Portland Rose Bowl @ Marple GC, 29th July

We arrived at Marple thinking we had the day wrong as there wasn’t a single person around and the club house seemed deserted. However the pro appeared and a little later we were shown to a coffee machine. The only member of the Portland who is also a member of Marple Chris Miles was a strong contender and my betting money with his high handicap was going on Chris. Imagine my despair when Chris arrived looking a little pale and complaining of a bad back forcing him to miss his chance of a winners cup. 

Nevertheless 24 prime athletes lined up to take on the Marple course. John Martin true to form arrived at the last minute and just about had chance to claim his bacon butty. The rollover of the two’s prize money from Denton produced a hum of anticipation among the participants, at least I think that where the hum came from. 

There was no real issues on the day except that the pair entrusted with putting out the nearest the pin markers and longest drive failed miserably (John Martin – Chris Murphy you were given one job). 

Anyway on to the results. Unusually there were 5 par 3’s on Marple (this maybe what confused dumb and dumber) This meant that the handicap secretary was remiss in not doing his pre game check and acquiring an extra Steve Payne patented pin marker. That meant that the carry over 2’s money had less chance of surviving here. As it was 3 people achieved a 2.

The result was a 3 x 2 card play offs with the battle of the Andys for first place. The ever improving Andy Minshull pipped at the post by Andy Howarth .

Nearest Pin
2	No One
6	Dave McGovern
11	Geoff Haynes
15	Andy Howarth
17	Andy Howarth
Longest Drive	Gary Brocklehurst
2's	Andy Howarth
	Dave Hartley
	Rob Goodwin Davy
Results	Name	Pts
Mention	Dave Hartley	35 acpo
5th	Rob Goodwin Davy	35 acpo
4th	Bob Chadwick	36 acpo
3rd	Dave Alcock	36 acpo
2nd	Andy Minshull	38 acpo
1st	Andy Howarth	38 acpo

 

 

Next event Jeff Hindle Memorial Northenden 26^th August

 

 

Jeff Hindle Memorial, Northenden GC, 26th August 2022

Its always a pleasure to play at Northenden and visit the Spike Bar dedicated to one of the greatest managers ever in British football. I don’t understand why some of our members don’t pay homage to the glorious portrait of Sir Matt Busby hanging in the said room. 

Due to late entries and requests for an early start due to other commitments quick changes had to be made to the start sheet. John Martin needed to go out early as he was then travelling to his holiday mansion in Wales (but due to his performance at Marple was not trusted with the nearest the pins etc) 

28 of us teed off eventually and the course didn’t disappoint. Six people achieved par or better on the day with Gus Demick (AKA Brian Murray) waking up from his slumbers to shoot a valiant 40 points.  Unfortunately this was not enough as once again we had a card playoff for first place between our Treasurer Mr Harriss  and much mentioned Mr Martin. All I can say is one of those people won but was unavailable for the presentation due to aforementioned prior commitment. The 9 shot difference between Bill and John made the difference, but that’s what handicaps are all about. It will be interesting to see what effect the 2.5 shot reduction has on John Martins handicap at the next event.

John requested no publicity in order to avoid tax on his winnings so no photograph of winner. 

Once again there were no 2’s so the pot at Bury will be enhanced, I hope nothing happens there as some of us can’t make it. 

Nearest Pin
4	Ian Hopkins
8	Jim Skelly
12	Joe Boyd
15	Pete Derbyshire
Longest Drive	Johnnie Shepherd
2's	None
Results	Name	Pts
Mention	Ian Hopkins	36
5th	Jay Chambers	37
4th	Jim Cleary	37
3rd	Brian Murray	40
2nd	Bill Harris	42 acpo
1st	John Martin	42 acpo

 

Next Event: Bury Autumn Cup, September 30th

 

 

Portland Golf Society - Northumberland 2022

 

It was back to Northumberland this year for the pseudo annual Wales trip. A great turnout of 28 Portland Golf members meant that every room in the hotel was occupied by ourselves.  The trip began with an early start from Manchester to get to Dunstanburgh Golf Club for a 12:00 tee start. All managed to get there in time and so the fun began. The course was challenging and the scoring proved difficult for some but not for James Cleary who came in with a magnificent 41 points.

