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Recent Major Events reports moved to archive - 2011 Newspaper report archive Recent club events reported below. To read about Astbury Team results this year look here Team reports . |
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The birds are back
And finally in this series of reports just to note that the Nesting birds are back in their nesting boxes, also known as ash trays. Please take pity on Tim, Margaret and Harry as they struggle to make use of the single remaining receptacle.
Olympic Medals on display at Astbury
Astbury hosted a private function recently and it was a privilege to for the club to welcome Olympic Gold Medallist from Tokyo, Ann Packer, who was guest of honour . After the event Ann was good enough to pose for photos with Astbury Catering Team.
Ladies Invite Gents 13th May
A tricky day for scoring but a full turnout ........ Clear winners where Peter Taylor and Chris Westrup ran out winners.
Winners on 39 pts Peter Taylor and Chris Westrup Men's Medal 12th May
Saturday 12 May Medal
Astbury Stableford for Men.
First Major of the Year Bank Holiday Mixed; May 5th.
As the season kicks in so do all the competitions. The mixed events started with the popular Bank Holiday mixed.
Winners Mr Captain and Jill Johnson with 42 points
Men's Flag report
April brings showers and at Astbury Golf Club it also brings golf competitions aplenty. Unfortunately those two facts don't mix that well when the showers are of the relentless variety and over these last few weeks the poor golf course, while all bright and ready for the playing season one moment, has been struggling like many around to keep open for play. Nonetheless last Sunday provided enough of a window in the weather for the Annual Men's flag competition to be completed, this despite the fact that in Macclesfield only 10 miles away, if you could get the rain out of your ears you could hear the gentle sound of craftsmen building Arks in their garages. With this as a backdrop, Astbury successfully hosted the Men’s Flag competition on Sunday 22nd. In the Flag the competitors complete their round, subtract their handicap from their score, and if they have are under the par for the course ( 71) then they play from the 1st hole using up their remaining shots, to progress around the course until they run out of shots left. At that point they place a “flag” to show how far they have progressed. The winner of the event is the player whose flag is furthest around this "second" lap. In the event 6 competitors made it past the 18th green, which means they played below their handicap, and hence embarked from the 1st Tee with their playing partners on the day now acting in a supportive role. Simon Wright, Gary Davenport and Glyn Foden with nett 70's therefore had a single shot left, and all were left somewhere on the 1st hole and finishing joint 4th. 3 remaining players made further progress. In 3rd place was (ex) 18 handicapper Peter Mansfield with a superb nett 66 ( 5 shots remaining) my informants were unable to provide details of where Peter finally ground to a halt, but he can be very proud of his day's efforts. However it was extraordinarily close between the top 2 on the day who both returned fabulous scores of Nett 65's. Astbury Captain Dr Alan Percival just beating Nick Davenport by the smallest of margins. Indeed no finer measurer than Harry Gannon was called upon to rule which ball expired closest to the flag on 2nd hole, after each competitor had played the last of their 6 shots into the second green. Davenport being in the bunker by the green and The Captain on the fringe. After much to'ing and fro'ing it was ruled that The Captain's ball lay 18" closer to the flag and hence he was declared the winner. Now for those of you of a mathematical persuasion and with nothing better to do with your evening you may like to ponder that this makes the winning margin 0.008 % . A fun competition and given the conditions 3 very good scores on the day stood out from the crowd.
PC
Lady Captain reports ...
