PROFESSIONAL'S WINTER LEAGUE
I will be starting a Winter League on Saturday afternoons beginning on Saturday 4th October at 12.00pm (1st week and tee times will be adjusted to suit the light). It will be open to anybody who would like to play.
This is a great opportunity for you to meet and play with other members. The format will be Full Handicap Individual Stableford max. 18 and league points will be allocated for the top 5 spots. Entry fee is £3 of which £2 will be paid out on the day and £1 will be saved for the later stages.
MEMBERS' FEEDBACK
"Hi Greg and all - please don't spoil my reading, I love reading the Pro. v others who are brave enough to take you and our revered Captain on. It's great reading and funny with it, especially when we realise that even our Pro can miss a shot!! It would be a shame to stop the newsletter and I for one appreciate and look forward to reading it. I can only drool over the new clubs on offer but at least I can see if not purchase them!! Hopefully when you realise how many of us do read your splurge you will continue. In closing, any idea when we will be getting the new shed for our trolleys? Now that I have finally got mine back it would be nice not to have to drag it around with me all the time".
Tina Edwards
"Greg, It's nice to see the old man's name finally appear on your newsletter. The new clubs are working great. I have now joined our local club Willunga, in South Australia. We are currently in the midst of a cold winter, fortunately we have not needed hats, waterproofs, mittens, brandy or scotch and no temporary greens. We struggle with the kangaroos on the greens, and the snakes in the rough but the quality of red wine keeps us going. Keep up the great news letters, I still miss Sunday mornings with the lads and a bl**dy great bacon and cheese oatcake. Pass on my regards to the members, and if any fancy 18 down under they are more than welcome".
Chris Baggaley, long term member at LGC.
PRO/CAPTAIN CHALLENGE MATCH (report by the challengers!!!)
The latest challengers were Jim Hutchinson (9) and Ross Martin (5). After the customary photograph and handicap allowances agreed we made our way to the first tee. The weather was not good-rain and wind. However there was a great deal of banter on the tee. It was obvious that both Greg and the captain were in serious mood!!!!!!
The first was halved in par. Greg was the only one on the 2nd fairway, however Jim managed to chip and putt for a 4 (3) to win the hole. Not what the captain had expected. First blood to the challengers.
On to the 3rd. The pro managed to hit what can only be described as a "Knobbed" shot, and his 2nd was short of the green. Ross hit the green in two and the resulting putt was given 4 (3). Challengers 2 up. Alarm bells beginning to ring in the opposition's camp. 4th was halved in four, Jim managing to get up and down from the left hand bunker getting a half with the captain. In the meantime Greg had managed to "duff" a chip and then double hit his next chip; this brought the captain to his knees and "mutterings" were heard!!!
The 5th was halved in 4's; so on to the 6th. The captain hit a superb chip to the green, within 'gimmie' range for a certain 4. However he was upstaged as Greg holed a monster up the green for a 4 and a WIN. Greg again holed very long putt on the 7th to WIN the hole. Most unexpected, but it wasn't to last long!!!! Spirits were raised in the Pro/Captain camp!!!!
Jim and Ross both managed a 4 (3) at the 8th to win the hole. The captain holed a good putt on the 9th for a birdie. ALL square after 9
Both Jim and Greg hit BIG drives up 10. Jim hit a 5 iron for his second to the front of the green. His delicate chip and putt could not be matched, 1 up. With the rain becoming heavier, Ross hit a great 4 iron to about six feet to the 11th green. However he could not convert for a birdie; half in 3 with the captain. On to the 12th. Jim's drive found the 15th fairway!!!!! Greg's driver soared into the bushes on the left; OB. Ross found his ball in the bunker on the left and the captain was on the fairway. The captain won the hole with a 4, with Ross 3 putting through water!!
ALL SQUARE. The captain tried to encourage Greg that they were still in the game!!!!! On to the dreaded 13th. Jim went left, the captain left OB. Ross bunkered right and Greg greenside bunker left. Ross hit a superb chip to 3 feet. Horror of Horrors, Greg "skinned" his chip through the green and his next chip and 2 putts were not good enough. The captain was distraught. 1 up to the challengers.
14th hole. Greg's drive, well left and resulting 2nd into trees did not help the captain. The captain could not find the green with his 2nd. After discussion, Jim hit a 9 iron to about 5 feet. Two putts for a 4 (3) was good enough to win the hole. 2 up
15th hole. Ross hit a great drive and 6 iron to "pin high" A very delicate putt secured a 4 (3) to win the hole. 3 up. Both Jim and Greg hit great drives down 16. After discussion Jim laid up with a 6 iron, Greg was going for the green. To his horror, his ball rolled down off the bank leaving him with a very delicate chip; not his favourite shot!!!
Jim hit a fantastic chip and holed his putt for a birdie. GAME OVER. A WIN BY 4 AND 2 6 BIRDIES OVERALL IN THE GAME Refreshments were taken in the bar and the banter continued, much at Greg's expense. Greg said he was "done" after his 2nd shot up 10. The captain said his drive at 3rd and 3 chips at 4 and missile chip at 13 were beyond comment.
SHOT OF THE DAY; Jim's 3rd chip and birdie putt to secure a win. A great match, some great shots and a win for the challengers.
DRAW WINNERS
Congratulations to the draw winners.
