August 2001
just a couple of weeks after celebrating his 20th birthday, Ivan Slater won the club championship on one of the hottest days of the year with gross scores of 73-70-143 to head off the determined challenge of Kevin Roberts, who carded rounds of 73 and 72 – two shots adrift.
The best net score was posted by eight-handicapper John Rice with a splendid 69-62-131.
John and Ivan led the way in the morning round, each taking 70 shots – a feat equalled in the afternoon by Simon Stott and Steve Oldham.
Last year’s winner, Les Dooley, decided not to defend his title but went round in a three-under-par 65 (net 63), in a subsidiary medal.
But this was not sufficient to defeat Steve Wild (80-20-60), or runner-up Roger Buckley, whose 79-17-62 edged out Dave Garvey and Paul Adams on a countback.
Sweet swinging Lee Rowbotham was crowned the club’s junior champion with a round of 75 gross.
And just to keep things in the family, younger brother Aaron won the overall best net prize, and the under-14s title, with a score of 90-28-62.
Runner-up was Jonathan Wilde with 102-22-80.
The best net score for the over-14s was carded by junior captain Paul Ashton (82-7-75), with Alan Palmer (87-10-77), in second place.
Young Jack Suttie won the 9-hole prize for beginners with a gross score of 68.
At least a couple of times a week, weather permitting, Fred Walton walks a mile from his home in Wellington Road (I’ve measured it – Ed.), to play eighteen holes with his pals at Werneth.
And after his evening meal, he then plays bowls for Hollinwood Cricket Club.
Nothing remarkable in that, you might think, except that Fred celebrated his 90th birthday on July 16.
Since reaching that great landmark, he has expressed disappointment at failing to qualify for the final of a mixed bowls foursome by a single shot!
Fred joined Werneth almost half a century ago in 1954 and played off 14 in his heyday.
In 1975, he and his wife, Beatrice, won the club’s mixed foursomes, and he has won several monthly medal competitions over the years.
Nowadays, he plays off 28 and can still break 100 on a good day.
He likes to play golf three times a week, plus bowls on two evenings.
A former toolmaker at Ferranti’s, Hollinwood, he and Beatrice are now looking forward to celebrating their Diamond Wedding next year.
In 1977, he was diagnosed as being allergic to wheat, barley, rye, and oats, and has been on a gluten-free diet ever since.
“I think that has helped me to keep going so long,” he said. “Perhaps they are no good to anyone.”
In honour of the club’s oldest playing member Werneth Wedge has commissioned this special prayer for Fred:
Dear Lord, although I’m 90, there’s so much I haven’t done,
So please let me continue at least ‘til 91,
And though I cannot match par, with 68 as my score,
I ‘m hoping I can do the trick by the time I’m 94,
So many rounds I want to play before I go to heaven,
Do you think you could manage to make it 97?
I’d like to play with Tiger Woods, with my score at 98
Then when I reach 100 I can really celebrate.
The club presented Fred with a cut glass decanter to mark his birthday. Keep swinging, Fred.
Lewis Cordwell enjoyed the best form of his golfing life when winning the Captain’s Day event with rounds of 77-16-61 and 78-16-62 – a total net score of 123, which is believed to be a record for the event.
He was immediately docked five shots.
Kevin Roberts was four shots adrift in second place despite dropping only one shot to par with scores of 69-5-64 and 68-5-63 – a 127 total which would have made him a winner on almost any other day.
Nevertheless, Les Dooley took the best gross prize with a one under par score of 135.
David Bielby (74-13-61), and Nick Fallows (69-5-64), were the first division prizewinners in the morning and afternoon, with Alastair Gillian (76-16-60), and Denis Lamb (79-16-63), taking the second division honours.
The swaying bridge used by players moving from both the 14th and 18th tees is to be replaced within the next few weeks.
Construction work will begin soon on a 1.2 metre wide all-metal structure, at a cost of around £3,500.
Gale-force winds made conditions extremely difficult when the club hosted the Ben Shaw’s Open, but Brookdale’s Bill Hilton and Dave Taylor defied the weather to collect the first prize with 42 Stableford points – beating our own Duncan Hough and Manchester’s Alan Goodall on a CPO.
Werneth members took the next three places, all with 41pts. Third were Steve Hamer and Alan Rothera, followed by Paul Goodwin and Denis Lamb, who pipped Grahame Holt and Roy Garforth.
Steve Hamer also hit the longest drive on the 18th, and Nigel Wareing was nearest the pin on the 16th.
Congratulations to husband and wife duo Peter and Marilyn Griffin who won the prestigious Millgate Mixed Open at Saddleworth with a net 67.
Ann Fallows, wife of Nick and mother of four-year-old Jack, has been named as the next Lady Vice Captain.
A ten handicapper, Ann is regularly among the prizes and is a past winner of both the George and Betty Nash Memorial Trophy and the Captain’s Prize – both board comps.
Her latest triumph came on this year’s invitation day, partnered by Crompton and Royton’s Val Hall, with a score of 80-14.4-65.6.
Runners-up were current Vice Captain, Jane Fletcher, and Gill Gibson (Mere), with a score of 84-16-68.
The Handley Memorial Trophy went to Sally Newton (101-36-65), with Pauline Seville (103-35-68), in second place.
Another major, the George and Bessie Nash greensome, was won by Yvonne Evans and Julie Stanley, who edged out Brenda Jarvis and Angela Whaley.
Sheila Lees won an LGU medal with a net 67 and the Dorothy Ayrton 3-ball Alliance went to Angela Whaley, Denise Fletcher, and Yvonne Evans.Saul Slater won the August monthly medal, and second Fairway Cup qualifier, with a score of 72-8-64 following a card play-off with his younger brother, and newly crowned club champion, Ivan (69-5-64) – a unique family double.
The second division winner was Andy Hey (81-17-64), who beat Mel Robinson (79-15-64), on another CPO.
The July medal went to Terry Marner (70-10-60), again on a CPO from 8-handicapper Andy Barlow, who shot a level-par gross 68.
The second division honour went to Denis Lamb (81-17-64), with Vice Captain Brian Hope (80-15-65) in second place.