WERNETH WEDGE No. 77 Captain: Paul Higgins Oct. 2007

LES LAWTON BACK IN THE OLD ROUTINE.

Les Lawton, indisputably one of the finest golfers ever produced by this club, matched his age with a gross 71 (net 63) to win the lst Division monthly medal - 54 years after his name first appeared on our honours board as winner of the Mellor Cup.

But he had to fight all the way hold off the spirited challenge of Paul Egan, who matched his net score with a gross 69 off a handicap of six, only to be beaten on a card playoff.

The second division winner was Mark Lord (90-27-63), again after a countback against Curt Helme (77-14-63).

In his heyday, Lawton played off scratch, represented Lancashire, was the course record holder in 1964, and his name is to be found as a major winner on the honours boards of many other clubs.

As well as his Mellor Cup win in 1953, he also triumphed in 1969 and 1971. But there were many other successes, particularly in the 60s and 70s, including five Challenge Cup wins in 1961, 1962, 1970, 1972, and 1973.

He won the Vice-Captain's prize in 1964; the Captain's prize in 1967/68 (when he was Vice-Captain to Tom Higson); the Mixed Foursomes, with Mrs F.M.Kershaw, in 1969 and 1970; the Hetherington Trophy, with Trevor Fallows, in 1971, and again, with John Stockley, in 1979; and the Grasshoppers Trophy in 1979.

But his most audacious triumph occurred in Pro-Am at Saddleworth where he wagered £50, at 28-1, that he would card a better score than any of the pros - and did so. Quite a record for a man short in stature but a giant in talent.

Meanwhile, Paul Rowbotham has become a scratch golfer for the second time this season, and eldest son Lee needs to reduce his handicap by just .3 to follow in his dad's footsteps.

VANDALS FORCE SHELTER DEMOLITION.

On the advice of the police, the club has reluctantly had to demolish the brick shelter behind the sixth tee because it was attracting crowds of late-night vandals, particularly at week-ends and during school holidays, who then proceeded to damage the course and its facilities. It means golfers now have nowhere to shelter when the heavens open.

Sadly, however, this is not a new problem - the course once boasted two other shelters which were also wrecked by yobs. The latest doomed shelter, which replaced a badly damaged wooden structure, was originally provided with seating, which was quickly destroyed. The wooden roof was the next to go when the vandals set it alight with a huge firework placed in a wheelie bin.

Damage to greens and trees is a regular occurrence, but matters have now reached a more dangerous phase with members being attacked. Martin Shea was hit on the back of the head by a hooded youngster armed with a golf club, and some ladies had to beat a hasty retreat when they became targets for well-aimed golf balls.

On another occasion, and not for the first time, youngsters were firing golf balls at the clubhouse windows from the far side of the putting green. To add to our problems, golf clubs have recently been stolen from inside the locker room. The police are being contacted on a regular basis but they do not always respond as quickly as the members would wish - and sometimes not at all.

DEATH OF FRED WALTON AT 96.

After a long battle against cancer, Fred Walton has died at Parkhills Nursing Home at the age of 96 - and in the next room to his wife, Beatrice, who is also in frail health. When already in his nineties, mild-mannered Fred was still playing golf every Tuesday and Friday, with Stan Shackleton and Bill Simms (with a combined age of 255 at the time) - the oldest swingers in town and possibly the oldest regular three-ball in world golf.

But Fred's sporting activities were not restricted to golf. Twice a week he also played bowls for Hollinwood Cricket Club - outdoors in summer and at Oldham Leisure Centre in the winter. A former toolmaker at the old Ferranti factory in Hollinwood, he and Beatrice celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 2003, and Fred was granted life membership of the club in 2004 to mark his fifty years as a member.

ALL CHANGE FOR VETS.

Malcolm Jee, winner of the Veterans' Trophy in two of the past three years, was elected Chairman of the Veterans' Section at the recent annual general meeting which followed the Chairman's Day Stableford competition. He succeeds Bill Waterhouse, who was unable to be present on the day. Tom Blackshaw decided to step down as President and was replaced by Joe Swindells.

The meeting decided that the Christmas competition should be organised on a bring-a-prize-and-win-a-prize basis. The Chairman's Day winner was Jim Mellor, with 41pts, three better than runner-up Peter Cameron. The over 70s prize went to John Booth. Just a reminder - the £5 subs are now due.

LADIES SECTION. HERE COMES ANOTHER ROWBOTHAM!

Gail Rowbotham, wife of Paul and mother of Lee, Aaron and Adam, who took up the game only a couple of years or so ago, won an all-irons Stableford with 26pts. Jane Fletcher took the honours with an all square round in a bogey competition,

Joan Swindells (88-22-66), won a LGU medal and turkey comp., and a single Stableford prize went to Sheila Whittingham with 30pts after a card playoff with Sylvia Haq.

TWELFTH HOLE GETS THE HUMP.

Those mysterious markings on the approach to the twelfth hole mark the spots where two new mounds are to be constructed. There is also a long-term plan to build a new tee about forty yards further back than the existing tee at the long par four 13th stretching this stroke index one hole to between 450 and 460 yards - but which will still remain a par four.

FINAL MAJORS DECIDED.

Four-handicapper Kevin Roberts had mixed fortunes when he returned from a spell in foreign climes to play in two delayed majors. He emerged victorious in the Mellor Cup, defeating Howard Travis, but, partnered by Martin Shea, had to settle for the runners-up spot in the foursomes, won by Lee Rowbotham and James Buckley, who also won the Hetherington Trophy.

CAPTAIN IN GOOD FORM.

Captain Paul Higgins piled up 45 points to defeat Ian Richardson by two points in a Stableford competition to add to his win in a medal comp. last month when he carded 73-13-60 to beat Terry Ogden (76-16-60), on a countback.

A three-man Texas Scramble was won by Nigel Wareing, Alan Rothera, and Geoff Dawson, with a fine score of 59-1.8-57.2, narrowly defeating Steve McNamara, Duncan Hough, and Bob Barrington (60-2.6-57.4).

John Suttie showed that young Jack is not the only family star by amassing 45pts in a Stableford event to beat Ian Hartley by two points.

In another Stableford comp. Paul McKee, with 40pts, managed to edge out scratch man Paul Rowbothan on a card playoff. And in a Senior/Junior Greensome, Mark Abbott and Joe Taylor, with a score of 69-5-64, defeated the in-form John Suttie and Jack Fallows (son of Nick), who returned figures of 82-17-65 to thwart Terry Marner and Liam Dwayre on a countback.

DISTRICT TITLE FOR TOP WERNETH PAIR.

Congratulations to Steve McNamara and Paul Rowbotham who won the Oldham and District Pairs Knockout, beating a Stamford duo by three and two in the final at Denton. And Paul Handley has been named as B team player of the year.