WERNETH WEDGE No.90 Captain: David Whaley May 2009

VICE-CAPTAIN WINS SEASON'S FIRST MAJOR

Vice-Captain Derek Ashford got his year of office off to a fine start by winning the Spring Eclectic Trophy - the club's latest board comp. - with a score of 78-16-62 on a day when most players found the treated greens difficult to read.

Runner-up was Peter Lomas, a leading member of the seniors' section, who carded 83-19-64 to get his name on the honours board for the second time -he won the Mellor Cup way back in 1973 when he was but a lad.

A subsidiary medal, played at the same time, was won by Lee Appleby (74-13-61), with Simon Tessier (73-10-63), in second place.

DEATHS OF TWO SENIOR MEMBERS.

The club has lost two more long-serving members with the deaths of Reg Cass and Norman Ayrton, both of whom had been in poor health for some time.

Reg, aged 79, the son of the 1973 Captain, Harold Cass, was one of the club's quiet men. Though never a major prizewinner, he enjoyed his golf immensely until his health deteriorated, and he had ceased being a playing member. He never married and lived on Green Lane in a house with a garden gate giving access to the club's car park.

Life member Norman Ayrton, at 98 the club's oldest member, was Captain 48 years ago in 1961. An accountant by profession, he won three majors in his long golfing career - the Vice-Captain's prize in 1952, the Grasshopper Trophy in 1960, and the Veterans' Trophy in 1972. Until recently, although hardly able to walk, he came to the club by taxi each Friday for his lunch - specially ordered by him and provided by our chef, Sue. And woe betide her if it did not suit his palate!

CHUCKERS AND QUITTERS BEWARE!

Captain Dave Whaley has introduced two new fines to boost his nominated charities - £1 for throwing a club "in anger or frustration" and £1 for everyone submitting a No Return card.

He has asked playing partners of those guilty of these two offences to ensure the money is deposited in the bottle on the bar to benefit Christie's for Oldham and the Centenary Fund. On the first occasion the fines were in operation there were no fewer than fifteen NRs, but it is not known how many paid up, and the number of players throwing clubs is a similar mystery.

SENIORS. BATLEY BATTLERS OFF TO FINE START.

Our Lawrence Batley Seniors' League representatives got off to a superb start with an 8-0 trouncing of West Bradford on our home course. They followed this with a 4-4 away draw at Queensbury, one of the few nine-hole courses in the league.

The Seniors' Spring Meeting, held in early April, was blessed with sunny weather, which suited Jack Hulley admirably as he shot 42pts in the Stableford event, beating Mike Day, three points adrift, into second place. The over 70s prize was won by Seniors' President Joe Swindells, who later presided over a well attended dinner.

PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR PETER.

Malcolm Jee writes: In a recent Texas Scramble I partnered my friend Peter Jackson and his grandson to their first-ever competition win at Werneth. Thanks to a generous handicap allowance, a gross 67 was reduced to a net 43 to enable us to claim the prize by three shots. Young Tom's 160-yd five wood to a foot of the pin at the 11th, and a 15ft putt at the 14th - both for birdie threes - were the catalyst for our success. Peter, a new recruit, had waited thirty years to achieve a victory, having previously been a member in the 1970s.

MARGARET'S NASTY NOSE JOB.

Enjoying a refreshing cuppa as she sunned herself in the back garden of her home overlooking the 18th fairway on Easter Monday, Margaret Selby was hit on her nose, just between her eyes, by a stray drive from the 18th tee. Said husband Alf: "The ball bounced on the path, then on our patio, before hitting Margaret. There was blood everywhere and I summoned an ambulance, which arrived in minutes "The player involved was almost as upset as Margaret." Though she resembled a panda for a time, Margaret was lucky (if that is the right word), because her nose was not broken and her eyes escaped any damage. Thankfully, she has now made a full recovery.

DWAYRE'S FIRST HOLE IN ONE.

On the same day that Margaret Selby was suffering, Tommy Dwayre celebrated his first hole in one - a five wood at the 16th doing the trick during a social game. Son Liam also has something to celebrate after being appointed as the latest Junior Captain. Congratulations to them both.

DOOLEY BACK WITH A BANG.

Back at Werneth after a spell elsewhere, three-handicapper Les Dooley has made his presence felt with two early season victories. The man who has won the club championship no less than thirteen times, defied a strong wind in the April monthly medal to take the first division honours with a gross two-under par 66.Adam Rowbotham was also in fine form, carding 70-4-66 to take second place.

The second division winner was Curt Helme (82-16-66), with Tony Jones (85-18-67), the runner-up. Dooley followed up this success a week later when, partnered by young Jack Fallows (son of Nick), he won a better-ball Stableford with 47pts, defeating talented youngsters Michael Farrimond and Jack Suttie by a single point.

A13-hole Stableford was won by Geoff Hibbert with 30pts, defeating John Suttie on a countback. Bob Barrington 44pts beat Duncan Hough by three points in a full handicap Stableford (Ron Hallett losing out on CPO). Dave Rhodes, with 37pts, beat Ken Baker (36pts) in a Pro's comp.

NARROW DEFEAT IN DUNHAM FOREST

Our Dunham Forest team suffered a first-round knock-out in an away fixture against Wychwood Park Golf Club, Crewe - but only by a narrow 4-3 margin. Our winners were James Buckley, Mark Abbott, and Paul Rowbotham.