Mark Smith

Hello golfers,

Welcome to another edition of our weekly newsletter, in this mail we welcome a news staff member, we have the pro shop raffle, I report back from a successful away trip, and once again we have some impressive scoring in the Winter League. Enjoy the read!

Shop news

New shop staff

Meet Cheri, our latest addition to the Pro Shop services.

Cheri will be offering a helping hand around the shop from time to time. Cheri is mother to our incredible Francesca D'iorio who manages the clubhouse and functions, all with a wonderful smile.

Pro Shop Christmas raffle

The Pro Shop Christmas raffle is open and you can bag yourselves a nice Galvin Green Jacket to the value of £219.00.

Second prize will be 3 x 1hour simulation golf lessons to the value of nearly £90 and finally a Club crested sweater from Glenbrae to the value of £60.00.

Remember, you have to be in to win it! Best wishes and all the best for the coming holidays!

Club news

Captains Away trip

Many thanks to Club Captain Andy Yeardley for his idea of a weekend away for a group of golfers which was a real success, he even organised the weather! Carden Park could only offer us the Cheshire course owing to poor surface conditions on the Nicklaus course, but I do believe this played into the hands of the overall winner, Paul Traynor. His Opening round of 35 points was good enough to take the prize money only to 3 putt the last on day two in the betterball format to finish tied first with playing partner Tony Smith.

The company, spirit and craic was up there with the best weekends away, a great introduction to the annual calendar.

Club Vice-Captain elect

For those of you who don't know and those who have forgotten, the Past Captains meeting was held on Friday 24th November. This traditionally involves a 12 hole game of golf followed by a meal and a meeting to discuss the introduction of the new Vice Captain Elect for the coming year. By now i can only imagine the candidate will have received the knock on the door and he'll be preparing his speech for the traditional Christmas day announcement.

I'll not make any suggestions this year as I think I've only been correct twice in 11 years.

Competition news

Marvin Russell

Winter League Week 4 - Update

Last week I took all my time complimenting Nigel Kippax after he posted a record breaking 50 points in week 3 of the Winter League (Singles Stableford).

This week I popped open my laptop on Sunday evening to check the results and there it was, another 49 pointer but this time from newbie, Marvin Russell. In all due fairness, Marvin has worked hard on his swing, developed his game and deserves the win. His second score in the Winter League currently sits him relatively down the league but with two games in hand, I’m fairly certain this chap is one to watch come March in the hunt for the Yellow Jersey.

Runner up was Kevin Bird by card play-off on 45 points from Wayne Morris. Another two individuals who are standing strong in the early stages of the Winter series. Kevin & Wayne with opening rounds of 39,38 & 45 and 36, 45 & 45 respectively hold one game in hand on the leaders which doesn't really justify their true league standing until week 9 of the schedule at the very earliest.

Another name to look out for who boasts an abundance of experience playing from a fairway mat is Paul Traynor. Two winter League titles in three years confirms his secret desires for the tough conditions. Another is Winter League rookie, Mick Cheadle. Scores of 40,41 & 40 indicates some enthusiasm and ability for the twin who is eyeing up his chances to bag himself the Pro Shop Major title, however, this is very early stages and much more is going to happen.

Currently at the top of the board we see Steve Moores again. He rolled out another 42 points in week four of the Winter League, to sit proudly among his opening round of 44, 37 in week 2 and 39 in week 3, totaling 162 and 18 better than his handicap over 4 rounds collectively.

Finally a big thank you to Handicaps & competitions chairman Chris Akers and Anthony Sharples for their dedicated work in reducing the handicaps accordingly, in relation to the new winter handicapping system. This season so far, inside just 4 weeks, there have been 42 playing handicaps reduced. Hopefully this can provide a more accurate and level playing field in the long run.

Game on in week 5 of the WL.