WERNETH WEDGE No. 87 Captain: David Whittingham January 2009

CENTENARY YEAR OFF TO FREEZING START.

One hundred years ago, on December 30, 1908, a group of farsighted men gathered at the Oriental Cafe in Yorkshire Street, Oldham, for a meeting convened by Mr Wilfred Brierley, and agreed to rent sufficient land for a 9-hole golf course...."provided the situation is very convenient, just being off the main road to Ashton and within a penny tram stop from the centre of the town."

And that is why we are here today celebrating the club's centenary. Originally, it was intended the club should be known as the Hathershaw GC, but this was changed to the present name within a few weeks.

A year after its formation, a further nine holes were added to provide 64 acres, establishing what is still believed to be the most compact 18-hole course in the country.

The first Captain was Mr W. Jackson, who served for two years, and four more members of the original committee - Messrs Brierley, W. Norton, A.E.Whittaker, and J. Chadwick - all held the Captaincy for various periods until 1921.

The first competition was held in June 1909, houses numbered 118 and 120 Green Lane were rented a month later to form what is now the clubhouse (purchased for £717 in 1919 and extended in 1956-57), and by August there were 101 male members and 65 females paying subscriptions of one guinea (£1.05p) and 7/6d (38p) respectively.

Forty-six brave souls celebrated Founders' Day this year by taking part in a 12-hole competition played in drifting fog on a frozen course.

The winners, for the record, were Mike Wallace (30pts), with Vice-Captain Dave Whaley taking second place with 29pts, edging out Rick Riley on a card play-off. The ladies' prize went to Pat Grant (25pts),

Captain David Whittingham reminded those attending the prize presentation which followed that members were, and would continue to be, custodians of the club, and that current members had demonstrated their commitment by providing sufficient funds for the new patio.

And the Centenary Committee chairman, Bill Waterhouse announced that just over £23,000 had been raised to ensure a successful year. A significant share of this amount was raised by the 100 Club - members who donated £100 with the chance of winning a major cash prize.

When this was drawn, Bill could not read the winner's name because he had no glasses with him, so the Captain stepped forward to help out and announced the £1,000 prize had gone to Dee Whittingham - his wife!

The second prize of £500 was won by Gordon Emery.

DEATH OF OLDEST MEMBER.

Sadly, our initial centenary celebrations were marred by the death of our oldest member, Marian Sutcliffe, who was born only two years after the club's formation.

A former Captain and treasurer of the Ladies' section, she was honoured with life membership. A fine golfer in her time, she won several club majors, and was still playing well into her eighties. At one time she was also a member of Crompton and Royton Golf Club.

CAT'S-EYES PHIL BAGS A TREBLE.

Thick fog shrouded the course when a Stableford comp. was held at the end of November, with vision so restricted that none of the holes could be seen from the tees - including the par threes.

The hero of the day was Phil Jones. He did not win but, miraculously, he managed to hole in two on THREE of the invisible holes -the 3rd, 6th, and 10th. Amazingly, no fewer than eleven twos were carded on the day.

The winner, with 35pts, was Albert Park, with Vice-Captain Dave Whaley taking second place on a countback. The prolonged cold spell, following some torrential downpours, caused many comps. to be played ovcr a restricted number of holes. This did not deter Pete Hickey who amassed 44pts over 16 holes to win just before Christmas, beating his pal Terry Melia be six points.

Geoff Dawson recovered sufficiently from his festive celebrations to win another shortened comp. with 33pts, with the Captain in second place a point adrift.

In the first event of the New Year, again on a frozen surface, was won by Albert Park, with 38pts, followed by Bill Riley (37pts).

SENIORS FUN AND GAMES AT CHRISTMAS EVENT.

A flooded course caused the postponement of the Seniors' Christmas competition, but the scheduled dinner went ahead as planned. Everyone returned a week later for the bring-a-prize-and-win-a-prize event to be faced with yet another rock hard course and rutted winter greens.

President Joe Swindells emerged as the winner with 32pts. After eyeing up the prizes which had been donated, he decided the bottle he has brought himself was the best bet.

Second, on a card play-off was Mike Wallace, who opted for a surprise prize donated by Gordon Emery.

The big surprise was that Gordon had forgotten to bring one. Mike had to wait another week before finding out he had won a nice bottle of vodka. Third prize was won by Jack Hulley, with 31pts. He decided not to claim the quarter bottle of whisky he had generously provided and opted for a full-sized bottle of Tia Maria instead.

A bemused John Barlow, who had finished well down the field, had to content himself with the small Scotch. His face was a picture.

The final prize was supposed to go to Julian Pragg but there was nothing left on the table. So Julian went home with nothing - which is exactly what he had donated.

BE WARNED - PATH CAN BE DANGEROUS.

Many members are choosing to ignore the instruction on the notice board near the first tee that the path to the 6th green is closed. Be warned - Sue Green broke her wrist on the slippery surface

WINTER RULES - THE WHOLE TRUTH.

Members have been playing off mats, when winter rules are in operation, since 2005 but confusion still reigns about where, and where not, they should be used. In particular, many players are using them when playing from the semi-rough in front of the sixth green, as well as putting balls off the summer greens. In order to clarify the situation, Werneth Wedge asked Greens' Secretary Steve McNamara to remind everyone of the rules.

This is what he said: Mats must be used ONLY on close-mown surfaces - basically fairways - when playing in competitions.

Mats must NOT be used, as some apparently believe, from anywhere else on a par three hole - and certainly NOT from the semi-rough in front of the sixth.

Mats must NOT be used when striking a ball from off a winter green, though a putter is permitted. Otherwise the mat must be placed at the nearest point of relief. When a ball lands on a summer green, when winter greens are being used, it must be dropped at the nearest point of relief. Whether a mat is then used depends on whether the dropping point is on a close-mown surface or semi-rough.

Mats CANNOT be used when playing from a tee or from a hazard. But a mat can be employed if a ball comes to rest on a summer tee after a shot has been played.

Mats MUST be used when a ball is hit onto the practice ground, in order to protect the surface.

Finally, under a local rule currently in operation, a plugged ball can be lifted, cleaned, and dropped not nearer the hole. And remember - failure to obey the rules can lead to disqualification from competitions. Said Steve: "The rule regarding use of mats only from the close-mown areas may be disregarded when playing social golf if it is felt that their use in the semi-rough and rough would help to protect the course."