MY DAY OUT AT ROYAL LYTHAM GOLF CLUB
When our Club Professional Greg Rogula asked me "What would I really like to do during my year as Captain"? I responded that I would like to play at Royal Lytham on the Lancashire coast. I had played there some 15 years ago and would love to revisit the course and play with my good friend Dunc Stott. Well 2 weeks ago Greg and I took on Dunc Stott and Tim Rich (Lytham Professional) over the windy links course that has hosted many British Opens over the last 30 years and because we were playing with Tim Rich we were allowed to enjoy the experience from the Club's Medal tees.
The course was a huge test for me being a bit short off the tee but I encountered many problems during the next few hours ranging from the depth and amount of sand in the bunkers, the very tight lies on the fairways and my inability to read a putt on the slick greens. My playing partners, however, were all playing some great golf and enjoying the experience of playing on the big stage. After 8 holes Greg and I were 3 down (all my fault) and Dunc was "The Master" on the greens holing out from everywhere. Greg was playing them on his own and managed to reduce the deficit to 2 down at the halfway point. This lighted his fire and he (we) managed 3 birdies on the back 9 to win the match 2&1. "Didn't we do well" I commented (tongue in cheek).
I had a great day out there on the links but apart from taking a few photographs I didn't do much right. We were escorted around the Clubhouse taking in the memorabilia on show and discussed the merits of Seve's shot from the car park on the 16th.
We enjoyed the occasion and made a night of it by visiting a lovely steakhouse in the village before returning home. Thanks Greg, the memories of my year in office get better and better.
For those who wish to play Royal Lytham the cost would be £170 per round during the week (£250 at weekend) and they allow a maximum of 20 fourballs per day. The catering is good and reasonably priced but the views from the bar over the course are to die for.
If any member has had any "special" days out please share them with us by doing a short article which we will post in the Newsletter. I would love to hear what you get up to away from the Club.
Dave Gallimore
MY DAY AT WENTWORTH - ANDY MARTIN
I had been looking forward to 1330 hours on Friday 3rd October 2014 for some time. My playing partners at Leek were sick and tired of hearing about my upcoming visit.
It would be the day I finally got to play one of the most iconic courses in England. Treading on fairways graced by Hogan, Snead, Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Ballesteros, Norman, Faldo, Woods and Mcllroy to name but a few.
The West course was designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1926. It was modernised by Ernie Els in 2005 and 2012. It has hosted the Ryder Cup in 1953, the Canada Cup in 1956, the HSBC World Matchplay from 1964 to 2007 and the BMW PGA Championship from 1984 to the present day.
The day finally arrived and like an excited schoolboy I was awake early and arrived at the course 90 minutes before the 1130 hours arranged time to meet my playing partners. On arrival the first thing I had to do was to find a suitable hiding place for my 56 plate Ford Mondeo.
The Wentworth estate is a very impressive place it boasts three courses the West, East and Edinburgh. We were playing the West course. Whilst waiting for the others I had a walk around and the chance to take everything in. It didn't make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like St. Andrew's but it is without doubt a very special place.
I walked past the ballroom where Paul McGinley recently gave his press conference announcing to the world his three captain's picks for this year's Ryder Cup. The impressive driving range is opposite the ballroom. The large putting green is to the left of the 1st tee on the West course. The tennis club, spa and children's kindergarten are further to the left.
The unique clubhouse houses the proshop where the prices are even more expensive than Greg's!!!! 5 x magnetic Wentworth ball markers, Wentworth bag tag and a course planner and I found myself £56.50 lighter in the pocket.
I was to wait for Eddie in the clubhouse lounge area. Walking past the large display of golf clubs used by winners of tournaments at Wentworth I made my way into the lounge. Eddie is an overseas member at Wentworth. He owns an apartment in Virginia Waters, Wentworth. He lives in Bermuda (in a very big house overlooking the ocean) and is also a member at the prestigious Mid Ocean Golf Club. I was fortunate to play there with him in 2001 and 2004. Eddie is good friends with "Uncle Alan" who along with his brother Richard make up our fourball. Eddie arrives in the clubhouse lounge and is followed a few minutes later by "Uncle Alan" and Richard.
