WERNETH WEDGE

No. 61 Captain: John Yemm Feb. 2006

WELCOME TO WERNETH FOREST GC!

Werneth’s sunshine softies will discover a much changed course – and one that is arguably more difficult – when they awaken from their winter hibernation.
The greens committee and the greens staff have been working overtime to make considerable improvements, including the planting of around 50 new trees (and more to come), the revamping of several bunkers, and the provision of an enlarged tee on the 10th. Here is a hole-by-hole guide to the changes that have been made:

Hole 1 – Sadly, as reported in the last edition of the Wedge, vandals have badly damaged the green and players have had to put up with a winter green for several weeks. Reparation work will commence in the Spring.

Hole 2- Several new trees have been planted to the left of the fairway to replace others that have been damaged or destroyed. New posts and barbed wire have been installed alongside Coalpit Lane to encourage walkers to used the designated rights of way across the fairway. The farmer on the other side of the road has agreed to trim the hedge at the appropriate time.

A new dropping zone has been provided in front of the 4th tee (see separate item).

Hole 3 – The second of the large trees on the far side of the gully, near the fence, had died and has been cut down. New trees have been planted on the left of the green.

Hole 4 – New Leylandii trees have been planted on the right hand side of the tee to replace others damaged, and more have been planted to the front right of the tee to protect players on the 8th green.

Hole 5 – A new Lime tree, said to be 28ft high (??) has been professionally planted to replace a large old tree blown down in a gale a couple of years ago.

Hole 6 – The shelter, burnt down by vandals last year, is still a ruin but plans are in hand to provide a new, probably steel, roof once an insurance claim has been settled. The ladies’ tee has been levelled and the bunker on the right of the green has been revetted – ie the face has been layered with strips of turf. More Leylandii have been planted behind the green and in front of the existing copse to protect players on the green from wayward drives from the 13th tee.

Hole 7 – The new bunker on the right of the green is now in operation and some new trees have been planted on the left of the fairway.

Hole 8 – Extra trees have been planted in the gap between the existing trees on the left of the fairway.

Hole 9 – Extra fencing has been installed to deter trespassers and some additional Hawthorn whips have been planted.

Hole 10 – The bunker at the front of the green has been revetted. The rough to the right of the green has been removed and a couple of bushes lopped in order to prevent delays and to enable machine maintenance. A much-enlarged tee has been built.

Hole 11 – The tree-lined mounds between the 11th and 12th fairways, still GUR, will come into play when the new season opens. The large bunker on the left of the green has been divided into two, with the front section revetted. Players are requested not to used the raised grass division as a walkway.

Holes 12 and 13 – no major changes.

Hole 14 – A large dead tree on the left of the fairway has been cut down and the bunker on the right of the green has been revetted and divided into two. The same restriction as at the 11th applies to the grass walkway.

Hole 15 – Bushes in the hazard have been reduced in height to provide a better view of the green.

Hole 16 – New trees have been planted around the left hand side of the green and between the 16th 17th fairways to provide a more distinct division and for safety reasons.

Hole 17 – New trees on left (see above).

Hole 18 – The bunkers on both sides of the green have been revetted.

NEW DROPPING ZONES AT 2 AND 8.

Two new dropping zones have been provided on each side of the wire mesh fence alongside the 4th/9th tee. These apply to players on the 2nd and 8th holes whose ball lands so close to the fence that they cannot execute a swing – but does NOT apply to interference caused by trees, when the normal rules of golf must be followed. The change has been made because there has been a great deal of confusion among players about the correct dropping procedure to adopt when a ball is near the fence. For those playing the 2nd hole, the dropping zone is to the front of the fourth tee. The zone for those playing the 8th is on the other side of the fence near the big tree.

SHEILA – CAPTAIN OF CAPTAINS.

Congratulations to Sheila Whittingham, who has been named as the new Captain of the Manchester and District Past Lady Captains Society, which covers clubs within a 25-mile radius of the city centre. Sheila, wife of past Captain Fred Whittingham, has been a member at Werneth for twenty years and was our Lady Captain in 1995. She has also been treasurer of the Oldham Ladies Golf Association as well as being a member of our ladies’ committee. A 23-handicapper, Sheila said: “To be captain of such a prestigious organisation is an honour for both myself and the club.”

MATS? – DAVE LOVES ‘EM.

Winter mats remain a bone of contention for many Werneth golfers – but David Griffiths won’t hear a bad word said about them after carding the best round of his life. Picking up his prize for a medal score of 68-10-58, the former Captain said he owed his success to playing off a mat. Chris Haynes was the runner-up with a score of 83-21-62. Another ex-Captain, Kevin Roberts, a four-handicapper, posted a level-par 68 in his first round for three months, but finished a lowly seventh. Six-handicapper Brian Donnelly was also in good form with a one over par 69 but got his reward the following week with 44 Stableford points to win a Pro’s comp. John Martin was second with 43pts. Tony McNamara was another winner with a splendid 47pts, defeating veteran Arnold Parker by three points. And Nigel Wareing also got among the prizes with 43pts in another Pro’s comp., with Ian Grant two points adrift. A 16-hole club medal was won by Geoff Garner with a score of 70-20-50, with Harry Green (76-23-53), in second place. Buggy-bound Alan Power won another 16-hole Stableford with 40pts, with Michael Shea just one point behind.

LEE SET TO BE NEW TREASURER,

Andrew Vickers has decided to call it a day after 16 years as club treasurer. “I’ve simply had enough,” he said. He is destined to be replaced by 21-year-old Lee Rowbotham, a trainee accountant, who will be the only candidate for the post at the AGM on February 28. Lee, who plays off a handicap of just one, is a former club and district champion. There will be five candidates for three three-year places on the council. They are, in alphabetical order: Mark Abbott, Tom Dwayre, Danny Jacewicz, Kevin Roberts, and Bill Waterhouse. It is to be hoped there will be a good attendance to welcome the new Captain, Shaun Rattigan, and his Vice-Captain, Paul Higgins, and to thank the outgoing Captain for his outstanding year of office.