Captains Day @Strand, Thursday June 24th 2021

We finally managed to have a Captains Day. The weather turned out better than predicted. As Mr Captain, Paul Sinnot had been in the post for two years and being a good Salford lad he handed out two gifts. A stamped ball for the year 2020 and a really posh pen for the year 2021. He also had a prize for the top lady. Frances insists she put no pressure on him to do this and excluded her self from winning it. Normally Frances would have been the favourite to win this prize but on the day there were three ladies playing.

The layout at Stand can be described in one word hilly. Most senior members at Stand splash out on a buggy. They only hire out single buggies. Probably because the slopes are so extreme doubles   would be dodgy. But like the Lake District the hills make Stand.

With only two par threes “2s” were going to be rare.  Below is how the golf panned out.

Nearest the pin hole 6     John Coburn

Nearest the pin hole 13   Bob Chadwick

No 2s rollover to next event.

6^th place and lower can add 0.2 to existing handicaps within max limits.

 Results

Caps Cup	Score	Place	Handicap
Player			Post Event
Geoff Haynes	35pts	5th	9
Linda Brady (Top lady)	35pts	4th	33
Chris Murphy	36pts	3rd	26.5
Graham Murray	39pts	2nd	26
Pete Johnson	40pts	1st	25.5

 

As can be seen from the above it is possible to score well at Stand. This was the winners first pukka Portland event so under an established Portland rule he won the money but not the Cup which was presented to second placed Graham Murray. I am sure Pete will become a regular participant at the Portland.

Paul called upon his vice Ernie Rowlands to assist in handing out the prizes which was done with much aplomb. As most people know give Ernie an audience and he will entertain. He recalled an incident from one of the steeper slopes on the course. I was playing with Ernie  and Ian Ringwood so witnessed the incident from close up. Ernie was further down the slope from myself and Ian we were zigzagging  down the slope and Ian said this is the way to go down until you can let your trolley go down on it’s own. I thought there’s no I am letting go of my trolley. Then Ian thought his trolley would be OK to roam free. As soon as he let go of the handles his trolley turned into an exocet with Ernie as the programmed target. What was more worrying was the way Ian cheered his trolley on as it sought Ernie out. I have referred to Ian in the past as being like Godfrey out of Dad’s  Army now he had turned into a James Bond villain. Poor Ernie must have thought his end was nigh his recollection was strewn with expletives a clear sign of post traumatic stress.

28 players took part at Stand proof there is still life in the Portland.

 

 

 

 

Portland Cup @ Withington GC, Report,  Friday May 21st  2021

Portland Golf Withington Well we finally got the season off with a visit to Withington Golf Club for the Portland Cup. A healthy turnout of 29 golfers enjoyed a great day and kind weather.  I foolishly agreed to be the new Handicaps Secretary and despite having to contend with the introduction of the World Handicap System, the playing handicaps were more or less accepted. Although I’m not sure that the previous handicap secretary voluntarily gave up the role as on the 5th hole his tee shot nearly decapitated myself and Geoff Haynes. Steve Payne said he didn’t think he could hit it that far. It was no surprise to see whose name was on the longest drive I think Martin Claffey has been taking lessons from Mr DeChambeau, in the present circumstances it was true to say “I don’t go that far on my holidays” Our Captain Paul Sinnott made what was his first official inaugural Captains speech. ( We don’t count last years sole event at North Manchester as Mel Garner pointed out he hadn’t been elected by the AGM. Its a shame that as the result and winner, the same Mr Garner,  are therefore null and void. A returning member to the Portland after a long absence Rob Goodwin – Davey picked up the winners trophy.

 

Results
Nearest the Pin	Name	Score
Hole 1	Gary Brockelhurst
Hole 4	Bill Harris
Hole 8	Joe Boyd
Hole 10	Geoff Haynes
Longest Drive	Martin Claffy
Leader Board
5th	Mel Garner	36
4th	Pete Derbyshire	37
3rd	Chris Miles	38
2nd	Gary Brockelhurst	42
1st	Rob Goodwin - Davey	43
2's
	Mel Garner
	Martin Claffy
	Bill Harris

 

 

Jeff Hindle Memorial Cup at North Manchester, Friday 28th August 2020

Well after quite a delay the Portland season got under way. The incoming captain Paul Sinnot knew just how big the shoes were he had to fill. He and his wife Francis had an early start from their new home in Cumbria. The weather that greeted them was pure Manchester. Rain, windy and dull. Having witnessed Francis's successful term of office as captain last year he had a good idea what was expected of him and proceeded to pull this off with some aplomb. He did err slightly when seeking information on the new to the society members. It is hard to believe but he pointed to someone in the room he could not recognise. It was only Ernie Rowlands his choice as vice captain. Now in defence of Mr Captain Ernie was sporting quite a head of curly hair. He used to call it his Billy Bouffant look when he was treading the boards on the Karaoke circuit. Now it looked a cross between Shirley Temple and Granny Clampett. A round of applause for Ernie for accepting the post of vice. Hold your head in shame if you were one of the 48 people who replied to Paul saying they didn't want to be vice.

As was the way last season there was no morning team event below is a table showing the results.

 

Positions
	Player	Points	Handicap	Adjusted
Mere mention	Terry Tobin	28		+ 0.2
King of mentions	Brian Murray	31	27	Buffer
3rd	Chris Miles	34	19	18
2nd	Bill Harris	35	7.6	7.2
1st	Mel Garner	40	20	15.5

 

 Nearest the Pins etc

		Any 2's
9th hole	Brian Murray
11th	Bill Harris	The only 2 well done
18th	Pete Derbyshire
Longest Drive	Mel Garner

 

All things considered a turnout of 25 was good. The weather was poor it was a bank holiday weekend, people were sliding off to their caravans. North Manchester is not an easy course but when it is as wet as what is was it becomes very hard. There was little run even coming down the hills. Mel's score is quite remarkable. He has obviously been taking heed from the new pro at Blackley. Everyone was happy to be out playing golf again meeting old chums and new. Someone said the Rochdale cowboy had turned up but I couldn't see Mike Harding anywhere.

Mr Captain as well as choosing Ernie as his vice announced he would carry on as captain next year in order to give us time to get used to the fact that Ernie was going to be captain. What a bloke, that's seven more trips up and down the M6 with Frances and her shoes.