield to discuss the moment that kick started his golf career, his life on tour and what he’s up to now. Read on for the highlights of the first part of our conversation. Part 2 to follow next month.

Gareth Shaw: Welcome back to the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs podcast and today we’re joined by a very special guest and someone I’ve known for over 20 years, which is a little bit scary. Simon Wakefield, how are you?

Simon Wakefield: Yeah, I’m good thanks – how are you?

G.S: Really good, and Simon thanks for joining us today. We’re going to talk about your career, your journey in County golf and what you’re doing now. We’re sitting here at Trentham Park, was this the start for you? Where did you start in terms of your golfing journey? Is this where it all happened?

S.W: It all really started to happen on Masters Sunday in 1988, when Sandy Lyle hit that wonderful golf shot out of the bunker to about six

feet and won The Masters. I’d never really looked at golf, I was always a footballer. My dad was a golfer but I never really sort of took any notice of what he was doing.

Then that Sunday, I watched Sandy win and I thought that looks like an interesting game, I’ll give that a go. Then my dad brought me down here to Trentham Park and spoke to the secretary and there was no waiting list for juniors and he wrote a check for 25 pounds for my membership and that was it, I was a member.

My birthday was on the same day that he won, and I’d not decided what I wanted yet so I decided to get a set of golf clubs for my fourteenth birthday and I came down and saw the professional at the time, Richard Clark, and my first golf set was a set of Wilson aggressor irons.

G.S: Wow, I’d love to know where they are!

S.W: I came down, joined, got my first set of clubs and went out. The first year was obviously a little bit tricky and not really taking it seriously. We had a good junior section here at the time, and it was only really in the second year where I started to improve and get my first handicap, 25.3! There were a few of us and we were all a similar standard and then we just played every hour we could really. Saturday was always a great morning, we would meet around nine o’clock and four of us would go and play a match and then we’d come back for lunch and then go and play again. I think we’d play around four of five rounds of golf in the height of summer.

My parents would wait on the bridge overlooking the eighteenth, and it

would go dark about 10:30 and they couldn’t see us but they’d just hear the jangling of our clubs and we’d been out since seven, eight o’clock that same morning. We spent hours and hours playing, it was wonderful.

G.S: Did that then mean that golf just gradually took over and you left football, did you migrate your way into a golf focus?

S.W: The story was that I was probably a better footballer than a golfer. I was playing for Newcastle lads and dads team, and I was having a good game on a Sunday and the manager decided to sub me and I sort of said to him ‘if you subbed me, I’m never playing for you again’ and his son wanted to come on and his son was in the same position as me and he said ‘right, Simon off’ so I came off, I took my shirt off and threw it on the floor and never played football again –which was quite surreal at thirteen, fourteen. That was it, I was a bit of a stubborn mule at the time and I just never played football again.

That’s why I got really into golf, because I had nothing else to do. It’s quite ironic that I gave up something that I thought I was pretty good at to play a sport that I didn’t know if I was any good at or not, and made a career of it. Which is again ironic that we’re sitting here 35 years later.

G.S: Why did you get into County Golf, and when did that kind of come into the mix?

S.W: I think I got down to about 12 within the first season, I got down quite quickly because obviously I was practicing and playing as much as I could, and then I got picked for the County juniors at 16. I then got down to four after the first year with the County juniors and then that evolved into County youths and then once I was seventeen, eighteen I was able to get down to scratch and that’s when I thought to myself this is the route I want go down. I was watching on TV and got to go to some events at The Belfry and some of The Opens and things like that and thought this is the life I can see myself doing.

It was something that I was always focused on wanting to achieve.

G.S: Then for you, like you said you went to the English Opens and events like that, did that spur you on to think ‘I can make a career out of this’?

S.W: Yeah, I mean there’s things you never forget and I remember going down with some of the juniors and some of the junior organisers and we parked the car and walked in and the first person we watched hit a golf ball was Mats Lanner, who

I’ve known for years now, he’s from Sweden and a referee now. We saw Constantino Rocca and people like that who I’ve also become good friends with. These are guys that I watched when I was sixteen, seventeen and thinking of the atmosphere of seeing putts getting knocked in on the eighteenth and it gave me a tingle and I thought that’s what I want to achieve and if I can get anywhere near that this standard then I’ll be delighted.

Looking back it was incredible to be in that position and thinking I want to be in that position and then achieving it. That was almost my drive to do that and there’s certainly a lot more talented golfers out there than I was but I got the bit between my teeth as I was told I could never achieve it. Secondly, having the lifestyle and playing a sport, meant I actually fell in love with my job.