Quizzers Contribute to Charity Coffers! Astbury Golf Club is proud to give its support to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, which is this year’s Captains’ Charity. Hearing Dogs is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and the golf club were pleased to welcome the President of our region’s fund-raising Committee, Mrs Dorothy Croston and HD recipient June Hartstone, who gave a full and sympathetic account of exactly how the charity works. Their presentation explained how dogs are chosen, socialised and taught to become a vital life-partner to their deaf recipient. The canine wizards come from the Charity’s own breeding programme, which has found that Spaniels and Labradors and Poodles for example, are particularly suited to the work required of them. Occasionally, dogs have been taken from Rescue centres, when the dog’s temperament has been found to be suitable for the task of helping their human recipient to lead a fuller life than they thought possible. Being deaf can lead to a desperate feeling of isolation and spiralling depression and this can be apparent at any age and the Hearing Dogs Charity has been recently developing its work with children to great effect. Hearing Dogs bear the NAD mark (National Assistance Dog) on their coats, which allows them access to anywhere with their recipient, including food shops and eating places – just like the more familiar Guide Dogs for the Blind. During her presentation, Dorothy played a DVD to underline the Charity’s important work and June provided a living example of a recipient and her Hearing Dog, Paddy. He has improved her life tremendously, helping her to become part of the community again – providing the link between her and a public who would not have realised that she struggled to integrate and had previously preferred to hide herself away rather than be misunderstood. Paddy gives her security, knowing that he will alert her to the door bell or to the smoke alarm, which could prove fatal when one’s own senses are unaware of imminent danger. Independence, Confidence, Companionship – the Charity’s mission, all rolled up in Paddy, who was a rescue dog given a second chance and a job he does brilliantly! He proved to be a winner with the members of the golf club too and when June thanked the Captains for choosing Hearing Dogs for Deaf People as their Charity, he stood up and wagged his tail and walked, unbidden, directly to them and smiled his thanks! Uncanny! The afternoon was informative and enjoyable and our thanks to Dorothy and her husband Bernard and to June and HD Paddy for coming to talk to us! The Charity raised £115 from the sale of its merchandise and donations given for the coffee and the ladies’ home-made cakes raised a further £151.50, which was a marvellous effort and gratefully received! Further to this, the members and friends of the golf club meet twice every month during the winter season for Quiz Night. Paul Bestwick is the Quiz ‘Meister’ and entertains the teams to varied rounds of questions and picture clues, which invariably include a teaser about ‘Harry The Potter’ (you’d never guess that Paul is a Stoke fan!) and often a picture of Madonna is featured in her many guises! Everyone has a great evening and tradition has it that the winnings are generously donated to the Captains’ charity. We are all very grateful to Paul for his time and efforts and it was with great delight that Lady Captain, Eileen Murphy accepted a cheque from Paul for the fantastic sum of £600 at the final quiz of the season! She and Mr. Captain, Alan Percival wishes to thank Paul and the loyal ‘quizzers’ for their unfailing support and no doubt Paddy adds a big ‘Woof’ to that!
L-R Mr. Captain Alan Percival, June Hartstone and Paddy (camouflaged!), Lady Captain Eileen Murphy, Dorothy Croston and Bernard Croston.
L-R The Quiz ‘Meister’ Paul Bestwick and Lady Captain
Bank Holiday Mixed event - photos from Mavis Morris
On a very wet Monday the winning team in the 2 from 4 format event with 56 pts were Mavis Morris, Karena Collier ( on a good run of form), Richard "white hot" Stanley and Skipper Mick Statham.
Mens Medal
report Sunday 8
April 2012
Competition reports from March ( Ed:- Is there a vacant Poet Laureate position ?)The sun is shining in the sky The temperature hotter than July Not a fluffy cloud in sight There’s been no rain this past fortnight Everybody’s excited and ready to play It’s another beautiful Sunday And so it was on Sunday 25 March with the weather more akin to Cannes than Congleton the Astbury 3s men’s competition heralded the start of the playing season. Every tee-time was booked and the whole field enjoyed glorious conditions, with the course blending into the surrounding countryside seamlessly and in fine condition this early in the season. The 3 man format suggests this is straightforward team golf where the shoulders can be opened and birdie chances will be forthcoming. With only one score to count in the first six holes this reasonably assumes stress-free golf, however with two scores to count over the next six holes the players are quickly presented with a new set of challenges. By the time you reach the 13th tee you may well be considering your options. A good points tally at this stage and the team is faced with the final six holes where every player’s score is vital, so now it’s less about how you swing the club and more about your mental game skills, you need that bit of pressure, a bit of nervous tension, a bit of excitement to maintain your score. On the other hand if the team score is so indifferent you may well contemplate the short walk back to the clubhouse for a refreshing beer and to reflect on what might have been.
The winners had all played exceptionally well which was reflected in the team’s scores, and thanks to everyone for participating. 1st B Talbot, D Stevens, C Chapman 84 points (back 9 holes) 2nd P Eaton, J Heath, J Smith 84 points 3rd F Holt, H Gannon, G Hatton 83 points (back 9 holes well done the ‘roll-up guys) 4th M Henderson, C Goodwin, M Glover 83 points
Sunday 1st April
This was an individual stableford competition and again a full field enjoyed warm and sunny conditions. Golf is a juggling act with so many elements of the game to take into account, to score well you need to show real resilience and make full use of your handicap. It seems not a problem too many of the Astbury golfer’s who recorded excellent scores.