 

Results	Name	Pts
5th	Dave Baynes	33
4th	Martin Claffey	33
3rd	John Martin	36
2nd	Dave McGovern	36
1st	Jim Cleary	41

 

We were on a tight schedule as the Hotel informed us that they didn’t normally serve food on a Monday so required us to eat at 6pm. A quick run back and shower and we were ready for Ernie’s Evening Entertainment. Mr Captain worked particularly hard during this trip, more to come later. 

Following a hearty breakfast it was off to the borders with trip to Goswick Links just short of Berwick on Tweed. Scoring was very similar to Monday but with a surprise appearance in the winners’ enclosure of Andy Minshull following a few barren years. It was a day of surprises with Barbara Johnson outsmarting the men with a nearest the pin on the 15^th.       

 

Results	Name	Pts
5th	Dave McGovern	35
4th	Jay Chambers	36
3rd	Kevin Bolton	37
2nd	Jim Cleary	37
1st	Andy Minshull	40

 

Ernies quiz was now followed by a game of Killer Pool utilising the pool table in the bar. A misspent youth saw Jay Chambers taking on all comers in what was a follow up to his exploits in Turkey. 

It was off to Bamburgh Castle next and it did not bring back happy memories from the last time we were hers pre Covid in 2019. The weather that  day was biblical and only about 6 people went out and only four finished. It seemed like Groundhog day again as we were greeted with a howling wind and torrential rain. We waited about 30 mins and most people agreed to go out, eventually the weather calmed and all 28 took to the course. This was a particularly challenging course with 6 par 3’s and the wind and rain ensured that three of them had an untouched green despite 28 people trying for a nearest the pin.  Still Steve Payne and Rob Goodwin-Davey managed to get 2’s to share the money.

 

It’s at this point that Mr Captain decided to enhance his reputation as Mr Entertainments  by contriving to set off his trolley and golf bag in a Kamikaze raid on one of the bunkers.     That wouldhave been bad enough but most of the pockets on his golf bag were open and the contents were now buried in the soft bunker sand. As well as balls and tees there was an assortment of ancillary equipment retrieved that it is best not talking about. Undeterred but with a smashed Driver Mr Captain managed to complete the course.

 

 

Results	Name	Pts
5th	Jay Chambers	35
4th	Jim Cleary	35
3rd	Brendan Brady	36
2nd	Dave Baynes	37
1st	Gary Brocklehurst	38

 

Wednesday night was Steak Night at the hotel so another early start required as the locals also book the restaurant. The result was a search party send out to find a suitable pub for our post dinner drinks. A local working men’s club was found (always a good choice in this part of the country) I think they were surprised but also delighted to get 28 newcustomers on a wet Wednesday in Seahouses. Snooker, pool (Jay again) and juke box was the order of the day. Then it was back to the hotel for round 3 of Bunker Rowlands quiz.  Checking out of the hotel we travelled a short distance to Alnmouth for final day’s golf. Alnmouth (AKA Foxton Hall) Golf Club is a really well presented course and some interesting holes. In true Major Golf championship style the leading 4 contenders went out last at the back of the field Jim Cleary, Dave McGovern, Dave Baynes and Andy Minshull. It was a tense end to the week and although all the 4 par 3’s were hit only two people were able to sink the putts for a 2, well done Howard Dickson and Kevin Bolton.

 

Results	Name	Pts
5th	Jay Chambers	32
4th	Kevin Bolton	34
3rd	Joe Boyd	35
2nd	David Baynes	37
1st	Brendan Brady	38

 

A valiant effort from Dave Baynes just failing to catch Brendan (I’ve no chance of winning anything) Brady. So how did that affect overall  results and the winner of the Wales ( we may have to rename it) Trophy.

Results	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Total
Jim Cleary	41	37	35	28	141
Dave Baynes	33	32	37	37	139
Andy Minshull	29	40	32	32	133
Dave McGovern	36	35	31	27	129
Gary Brocklehurst	30	30	38	27	125
Jay Chambers	21	36	35	32	124
Joe Boyd	28	29	27	35	119
Brendan Brady	25	20	36	38	119
Kevin Bolton	29	37	18	34	118

 

Close but no cigar for Dave Baynes, finishing 2nd just like his football team,  holding on to his lead and winner James Cleary.