April 2001
All Fools Day arrived 24 hours early for the 144 hardy souls who played in the opening competition of the men’s 2001 season.
Those
who took part in the morning shotgun start managed to keep dry for the first
eight holes or so before the heavens opened.
And
the reverse was the case for those who teed off in a downpour – including all
members of the council – after Captain Bill Waterhouse had performed the
traditional drive-in ceremony after lunch.
Just
like last year’s captain, Bill contrived to send his ball flying across the 18th
green. Perhaps his hand slipped on the wet grip of his club.
However,
when battle commenced in earnest in the afternoon deluge, he hammered a long
drive straight down the fairway – and got his par four on the opening hole.
A
few wimps failed to complete their rounds as the rain
poured down, but the vast majority soldiered on manfully.
The
competition was eventually won by John Yemm and Nigel Wareing with a better-ball
Stableford score of 43 pts, beating Dale Hobson and Danny Wilkinson on a card
play-off.
But
the real hero of the day was Social Secretary Fred Whittingham, who managed to
book an artist for the dinner dance at just 48 hrs notice after the duo he had
originally engaged let him down.
The
following day – April 1 – dawned bright and beautiful for Lady Captain
Barbara Whiting, who drove off (straight down the middle), in glorious sunshine.
And her team won the day’s competition.
Incidentally,
council has increased the value of prizes for official club competitions this
season to £45 for winners and £25 for runners-up.
A selection of
shirts and sweaters, in various colours and bearing the club badge, is now
available in the professional’s shop – always popular as both prizes and
purchases.
The
deadly duo of John Yemm and Nigel Wareing has been in devastating early season
form.
Not
content with winning first prize on the day of the Captain’s drive-in, they
also triumphed in the long-delayed Christmas Turkey comp. (held in mid-April!),
with a Stableford score of 45 pts.
Runners-up,
a point adrift, were Chris Stringer and Steve Wild, who edged out Steve McNamara
and Duncan Hough on a card play-off.
In
between, Yemm won the first monthly medal of the year with a score of
70-8-62, beating Peter Davies (72-7-65), into second place.
The
second division prize went to new member Roy Garforth (82-18-64), with David
Bland (82-17-65), as runner-up.
Yemm also came second to John Andrew (41pts), in a pro’s comp held in
late March. Handicap secretary Jack Cain has taken appropriate action.
A
pro’s comp, played on Easter Sunday, was won by Paul Ashton (35pts) – two
points better than Lewis Cordwell.
Members were saddened to hear of the deaths of Alan Cooke and Jimmy Mann within hours of each other.
Alan,
who was only 61, was a master tiler whose work graces scores of properties
in the area. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour only a matter of weeks before
his death.
Jimmy,
aged 83, was a well-known coal merchant before his retirement and had been a
member of the club for more than 40 years.
Club
members were well represented at both funerals, held on the same day, and our
sincere condolences are expressed to the respective families of both these
popular men.
The
club’s A team lost 7-1 in their opening match of the season at Fairfield,
while the B team managed a 4-4 draw at home to Ashton. In the Archie Preston
mixed event, our team was eliminated at Turton.
And
there was another defeat – drawn away yet again - for our Dunham Forest team
at Hindley Hall.
Big-hitting Peter Davies is Werneth’s undisputed key man – but he takes no pride in the title.
After
playing at rain-drenched Turton in an Archie Preston event, he flung his
wet-suit and clubs in the boot of his car before getting changed.
But when
he went back to his car with his shoes, he could not find his keys. After a
search of the locker room, he reached the conclusion that they were locked in
the boot.
Dave
Griffiths kindly lent him his car and Peter drove back to his home in Royton to
collect his spare set – a round trip of 40 miles.
This was
actually his second trip home. Earlier in the day, he arrived at Werneth GC
without his locker key.
When he
got back to Turton, the rest of the team, relaxing after a pleasant meal, was
intrigued to see him searching vainly in his boot for his original car key.
At this
point, Turton’s captain, Simon Kay, said he remembered seeing a set of keys in
the club’s shoe room, and went off to investigate.
Within
minutes, he returned with the missing keys and presented them to a thoroughly
chastened Peter.
Editor’s
note: I can confirm the mileage because I made the same round-trip the following
day to retrieve a pair of sodden trousers!
Spring meeting: Ann Fallows, Judith Wilkinson, and Jane Clark 65
Two-ball
Stableford: Fiona Dooley 31 pts.
LGU:
Betty Keating 78.
Two-ball
Stableford: Sheila Lees 33 pts.
Scott
Leggatt Foursomes: Betty Meredith and Sally Newton.