Division 1: H Rathi 42 points winner, 2nd M Rogers 42 points runner-up Division 2: O Taylor 42 points winner, 2nd J Burrows 39 points runner-up Division 3: C Goodwin 40 points winner, 22nd M Henderson 37 points runner-up
There were ten 2s at the par threes so hopefully everyone remembered to enter!!! No doubt Harry will be reviewing the scores and several players will see their handicaps tumble just like the temperature forecast for the next few days.. To those who need to work on their swing, there is always time to gather yourself in readiness for the next self- inflicted round of pain.
EJ
A report on the forthcoming Astbury Open Day ASTBURY GOLF CLUB OPEN DAY
Astbury Golf Club has received national recognition for its drive to encourage more people into the sport, and is to hold a special OPEN DAY next month. The club has been awarded the prestigious GolfMark a national seal of approval for junior and beginner friendly facilities which play an important role in the development of the game. Now the club is to showcase what it has to offer with a special event on: Sunday April 15 (9.30am-3.00pm). Open Day A round of golf will be available from just £10.00 including a brunch buffet with 12 holes for £8.00 and juniors playing for just £5.00. There will be target and putting competitions, free coaching for adults and juniors, discounts in the professional’s shop and a reduction of £100.00 off the joining fee. This is going to be a fun day (the kids will love it) and everyone is most welcome so don’t be shy, pick up the phone or email to register and come along and enjoy the Astbury experience. GolfMark This is a national scheme that recognises junior and beginners friendly golf facilities that focus on Coaching and Playing and Child Protection which are extremely important to parents and children alike. Parents dropping off their child at Astbury know they are in a positive environment with the emphasis on the right care and responsibilities. PGA professional Iain Seith runs the Junior Academy which offers a pathway for beginners to develop their golfing skills. Says Iain who is also a coach for the Cheshire County Academy “coaching takes place from 12noon-3.00pm on a Saturday starting with those new to the game playing Tri Golf, an intermediate section for those using real clubs and balls to the more advanced session at which time the juniors are encouraged to become members and become involved in playing in competitions”. Iain and Jerry Hayes (junior organiser) play an important role in the development of the game and their passion and generosity are inspiring many to take up golf.
Starter Package This is specially designed for people starting to play golf. The offer includes membership for just £125.00-which includes six rounds of golf, use of the practice facilities and clubhouse and social membership. Through this package you can maximise your enjoyment of the game and accelerate your full participation in the competitive and social environment of an extremely friendly club. These initiatives are all part of our 90 year old club’s proactive approach to encourage more people to get involved in golf and become a member of the club. Clubhouse An extensive programme of refurbishment has resulted in improvements to the bar, dining area and function room which has outside balcony with great views over the course. We have excellent catering which can be tailor-made to your needs and our well stocked bar has a variety of beers and lagers, delicious refreshing white and juicy red wines all reasonable priced. Our reputation is growing which has seen an increase in booking, so if you are looking for a venue: · Wedding reception· Birthday party· Christening· Office outingLook no further as we have the amenities one would associate with a first class club. Astbury Course Founded in 1922, Astbury is a testing parkland course located on the outskirts of the quiet village of Astbury in the beautiful South Cheshire countryside. The course comprises tree lined fairways, and an internally route for the glorious Macclesfield canal. Measuring 6251 yards, the Par 71 fulfills many of the golf course design criteria established by Harry Holt making full use of the natural features of the land. The relatively flat course means that it is a pleasant, accessible walk which is not overtiring for the player. Since the 12th hole returns near to the club house, golfers can opt to play a shorter game when either time or weather conditions dictate. Astbury is a good, fair and thoroughly enjoyable test of golf. The Golf Club Astbury is a private members club with a primary focus on the playing enjoyment of the members. Visitors are most welcome and are accorded a warm reception by the staff and members alike. The Club has a variety of social and entertainments events which include dinners, cabaret nights, quiz nights etc. The Club has extremely well run Men’s, Ladies, Seniors and Junior sections that offer a variety of competitions during the main season, these all provide a great opportunity for members to play a competitive game and develop their social connections. In addition there are a number of well established, informal “roll-ups” which welcome new members and give the player the chance to meet the members and so widen their circle of friendships within the club. Finally if you have read this far well done, however don’t put the paper down without first getting in touch to book your place. All at Astbury are looking forward to welcoming you.
