Mark Smith

Hello golfers,

Welcome to another edition of our newsletter, this week I recap on some tough conditions in the Manchester Alliance, we have a great score from Daniel in the winter league, I’ve been awarded a new status, and we look at the overseas Pro-am. Enjoy the read!

Competition news

Manchester Alliance update

Back up and running after the winter Christmas break, the Manchester alliance took us to Boysnope Park Golf Club in Eccles, Manchester. Now I’m a relatively keen golfer, I enjoy the game to a degree that many wouldn't understand. But, today was challenging, tough and quite frankly, at times, some of the worst conditions I’ve ever played golf in.

My playing partner Nick Rabbeth marched on like a true Stamford Golf club legend through the hail like a hot knife through butter. His 3 point contributions helped warm my hands because it meant I could leave them in my pockets. But in all seriousness, for his MDGA debut, it was a very pleasant experience and great company.

Cheers Nick!

Winter League update

The good scores simply keep on coming in the Winter League with 48 points this week topping the leaderboard from Daniel Cranmer. Close friend Marvin Russell also pitched up with 46 points to add valuable points with both players making up good ground on the Yellow jersey holder Steve Moores. Steve holds on to pole position after taking a weeks break in Portugal alongside second place Paul Traynor.

Week 13 of WL is set to go ahead this Sunday with a full field and numbers forever growing. The tension is most certainly building after we have passed the halfway stage and players begin to reach their 8 games required tally.Best wishes to those competing this weekend. The greenkeepers are hard at work hand cuting the greens for you.

Game on!

Pro's news

Director of Golf status - PGA

A proud moment for me this week after the PGA finally awarded me with full Director of Golf status of the PGA, only the 69th PGA member to achieve the grade. A huge thank you goes to Master Professional John Mulgrew for his support throughout the qualification. An extract from the PGA website on the qualification says;

"The title ‘Director of Golf’ is widely used in the golf industry. It has been adopted by many different organisations and is applied to a variety of working situations. It is evident that the position of Director of Golf is usually accepted as one with responsibilities that extend from and are additional to those normally expected of a golf club professional; however, to this point there has been no clear standard or job description to consistently define the role.

In response to the demand by the PGA members, the PGA has examined this situation, researched various possible solutions and has developed the PGA Director of Golf Qualification. This qualification is designed to provide a means of recognition for those who already perform effectively in the role of Director of Golf as well as a framework for acquiring the skills needed for those who aspire to such a role.

Trainee Assistants can attend the Induction Day only, however they would need to qualify and be elected to membership and also met the requirements of the Certificate of Golf Management Theory to process on to this stage."

I am due to graduate for both my "Certificate of Golf management theory" & "Director of Golf" awards on Friday the 20th April.

Pro-am news

Lancashire PGA Pro Am

Officially into its 3rd year after originally starting as the MDGA overseas Pro-am 4 years ago, the Now “Lancashire overseas PGA Pro-am” reached record numbers this year with 136 golfers’ jetting off to Vila Sol on the Vilamoura resort in Portugal. The event organised by Andy Duncan of the Lancashire PGA and driven by Majestic Coffee director Steve Moores is vastly becoming one of the highlights of every golfing season.

The golfers’ were initially met by high and cold winds with some rain thrown in there too, it was like home from home, but the week did improved and the event was met with some stunning conditions. Professional Graham Cox led the way with scores of level par, -5 and a final round of -4 for an 11 stroke victory. Garstang’s finest managed to claim first prize alongside their professional John Twissell.

Of the vast amount of Stamford Members who went out to support the event, the best finishers were Kevin Duffy, James Woodcock & Martin Dwyer who managed to finish runners up, just 9 points behind the winners with their team Professional (Phil Kelly) finishing tied 5th place in the pro’s individual tournament.