Jeff Hindle Memorial Cup at Birchwood

Enough time has gone by since the passing of Jeff for there to be people out there who do not know the significance of Jeff to the PGS. Back in the late 1980’s/early 90’s the society nearly ground to a stop. I recall one event where only 8 people stayed after the golf for something to eat. Initially Brendan Brady gave the Portland the kiss of life by taking on the Secretaries post and injected some structure into the system. Later Jeff took on the task and the membership frailty was a thing of the past. We had events with over 50 competitors and filled hotels on our golfing breaks to Wales. The power boys certainly switched the society on and Bill Harris has kept things afloat since. Three cheers for ELP who helped the PGS survive.

Back to Birchwood where the inclement weather had took its toll on the course. It was very soft and lush. The greens were bagatelles. Mere bagatelles 3 of our luckier players might say.

Top 10
Player	Score	Posn.	Prior	Post	Why
Tobin T	35	1	8.4	7.8	1st
Garner M	35	2	22.95	20.95	2nd
Murray B	34	3	28	27	3rd
Harris W	32		7.6	7.6	buffer
Martin J	30		24.9	24.9	buffer
Claffy M	29		22.1	22.3	buffer
Coburn J	28		18.8	19	0.2
Haynes G	28		9	9.2	0.2
McGovern D	26		15.3	15.5	0.2
Derbyshire P	24		28	28	max

 

 Nearest the Pins etc

		Any 2's
Hole 4	Terry Tobin	Yes
Hole 7	Mel Garner	Yes
Hole 10	Steve Payne	No
Hole 12	Kieran Dunn	Yes Dave McGovern
Hole 17	Martin Claffy
Longest drive	Terry Tobin

 

So at least Brian Murray can send his guard dog back to the kennels now the 2’s pot has been emptied.

Frances handed out a quiz for us to ponder. It was probably won by Terry Tobin he won everything else. I think if your 1^st and 2^nd names start with the same letter and have the same number of letters you should be barred from all competitions.  I’ll put it forward at the AGM there will be no shortage of seconders. Next stop Deane remember your tin hats.

 

 

 

Rowes Bowl @ Hazel Grove GC Report, Thursday July 25th 2019

Well Pete Derbyshire worked his magic for this one it turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far. The challenge of hills had been replaced by the heat. The course was in great condition and the trees had filled out making it a tougher than last time we played here. With 5 par 3’s surely somebody was going to get a 2. See the tables below.

Top 10
Player	Score	Posn	Prior	Post	Why
Lancaster P	38	1	15.5	13	5>34
Garner M	36	2	25.95	22.95	3>34
Brook T	34	3	18	17.5	3rd
Tobin T	32		8.4	8.4	duffer
Haynes G	31		9	9	buffer
Payne S	30		28	28	suffer
Coburn J	29		18.6	18.8	0.2
Regan D	29		28	28	max
Southworth A	28		27.7	27.9	0.2
Bolton K	27		21	21.2	0.2

 

Some good scores in how they did on the par 3's. Nearest the pins below

Hole 2		Phil Lancaster
Hole 5		Mel Garner
Hole 9		Andy Southworth
Hole 11		Geoff Haynes
Hole 13		Pete Derbyshire
Longest Drive		Mel Garner

 

To extend the excitement further a nearest pin with your 2nd shot was set up on par 4's

15	Graham Murray
18	Phil Lancaster

 

Once again there were no 2’s. Securicor will at the next event to escort anybody who manages a 2 home. With a nearest the pin with your 2^nd on the 18th a few people chose to sit on the bench watching others finish. Howard Dickson in his enthusiasm to cheer a good shot managed to swallow a wasp. Like most of the putting it was a bit jabby and stung his bottom lip. This could have been in response to Howard’s rather racy tattoo of a wasp on his calf. Our lovely Captain was escorted round the course by the brothers Regan. She said she had a lovely round and was impressed by boys fussing over her. I guess you could call it brotherly love.  Being a carnivore I found the meal simply divine. Steak and chips with a sauce that I’d have to describe as lovely. It may not have suited Vegans. Congratulations to the top finishers they all had a good driving day which makes the game easier. Can anybody putt? Find out next time at Birchwood. NB for >34 read >33 oops.

 

 

 

 

Captains Day @ Harwood Report, Thursday June 27th 2019

Captains Cup 2019 a hot day in the hills of Harwood

Our lovely Captain Frances had chosen to hold her day at Harwood as it was more suitable for such a great occasion than the nearby Lowes Park. We had been to Harwood before and found them very welcoming, which they were this time. The course was in excellent condition with a few changes to the back 9 holes all for the better. The front nine holes were just as hilly as they ever were and it was probably a good thing we were only playing 18 holes on the day. We had a turnout of over 30 players with Frances getting a few golfing chums to support her on her day. Lynda Brady had even talked her husband Brendan into coming along. Christine and Betty were friends from the MANCASS golfing trips. Having witnessed people struggling to push their trolleys up to the first green on what was one of the flatter sections of the course we set out with some trepidation.  Below is a table of how thing went   for the top ten finishers.

 Results of morning team event

Top Ten
Caps Cup	Score	Pos'n	H/C
Player			Prior	Post	Why
Dickson H	34	1	13.45	11.95	1st
Boyd J	33	2	11.3	10.3	2nd
Coburn J	32	3	19.6	18.6	3rd
Claffy M	31		18.1	18.1	Buffer
Harris W	31		7.5	7.5	Buffer
Southworth A	31		27,7	27.7	Buffer
Rowlands E	30		28	28	Buffer
Tobin T	30		8.4	8.4	Buffer
Haynes G	28		8.5	8.7	+0.2
Martin J	28		24.5	24.7	+0.2

 

With a monster rollover with the 2’s contest there was probably more concerns for the nearest the pins. Below is another table showing those who had their chances.

Nearest the pin hole 1	John Martin
Nearest the pin hole 4	David Baynes
Nearest the pin hole 10	Andy Southworth
Nearest the pin hole 17	Terry Tobin
Longest drive (Bertie Boy)	Terry Tobin

 

Well none of them managed a 2 so it will be an even bigger rollover at Hazel Grove.

Frances once again delivered a speech to touch the heart. So much so that there was a certain amount of filling up taking place. She recounted an article written by the late Keith Massey were he had commented on Frances as a player and posed the question would she ever be the captain of the Portland. Frances should in no way be embarrassed about becoming emotional on her Captains day. She is not the 1^st I remember running into the car park in floods of tears when they explained that I was expected to get the 1^st round in.