EJ
Annual Dinner - March 3rd.
Please no more red wine One glass, two glasses, three glasses 10 I’ve lost the ability to hold my pen Tomorrow how my head will ache Tonight I cannot stop the shakes What will it take for me to survive? Then I remember, I’m home in Roseville Drive I concentrate to make some headway Before time starts to slip away Suddenly I’m inspired and start to dictate And write these brief words before it’s too late
The Annual Dinner which is traditionally held at this time of year heralds the beginning of a hectic series of social events at the club. Astbury and Congleton Golf Club have been closely linked, and over the years developed excellent relationships and friendly rivalry, and it was a great pleasure to welcome John Booth (Congleton Captain) Sue his wife, Sue Fletcher (Congleton Lady Captain) and her husband Jeff. And so it was on Saturday 3 March an almost capacity gathering sat down to dinner, and a combination of excellent food, fine wines and good company ensured a most relaxed and enjoyable evening. As is tradition there were various speeches that were relevant to the occasion all delivered with a good sense of humour that helped create the atmosphere and the purpose of the event. Against a background of chatter the evening flowed and before long it was time to say goodnight. Thanks to Jim Barry and all the people who have contributed in making this years dinner live long in our memories.
The Annual Dinner is a time with friends for having fun Clocks, calendars alike all scheduled by the sun Time is measured many ways from minutes into months Time is what keeps everything from happening at once If you’re inspired to join with friends just add this to your favourite Then send an email, text or tweet to book your next year’s ticket EJ Astbury Juniors
CHESHIRE COUNTY GOLF PARTNERSHIP Astbury Golf Club is celebrating the recruitment of five of its junior members to the Cheshire Union county set-up. Adam Cockerill, Jeremiah Hayes, Jack Machin, Thomas Marsh and Max Rogers have all been selected. Adam age 16 member for 6 years handicap 6. Jeremiah age 13 member for 4 years handicap 12. Jack age 14 member for 4 years handicap 16. Thomas age 14 member for 18 months handicap 8. Max age 15 member for 3 years handicap 8. This is the highest number of juniors that the club has ever had in achieving this level of county acknowledgement. Astbury Golf Club, is near Congleton, Cheshire, and boasts a strong junior set up. The boys have all progressed through the club's junior coaching programme. Three of the boys have also been involved in the Cheshire County Golf Partnership's County Academy Programme, which provides a stepping stone for players with potential to move from club to county standard. Iain Seath has responsibility for the Astbury Junior Academy throughout the year and is also a County Partnership Coach. Jerry Hayes is the junior organiser at the club and has held the position for 18 months. “I am delighted and proud that they have been chosen for county coaching. The five boys have all worked hard on their golf and are avid practicers” Astbury’s head professional Neil Dawson comments. “Having five juniors called up to county level coaching is testament to the exceptional work Iain Seath and Jerry Hayes have done in progressing our junior membership, as well as the excellent work they have done in recruiting and advancing juniors in our Academy. We are very proud to have a superb set up for junior golfers and this latest achievement gives us immense satisfaction.” The Cheshire County Golf Partnership is a collaboration of the major stakeholders in golf, including the English Golf Union, The English Women's Golf Association, the PGA, the Golf Foundation and Sport England. In Cheshire the partnership is supported by the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs, the Cheshire County Ladies Golf Association and the Cheshire and North Wales PGA. Captains Drive In and Cocktail Party
Before you know it the end of one season at the golf club heralds the start of a new one, and last Sunday brought the golfing start for the new Astbury Captains for 2012; Dr Alan Percival and Mrs Eileen Murphy. Starting with a cocktail party and well stocked buffet from Peter and Patsy McKay, over one hundred members and invited guests gathered at Astbury Golf Club to celebrate the new Captains’ arrival. The main event, the Drive In, comprises a brief affair involving an aged Hickory shafted Mashie Niblick, a suitably old technology golf ball, some knocking knees and a curious but distant crowd. Ex Chairman Dave Roberts was on hand to see fair play and the now Veteran Official Measurer Dr Nigel Hodges was there with his sat nav and water wings to bring an accurate recording of distances, ably assisted by the Junior Official Measurer Mr Tom Tyler – although there was some suspicion that he was merely there to locate Hodges should he sink from trace in the boggy ground. First up, sporting a fine pair of antlers ( see picture), was Lady Captain Eileen Murphy. After some understandably nervous shuffling the Lady Captain addressed the ball and keeping her antlers down she swung through and after a truly impressive strike the ball was dispatched straight down the middle to land 104 yards from the tee to record the best ever Ladies Drive In. The stunned ( or were they just frozen) crowd raised whatever parts of their bodies still moved and burst into spontaneous applause. The pressure on The Captain was of course now ratcheted to even higher levels – would he be humbled by the Lady Captain’s prodigious effort?, would he hit the ball at all ? had the crowd gone in to watch Chelsea and Man City ? - never fear! The Captain rose to the challenge as everyone knew he would, and while not the very best strike he may have hoped for, the ball still sailed 114 yards to a very respectable finish. The Captain beamed with relief and with the results verified, the assembled masses rushed indoors and the clubhouse winning wagers were revealed with Alice Hodgkinson ( predicting 114 exactly) and Chris Russell ( with 104) sharing the spoils.
