CAPTAINS DAY FOR LADIES

“This day is one of the highlights of my year. I only hope that I can make it as memorable for the Ladies of LGC as it is for me” stated the Club Captain prior to the commencement of this year’s competition. The Captain put on a putting competition which was won by “Dead aim” Paula Parkes who only had 15 putts over the 9 holes on offer. Surely a good omen for Paula when she went out onto the course.

The weather conditions were great for sitting on the patio and having a glass of white wine but the blustery wind made it very difficult for the Ladies (and Greg) to control the golf ball. With the help of the Club’s President (Club photographer for the day), the Vice Captain, The Hon Competition Secretary as well as Dave Griffiths, Greg and Jake the show was “on the road” with a 1.30pm start.

The “Nearest the Pin competitions” on the 4th, 7th, 9th and 13th were won by Dot Cowburn, Angie Broadhurst, Pam Glaves and Georgie Taylor respectively showing the high standards of iron play on display.

On arriving at the 11th hole this year the Captain invited the Ladies to join him for a drink and a piece of cake served by the Captain’s wife (Jackie) and the President’s wife (Wendy) as well as chance to “Beat the Pro” by landing their tee shots closer to the pin than his. A tube of Srixon balls was on offer for anyone achieving the feat. Now we all know that Greg is an excellent golfer and a particular good iron player but he was concerned that the length of the hole was making his task too difficult so he decided to join the Ladies and play off the forward RED TEES!!!!! Even with this concession Greg failed to win his first challenge when Wendy Geston nonchalantly knocked it onto the middle of the green. 1-0 to the girls! Greg’s embarrassment was further exacerbated when Lynn “Boom Boom” Ball hit a corker to 15 feet. Susan Watson was the third Lady to hit the target with a left handed “stinger” and it was left to Marion Lilley to rub more salt into his wounds and increase her stock of Srixons. “I was absolutely thrilled that the Ladies beat him. Greg was very confident that he would hit the green with every attempt and Wendy, Lynn, Marion and Susan all hit fantastic shots. It was a long way today” said The Captain.

With renewed vigour the Ladies completed their rounds and the results were collated by the ever reliable Dave Robinson for the Presentation of Prizes. Before the presentation Dave Gallimore thanked his team of helpers and paid tribute to the Club’s Lady Captain Karen Griffiths and the Ladies section for there contribution to Leek Golf Club during the year. “It is because of the contributions from a successful Ladies section that the Club is where it is today. You have all made this a special day for me as Captain and I hope that you will continue to support me for the rest of the year” said Dave. (He actually went on a bit too long and as promised that he will cut it short next time).

RESULTS

CAPTAINS PRIZE Joy Briggs 36 pts (Pictured right)

WINNER SILVER DIVISION - Georgie Taylor 35 pts WINNER BRONZE DIVISION - Ursula Smith 35 pts

R/UP SILVER DIVISION - Karen Griffiths 32 pts R/UP BRONZE DIVISION - Janet Gilbert 31pts

THIRD SILVER DIVISION - Paula Parkes 31pts THIRD BRONZE DIVISION Pam Glaves 31pts

Dave Gallimore would like to thank the Ladies of LGC for their generous donation to his Captain’s Charity.

FRIENDS REUNITED IN PRO/CAPTAIN CHALLENGE MATCH

This week saw the Pro and the Captain take on 2 of the very best players in the Club, Dunc Stott (h’cap 1) and Dan Smart (h’cap 5). “The result was always going to be important in this particular game and I wanted to get one over on my good friends Dunc and Dan” said the Captain prior to the start. The weather conditions were warm and windy, the greens were good and the scoring turned out to be red hot!

The stage was set when Greg sent out his message to the opponents and smashed his drive on the 1st in to the centre of the green. Dunc came up just short and failed to get up and down. Greg birdied to move Pro / Captain team 1 up.

The second was halved when all four players missed their birdie putts but Dunc birdied the 3rd hole from 10 feet to level the scores. The scores remained the same after both teams only managed to secure par’s on the 4th and 5th holes. The 6th provided a big opportunity for a birdie due to the length that these guys can hit off the tee but the greenside bunkers provided the green with some protection from a birdie feast. Only Dunc came off with a birdie 4 to move the Challengers 1 up and in to the lead.

