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Steve Rushton opens the season with a fine win at Onneley

Playing golf through the winter months certainly paid dividends for Steve Rushton (h’cap 27). Opening with a return of 16 points from the first 6 holes helped Steve to get off to a very good round of golf. It was only the quality of the temporary green on the 3rd hole, on which we all struggled, that prevented him from having a remarkable front nine and a great Stableford score. Nevertheless, a total of 36 points on the day, when most struggled, was just reward on the day. Well played Steve.

The course in general was in great condition and the weather was again very kind and offering all of us the opportunity to play in polo shirts for the first time this year. The greens were the weakest part of the course, with three very difficult temporary greens in use. Perhaps the speed of the greens which varied from green to green was generally reflected in our low scores, but once all the planned remedial work is complete then it will certainly be a course that we would all wish to return to.

In second place (on count back) was Richard Meadowcroft (16) with 32 points. Richard had not played since last year so was  a little rusty to start off with. However, an excellent back nine of 22 points sorted his card out for the day which included birdies on both the par 3’s on the back nine involving two great putts. Richard also won the nearest the pin and the longest drive both on the back nine. In third place was Phil Stonier (14) also on 32 points. Hitting the ball well off the tee but was let down with the putter otherwise it could have been another very good round.

Second win in a row for Steve Rushton

Playing consistent golf throughout the round was the key to Steve Rushton’s success on the Emerald Course at Hill Valley. The course was in excellent condition and on the day played long due to the lush fairways.  Greens were fabulous but a little slow compared to what we have been used to recently. The course, a par 73 and playing 6304 yards is possibly one of the longest courses we will be playing this year. With plenty of trees and hazards to contend with, it was hardly surprising that the Stableford scores were low on the day.

The round started poorly for Steve with an opening 8 on the 455 yard par 5 first hole. Thereafter, it was steady golf with no further big scores. The round consisted of just 1 par, 5 bogeys, 9 double bogeys  and 3 triple bogeys. But playing off a handicap of 24 enabled him to compile a steady score. Well played Steve—not easy to win two times in a row.

In second place (on count back) was Les Smith (13) with 28 points and 4 pars. Having won the April Medal at Wolstanton Golf Club the previous week, it was hardly surprising that he was again going to be putting a good score together. Les also won the nearest the pin competition on the 146 yard 15th hole. In third place was Kevin Sherwin (19) also on 28 points. Started the day off well by hitting his drive just short of the ladies tee on the first!. In fourth place was Phil Stonier (13) on 27 points, opened with a par but never really got going. In fifth place was Pete Simms (14) on 26 points with a good back nine as a result of having a corned beef sandwich on the 9th tee. Probably would have won the day if there had been some brown sauce on them!!

Barry shoots the Society’s lowest score this year  

A tee shot straight down the middle on the first hole by past Captain Barry Brereton, set the scene for a great game of golf that included 6 pars and resulted in 37 Stableford points from 86 strokes to win our Society Day at Brookfield Golf Club.  Concentrating for four hours and focusing on each shot at a time was the key to Barry’s success on this open yet tricky course and helped him to score on every hole.

The course was in excellent condition with lush fairways.  Greens were good but a little slow with plenty of pitch marks and treated patches. The course, a par 70 and playing 5825 yards, is possibly one of the most improved courses in the areas and one that everyone enjoyed to play. With plenty of trees and hazards to contend with, it was hardly surprising that the Stableford Scores were again low.

In second place was Kevin Abell (19) with 34 points from 104 strokes and 4 pars. Kevin drove well off the tee and  enjoyed a good front nine of 20 points,  but,  a blob on the last spoiled a really good card.  In joint third place was John Smith (25) and Phil Greatbatch on 33 points, but John snatched 3rd place on count back, both a shot short of breaking 100. Phil (Turtle) in fourth place hitting a lovely 5 wood off the tee.

Plenty of practice pays off for Kevin Abell

A round of golf at Gorstyhill before taking on the early evening Society Day at Keele Golf Club on Thursday 18th June, certainly paid dividends for Kevin Abell when he returned 33 Stableford Points from 95 shots. It was a great round of golf with just two no scoring holes on the 9th and 16th. Kevin playing off an handicap of 19 has been hitting his driver well over recent weeks and this continued at Keele together with sinking some long putts. Kevin finished runner-up at Brookfield Golf Club on our last Society day so this success was no real surprise.