Draw 1 - Any customer who purchased a Titleist Vokey SM5 Wedge was entered into a FREE draw to win a Limited Edition Titleist SM5 Tour bag. Draw 1 Winner - Ross Salmon
Draw 2 - Any customer who purchased a Dozen Titleist Pro V1 Balls was entered into a FREE draw to win a Titleist 9.5" Tour Bag. Draw 2 Winner - Ian Hancock
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
The Club Championship was contested over the weekend and after a fine day's scoring on Saturday the players went into the final round on Sunday with everything to play for, with only 4 shots separating the top 6.
Ross Salmon - 72
Ian Curley - 73
Dan Smart - 73
Andy Walker - 74
Warren Alcock - 75
Dan Bourne -76
They teed off in reverse order on the Sunday and the tables turned with Ian Curley clinching victory with a solid 70 to give him a 36 total of 143
Final Standings were
Ian Curley - 73 + 70 = 143
Dan Smart - 73 + 76 = 149
Andy Walker - 74 +77 = 150
Ross Salmon - 72 + 79 = 151.
Pros Competition
Before the results get listed I think that the following deserves a special mention:
Upon completing their round the team of John Isaacs, Mick Hughes, Alan Bonehill and Dave Toft entered the clubhouse to go through the scores to see if their score was close. John asks Dave what their score was but Dave hadn't marked a card so turns to Alan "what did we finish?" "I didn't mark the card" replies Alan who then turns to Mick and asks what they scored but of course unbelievably Mick hadn't marked a card either. So that's 18 holes of golf and not one of the group had marked a card!
1st Place - Pete Robinson, Doug Molloy, Dave Bradbury 130 Points
2nd Place - Terry Alcock, Adrian Briggs, Paul Bradley 118 Points
3rd Place - Simon Clowes, Tony Brindley, Dan Duffield, Steve Wales 117 Points
LADY CAPTAIN'S AWAY DAY
Thirty Nine ladies went to Lilleshall Golf Club on Thursday 14th August for their Lady Captain's Away Day. A coach took those who wanted a relaxed start and end to the day and one lady, who shall remain nameless, got her timings all wrong and had to make a dash to the second pick up point while the rest of us distracted the driver to slow him down.
Others had a more challenging journey with Sat Navs taking them off-roading! It wouldn't be a match report if we didn't refer to the weather - and we had a mixed bag, warm sunshine; cold rain and a quick blast of hail! Undeterred everyone took it in their stride, buoyed by the promise of refreshments at the half way house.
Upon arrival at Uncle Tom's Cabin the ladies were met by Manuel and Jose, AKA Dave and Adrian, who served Peach Bellini's and canapés, and so good was the service that most had to be actively encouraged to continue down the 10th. Oh, by the way we did play golf! Teams of three, with two best scores to count - the winning team were Lisa Davies, Gill Damjanovic, and Andrea Martin, 2nd place was taken by Jan Moss, Jen Flavell and Wendy Thornhill who were closely followed by Gill Armstrong, Ange Broadhurst and Tina Edwards.
The aim of the day was to take the ladies to a course that few had played before and to enjoy a round of golf as part of a team and judging by the chatter and laughter round the dining tables at the end of the day this was achieved. Lilleshall Golf Club provided a test on the Course with some challenging pin positions, a very warm welcome in the club house and a delicious meal in the restaurant to end the day. Our Senior section are visiting in September. Syd-you will not be disappointed.
MIXED OPEN - BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 25th AUGUST
40 couples played in this long-established popular fixture, and weren't disappointed with better than forecasted weather, a course in excellent condition, and brilliant support from several members of Leek G.C.
Leading the way with a creditable 42 points were Michael Palmer and Wendy Mitchell from Stone GC and Royal Lytham & St. Annes respectively. They just edged in front of three other couples with 42 points by virtue of an excellent back nine of 24 points!
In second place were Andy and Jayne Baxter from Leek GC, achieving a solid back nine of 23 points, bettering the third-placed pair of Simon Morris and Gill Morris from Buxton & High Peak GC with a back 6 of 15 compared to their back 6 of 14.
In fourth place were Tony and Wendy Thornhill from Leek GC, also with 42 points, but with a back 9 of 22 points. In fifth position were Steve Crawshaw and Shelley Hufton from Lichfield GC and Darnford Moors GC respectively with 39 points.
Nearest the pin
On 4th Ladies: Gill Morris (Buxton & High Peak GC) Men: Les Buckley (Prestbury GC)
On 7th Ladies: Alison Hodson (Buxton & High Peak GC) Men: Jon Postlethwaite (Alsager GC)
Organiser Trevor Eccleston commented that he was very pleased with the numbers of entrants coming to Leek GC, defying the trend that other clubs are experiencing with support for opens. "People have travelled from far and wide to our course today, and have gone away with a good feeling of the "Leek Experience".
Thanks go to Steve and Sally Longhorn for their commitment to help at the half-way house, the kitchen staff for supplying home-made refreshments and an imaginative range of bar snacks. Captain Dave Gallimore and Vice-Captain Trevor Eccleston acted as "Mr. Starter", for which the Club is very grateful. The ground staff are to be congratulated on presenting the course in superb condition, despite the damp and windy weather of the last few days.
The results were recorded by Mick Barker, who worked late into the evening to close a perfect day for all concerned. Thanks finally to Jake in the Pro- Shop for his professional service to visitors and members alike, and to the Leek GC office staff for their brilliant back-up in all areas of administration.
CAPTAIN ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE
On Presidents Day for Ladies The Captain will participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge if he can raise £50 towards the Lady Captains Charity Appeal, if you can donate just £1 in the collection bucket is located on the bar the Captain will do his challenge following the completion of President's Day for Ladies on Sunday 31st August.