Poor shots followed from Dunc and Dan when they went long on the 7th. Greg stiffed it for a birdie 2 and once again the scoreboard went back to level. With Dan, Dunc and Greg hitting huge drives down the 8th leaving a 70 pitch it looked odds on that more birdie would be recorded on the card but this was not to be the case. The front pin and the hard greens proved troublesome for all players and a par 4 was all that transpired. The 9th saw the Pro and Dunc really attack the back pin position with 5 irons. Both landed within close birdie putt range but Dunc left his on the lip of the hole whilst Greg confidently stroked his in again for another 2. Match score – Pro / Captain 1 up at the turn. (4BBB NETT SCORES – PRO/CAPT -3 CHALLENGERS -1)

On the 10th Greg was through the back of the green in 2 whilst the experienced Dunc purposely left himself just short in 2 to leave himself an easier chip to the pin which was on the front of the green. Dunc holed a tricky 3 footer from above the hole for his 3rd birdie of the day to level the scores again.

The 11th was a scruffy hole and it turned into a “putt out” from 4 feet between the Captain and Dunc. When the Captain holed his Greg was smiling in approval. Dunc followed him in to the centre of the hole. No change. Pleasantries were exchanged and shows of respect were given and acknowledged.

Dan and Dunc both stiffed their 2nd shots on to the 12th and their resulting birdies moved them in front for only the second time during the match. The 13th was another “putt off” which again saw both Dunc and Dave hole out successfully. With the Captain and Dan now receiving their allocation of shots the 14th and 15th holes were always going to have a huge affect on the outcome of this very close and competitive match. Dan hooked his tee shot high and very wide on to the 16th fairway leaving what Greg and Dave thought was an impossible shot. He knocked it on and his 4 nett 3 was set up. Dave knocked his drive down the centre and flushed a 7 iron on to the front portion of the green. His 4 nett 3 was also set up. Dunc failed to stick to the script when he holed his 15 footer for a gross 3 and then politely requested the Captain to hole his from 4 feet. It went in dead centre for a 4 nett 3 and a half. Score Challengers 1 up.

The 15th saw all of Greg’s playing partners receiving shots and he felt that a par 4 from his partner was necessary for him to be on the winning team. With Dunc on the back of the green in 2 and the Captain just short of the green in 2 it looked as if a half would be the outcome. Somehow Dunc’s putt stayed some 8 feet short of the hole and left him a difficult putt for his par. He missed. The Captain chipped to 4 feet of the pin on 15 but it was above the hole and certainly not a tap in. It just caught enough of the left edge to drop and level the match score with 3 holes left to play.

Big drives were the order of the day down the 16th and Dunc, Dave and Greg were all in range to hit the green in 2. Dave went a little long and was in the rough on the bank at the rear of the green. Dunc and Greg both made the front of the green but not enough to ensure that it stayed on. Both rolled back down the slope and left themselves difficult pitches for their birdies. Dan meanwhile had played up the 16th and his 3rd had landed close to give himself a very realistic birdie opportunity. Dave chipped to 8 feet and holed out successfully for a birdie. The opponents both hit good putts but neither caught enough of the hole to drop. Pro /Captain 1 up and 2 to play.

The 17th was a well played hole by the Challengers and both had birdie putts from close range. Dan was the 1st to hole out and this was not matched by the Pro / Captain pairing. Scores level.

All 4 players hit good long drives up the 18th and the game was going to be decided on the shots in to the green. The Captain knocked his 7 iron to 12 feet whilst the Challengers both found bunkers to the left of the green leaving a difficult up and down. Greg was on the green but had had a difficult downhiller to negotiate. Dunc and Dan hit great bunker shots to 4 and 6 feet respectfully and Greg’s putt for a par was conceded. The Captain missed from 12 feet after hitting a poor putt for a birdie but then conceded the putts of his opponents to ensure that the game ended all square. The Captain commented at the end of the match, “I always look forward to competing against these guys. We all try our best but I know that they want me to play well and I want them to play well. We are always very respectful of each other and we know that we will all have good days and bad days. Today was a great day for all of us”.

