ROMILEY GOLF CLUB

April 2017 Newsletter

Birchwood G.C. v Romiley G.C., Saturday, 1st April, 2017

Dunham Forest Trophy

Mike Hanson and your editor raced

over to Birchwood to support the

team. We wandered around looking

for someone; anyone!! Was this the

Marie Celeste of golf? Was it the right

course? Yes! It was! Where was

everybody. And so, as intrepid

explorers, we set off to search for the

players. We found them on a separate

loop about a 1000 yards from the

closed clubhouse.

What a relief. As we watched each

pair pass the 12th green it was

obviously a very tight match. The

overall match was all square at 3

games each with just one match

incomplete. Matt Murray was level

after 18 holes but in this trophy every

match must be either a win or a loss.

No halves here. The team were

thrilled that Matt won on the 20th.

Your editor asked Matt why he thought he managed to prevail. Typically

modest, Matt thought that, as his opponent was giving him about 50 years,

tiredness was the key!! And so, it was a famous victory by 4 to 3.

Alex White and caddy, Harry Doyle John Allman with his opponent

Alex was as relaxed as he looked!

Singles Stableford, Saturday, 1st April, 2017

1st Vinnie Walker 35 2nd Ryan Yates 35 3rd Conrad Tipping 34

Vinnie had 3 birdies and 2 pars.

Handicap Cup, Round One, Wednesday, 5th April, 2017

1st Brooke Snape 75-10c=65 2nd Bradley Snape 79-13c=66 3rd Matt Reid 72-5c=67

Brooke had a front 9 of 40 and then a flawless back 9 of 35 to beat his brother,

Bradley, by one shot. Matt also had a great round with a gross 72 but.... not

good enough on the day.

Doris Mary Traynor, 1st October 1931—20th March, 2017

Doris was born in Stalybridge and stayed in the area all her life. She left school at 14,

as did everyone else then, and worked in the cotton mill and then the family ice cream

business. She was very proud of her father, William Booth, who received a DCM

during the First World War, and his name still appears on a commemorative plaque

on the front of Stalybridge Town Hall.

At the dance hall in Ashton Doris met Len who owned an engineering business. They

were married in 1952, but, sadly, Len died several years ago. They had two children,

David and Karen, with whom she was very close.

She had a love of sport, played lots of tennis and joined Romiley Golf Club in 1979.

Doris organised the Bell Cup team for many years, including taking the team to the

finals. Latterly she played in the 9 hole competitions and regularly won the annual 9

hole trophy.

Joyce Bayley paid a lovely tribute to her good friend and travelling companion of 20

years. They both loved their many holidays together and their bridge and bowling.

Doris was always active. Last year she enrolled in a night school class for German,

worked as a volunteer in the café at Stepping Hill Hospital until six months ago and

hosted a bridge evening just a couple of weeks before her death.

“She was a role model and inspiration,” were the final words of the celebrant’s

address, and no-one can argue with that.

Doris with Lady Captain Pauline Whitehead on her 80th birthday

Ladies’ Singles 18 hole Stableford, Thursday, 6th April, 2017

1st Janet Worthington 37 pts 2nd Angela Slate 36 pts 3rd Irene Barrow 32 pts

Ladies’ Singles 9 hole Stableford, Thursday, 6th April, 2017

1st Liz Boycott 15 pts 2nd Beryl Reade 15 pts 3rd Sylvia Hall 12 pts

Bramall Park Seniors v Romiley Vets, Friday, 7th April, 2017

The photo above counts as the before, as in before the work started. Bramall

are having a lot of ambitious work done on the clubhouse (see below for the

during). For the after, we’ll need to wait ‘til next year.

After a consistently wet and squelchy start

to the year, the Romiley Vets were able to

enjoy clearer skies and firmer ground un-

derfoot as they kicked off the season under

the leadership of new Chairman, Harvey

Purcer. As usual, the beneficiaries of the

visitors’ slow reversion to playing off an

alien, for several months, at least, grassy

surface were Bramall Park.

Harvey Purcer,

new Chairman,

ready for the

Ray Hayes, a

self-confessed

Vets’ virgin

The match of which your correspondent has personal experience settled

quickly into a depressing rhythm, both Romiley drives being far beyond those

of the home players, but then myself and vice-captain Glyn Roberts found a

variety of creative ways of messing-up the hole. We were 3 down after 4, and

despite a brief rally, subsided to an early 4 & 3 defeat as the home side’s high-

handicapper hit peak form.

