November 2001
THE weather was atrocious, but 84 hardy souls braved the torrential downpour – many still suffering from the after-effects of the club’s highly successful dinner dance the previous evening – to raise £703 for cancer research when the Captain staged his charity day.
Twenty one teams, each comprising three men and a lady, battled on for ten holes before the conditions finally brought the action to an end, with several greens under water.
But nobody complained when it was decided to award the prizes to those leading at the time – and the bar took record takings for a Sunday.
The winners, with 47 Stableford points, were Les and Fiona Dooley, John Littleford, and Paul Walker.
Runners up were Yvonne Evans, Shaun Rattigan, Grahame Holt, and late replacement David Whaley (Angela’s husband).
Third place went to Joan Swindells, Lee Rowbotham, James Buckley, and Ross Rosengrove.
The biggest mystery of the day is how the Captain managed to squeeze 21 teams into 18 holes for a shotgun start.
And the unwitting hero of the day was John Littleford who announced just before the siren sounded that he had locked his keys in the boot of his car.
Vice captain-elect Alf Selby came to the rescue, lending him his spare clubs and shoes.
Despite the shoes being a couple of sizes too large, John battled on manfully until, minutes before the close, he confided in Fiona that he had found his keys – in his trouser pocket.
“I can’t explain how I came to mislay them,” he said. “I thought I
had searched all my pockets thoroughly before we set off.”
Norman Ayrton, who recently celebrated his ninetieth birthday, decided to resign as president of the seniors’ section at the annual meeting, to be replaced – on a unanimous vote – by ex-chairman Tom Blackshaw.
Current chairman Albert Kingham paid tribute to Norman’s long association with the club – he was Werneth captain as long ago as 1961-62 – and said he hoped he would continue to attend the section’s dinners.
Treasurer Stuart Kenworthy also stood down, to be replaced by recently retired accountant Alan Milligan.
And Gordon Lockett, who had made it clear at the last AGM that he would continue as selector for Lawrence Batley League matches for only one more season, handed over to Terry Marner.
The section now has 71 members and, with £316 in the bank, it was decided to not to increase the £4 annual subscription.
The chairman reported that the Seniors’ Open raised over £500, and that £50 had been donated to the ladies’ section.
It was agreed that another Open would be staged next year, but Mr Kingham expressed disappointment that some members regularly played in similar competitions at other courses but failed to support their home event.
“We must twist their arms,” he said.
A maximum handicap of 24 will be imposed – in line with other clubs – and only one prize per competitor will be allowed.
The competition which traditionally precedes the AGM was postponed for a week due to yet more heavy rain.
The eventual winners of the better-ball Stableford event were Adrian Brierley (5) and Neil Pickering (21), with 42 points.
Runners-up were club captain Bill Waterhouse (19), and Peter Haq (14), two shots adrift.
Handicap secretary Terry Marner told the Wedge: “Instead of a single Stableford competition we tried a new draw format this year, pairing those with a handicap of up to 16 with players of lesser ability. The committee would welcome comments from members before deciding whether to continue with this system.”
Course record holder Fiona Dooley, who plays off six, is this year’s ladies’ champion, with Angela Whaley topping the birdie tree.
Fiona also defeated vice-captain Jane Fletcher, another six-handicapper, by two and one in the final of the Spencer Challenge Cup – a major board competition – as well as heading the field on the section’s charity day with a net score of 65.
Angela was also in top form in three events, winning a two-ball Stableford with 34 pts and an LGU medal with a score of 102-31-71.
Teaming up with Heather Jeffreys and Denise Fletcher she was also victorious at the autumn meeting when the team scored 45 pts.
Despite lining up one player short, a trio made up of Sheila Waterhouse, Joan Hughes and Denise won a shotgun Open with an impressive 77 pts.
It wasn’t much to look at but, for ten years, a tiny weeping cherry bush on the right-hand side of the 18th fairway has acted as a 130 yd marker for Werneth members.
It was planted by Joe Smith immediately outside his house because it seemed unhappy in his garden.
Then, sometime last month, it was mysteriously dug up and stolen.
A couple of members who recently played at Fixby Golf Club – Terry Marner and Tom McNamara – have suggested we may be interested in copying the Huddersfield club’s scheme to raffle off a car park space each year, with the proceeds going to the Captain’s charity.
The idea is to sell either single tickets, perhaps costing £5 or so, or cheaper tickets with no limit on the number which could be purchased.
The draw would probably be made at the beginning of each season, with the winner guaranteed a car park space for a year.
Though the idea was mooted at a meeting of the council no decision was made, but the views of members would be appreciated.
Left-hander Nick Fallows won the October monthly medal with a level par round of 68 (net 63) – and then generously donated the cost of his prize to the Captain’s charity.
First division runner-up was Geoff Dawson with a score of 71-7-64.
The second division winner was Andy Hey (80-16-64), with Terry Ogden (83-18-65), in second place.
Nick triumphed again the following week with 40 pts in a Stableford competition sponsored by the Captain, pipping young Lee Rowbothom by a single point.
The November monthly medal was cancelled due to work being carried out on the course, disappointing another of the club’s single handicappers, Peter Griffin, who shot an excellent 69 (net 63), in the non-qualifiying medal round which was substituted.
Runner-up was another six-handicapper, Peter Davies, two shots adrift.
Les Dooley, who plays off two, won an earlier pro’s comp. with 40pts, defeating rising star Lee Rowbotham.
Brothers Lee and Adam Rowbotham dominated a medal competition sponsored by the Ladies’ section.
Lee, who has since celebrated his 17th birthday, was the overall winner with a splendid score of 74-6-68, with Chris Cordwell (79-10-69), in second place.
Adam (101-28-73), took the honours in the under-14 section, with Jonathan Wilde (98-22-76), the runner-up.
Young Adam also went home with six balls for a two at the 15th.
Winter rules are now in operation. Balls landing on the fairways (other than on a par 3), must dropped, and placed in the semi-rough, but balls played directly into the semi-rough or rough must be played as they lie.
Putters may be used on the fairways.