(4BBB SCORE - PRO/CAPT -6 CHALLENGERS -5)

If anyone would like to take part in the Pro / Captain Challenge in aid of The Captain’s Charity please speak with Jake in the Professional’s shop to book a date and time to play. I am sure that you will enjoy the experience and the Charity will be very grateful to receive your donation.

Dunc Stott, Dan Smart & Greg Rogula. (Right)

SATURDAY 17th MAY - LEEK 1st TEAM V THE CHASE - AWAY

After a winning start to the season Leek travelled to The Chase for the latest NS&DGL Division 1 League game. With two groups one up with one to play it was looking like a 7-5 Away win however unfortunately both groups lost the last hole to finish with a half. Meaning the final score was 7-5 Home Win for The Chase, the results were as follows;

Warren Alcock & Jim Willshaw - Lost 
Dunc Stott & Rob Taylor - Won 
Ross Salmon & Rob Furmston - Halved 
Liam Hancock & Dennis Vincent - Halved 
Rich Cordon & Gareth Salt - Lost 
Andy Martin & Chris Flavell - Halved

DOFSKY CUP

Leek were drawn at home against local rivals Westwood in the preliminary round of this particular League Knockout Cup.

The format is 4BBB with three teams per club, and 3 players under 10 handicap and 3 players over 10.

Apart from the fact Westwood are a tough outfit, having won the Houghton Salver final in 2013, any half in the match would count as an ‘away’ win.

Leek were the holders of the Dofsky Cup, having won it in 2013.

Ross Martin & Zulf Khalifa – won 6 & 4 
Mark Shea & Pete Cordon – lost 1 down 
Andy Baxter & Jim Hutchinson – lost 2 down

HAUGHTON SALVER

Leek were drawn away at Barlaston for first round. The format being Greensomes, 3 Pairs from each team. Both players drive off and pick the best drive then play alternative shots until the hole is finished.

Andy Martin & Dennis Vincent - Lost 
Mark Shea & Chris Flavell - Won 
Phil Davies & Tont Clark - Lost Better luck next year lads!!!

MAY EXTRA MEDAL

Thursday 15th May

1st Division Ross Salmon Gross 73 Nett 69 
2nd Division Peter Robinson Gross 82 Nett 69 
3rd Division Tony Brown Gross 89 Nett 70 
4th Division James Dean Gross 92 Nett 68

SUNDAY COMP

1st Place 
John Galley Steve Spooner John Leeke 103 Points

2nd Place 
Ian Barlow Geoff Aust Simon Clowes Ken Ratcliffe 95 Points (Back 9 - 49)

STAFFORDSHIRE SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

On Wednesday Leek Golf Club were represented by Dunc Stott and Dave Gallimore as they played in the “Loader Trophy” which is the Staffordshire Seniors Foursomes competition held this year at Trentham Park Golf Club. This was their first attempt at senior level and although they did not perform at their best they managed a very creditable 5th place overall out of the 54 teams that entered. Dave Gallimore remarked that “we missed too many chances on the greens to win it but that’s golf”.

The Staffordshire Seniors Individual Championship will take place at Bloxwich Golf Club on July 7th when Dunc and Dave will be joined by another Leek (and County) player Ross Martin.

Friday 23rd May - Leek Seniors V Leek Ladies - 11:00 - 12:30pm 
Saturday 24th May - Leek 2nd Team V Brookfield - 1:30 - 2:30pm 
- Leek v Enville - Ladies - 2:45 - 3:20pm 
Sunday 25th May - Centenary Cup - 7:00am - 3:00pm 
Monday 26th May - MIXED OPEN - 9:30 - 10:45am & 11:45 - 3:00pm 
Tuesday 27th May - Air Ambulance Medal - Ladies - 9:00 - 10:30am & 12:00 - 1:30pm 
Wednesday 28th May - Masonic Golf Society - 1:00 - 2:30pm 
Thursday 29th May - Leek Seniors V Buxton High Peak - AWAY 
Friday 30th May - Leek vs Trentham Park - Mixed - 12:30 - 2:00pm