That brings us to the end of part one. Keep your eyes out for the next issue where Simon takes us through his beginnings in the professional game and his rise to the European Tour.

If you can’t wait, or would like to listen to any of our podcasts, please click the link below:

CLICK HERE

THE CHASE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB OPEN BRAND NEW TRACKMAN

DRIVING RANGE

The Chase Golf and Country Club have recently upgraded their driving range, renovating their original bays with new flooring, dividers and new golf mats, and installing state-of-the-art TrackMan technology.

The new site sits on the same location as the previous driving range, but the new technology brings a totally different dynamic to the Penkridge based club. The range isn’t the only new addition, with a specialist driving range food van on hand to serve hungry and thirsty golfers throughout their session. With burgers, hot dogs and pizzas all available alongside both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks the new range has every angle covered, even if the range session has been particularly stressful!

Whether golfers are looking to work hard on their game, spend time with friends and family or looking for a place to warm up before their round, the new trackman system is perfect for all golfers.

Dan Davis, Head Professional of The Chase Golf and Country Club said: “We are thrilled to unveil our brand-new driving range. After a winter of transformation, our old driving range has been completely demolished.

“Our new driving range features state-of-the-art technology, including the acclaimed TrackMan system. With TrackMan, you can track your progress, record your longest drive alongside playing on multiple courses around the world.”

Dan continued: “We’re also introducing our brand new food van, serving up delicious hot & cold food and drinks right outside the driving range, ensuring golfers stay fuelled and refreshed during their golfing session.

“Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, our driving range is open to everyone. There’s no need for a booking system at the moment - just bring your own clubs and get ready to play.”

Gareth Shaw, County Secretary of the Staffordshire Golf Union commented: “It’s another great practice facility to have here in Staffordshire. The TrackMan technology is second to none and is a great way of getting new golfers engaged with the game of golf.

I’m sure all the members and golfers in the local area will appreciate this fantastic addition.”

Prices for balls start at £3.00 and for more information visit: www.thechasegolf.co.uk

PETER BAKER SECURES FIRST LEGENDS TOUR WIN OF THE SEASON

South Staffordshire Golf Club Professional, Peter Baker, has won the opening event of the Legends Tour season, the Barbados Legends

It was fiercely competitive final day at Apes Hills, with the 54 holes not enough to decide the winner. Baker made a par on the eighteenth, whilst playing partner Scott Hend birdied to tie Baker at -10 and to force a playoff.

The duo headed back to the 9th hole, where last year’s Order of Merit champion and four-time Legends’ winner made a par, whilst Hend could only make bogey. This handed the title to Baker, which left the South Staffordshire golf professional delighted:

“Absolutely brilliant! It was a really tough day for us and it went right down to the wire, If I’m honest, I didn’t really think I was going to win,” he told legendstour.com

He continued: “It was a funny day of just try to hang in there. I didn’t

really have all my game with me, but I just tried to not make too many mistakes.

“I just got it a bit right down the 18th. It was a good par to make, but everything was difficult today, so I’m really delighted.

“I knew it was really tight and I just felt that it was going to go down all the way to the wire all day. Whether it would be Shaun, Scott or myself, it was just either a good shot here or a bad shot that might make the difference.

“I just thought if I can get a good few days and try to play some good golf, if I can get a chance last day to win then even better. I had a lot of support all the way around – it’s great that they supported me, I’m very grateful for that.”

hosted by Masters Champion Ian Woosnam.

INCREDIBLE UNDER PAR SCORE WINS THE FIRST JUNIOR SERIES EVENT

Congratulations to Max Simpson who won our first Junior Series Order of Merit event at Trentham Golf Club. Max, of Trentham Park Golf Club, carded a four-under-par round of 68 to secure his first title of the season and the gross prize. Luke Sherwin took the nett title, with a nett 65.

Max carded five birdies on his front nine, with his final birdie coming on the 18th hole. He made two bogies throughout the entirety of his round, which saw the three handicapper shoot comfortably under par. A fantastic achievement in tournament conditions.

County Secretary, Gareth Shaw, said: “It was a fantastic day in great weather. We’re delighted to kick off our Junior Series Order of Merit. The day was played in fantastic spirits and we had two brilliant winning scores.

There are not many golfers who have shot under par around Trentham Golf Club and Max is now amongst them, it was a great round of golf and he should be very proud of what he’s achieved.”