Elsewhere, things were not faring well

for the visitors. Harvey & Bill Barrow,

in the first match, kept in touch

throughout, but slipped behind over

the final holes. In the second, Derek

Young and Graham Evans were in

with a chance of success until the last,

where the home team’s birdie

snatched victory.

Andy Reed and Dave Bowden secured

our only win. It fell to Harvey to give

the match result...............

6.5 to 1.5 “Nosher” Reed Keith Selby

Author

Monthly Medal, Saturday, 8th April, 2017

Division One

1st Simon Hebden 74-2=72 2nd Brooke Snape 81-9=72 3rd Mike Murray 82-9=73

Simon had one birdie and 13 pars, beating off the challenge from young Brooke with his best –

ever gross score. However, with his practising, he will just continue to improve.

Division Two

1st Mike Clarke 78-13=65 2nd Bradley Snape 81-12= 69 3rd Al Martin 82-13=69

Great score by Mike with one birdie and 8 pars. Another astonishing score from Bradley, just

pipping Big Al. How did Al do it? He was carted off to hospital from the golf course the previous

day having been violently sick!! A man of iron!

Division Three

1st Keith Selby 92-20=72 2nd Steve Cleary 103-28= 75 3rd Alan Walker 94-19=75

Steady golf from Keith was his route to success with his round including 4 pars. Great to see

Steve on the leader board!

Picture taken 25th February, 2017 with Billy Whittaker as the odd man out!

Al Martin 3rd Bradley Snape 2nd Mike Clarke 1st

Our Past Captains and the Alzheimer’s Society

Last year’s captains, Irene Barrow and Gary Williams, worked tirelessly

raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to their hearts. This

Society puts money into research, campaigning and support services to help

both the sufferers and the carers. The three key words are care, cure and

prevention. Last year the Government finally agreed to put £100 million into

the many facets of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Society and another charity,

Alzheimer’s Research, have agreed to match this funding with £50 million each,

to be raised in the next ten years.

On Wednesday, 12th April, Irene and Gary met with Steph Larkin, community

fundraiser for the Greater Manchester area for the Alzheimer’s Society, at our

club. There they proudly presented a cheque for the sum of five thousand, four

hundred and seventy seven pounds 28p raised during their year in office.

Steph was, naturally, thrilled. Over dinner she outlined the many different

causes of dementia and the many ways the Society helps people living with

dementia. With our increasingly ageing population it is a charity which

demands all our support. Both Gary and Irene would like to thank all those

inside and outside our club. who helped to raise this sum.

Gary Williams Steph Larkin Irene Barrow

Holes in One!! Saturday, 8th April, 2017

Monday, 10th April, 2017

And so it was Paul Trafford versus

Barry Logan in the Vets’ Singles

K.O. On the 11th hole Barry took

out his red driver and mishit the

shot. Nevertheless, it snaked

towards the green and seemed to

slither into the hole. A hole in

one!!.

Paul Trafford could not emulate

this feat so was one down. In fact,

after 6 holes Barry was dormie

three. Paul is made of stern stuff

and won the next three holes and

they had to go down the 10th.....

again.

Barry was the victor. Imagine if he

had lost having had a hole-in-one!!

Barry Logan looking particularly smug

after his victory and having enjoyed some

of the whiskey he placed on the bar.

Dave Smith

Dave hit a fierce 5 iron into the wind

at the 11th. “Oh dear!” he said, as he

approached the green, “it’s run

through!”

His playing partner, Steve Baldwin,

thought not. “Look at the pitch mark!

It’s just a foot beyond the hole. That

could be in if it’s spun back.” And,

dear reader, it had. When one

considers that Dave and Steve had

considered going in after 10 holes

because they were playing so badly.

The gods were obviously smiling on

Dave as he had Sergio Garcia in the

sweepstake. Add to this his Hugo Boss

watch and entry into the Howdidido

Hole-in-one-Club and it made a most

worthwhile weekend!

The Hewitt’s, Monday, 10th April, 2017

Your Hon. Sec., Charles Haworth, alerted your editor to a strange sighting in

the dining room: a trio of Hewitts. The normal Spotted Hewitt (Nick) and the

Lesser Spotted Hewitt (Aaron) were either side of the Greater Spotted Hewitt

(Rolly).

