Jeff Hindle Memorial Trophy @ Sale GC, Report,  Friday August 27th  2021

Martin Claffey with Captain and Vice Captain

So to the Jeff Hindle memorial trophy held at Sale Golf Club. The last three events have been held at venues that began SDS so you would think that the people would know the drill by now. Handicaps are still causing consternation and a couple of members found themselves suffering a severe reduction on their handicaps from the new handicaps secretary ( you do miss having a bit of power when you retire), On to the day the course was in fine fettle and although greens were a little slow no complaints were heard from the assembled multitudes ( well the 24 who played anyway). There was an early absentee when Mel Garner cried off as he was suffering from a case of poisoned fish from Fleetwood. Although we tried to get a Comode Buggy none was available so we left him in the safest place. I think the provided meal of fish and chips would have been step too far for him. The captain Paul Sinnott along with Rob Chadwick and Bill Harris set us on our way and Rob set the standard on the longest drive and although the usual suspects tried and failed it remained intact until the end.

There were only two 2’s on the day with Terry Tobin and Rob Goodwin Davy sharing the spoils. What is now becoming a regular double act Captain Paul and sidekick Ernie kept us amused during the speeches. On a serious  note an update was provided by Ian Ringwood on the health of our President Mr Bill Macbeth who is waiting for an operation. When recovered Bills plans are to move up to Bonnie Scotland to spend time with his son and family. Rob Chadwick announced that he was embarking on a sponsored bike ride to Southport the next day in aid of Motor Neurone Disease and appealed for some sponsorship which I know he received. Next event will be Denton 24th September On to the results. The previous event of Captains Cup was won by Brian Murray seen here with Captain Paul Sinnott in the picture opposite

Results
Nearest the Pin	Name	Score
Hole 3	Pete Derbyshire
Hole 11	Steve Payne
Hole 14	Joe Boyd
Hole 17	Terry Tobin
Longest Drive	Rob Chadwick
Leader Board
5th	Damian Regan	35
4th	Rob Chadwick	35
3rd	Terry Tobin	35
2nd	Kevin Bolton	36
1st	Martin Claffy	39
2's
	Terry Tobin
	Rob Goodwin Davey

 

 

Rowes Bowl @ Deane, Friday July 30th 2021

With a rather dodgy weather forecast we made our third attempt at playing Deane. It started out cold wet and windy. It could only get better, it did. The course has matured well . They have changed the layout of a few holes and have eradicated  what was a bomb alley. There were a few ravines to be crossed which made for interesting shots. But as the results show below it was playable.

 

Player	Nearest the Pin	TWO's
Luke Savage	1st
Joe Boyd	5th	2
Pete Derbyshire	13th	2 (Steve Payne)
Bill Harris	16th	2
Chris Miles	18th

 

 Positions

Player	Score	Place	Handicap
Brian Murray	37pts	1st	New HC 25.5
Bill Harris	35pts	2nd	7.8
Bren Brady	35pts	3rd	26.5
Martin Claffy	34pts	4th	21.8
Bob Chadwick	32pts	5th	27.5
Andy Southworth	32pts	King of the mentions, top of the list for 0.2 on HC

 

The website for the course mentioned it being close to the Pennines. It was within earshot. You could hear shepherds Yodelling to one another. As the 2s pot was being carried over from Stand the 5 par 3s on the course ensured it was sorted. With power men taking 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd you could say it was a 440 volt finish or is it just a phase their going through. Good luck on them they have put a lot into the Portland. So to have the Sinnot’s who have been travelling down the M6 and staying in Motels to get to events. I must mention Ernie the vice. He had recovered from his incident at Stand. He put a good round and supported Paul with his presentation. Any chit-chat from the audience was quickly silenced by Ernie. All in all people enjoyed the day and were looking forward to Sale a much flatter course than Stand and Deane.

 

 

 

 

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.