WERNETH WEDGE No. 89 Captain: David Whaley March 2009

CONTRASTING STARTS FOR TWO CAPTAINS.

Lady Captain Hilda Garner got her new season off to a great start when she hammered her ball straight down the fairway when she drove in the new season on Thursday, March 27th. But her luck ran out as soon as she left the first tee - the course was so waterlogged that the planned Spring meeting to follow had to be postponed.

A couple of days later, the new club Captain, David Whaley, hatless for once and wearing a very snazzy new pair of shoes, stood on the same tee in bright sunshine and, somewhat optimistically, produced a bottle of suncream from his pocket which, it must be said, remained unused in the bone-chilling North wind.
He, too, did not disgrace himself with his inaugural drive, hitting the ball straight and true over the right hand bunker on the first fairway.

The 8-45am starters taking part in the shotgun start found the strong wind blowing across the course, the occasional cold showers, and their reintroduction to life without mats on the fairways, difficult to master, and scoring was relatively modest.
The conditions improved somewhat in the afternoon, though most players felt it necessary to wrap up warmly.

The eventual winners of the better-ball Stableford competition were Pete Davies and Dale Hobson with 43pts, with Los Dawson and Adie Buckley losing out on a card playoff.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR HANDICAP.
The English Golf Union has decided to clamp down on players who hold on to their handicaps by failing to play in qualifying competitions.

In a notice to all member clubs, the EGU makes it clear: "Players will be required to have submitted three qualifying scores (including supplementary scores, nine-hole competitions, and away fixtures) during the 2009 calendar year (not between annual handicap reviews), to avoid having an inactive handicap for the 2010 season - and "no returns" will not be accepted.
Inactive handicaps will be specifically identified with the letter i - for example 18i.
Clubs may impose a condition that requires an active handicap for specific competitions only, such as Trophy or other honours board events.
In all other cases clubs must allow home members with inactive handicaps to compete in qualifying competitions in order to provide them with as many opportunities as possible to gain active handicaps.

While the EGU's initiative is laudible, it will not prevent those who do not take part in official competitions from continuing to hold on to their inactive handicaps when playing social golf - and there are many of these.

The EGU, conscious of the current economic climate, and the fact that many clubs (including Werneth) are short of members, has also launched an "Are You Ready?" campaign.

More than 1,800 golf clubs will receive detailed information on the business and marketing opportunities available, and how to sign up.

IT'S GRANNIE AND GRANDAD BUCKLEY.
Our stewardess, Carol Buckley, and her husband Roger have become grandparents following the birth of a 7lb son, Ethan, to their daughter Jayne and her partner Terry Hulley - before you ask, no relation to a rather older member with the same surname.

Congratulations to all concerned.

CAPTAIN WINS SNOOKER FINAL.
By Julian Pragg

Captain David Whaley got his year of office off to a winning start - At snooker.
Receiving ten points per feame from Alan Cowling in the final of the club competition, David won the toss and broke off first, but went in-off with his second shot, allowing Alan to take an early lead.

Scoring was fairly slow, standing at 19-10 to the Captain after twenty minutes.
The Captain increased his lead to 30-10 but Alan fought back, reducing the deficit to just eight points.

But David hit better form with a series of pots, including all the colours, for a decisive first frame win.
Alan opened the scoring in the second frame and led 16-12 after ten minutes.
The game then developed into a series of missed opportunities, with the Captain fighting back to trail by only one point (22-21) after twenty minutes.

Alan stayed in the lead until only the last three colours remained, and David sank the lot to win the frame - and the trophy - by 44 points to 32.

DAWSON WINS MEDAL ROUND.

Club competitions have been few and far between as a result of the poor weather, but Los Dawson win a medal round with a score of 74-13-61, with John Parnell in second place (79-17-62), defeating both Ian Grant and Clint Shaw on a countback.
A single Stableford was won by Tom Dwayre with a splendid 45pts, four more than John Stockley.

And Terry Wroe shot a similar winning score in full-handicap Stableford event, with Brian Hope in second place with 42pts.
Results of then Pro's comps. were not available at the time of writing.

INVITATION DAY ARRANGEMENTS.

The draw for booking tee times for our opening Invitation Day on Saturday, May 2, will take place in the club on the evening of Tuesday, April 11.
In order to prevent a disorderly scramble, members wishing to book places will be allotted a draw ticket in the club up to 8pm. These will then drawn to determine the order of booking for those present.
One member will be allowed to book a fourball for himself, a fellow member, and their guests.

After that, it is a matter of how many places are left for those who did not take part in the draw.

OPEN THE BOX AND WIN CASH.
As part of our Centenary Year events, the club has launched an Open the Box game, with big cash prizes on offer.
After the first three weeks there had been no winner, with the prize pot then topping £250 - and with every chance of growing by the week.
Tickets are priced at £1 per week and are available all week up to 9pm on Fridays from the bar or from members of the social committee

Just one ticket is drawn each Friday night, and the winner - or a nominated representative - chooses a key (21 available originally) for a chance to open the box.
If that key does not do the trick it us withdrawn from the game and the cash - £100 on week one - is increased by fifty per cent of the income from the ticket sales. The remainder goes to the Centenary Funs

And each week there is no winner, that key is withdrawn making the prospect of winning that much greater.

NEW CHALLENGES FOR CLUB TEAMS.

Werneth has been drawn to play at Wychwood Park in the Dunham Forest Trophy on Saturday, April 18, with a 12-30pm tee-off.

Our Archie Preston mixed fourball team will play at home the following day against local rivals Blackley.

And a reminder for all those wishing to compete in our majors this season - the lists for entries are now available in the locker room but will be taken down on April 10. You have been warned.

COURSE PAINTING STILL AVAILABLE.

Prints of a delightful painting of a view across the course, by top local artist David Ford, are still available and can be ordered at the bar.
They are priced, unframed, at a modest £15, which includes a small donation to the Centenary Fund.

CENTENARY PRO-AM.

Four morning slots are still available for the Pro-Am on Monday,June 29. Price is £270 for three man team, including post match meal.