It's 20 degrees the sun is out so Eddie takes us through to the patio area, which overlooks the practice bunker and chipping area. We order a sandwich and some coffee and chat. Eddie takes care of the bill.
We stroll through to the reception area where we check in. Handicap certificates are checked thoroughly by the receptionist (The West course has a maximum handicap of 18 for Men and Women). We are issued with our bag tag on receipt of £95 per person (£360 if not playing with a member).
Eddie gets four tokens for the driving range and we make our way across there. "Uncle Alan" and I head over to the practice bunker and chipping area before joining the other two on the putting green.
It's time to make our way the short distance to the first tee.
The starter is very chatty and takes pictures of us on the tee. We throw the balls up and I am to partner "Uncle Alan". Eddie's caddy Ross arrives on the tee (available for only £60). We decide to play from the back tees (7021 yards). The eight Championship tees take the Championship yards to 7281 and are only used by the pros.
I'm given the honour of leading us off the first and we all hit decent shots down the middle. The next 4 hours 20 minutes are a real joy. The course is a fantastic challenge. Every shot seems to be playing longer than the actual yardage on the rangefinder. Ross, the caddy was heard to say "170 to the pin playing 182" It seemed every yardage he gave was longer than the actual yardage. The majority of the greens are like upturned saucers. If your approach shot is not on the money it will find it's way into one of the deep greenside bunkers or will run off down the steep slopes around the greens. The green's themselves were excellent they were very true and rolled at a nice pace. They did however appear a little patchy to the eye.
I managed to hole a good 15 foot downhill putt for par on the ninth, which was to win the hole and the front nine. "Uncle Alan" won the 17th to win us the match 3&1.
I hit the ball well but didn't score particularly well. I was 12 over par, 10 bogeys and one double on the 17th having lost a ball. I desperately wanted to birdie the 18th but narrowly missed my 10 foot birdie putt.
The 18th hole is very different from how I perceived it from the TV. The green is only 32 yards long and half as wide. It is guarded at the front and to the left by the brook and to the right by three deep bunkers. The bale out area to the front right of the green is a lot smaller than I thought. The large spectator stands are set well back from the green, which makes the green and surrounding area appear bigger.
A shower followed by a drink and a fish platter in The Wentworth Grill rounded off a fantastic day. Eddie and Richard handed us our £10 winnings and so it was time to depart.
I gave Eddie a lift home and as I dropped him off he said, "You must come down again when I'm back over". I told him I would love to.
THE PETER ALLISS MASTERS TOURNAMENT
On the 1st October I was fortunate enough to be invited to participate in the above tournament at "The Thorns Golf Club" at Liphook in Hampshire. I was joined by my "Captain's Charity Organiser" Ivor Povey who also participated in this year's event.
The competition was preceded by a welcome dinner for the players, guests and sponsors and we were entertained by some memory anecdotes from Peter Alliss himself and a comedian who went by the name of Keith O'Keefe.
The scoring for the 18 hole stableford competition was surprisingly low with the winner amassing 36 points. Bob Anderson (the darts player who went by the nickname "The Rhinestone Cowboy") came 2nd with 35 points. I gained 32 points (with 3 blobs) to end up with a creditable 5th place. Ivor enjoyed one of his rare visits to the golf course and managed a respectable total of 26 points. 
Mr Alliss conducted the presentation of the Masters Green Jacket and presided over a Charity Auction raising a very large sum of money for his Wheelchair Crusade Appeal.
"It was an occasion that I was very honoured to be invited to and an experience that I will remember forever. Once again I have to thank all of the members of Leek Golf Club for supporting The Captain's Charity during my year in office".
Dave Gallimore
Club Captain 2014
Pro's Sunday Comp - 5th October
1st Place
Clive Mellor
Keith Hemmings
Karl Upton
109 Points
2nd Place
John Tatton
Mick Barker
Ken Hollins
99 Points
3rd Place
Simon Clowes
Dave Knight
Rob Thompson
Dave Twist
98 Points
2nd TEAM TAKEOVER
After some deliberation Jake and I have decided to take on the running of the 2nd Team as well as the 1st Team, we feel it is still very worthwhile running two teams. However we will require members support, anybody who is interested in playing for the team next year please make your interest known in the pro-shop to Jake or myself.
Click here to get in touch.