The event completed with what should have been a swift charity raffle. However this overlooked the tenacity of the Lady Captain’s grip on the microphone and in a style that could bring a change in fortunes to the taxi waiting charges in Congleton, the Captains ensured fair play and just before dark everyone went home happy and with a considerable amount raised for this year’s charity.
PC
Junior Presentation Evening
The clubhouse hosted a Junior Presentation evening recently. Below is the group photo from the event, with all prize winners and Astbury Captain, Dr Alan Percival, Lady Captain Eileen Murphy and Junior Organiser Jerry Hayes. {To view other prize winner photos from the event please go to www.snapfish.co.uk and log in as user admin@astburygolfclub.com password chairman }
Report to October 23rd
The final event of the 2011 season at Astbury Golf Club was, as tradition demands, not a golf competition, it was the Golf Club AGM. In amongst internal golf club business were two very significant events. In a packed golf club with over 100 members and officials in attendance the first formality of the evening was to celebrate the granting of Honorary Life Membership on two of the Golf Club's most respected members. President Mr Alan White firstly presented Mr Ron Fahey with the honour which celebrated not just his length of membership and senior status but also his unswerving "joy to be alive" nature which has touched everyone in the club and humbles everyone and their every day grumbles. The second Life Membership honour was granted to ex Captain and President Mr Peter Bennett. Even through his recent illness battles Peter has been "Mr Astbury" and everyone at the club was delighted to see Mr Bennett at the club to receive his honour. Mr Bennett, as always, gave an amusing and heart felt speech of thanks and pride on his association with Astbury, which brought a tear to many eyes. A great occasion and one to make any Astbury Member proud to be part of the Golf Club and what it stands for. The picture shows, left to right, Astbury President Alan White, Peter Bennett, Ron Fahey and Outgoing Captain Bill Arthur.
After a lively AGM meeting dedicated to internal matters of the club the meeting then turned to the final ceremony of the evening - the change of Captains. Captain Bill Arthur reviewed his year and picked out 2 highlights in particular; celebrating the excellent sum raised for charity through the year and the glorious event that was his Captain's Weekend. After thanking all those that supported his year Mr Arthur handed over to his successor Dr. Alan Percival, presenting him with his Captain's blazer. Dr. Percival talked of the honour and slight trepidation he felt ahead of him but left no doubt that he looks forward to it. He concluded by introducing the upcoming year's charity which will be Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and finished by presenting the outgoing Captain with his Ex Captain's tie.
It was then Lady Captain Hazel McVitie's turn to handover to incoming Lady Captain Eileen Murphy. Mrs McVitie also picked her Captain's Day as a highlight together with the Charity Donation. She took time to thank those who supported her throughout the year. In conclusion she welcomed Mrs Murphy as Lady Captain and presented her with her Captain's Blazer. No one was quite sure what to expect from the new Lady Captain's speech and, frankly, they weren't disappointed! In a wide ranging and highly amusing speech she thanked the outgoing Captains and talked of the pride she felt in the role and the commitment she will bring to it. She then turned her attention on the new Captain, what lays ahead of them and her ambitions for what, if this was anything to go by, is going to be a memorable and perhaps slightly wacky year for everyone. The picture shows, left to right, Outgoing Captains Bill Arthur and Hazel McVitie, new Lady Captain Eileen Murphy and new Captain Dr. Alan Percival. The full text of the Captain's speeches can be found here. Captains Speeches 2011 AGM.
