Gordon Smith, aka Mr Golf, celebrates his 50th year as a member in 2012. What some may not know is that he’s a lifelong Ken Dodd fanatic.
The Captain, via a friend, managed to get Doddy to send a signed photograph congratulating Gordon on his 50 years at AEGC, and this was presented at the Vice Presdents’ dinner last night. For once Gordon was almost speechless!
There was as usual a good turn out for the New Years Day drive-in, although it has to be said that several were looking somewhat the worse for wear!
A very well attended Gents AGM today saw Dave Lee and Dion Broadhurst leave their positions. Dave spoke about his year as Captain, and the immense enjoyment he’d had at the helm. Rick Ford was duly elected Captain, and Brian Foden President.
“Blue Moon”...the Captain shows off his City blue jacket lining
Paul Penney is Vice Captain, and Dan Featherstone stepped up to become Junior Captain.
Several points were made relating to Gents golf, the most amusing from Pete Wright who suggested we have whip round to buy the Hon Secretary a new car!
2012 is certain to be a very enjoyable year.
Closing Sides marked the end of another season. An emphatic ten and a half / two and a half win for the Captain’s team was about as emphatic a score as we’ve seen for some time. Mike Troup managed to beat Andy Slater and Mike Magee 6&4 playing on his own!
The Captain announced that the nomination for Vice Captain is Paul Penney, which was warmly received by the 60 or so members who enjoyed a great evening at the club.
The President and Captain
Mark Walker and Max Penney shared the JJS Kennaugh Trophy
President’s Putter finalists Jerry Dixon and Craig Aston with the Captain
A great end to the junior calendar with 12 teams entering the 2011 Generation Cup on a cold and wet Sunday morning.
It was agreed by all to reduce to a 9 hole comp due to bad weather conditions
Mike and Logan with the Captain
Congratulations to all the winners:
Nearest the pin: Brian Foden (8th) and Sam Short (6th)
Longest Drive Harrison Peck (3rd) and James Hall (also 3rd)
1st Mike Stanyer & Logan Stanyer 25 points
2nd Andrew Yeates & Dominic Yeates 24points
3rd Brian Foden & Luke Foden 23points
Many thanks to all that played I think we all had a good time and a great thanks to the Captain for playing and the prize presentation.
Paul Penney
Bernie Cummings and Doug Burns have won the Fourball Knockout, winning a close match with Mike Troup and Andy Slater by 2&1.
Andy Slater opens proceedings with a fine drive
Doug Burns also hits a nice opening drive
The final of the President’s Putter, now in its 70th year, resulted in a match that could not have been closer. However, with Craig Aston deservedly 3 up after 12 holes, the watching crowd [well, the Pro, Captain, Mike Davies and Bill Fisher!] would not have bet on a comeback from Jerry Dixon. I wasn’t overly confident myself actually!
With Craig safely aboard the 13th green, Jerry’s tee shot also hit the putting surface. The latter proceeded to hole out for a two, won the next with a par, squared the match on 16 then birdied 17. One up. Craig played a superb recovery from the trees on the right on 18, but Jerry hit an 8 iron to 15 feet and secured the par for an unlikely win. A tremendous match played in a great spirit. Thanks to Neil who took these pictures and those who kindly came along to support the finalists.
Craig plays to the 13th.
The stewards had given up trying to contain the crowd….
An unashamed lag secures the match
On 17th September we celebrate the 90th playing of the magnificent Alderley Edge Challenge Cup. Donated in 1922 by a member who chose to remain anonymous, this trophy was introduced as the handicap championship of the club. In its early years, the competition was played over 36 holes. Later, the Scratch Prize was introduced and played in conjunction with the Challenge Cup. This was recognised as the club championship until a separate 36 hole official Club Championship was introduced in 1975.
A proud Norman Birtles, winner in 1926.
Past winners of the Challenge Cup
You don’t see one for years and then two arrive at once!
In winning the Centenary Trophy with a fine score of 66-1=65, Lee Warne came down to scratch to join Tom Lawton.
Lee, who spends most of his time travelling Europe caddying for the highly successful Scottish rookie Scott Jamieson is clearly a superb player himself. Birdies on both the first and tenth helped, although he went OB on 16th. Second was Luke Foden with a 70.
John Kendrick won the 2011 President’s Prize with a score of 40 points. Second was Dave Slater with 39, and third was Pete McLoughlin also on 39.
The President with John Kendrick
Max Penney fired a superb second round of 68 to record the lowest ever winning score in the Club Championship. His 139 total was good enough to win by six shots. Gary Johnstone was second.
Max rolls in a birdie putt to clinch victory
The club has not exactly been awash with scratch players in its 104 year history. But we have one now, as Tom Lawton achieved what has for some time appeared inevitable. He recorded an excellent 69 in the first round of the Cheshire Boys Championship at Delamere Forest, thereby dipping below 0.5 and having the satisfaction of writing “Scr” on future competition entry forms. We won’t dwell on his second round, but normal service was resumed on Saturday when he breezed round Alderley in 66.The standard of junior golf in general is, perhaps, summed up by the winning score at Delamere: a pair of 66’s from Prestbury’s James Newton. Scratch was once the nirvana for accomplished players; today it seems to be merely a stepping stone to “plus numbers” as we see teenagers playing off as low as plus 5!
Dave Austin was our last scratch man, way back some 30 years ago.
Tom’s success is a credit to the club and to the Junior programme run by Paul and Carl in particular.
Well done Tom, not too far to go to get into plus numbers!!
The fifth playing of the Harold Humphreys Medal took place yesterday, with Harold’s great grandson presenting the prize. Young Harry Humphreys, a junior member, was invited to present the prize to the winner, who this year was Jeff Wortley with a superb 63. The Captain presented Harry with a copy of the club history book, signed by the late Alex Hay.
Runner-up was Logan Stannier with a 66.
Steve and Pat Clarkson, the parents of our club professional Neil, came across from Yorkshire to win the 44th playing of the Jubilee Trophy Mixed Open.
They scored 34 points on a beautifully sunny day.
Neil Clarkson created a very interesting and [apart from the weather] highly enjoyable Professional’s Prize today.
He set up separate holes for the front and back nine, and a few tee positions that were different to the usual. There were one or two players who reluctantly admitted to chipping to the wrong holes!
Unfortunately, the day was dogged with heavy downpours. This, however, did not seem to bother the Lawton brothers; Tom shot a brillianat gross 68 in the heavy morning rain, and his brother James fired a 66 to win the competition. Third was Andy Slater with 69.
Pictured are the Captain, Neil and James, who is holding the mashie made by Alderley’s first club pro, Harry Pierpoint
Is Neil standing on a chair?!
You’d feel a tad unlucky to lose out in a card playoff having shot a total of 130, but that’s exactly what happened when Mike Fleury beat Craig Aston to the Captain’s Prize on a glorious and hot Sunday.
Craig had led with 62 overnight, however Mike added a 64 to his opening 66 despite working until 4am in his taxi !! Having said that, Craig was busy as well….enjoying himself along with another 100 of us at the Abba party!
Third was James Lawton.
The handicapper was sharpening the scalpel, with both Mike and Craig being cut by 4 shots each!!
Thanks must go to Captain, Dave Lee who was an excellent host for what was a superb weekend for all at the club.