Alan Street, Junior Organiser for the County said: “We had an incredible

day at Trentham Golf Club, and it was great to see all the juniors and parents together – and in the sunshine!

It’s been a great start to our season with a number of our young teams picking up victories and this event is further evidence that our junior section is heading in the right direc tion. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the Series plays out.”

27 junior golfers took to Trentham Golf Club to battle it out for the first title in the Order of Merit series, with the next event taking place at South Staffordshire Golf club. The overall winner of the Junior Series Order of Merit will receive a Wilson Golf ambassador experience, which includes custom-fit irons (7 piece), Custom-fit woods (2 woods), 2 custom-fit wedges, 1 exo lite bag, 1 tour towel and 2 dozen balls of the player’s choice.

QUALIFIES FOR U.S. OPEN

Staffordshire DP World Tour player, Richard Mansell, will be making his second US Open appearance this June following an incredible 10 under Par in qualifying over 36 holes at Walton Heath. His fourth start in a major championship in his short tour career.

In his attempt to secure a fourth start in Major Championships, Mansell tied for the win with Grant Forrest and Brandon Robinson-Thompson. Each competitor played a round on the Old and New course, with nine places up for grabs against stiff competition including other notable qualifiers such as Robert Rock, Edoardo Molinari and Matteo Manassero.

The Lichfield born golfer will be hoping to make his first cut in a US Open as he heads stateside to take on Pinehurst No.2. Reflecting on his first appearance in 2022 he told europeantour.com: “I went over to Boston a couple of years ago and went in with completely the wrong mindset.

“It was my first US Open. I was beat up before I even got there, and I hadn’t even seen the course, so I am going to try and make my own plan this time.

“Obviously they are tough tests, but I am playing some good stuff, and it is another opportunity play with the worlds’ best and that is where I want to be.”

Gareth Shaw, County Secretary of the Staffordshire Golf Union said: “It’s great to see Richard doing so well. To shoot -10 around those two courses is a great effort, and a tough test of where his golf game is at.

“To see a Staffordshire golfer appearing on the world stage brings great pride to the County, after we’ve watched him come through the ranks to make his mark on the professional game. He’s a great example to some our younger juniors who are aspiring to make it on to the Tours.”

Gareth continued: “We’ve got several golfers within Staffordshire teeing it up at Open qualifying in a couple of weeks time so we hope that he won’t be the only Staffordshire golfer making a mark on the world stage in the coming months.”

The US Open starts on June 13th, 2024.

2024 FIXTURE LIST

The golf season is now fully underway and our competitions and fixtures are coming thick and fast. We do have limited spaces available, so if you’d like to take part in a County competition this season then book your space now.

We look forward to welcoming you all to our competitions throughout the season. Please see the fixture list below and for more information, including booking click below.

TEAM RESULTS

STAFFORDSHIRE GOLF MOURNS THE PASSING OF MIKE BARKER

It was with great sadness that we learned of the recent passing of Mike Barker, Match and Handicap Secretary at Leek Golf Club. Mike’s son has written the fitting tribute below that captures the spirit of the man so many of us will remember.

Dad was always a golfer. My earliest memories were of him cleaning his clubs ready for a game the next day. I pestered him to teach me from an early age. He was Captain at Greenway Hall in 1984 and that’s roughly when I started playing.

I remember the days before computers when he would sit at the dining room table with multiple coloured pens to write out that week’s competition results. Looking back, the work he put in was crazy.

That was Dad though, to say he had an eye for detail, is an understatement! He joined Leek Golf Club in the early 90’s and always supported the club in any way he could, eventually becoming Match Secretary and was respected for his, shall we say diligence. The effort that volunteers put into clubs is massively underestimated across the County.

Dad and I spent so many happy years golfing together. Father and son comps, holidays in Portugal together with other Leek members and memorably for us winning a few comps paired together. Memories I’ll never forget.

I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone on behalf of our family for the support we’ve received after Dads passing and if you have a child showing an interest in golf, encourage them... you won’t regret it.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR LIV GOLF UK AT JCB GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Top class golf is on its way to Stafforshire this summer as LIV GOLF UK comes to JCB Golf & Country Club.

Tickets for the event are now available to purchase via the LIV Golf website. LIV Golf UK will take place on July 26th – 28th, with tickets starting from £19.50. Admission for under 12s is free.

With golfing superstars such as Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickleson, Sergio Garcia, Major champions and legends of the game teeing it up at the Rocester course, it’s an event not to be missed. Link for tickets: www.livgolf.com/events/uk-2024

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

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: A – Re-tee up your golf ball for no