Report to October 16th
On Friday October 14th Astbury held the last men's presentation evening of the year covering events from the latter part of the competitive season. Trophy winners presented with cups at the evening were :-
Presentation Evening
Dave Young for the Bogey Cup, Mike Griffiths for a terrific win in The Titan and Whitehurst Trophies and Mick Johnson and Glyn Davies for the Caledonian Cup. In addition Dave Young and The Captain presented Monthly medal, Stableford and Astbury Threes winners ( all previously reported ) with their prizes.
Sunday 16th saw the last event of the year in the Captain vs Vice Captain challenge. Playing for the Challenge Shield, Captain Bill Arthur, in his last event as Captain, fielded a small but strong side against Vice Captain Alan Percival's team. Playing a better ball match play format some very strong scores were recorded that allowed the Captain's Team to run out winners by 7 games to 2 with one match halved. Overall top score being recorded by Bob Egerton and in form Laurence Smith with 44 points. The Captain tried to hide his obvious delight at the win in his victory speech and the Vice Captain was gracious in defeat although he was in no doubt about what he wanted to happen this time next year.
Many would have overlooked the other significant event of the evening which was the grand opening of the new fridge unit in the kitchen - to the obvious delight of Patsy and Emily - see photo in slide show above.
A fun event enjoyed by all who entered.
PC 17/10
Report to October 9th
With the season closing it was a case of tidying up the loose ends this week at Astbury.
Astbury 3's event
As is tradition Astbury golf club men's competitions came to a close this weekend with the Astbury Threes event. A fun but challenging affair with men playing in teams of three to build an 18 hole score; with one score counting on the first 6 holes, 2 scores on holes 7 to 12 and all 3 scores to count on holes 13 to 18. Obviously, or maybe not, it all comes down to how the team fares over the last 6 holes. The more perceptive reader, with a background in sports psychology, will have worked out that a strong captain is required to keep the team on target, sitting in the background and selflessly enabling his team mates to express themselves.
And so it was with the winning team on Sunday. Freed from the shackles of singles play through their captain playing the unglamorous anchorman role, Pete Harrison and Steve Kemp were back to their mercurial best that many, especially their captain, thought had gone for ever. They had a stunning finish over the last 6 holes, with Harrison seeing the hole the size of a large bucket and Kemp rolling back the years with some fine ball striking for the team to finish with an excellent 83 points which was good enough to see them home by 1 point. Second place team of Jim Murphy, Bernard Hart and Brian Stone returned with an equally fine score of 82 points and must have thought they were in a winning position especially with Hart having a hole in one in his round at the 7th, but it wasn't quite enough. Third place went to Bob Bailey, Dave Jones and Pete Hollinshead with another strong score of 80 points and doubtless their own story to tell.
So the season closes with the final presentation evening at the club this Friday where prize winners will celebrate a winning year collecting their medals and trophies and competition secretary Dave Young, ending his 3 years in the role, will hand over the task of keeping the competitions running smoothly to Nigel Hodges.
Oh did I forget to mention I was that captain?
PC 11/10
Sportsmen's Dinner and Captain's Farewell.
In golf, in most cases, players are focused on reducing totals, but Astbury Golf Club also prides itself on its fund raising efforts for Charity and here the goal is to maximize totals, so there were 2 really notable events on this theme held at Astbury Golf Club recently.
On 30th September 2011 Astbury held a gentlemen’s charity dinner. The event, which was a sell-out, was organised impressively by Astbury member and impresario Bob Egerton on behalf of the club captain, Bill Arthur. All proceeds were in aid of the captains’ chosen charities. The picture shows, left to right, Bob Egerton, Kevin Connelly, Captain Bill Arthur ( who looks to have enjoyed the evening), and Billy Flywheel.
A hugely enjoyable evening was provided by entertainer Billy Flywheel, who mystified the members and guests in a packed clubhouse with laughter, magic and intrigue. Billy was followed by the famous TV impressionist Kevin Connelly who had the clubhouse in stitches with his Scottish impersonation of club captain Bill Arthur. At times the captain did not know if it was him speaking or the impersonator - { far be it from me to say that ithe majority of the golf club have had that problem all year !}
An auction of sporting memorabilia followed which included among others, signed footballs and strips, a complete set of golfing clubs and a day’s shoot to name but a few. At the end of the evening, the Captain thanked all the generous sponsors for their donations and the evening raised an impressive total of £2020 for the charities.