Your editor did not ask who won this meeting of the three ages of the Hewitt

family; Rolly’s smirk said it all!

Nick Rolly Aaron

A 74 year old who watches 6 hours of TV a day,

plays golf and is always on holiday is called a

pensioner........

not a president!

Ladies’ Peugeot Coronation Foursomes, Thursday, 13th April, 2017

1st Denise Booth and Debs Kershaw 35

2nd Anne Harrison and

Janet Worthington 34 3rd Hilary Craven and

Sally Hebden 33

Looking down the 15th, Friday, 28th April, 2017

A motley collection of

those enjoying the “Fish

and Steak Night” on

Good Friday, 14th April,

2017.

A motley collection of

those enjoying the “Fish

and Steak Night” on

Good Friday, 14th April,

2017.

Hudson Cup, Saturday, 15th April, 2017

1st Billy Whittaker 3 up 2nd Gary Evans 2 up 3rd Nick Gorman 2 up

And here are just a few of our other new members:-

John

Pinchin

New members

As your President and editor were strolling

round the course he looked up to the 14th tee to

see our chairman with two new members. He

recognised Alan Smith as he is a regular visitor

to our social events. The other???? Yes! It had to

be one of the best amateur goal keepers with

whom I have played. The one and only John

Pinchin who played with me at Stockport Geor-

gians back in the 60’s and 70’s. One thing John

and your editor agreed on; the older we get the

better we were.

Lee Hopkins Mark James Tommy McGinchey Alan Smith

( returning Junior)

Ladies versus Bolton Old Links G.C., Sunday, 16th April, 2017

Barbara Leith Pauline Walker Karen Stewart Carol Helme

L.C., RGC Team captain LC., BOLGC Team captain

Romiley ladies were drawn at home in the Bell Cup against Bolton Old Links with the

match taking place on Easter Sunday. Despite a promising start to the day, the

forecast was for drizzle all day and that was exactly what we got. The team consisted

of Denise Booth, Diane Houghton, Pauline Walker, Linda Moore, Heather Denton,

Past Lady Captain Irene Barrow and Liz Wilde.

Bolton Old Links had a few very strong players, handicaps ranging from 5 - 15, with

a few County players amongst them. The good news was that we were all receiving

shots which is always an advantage when playing on our own course. After 6 matches

had been completed, the score was 3 - 3 so both teams had to wait anxiously in the

clubhouse for the final match to come in. There was much celebration by the Romiley

ladies when we realised we had won. Well done ladies - it was a close but fabulous and

quite unexpected result.

Match organiser, Pauline Walker

Ladies v Vets, Tuesday, 18th April, 2017

After two postponements, the Ladies v Vets match got under way on a rather

chilly April morning, which gave way to a beautiful day as the games

progressed.

In the Lady Captain and Lady Vice Captain versus the Vets’ Chair and Vice

Chair, some good golf was played with Alison Reed getting a 3 for 4 on the 2nd

hole to match Bill Barrow's chip in for 2 (for 4).

Lady Captain Barbara also had 4 points when she parred the 6th hole. Geoff

Higgins birdied the 12th for 4 points to record another notable score.

As the results came in the Vets took a 3-1 lead, with 6 more points overall. The

next result in was a 32-22 win for Audrey Jones and Pam Cunnington, to make

the result go to the last match with the Ladies 4 points in the lead.

With the last match to finish, come in Bob Simpson, who on the 9th (their last

of the 14 hole match) chipped in for a 4 for 4 points and evened the scores at

166 points for both teams.

Overall in matches the Vets beat the Ladies by 4 matches to 2, to reverse the

2016 result.

Harvey Purcer

Lady Captain, Barbara Leith, presenting Vets’

Chairman Harvey Purcer with the coveted trophy

April Monthly Medal, 22nd April, 2017

Division One

Division Two

Division Three

1st Mark Worsley 69-3=66 2nd Mark Jones 72-2=70 3rd Nick Madden, 73-2=71

1st: Michael Goodwin 85-18=67 2nd Mark James 81-10=72 Paul Mellor 81=10=71

Steve Cleary 100-28=72 Bob Simpson, 92-19=73 3rd Tony Gallagher 94-21=73

Ladies’ Medal, Thursday, 20th April, 2017

Alison Reed, 111-36=75 Gill Walker, 99-24=75 Heather Denton, 95-19=76

Lottery, 18th March 2017

1st: Brent Shore, £99 2nd Ken Turney, £59.40

3rd Pam Turney, £39.60

Lottery, 15th April, 2017

1st Neil McRoberts £99 2nd Andrew Martin 3rd Peter Mount, MBE

“Can I take your photo

with Pam, please,

Ken?” asked your

editor. “What for?”

replied Ken. “You won

on the lottery.” was the

response. “What!! Pam

told me that she had got

second and third prize

in the lottery. The little

madam!”

