March 2002
New captain Brian Hope surprised most people – not least himself – on the opening day of the new season with a double success.
Putting aside all thoughts of the disasters experienced by the club’s two immediate past captains, whose opening drives threatened to decapitate several spectators, he drove his ball down the middle – albeit finding the right hand bunker.
And later he raised a remarkable £245 from the raffle/auction of a signed Manchester United ball and poster in aid of his chosen charity, the Oldham branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
For this he had to thank the generosity of Alan Rothera, who won the raffle (which raised £125), and then re-donated his prizes. He then conducted an auction which led to a winning bid of £120 by Bill Waterhouse.
The captain thanked all those who had supported the raffle, including those who could not bring themselves to give money to anything connected with Manchester United but who dropped money into the collecting bottle on the bar instead!
The better-ball competition on the day was won by Paul Egan and Joe Smith with a score of 45pts. Second, a point adrift, were Jack Cain and Tom McNamara, who thwarted Steve Hamer and Mick Manion on a countback which was finally resolved on the scores at the last three holes.
When the ladies’ drive-in took place the following day, Captain Jane Fletcher predictably hammered a three-wood dead straight down the fairway and way past the bunkers.
Yemm joins the Council.
Gloucestershire born John Yemm, a former Army warrant officer, was elected to the council for three years at the well-attended Annual General Meeting.
Also re-elected for a three-year stint were finance expert Alan Milligan and social secretary Fred Whittingham.
Peter Griffin was elected for a one-year period and has taken charge of handicaps.
At a meeting of council the following day, the captain welcomed Mr Yemm and asked the secretary to express the council’s thanks to John Suttie, who lost his seat, for his lengthy council service, particularly as bar secretary.
The new bar secretary is Terry Marner. Jack Cain takes over from new vice-captain Alf Selby as greens chairman, with John Andrew (comps.), Tom McNamara (house, health and safety), and Fred Whittingham retaining their posts.
New Deal for Day Visitors.
In a bid to encourage more day visitors, council has reduced weekday green fees by £2.50 to £16 when playing with a member - £8 at other times
The weekend charges, when visitors must be accompanied by a member, will be similarly reduced to £16 before 4pm and £8 thereafter.
Seniors.
All Set for Batley Battles.
More than twenty seniors have signed up to play in the Lawrence Batley League this summer, though only eight can take part in any one match.
Fixtures are as follows: April 12 – Dewsbury (H); April 19 – South Leeds (A); April 26 – Wortley (A); May 10 – Huddersfield (H); May 17 – Ryeburn (H); May 24 – Queensbury (H); June 7 – Todmorden (A); June 14 – Dewsbury (A); June 21 – S. Leeds (H); June 28 – Wortley (H); July 12 – Huddersfield (A); July 19 – Ryeburn (A); July 26 – Queensbury (A); August 9 – Todmorden (H).
Snooker - Rattigan Stars in Three-Act Drama.
In a tense snooker final lasting two and a quarter hours, Shaun Rattigan defeated Alan Garner by two frames to one – despite trailing for the first hour and forty five minutes.
Alan, receiving 18 points per frame, got off to a flying start with a tremendous potting display.
By the time all the reds had been cleared he led by 55-25 – leaving Shaun requiring snookers. Alan went on to take the brown and blue and Shaun conceded with the score at 70-28.
In the second frame, Shaun was quickly 21-0 down but fought back with a couple of blacks and a blue to level matters at 28 each.
Alan edged ahead to lead 53-43 but nerves appeared to affect both players towards the end of the frame, with the pink causing particular problems. Shaun finally potted the pink and black to take the frame 65-53.
In the deciding frame Shaun was in devastating form, running out the winner by 82pts to 37 to take the Albert Brooks Memorial Trophy.
Golden Future for Honours Boards.
With space rapidly running out on some of the honours boards, council has decided to have them raised higher up the wall, in their present positions, and extended.
And it has also been decided to rewrite the names of all the winners in gold lettering – an apt improvement in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Year.
Here Comes Another Dooley!
Fourteen-year-old Jonathan Dooley, son of course record holders Les and Fiona, became one of the club’s youngest winners of an open-age competition with a remarkable medal score of 81-24-57 on March 15.
The young champ., who possesses a swing to die for, has had a handicap only since last July.
Commiserations are due to Tim Ryan whose net 59 off a handicap of 14 would normally have been a winning score.
Jonathan has been knocked four shots and Tim two.
The weather forced the closure of the course for several days during the month, but Danny Wilkinson and Peter Davies beat the monsoon conditions to win a four-ball Stableford with 41pts, edging out David Barnes and Paul Goodwin.
Earlier, in a single Stableford comp. restricted to 16 holes, Grahame Holt was the winner with 38pts – one better than Peter Griffin.
Classic Dreams are Shattered.
Both our ladies’ and gents’ teams came to grief in the second round of the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic.
Having defeated Oldham on the toss of a coin in the first round, when our course was under water, the ladies’ luck ran out in the second round when they were defeated 2-1 at Greenmount.
Our sole winner was Sheila Whittingham.
Former Werneth stewards Keith and Maureen, now at Greenmount, sent their regards to all.
The men, who defeated Hindley Hall in the first round, also came unstuck at Lowes Park, Bolton, after a sudden death play-off.
The score stood at 2-2 after wins by Peter Griffin (1-up), and Les Dooley (2-up despite having to delay his drive at the 15th due to the presence of a bad-tempered ram on the tee!).
Les halved the first play-off hole in par but lost to a birdie at the next
Ladies New Seasons First Winners.
A three-ball Alliance was held to mark the ladies’ Spring Meeting, with Sheila Waterhouse, Jane Clark, and Brenda Jarvis emerging victorious with a net score of 62.
Second, three shots adrift, were Fiona Dooley, Brenda Kingham, and Joyce Bielby.
An approach and putt competition was won by Dilys Goodwin.
Following the traditional drive-in, the lady secretary’s team beat the lady captain’s team..
Irene Wins Parking Spot
A raffle for the car park space donated by vice-captain Alf Selby, whose house overlooks the course, was won by Irene Howes.
A splendid £140 was raised for the McMillan Nurses.