Captains' Farewell
Following on from this success on Saturday 8th October the Clubhouse was the venue for the Captains’ Farewell event which, while a fun evening of wining, dining and “fun” roulette had, as its focus, the presentation of the collected proceeds from all the activities throughout the year that have raised funds for the chosen Captains’ Charities - The East Cheshire Hospice ( nominated by The Captain) and The New Patient’s Treatment Center at The Christies Hospital ( Nominated by the The Lady Captain).
Astbury Captain Mr Bill Arthur and Lady Captain Mrs Hazel McVitie were therefore delighted to be on hand to present the oversized cheques for a staggering £4113.24 each to Angela Davenport on behalf of The East Cheshire Hospice and Brian Spencer on behalf of The New Patient’s Treatment Center. Both Angela and Brian were hugely appreciative in their thanks for such a fine amount and it was clear to see how proud The Captains’ both were at this excellent and record breaking result of all the fund raising efforts. Both Captains highlighted what a personally rewarding finale this was to their year of office.
Report to October 2nd
Last sunday saw the last event of the individual men's competitions for 2011 at Astbury golf club, with the October medal. Given the fabulous weather recently it surely felt like we were entering the summer season rather than autumn. Despite all this confusing evidence it was a case of now or never and several members who have been "under the radar" all year turned up with their A game to put a gloss on their handicap or maybe even a positive change in their playing division for the close season.
It was clearly a good scoring day and Len Davies from Division 1 took the opportunity with both hands and his glorious 65 (71 less 6) was good enough to earn him first place. Competition secretary Dave Young had clearly grasped the significance of the event too; claiming 2nd with his 66 (77 less 11). Wily old Bob Egerton, doubtless still glowing from his hugely successful gentlemen's evening at the club the previous Friday, came along with a super 66 (76 less 10) for 3rd place and, with his new 9 handicap, his re-entry into Division 1. In 4th, from division 3, it was great to see Phil Richards back in the frame with his 67 (82 less 15) which sees him back in division 2 again with his new 14 handicap. Division 3's Richard Stanley slipped into 5th place with his 67 (93 less 26) which is a fine effort given that he mislaid various bits of vital electronic equipment around the course in pursuit of his score. 6 th place went to Simon Machin 67 (77 less 10).
So that's the last men's handicap qualifying event of the season completed and its time for many including this scribe, to go off and reflect on a long season and prepare for the next one.
Ladies Autumn Meeting - 29th September
Past Ladies Captains 31st August
The annual Past Lady Captains’
competition took place at Astbury Golf Club on Wednesday 31st August.
Following an 18 hole stableford competition played in good weather
conditions the ladies enjoyed a lovely dinner. This is an excellent
opportunity to catch up with some of the ladies who no longer play golf.
Current Lady Captain Hazel McVitie joined the past lady captains’ and
presented the cup to the winner. Report to Sept 25th Its must be a bit like those London buses really - you wait for ages to put in a good result with no success and then out of nowhere just as the season is closing down along comes a bit of form and hey presto you win two competitions in successive weeks. This is how Astbury Golf Club member Malcolm Hodgkinson must be feeling right now. Fresh from a good result to win the Stableford two weeks ago Hodgkinson was at it again this week with an excellent 42 points and more importantly a late season surge as a result into Division 1 with his shiny new 9 handicap. Hodgkinson's long term playing partner Dave Furnival must have had mixed emotions though as his fine 40 points earned him only second place. Peter Fletcher's 40 points was good enough for third place; just losing out on a card playoff. Mark Hallam also seems to be coming into form late in the season - his 39 points giving him 4th spot. Dave Cope, ever reliable, returned 39 points for 5th place and best placed division 1 player. Division 3 was represented in the top 6 by Phil Chester with his own 39 points. With the last medal of the year next Sunday it's time to clean those clubs one last time and have a final go this year to achieve those really important 2011 new year's resolutions - good luck! PC 27/9 Astbury Past Captains meeting Thanks to Jack Moss for sending the following photo of the Astbury Past Captain's event.
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Astbury Golf Club teams have had a stellar year, coming to a head in the last few weeks - CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of them. Men's teams 1st team have retained their North Staffs Premier Scratch League position against very stiff competition - a very high standard and a great team result. 2nd team have had an excellent year and win North Staffs Division 3 being promoted to Division 2 as champions - fabulous!
Ladies A Team -
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