Werneth Wedge

October 2000    Issue No. 8    Captain: Peter Griffin

The Millennium Honours List

Despite what the weathermen may say, the Millennium summer has been one of the wettest in memory - causing several competitions to be postponed and creating horrendous conditions for some of the finalists in Werneth's majors.

Nevertheless, the season's programme has been completed and the roll of honour is as follows:

Club champion: Les Dooley, for the 12th time.

Veterans' champion: Jim Maloney.

Challenge Cup: Simon Stott.

Hetherington Cup: Paul Higgins and Joe Cassidy.

Fairway Cup: Ian Turner.

Mellor Cup: Tony Roddy.

Grasshoppers Cup: The Captain.

James Waterhouse trophy: Ken Holt.

Mixed: John Barlow and Fiona Dooley.

D.Mail Foursomes: Les Dooley and John Barlow.

Werneth Spoon: Brian Taylor and Kevin Roberts.

Eclectic Div. 1: Adrian Brierley.

               Div. 2: Arnold Parker.

Congratulations to all the winners, commiserations to all the runners-up, and many thanks to all those who took part - not forgetting the squeegee crews on that awful finals day.

JACK JOINS THE ACES.

Jack Cooper is the latest member of Wedge's Millennium Hole-in-One Club, having aced the third - with a driver.

Closing invitation day.

WERNETH, CROMPTON  PAIR TRIUMPHANT.

Ron Beresford and Crompton and Royton's Jim Booth carried off the first prize with a better-ball Stableford score of 46pts, edging out John Booth and Simon Birgin, of North Manchester, by two points.

Third were John Andrew and Brian Power, also from North Manchester, on a card play-off, along with Dale Hobson and Hector Whitworth, of Blackley.

The longest drive on the 18th was achieved by D.C. Berry, of Brookdale, and the prize for nearest the pin on the 15th went to our own Gary Seville.

COURSE PLANNER NOW ON SALE.

It's taken eleven long months of cajoling, helping, threatening, arguing, cursing, demanding, and pleading - not to mention dozens of frustrating phone calls - to produce the tee-to-green course planners which are now on sale in the Pro's shop for £1.50 per copy.

Hopefully, they will help members to decide which club to use from any spot on the course, and will be especially helpful to visitors to our "Hidden Gem."

Many thanks to the advertisers, without whose help this invaluable guide could not have been  published.

Also available in the shop, free of charge, are packets of McDivots, biodegradable divot repairers, which claim to be an effective way to providing better fairways.

Pinned into divots, they break down into naturally occurring elements over a short period of time - and prevent those infuriating bad lies.

And don't forget to take your free bunker rake,  which attaches to any golf club, out with you.

Finally, be Wedge-wise - always repair your pitch mark, and one more.

You know it makes sense.

THERE'S NO STOPPING THOSE ROWBOTHAMS

Just when it seemed Paul Rowbotham had been tamed, up popped young son Lee to get among the prizes.

His 30 Stableford points in a 12-hole event were two better than runner-up Kevin Roberts, who held off the challenges of Gary Mellor and Les Lawton on a countback.

And in a 13-hole medal comp. a week later, six-handicapper Lee scored a double over Kevin, who plays off 5, with a net score of 43- one better than his rival.

Poor Kevin came second yet again in the subsidiary medal which accompanied the Fairway Cup the following week, losing on a card play-off to 21-handicapper Ian Briscall, who shot a net 66.

A sad case of third time unlucky for Kevin.

Adrian Buckley and the devastating duo of John Armstrong and Paul Rowbotham won a three-man team event with 79 points, thwarting the trio of Sid Jolley, Fred Whittingham, and Tony Roddy by one point.

MANION WINS DELAYED MEDAL.

Mick Manion won the rain-delayed September medal, played on the last day of the month, with a score of 75-12-63, despite a fine two under par round of 66  (net 64), by club champion Les Dooley.

The second division prize went to Peter Haq (76-15-61), with Curt Helme (77-14-63), as runner-up.      

Seniors.

DOUBLE FOR BRIERLEY.

Adrian Brierley, who won first prize in the seniors' Spring meeting, was again victorious on chairman Tom Blackshaw's day, scoring 37 Stableford points, despite having his handicap reduced to 5. Second, a point adrift, was playing partner John Booth.

Austin Hall, with 33 points, was top of the over-70s.

It was almost a case of "all-change" at the AGM which followed. Tom, Stan Shackleton (treasurer), and Austin (handicaps), all decided to retire, and were replaced by Albert Kingham, Stuart Kenworthy, and Terry Marner respectively.

In his farewell report, Stan expressed regret that membership had fallen to 64, despite 11 new recruits, mainly because a significant number had failed to renew their subscriptions.

Ladies section.

JANE FLETCHER IS NEXT VICE CAPTAIN

Jane Fletcher, who has played for Lancashire's B team, has been named as the ladies' next vice-captain.

In her teens, she won the Manchester Evening News knock-out, and has twice reached the semi-finals in the last three years.

And this season, playing off a handicap of 6, she has been in prime form, sinking eight birdies in a gross three-under-par round at Oldham GC during a recent mixed team event.

Results

LGU Medal (14-9-00) - Fiona Dooley 75-8-67.

2-ball Stableford: - Sally Newton 34 pts (CPO Hilda Garner).  

2-ball Charity Stableford - Brenda Kingham 28 pts (CPO Sally  Newton).

LGU Medal (9-10-00) - Ann Fallows 84-10-74 (CPO back 6 Jane Fletcher 80-6-74).

2-ball Stableford (12-10-00) - Noreen Butterworth 31 pts.

Juniors.

ALAN PALMER WINS CAPTAIN'S PRIZE.

With a name like A.Palmer, Werneth's young Alan was born to succeed at  golf.

Already the club champion in the juniors' over-14 section, he recently added the captain's prize to his collection with a round of 86-18-68.

Aaron Rowbotham (98-27-71), was runner-up.