Looking back down the 10th, Friday, 28th April, 2017

Lady Captain’s Sunday Driver, Oulton Hall, 23th/24th April, 2017

It was that time of year again when a golfing venue and hotel didn’t know what had

hit them when 27 ladies arrived for our annual trip away. We had five new attendees

this year – welcome to Angela Slate, Gill Thompson, Isabel Wright, Joan Mellor and

Rachel Broster.

This year was Oulton Hall near Leeds, which is a 27-hole course. We played holes 1 –

18 on both days and there were plenty of positive and complimentary comments

about the course and its condition, although not so many about the staff in the

clubhouse! We had lovely weather on the Sunday. Monday began a bit showery but it

stopped raining within an hour and then we had alternating sun, cloud and strong

breezes for the rest of the day.

Thank you to Lady Captain Barbara, who not only treated us all to a goody bag each

but she also very generously supplied many bottles of wine and Prosecco with nibbles

for our pre-dinner soiree (27 ladies crammed into an average size twin room!!).

Sunday: Winning Team – Pauline Walker, Diane Houghton, Jackie

Monday: Winning Team – Alison Reed (Lady Vice-Captain), Val Bonser,

Lynn Schofield and Glynis Hunt with 111 points

Sunday: Individual Winner – Angela Slate

with 35 points (on a cpo with yours truly!)

Sunday: Nearest the Pin in 2 was not

achieved by anyone (very tricky hole!!)

so we awarded the best back 9 score to

Anne Harrison who had 19 points

Sunday: Longest Drive, Hilary Craven

Monday: Individual Winner,

Glynis Hunt with an incredible 41

points

Monday: Nearest the Pin

was won by Audrey Jones

Monday: Longest Drive winner

and winner of Annette’s Trophy

A good weekend was had by all, with a lot of laughs between us, and I hope we

can all do the same again next year.

Pauline Walker

Romiley Vets v Bramhall Seniors, 21st April, 2017

There Ain’t No Cure for the Springtime Blues!

In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish'd dove;

In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of........

Well, we all know what young

men’s fancies turn to, those of us

who can remember, but, for those

of more mature years, thoughts turned more to how many layers would be needed

to help protect against the persistent cold wind, present from the start of the match

and freshening during the day.

The home team were keen to erase the memory of the

recent heavy defeat at Bramhall Park by achieving

victory over

their neighbours. Chairman Harvey Purcer, in tandem

with Ian Bainbridge, set the tone by racing into a clear

lead with pars at the first three holes. They extended the

lead to 5, and, although their opponents rallied for a

while, were able to claim a very early victory.

Elsewhere, things were not going so well. Joergen

Frederiksen strove manfully against inspired

opponents, despite being handicapped by being

paired with myself, suffering yet another fully-

merited dip in confidence. It seemed that a half

might be achieved here until one of the visitors

drilled his second about 190 yards through the

strong wind to the heart of the 18th green before two

putting for the decisive win. Home wins were hard to

find elsewhere as well as the visitors appeared to

solve the mysteries of the sanded greens better than

the Romiley players.

As each group reached the clubhouse it became apparent that this year’s vets’ team

is still ‘A Work in Progress’, although the progress was marked by a slight

improvement from losing 4½ v 1½ to going down by 5½ to 2½.

Proceedings were concluded by a few well-chosen words from Chairman Harvey

and Bramhall’s Captain. Let’s hope for even more improvement in next week’s

match at home to Ashton.

Keith Selby

Ladies “Get into Golf” Pizza and Prosecco Evening

Thursday, 20th April, 2017

The photos say it all, a lively evening of fun and laughter with a touch of

competitive spirit or should that be prosecco? Alex, Graham and Matt set up

three challenging games in the clubhouse.

Anne Harrison, Pam Cunnington and Carolyn Brinsley, Membership Committee

Pauline Whitehead proved to be the

window-smashing champ in the studio.

