WERNETH WEDGE No. 71 Captain: Paul Higgins April 2007

EXPLOSIVE START TO NEW SEASON.

The 2007-08 season got under way with a bang, much to the surprise of the new Captain, Paul Higgins. With an expectant crowd waiting to witness his traditional drive-in, professional James Matterson, as is the custom, placed a ball on the tee and the Captain, doubtless a little nervous with so many people watching, took a few practice swings before stepping forward to address the ball.

Then he let fly - and the trick ball exploded in a puff of white dust, much to the amusement of everyone, hopefully including the surprised Captain. His next effort soared high and wide but, thankfully, stayed in bounds on the right of the fairway beyond the bunker.

Lady Captain Judith Wilkinshon had no such problems the following day, starting the ladies' season without incident.

In the shotgun start betterball Stableford which took place on the extremely cold drive-in day, Paul Egan and John Armstrong emerged as the winners with 44 points, defeating Secretary John Barlow and Treasurer Lee Rowbottom on a card play-off.

The first monthly medal of the new season resulted in the first division being won by Phil Jones (75-9-66), with Ian Sutton (80-13-67), in second place.

The second division honours went to Geoff Park (84-23-61), with runner-up Ron Hallett well adrift with a score of 81-15-66.

The April monthly medal followed, somewhat confusedly, a week later with Ian Ashworth (73-12-61), topping the first division entrants with Karl Johnson (73-10-63), lying second.

The second division prize went to Alan Cowling (83-22-61), with Ken Baker taking second prize with 85-22-63 on a countback from Andrew Vickers (78-15-63).

ACE WINFIELD CASHES IN.

Congratulations to fourteen handicapper Steve Winfield who achieved the first hole-in-one of the season at the sixth during the April monthly medal. Under a new system introduced by the Professional, he pocketed a handy £45 - half the total invested in the twos competition.

ROONEY WINS NEW TROPHY.

Terry Rooney was full of the joys of Spring when he won the new Sam Cunliffe Trophy with a Stableford score of 36pts, with Dave Royle in second place a point behind, when the seniors held their annual Spring competition and dinner. At the meal, section chairman Bill Waterhouse, described Sam, who recently died, as a "character with cauliflower ears who used to play Rugby League for Oldham."

A former member who had lived latterly in Northumberland with his neice, he asked her to seek the club's permission to donate cash for a trophy for the seniors, and the £450 received has been used to buy the handsome cup, with the remainder earmarked for small replicas which can be retained by the winners.

In the eighties, Sam was regularly to be seen in the snooker room playing cards with Ken Peake, Geoff Perrin, and John Whittaker. For a time, Joe Swindells and Julian Praq held massive leads in the competition with incredible scores of 89 and 53 points respectively until it was discovered that they had entered their points for each hole into the computer instead of their gross scores.

When their cards were reassessed Joe emerged as the winner of the over 70s prize with 34pts.

FANCY CHALLENGING THE CAPTAIN AND PRO?

The new challenge laid down by the Captain and Pro to play any two members in matchplay format, introduced last year, is to continue this season. Challengers pay £10 (or as much as they desire), to the Centenary fund if defeated, with the Captain donating a tenner if he ends up on the losing side. The two matches completed last season ended all square. In the first, veterans Les Lawton (8), and John Stockley (10), were in imperious form against the then Captain, Shaun Rattigan, and James, winning 3 and 2. Stockley shot a gross 68 - par for the course - which was matched by the Pro. but Shaun, only recently returned to action following his life-threatening battle with Legionnaires' Disease, visibly tired towards the end.

In the second match, the father and daughter pairing of Cliff (11), and Jane (6), Fletcher lost to some spectacular golf played by Shaun and James, whose nine-under gross total led to a 5 and 4 victory. Three more challenges have already been arranged, and more are invited

DAWSON WINS SNOOKER MARATHON.

It took an amazing three and a half hours of brain-numbing defensive tactics by Geoff Dawson and Shaun Rattigan before Geoff won the club's snooker final by two matches to one to take the title for the second time in three years.

Geoff took the first frame by a modest 52pts to 50 but Shaun, champion in 2002, fought back, if that is the correct phrase, to take the second by an equally modest 54pts to 50, both games ending on the black. The match eventually ended at 11-30pm when Geoff sank the pink to win the title by 58pts to 47. And so to bed!

LADIES. BETTY KEATING BREAKS ANKLE.

Walking down the 13th fairway, approaching the gully, Betty Keating was hit on the ankle by a stray drive from the 6th tee by a new member, who was so upset by the incident that he will remain anonymous so far as the Wedge is concerned. Though in considerable pain, she went home without seeking medical attention but suffered considerable agony in the night and had to go to hospital, where a fracture was discovered.

Though in plaster, she has been able to get about with the aid of a stick and is hoping to be fully recovered soon. Another blow for the ladies was the death of Vera Woodhead, a former deputy headmistress of Hulme Grammar School for Girls, at the age of 82.

As well as golf, she was also a good tennis player in her younger days, and a keen birdwatcher.

On a happier note, Jane Fletcher has made a winning return to the club after a couple of years elsewhere, notching up 38pts in a Stableford competition.

In other recent comps. Lady Captain Judith Wilkinson won an LGU Medal with a score of 103-35-68 on a card playoff from Sheila Waterhouse (97-29-68), and in the Spring Meeting 3-ball Alliance the winners were Jane Clark, Brenda Martin, and Dilys Goodwin, with 45pts. Mrs Clark also won a Stableford with 40pts.

NOMINATE YOUR CENTENARY CAPTAIN.

Council has decided that nominations for the prestigious post of Captain in Centenary year, 2009, will close on May 31. Proposers and seconders must first ascertain that their preferred candidate is willing to stand and are asked to state the reasons for their choice in a written proposal to the council. The final decision will be taken by the 2008 Captain, David Whittingham, "with the help of the council."

IMPORTANT WINS FOR CLUB TEAMS.

Professional James Matterson ensured a first round win for the club in the Dunham Forest event at Tunshill without swinging a club. Because Tunshill are without a pro., his match was conceded and our team won 4-3. Our winners were Paul and Lee Rowbotham and Peter Griffin. Our men also achieved a home win over Heaton Park in the Daily Mail knock-out.

YELLOW CARD FOR WEDGE.

Apologies to Chris Stanley, who donated the Astroturf from Oldham Athletic's training pitch, not his brother Nick, as reported last month.