WERNETH WEDGE No. 70 Captain: Paul Higgins March 2007

CALL TO BAN ELECTRIC TROLLEYS.

The club's 98th Annual General Meeting passed uneventfully until the final minutes when the new Captain, Paul Higgins, asked if anyone had any other business. Whereupon Ian Mather rose to his feet and, causing a collective intake of breath, and much audible muttering, among the 105 members present, suggested that electric trolleys should be banned when the course is extremely wet.

He pointed out that, after the recent heavy rainfall, parts of the course had become a quagmire due to electric trolleys churning up the ground.

Secretary John Barlow seemed nonplussed for a moment, mentioning that even Prime Ministers were given notice of difficult questions.

But he said the council was aware of the problem and the matter would be considered, adding that it should be possible for members to play in wet conditions carrying half a set of clubs in a pencil bag.

Retiring Captain Shaun Rattigan pointed out that the greens staff had erected posts and had painted arrows on the grass directing players away from the worst affected areas.

From the floor, Alan Milligan warned that a ban on electric trolleys would reduce the number playing to about fifty - the ladies and male seniors, earlier described as the backbone of the club, unable or unwilling to carry their clubs. His simple solution to the problem: "When the course is unfit for play it should be closed."

NEW CAPTAIN FULL OF PRAISE.

New Captain Paul Higgins was full of praise for the course and everyone connected with the club when he wore his maroon jacket for the first time. But he singled out retiring Captain Shaun Rattigan for particular mention following his recovery from life-threatening Legionnaires' Disease.

While he was ill, he said, he was bombarded with questions about his progress and it was with a great sense of pride that he succeeded a man who was such a respected member of the club and the community. The course had been referred to as a Hidden Gem and it had continued to improve by leaps and bounds. "There may be bigger courses with better facilities but I don't think there is a more friendly membership anywhere in the country," he added. "We want to continue improving the course and the clubhouse and the main theme for the season is that we should prepare ourselves for our centenary in 2009."

A Company Day was planned and there was a suggestion that a new improved patio should be built. The Captain said the new professional, James Matterson, was full of enthusiasm and new ideas and would prove to be a great asset to the club. He urged members: "Please support him."

He said the Seniors' Section represented the backbone of the club and advised anyone over 55 to get involved. The juniors, too, were a great credit to the club and the relationship between them and the adult members was great. Junior Captain Adam Rowbotham, he said, had been a fine ambassador for the club. And he had a special word for our chef, Sue, whose popular Sunday carvery had proved a great success - as long as members took the precaution of booking in advance.

The Captain's bunker this season would be the one on the right hand side of the 18th, with members asked to donate a pound to the Centenary Fund - his designated charity. A similar donation is expected from anyone whose mobile rings in the clubhouse.

He wished Lady Captain Judith Wilkinson and her Vice-Captain, Brenda Jarvis, every success And his final message to all the members: "Enjoy the summer and play good golf.

SHAUN LOOKS BACK ON SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

Bowing out after his personally difficult year as Captain, Shaun Rattigan reflected on the successes during his period of office.

The Juniors won the Ashton and District League title for the first time since its formation thirty years ago, the Archie Preston team almost reached the last sixteen of the competition before losing to a strong Cavendish team, and the Dunham Forest team negotiated several rounds before Wilpshire knocked them out. The only downside of the year, he said, was that his golf had suffered and his handicap had risen from six to eight.

He paid tribute to past Lady Captain Pat Grant and her members for their support and praised the new Professional, stewardess Carol, and chef Sue - "a great team to serve the membership."

Shaun announced that he had raised £1,400 for the Centenary Fund and took the opportunity to wish the new Captain every success - "I know he will do a great job in keeping with the traditions and values that make Werneth Golf Club what it is today."

The incoming Vice Captain, David Whittingham, said he had been influenced by the quality of the members when deciding whether to accept the post and paid tribute to the council who did the job for free. "That is something to be admired and I applaud you", he said.

The Lady Captain wished the Captain an enjoyable year and thanked Shaun for the courtesy he had shown to all the ladies. Inevitably, the most popular speech of the evening was the shortest - when the Captain, in line with tradition, invited all those present to enjoy a drink on him at the bar.

TOMMY DWAYRE JOINS THE COUNCIL.

For the first time in many years, there was no contest for the three seats available on the council. As a result, Dave Whaley and Steve McNamara were re-elected for a further three years, with Tommy Dwayre joining them for the first time for a similar period.

Adrian Brierley, after many years of valuable service to the club, and John Yemm, who had served in an ex-officio capacity following his year as Captain, decided not to stand.

NICK SCORES A WINNER.

Our members will soon be playing on the same surface as Oldham Athletic's stars. But, thankfully, there will be no need to don boots and shinpads. Thanks to the generosity of Nick Stanley, the club has been donated a large section of the Astroturf which was previously laid at Latics' practice ground at Chapel Road.

Nick, who runs a haulage business, had been hired to remove the all-weather material from the site, which is being redeveloped, and contacted Greens' Secretary Steve McNamara to ask if it could be of use to the club.

A delighted Steve said: "We are extremely grateful to Nick. This amount of Astroturf would cost about £15,000 if we had to purchase it new - and he even arranged for it to be delivered." It will be used on paths and in other suitable areas around the course.

GREEN LIGHT FOR LOW SUBS' RISES.

A motion empowering the council to increase annual subscriptions by not more than 5% without recourse to a special meeting was approved unaminously. Moving the resolution, Brian Hope said it represented common sense and economic prudence because, since the millennium, no more than 40 members had ever attended such meetings, which cost £200 to arrange, and had always voted in favour of the council's recommendation.

THUMBS UP FOR NEW PATH ON 6TH.

The new curved path from the sixth tee to the Millennium Bridge in the gully has been warmly welcomed by all those who found its extremely steep predecessor difficult to traverse, particularly with heavy electric trolleys.

BRIAN HOLMES.

It is with deep regret that we record the sudden death of Brian Holmes, a retired chemist, at the age of 69. A popular member of the Seniors' section, he will be greatly missed, and we offer our condolences to his family and friends.