Angela Roberts won the “mouse hole”

putting competition

The target golf was won by Ros

Hale. Ros beat Carolyn Brinsley

in a nail-biting play off.

Ken did us proud with his speciality pizzas,

knocking spots off Domino’s.

All “new to golf” ladies are invited to free

taster sessions on Wednesday, 3rd and

Sunday, 7th May from 12 pm until 1 pm.

Please spread the word. The sessions are

completely free and open to any ladies keen

to give golf a try or looking to return to the

sport. Further details are available from the

Professional. Congratulations to all our

winners and thanks to everyone who came

along to support the event.

Handicap Cup, Round 2, Wednesday, 26th April, 2017

1st Steve Sheils 84-20 2nd Steve Kidd 82-16= 66 3rd Paul Quinn 93-24= 69

Wonderful round from Steve who had 7 pars going out in 44 and back in 40

Ladies’ Stroke Play, Thursday, 27th April, 2017

1st Linda Moore 88-17=71 2nd Karen Hooley 102-29=73 3rd Gill Walker 100-24= 76

Linda won going out in 44 coming back in 44 with 6 pars .

Victory Cup, Saturday, 29th April, 2017

1st Conrad Tipping 41 pts 2nd Colin Davies 40 pts 3rd Andrew Wisedale 36 pts

What a win for Conrad who had 6 pars to boost his score. Colin must have

thought he had won the Victory Cup again having been the victor in 2014.

If you looks VERY carefully you can see a mandarin duck swimming away. It

is the same little duck pictured on the left in the corner but it is not of good

enough quality to stand on its own. Hence, proper picture on the right. Rolly

Hewitt assures your editor that this will be the third year that there has been a

breeding pair of mandarin ducks on this pond.

Vets’ Spring Dinner, Friday, 28th April, 2017

All in the April evening Romiley vets were abroad. However, nearly fifty

managed to make it to the Vets’ Spring dinner making it a good turn out.

Harvey Purcer, the Vets’ chairman, had done his homework on who was

attending as he reeled through the list of ALL the dignitaries present for this

lovely occasion. Harvey thanked our caterers, Pam and Ken Turney, for a most

tasty meal and, in particular, he thanked Mike Wilson for his immaculate

organisation. As chairman he has managed to play with about 30 of the vets so

far; only 50 to go!

He made mention of the narrow, sneaky win in the match against the Ladies

but was very conscious that the Vets have lost both matches against other golf

club seniors. Harvey feels he has to get a result next or it could be a case of

“Purcer out!”.

He gently poked fun at his own golfing ability (or lack of it) with some dry wit

and humour. Harvey wished everyone a good Bank Holiday but, as he pointed

out, for the vets it’s a Bank Holiday every day!

Harvey Purcer, Vets’ Chairman Irene and Bill Barrow Joan Mellor

Andrew and Alison Reed Mike and Gillian Wilson

Our organiser with his amanuensis

President’s Ponderings

We live in interesting times: Donald Trump, Brexit, North Korea, Isis. But

these pale into insignificance when we look closer to home to Romiley Golf

Club. For our Club it is a time to secure our future. What an outstanding

presentation we received from Steve Hogg and his Futures Committee. The

support for the proposals was overwhelming. We await developments.

Meanwhile, our Club must still keep working hard to attract new members.

The Taster Scheme, introduced by Mike Cope some years ago, has been a life

saver for the Club. The latest initiative of offering 50% reductions to

newcomers introduced by existing members and then 50% off for that member

if his/her introductory friend stays on for the next year, is proving very

successful. It has also been pleasing to see former members returning. The

Ladies’ Pizza and Prosecco evening was another great venture.

Communication is something that is vital for any organisation. I thought I was

pretty good at it in my former life as a head teacher until my staff were asked to

name my biggest weakness. You guessed it. Communication. As G.B. Shaw

said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has

taken place.” Andrew Reed is leading the effort to keep our membership

informed but it does need YOU to read it! Our website is developing to become

more interactive. How many of you are aware that there is a complete diary of

events so you know what is happening at our Club? All our emails to the

membership are “branded”. You can now access the newsletter, Facebook,

members’ competition booking and members’ tee times all with just one click.

One thing is for sure; I was NOT invited to be President because of my golfing

ability, as anyone at the Captains’ Drive In will testify.

John Glynn, El Presidente (Pretentious? Moi?)

Editorial Team

John Glynn Audrey Jones Phil Roberts