The course was in excellent condition with lush fairways, a fabulous setting with great views and plenty of trees. But what a shame—the  greens were really poor  which really ruined the course. The course, a par 72 and playing 6055 yards, probably has the most potential of any course in the area, it is just a pity that the current owners cannot deliver.  As with Brookfield Golf Club with plenty of trees and hazards to contend with, it was hardly surprising that the Stableford Scores were again low.

In second place was Captain Graham Cooke (17) with 28 points from 98 strokes. Once he gains a little more consistency with his driver and more practice with the short game Graham could win well.   In joint third place was John Smith (25) and Stan Malpass (20) on 26 points, but John snatched 3rd place on count back.  

Smithy comes good .

A fabulous round of golf from John Smith (h’cap 25) returning  42 Stableford Points from 88 strokes at Barlaston Golf Club on Friday 10th July  was the winning score from 16 members , our  best turn out  this year. No surprise with this result.  Those of us who have been playing with John over recent weeks, have seen a great improvement in his game, hitting a good long ball and settling down with his short game. So, this round was just waiting to happen. A haul of 42 points shoots John up the Stableford Order of Merit Table and puts him into 3rd place behind Steve Rushton and Kevin Abell. Well played Smithy, a great game, hope the handicap axe is not too sharp for you!

The course was in excellent condition and one which we all enjoyed.  The course, a par 69 and playing 5572 yards, played a little easier than some of the courses we have recently visited but the river and the many hazards certainly challenged everyone. Plenty of Stableford “blobs” on offer if the choice of club was wrong, and what a hole “Old Swampy”  is, the par 4,  7th hole. Must be one of the hardest holes in the area and only Stan, Andrew, Barry and Pete Simms came out of this one with any credit—all scoring 5.

John Smith had 6 pars and a Birdie on the par 4, 11th hole which gave him an 11 point winning margin over 2nd placed Stan Malpass (20) who returned a great 37 points from 88 strokes. Probably a winning score on any other day. Stan’s round consisted of 4 pars and a Birdie on the 447 yard par 5 5th hole. Well done Stan, good to see you settling in. In  third place and playing on his own course was Barry Brereton (15) with 33 points from 93 strokes. A good back nine made up for a slow start.

Steve  clinches win number three on count back.

One Stableford Point gained on the last hole was enough to give Steve Rushton (handicap 22) his third win of the year at Gorstyhill Golf Club on Friday 7th August. Steve, winning on count back, with a score of 34 points from 97 strokes continues to impress maintaining a great record of grinding out good Stableford Scores on our Society Days. Steve continues to play consistent golf with 17 points on the front nine and 17 points on the back nine and just one blob on the par 5 9th hole. In second place and coming in with his best Stableford Score of the year was Russ Howard (32 h’cap) also with 34 points after a fine display of  great putting. Well played to both Steve and Russ, two great games of golf.

The course a par 72 and playing 5859 yards was in excellent condition, with great fairways and testing greens, It is rapidly gaining a great reputation and is becoming increasingly more popular with Societies.

In third place was Kevin Abell (17) with 33 points from 92 strokes. On the day, blobbing the par 3 5th hole and the par 3 17th hole cost Kevin the opportunity to win his second competition of the year after playing so well recently.

Best  round ever for Andrew and Kevin Abell tightens his grip on the Stableford Order of Merit -  but it’s close!

What a great day we all had at Onneley Golf Club - great weather, a lovely course in excellent condition, good company and to top it all very good golf played by 14 of our members and a guest. But, it was an even better day for Andrew Abell  (h’cap 19) who scored his lowest ever round of golf with a gross 84 strokes which gave him his first win of the year with a Stableford Score of 41 points. The round included 1 birdie and three pars and a 5 over par front nine and a bonus of winning the Longest Drive Competition on the 18th hole .

In second place, and playing in the same group, came John Smith (20) with 39 points from just 87 strokes which included a fabulous 4 over par front nine and 7 pars in the round. In third position, also in the same group, and hitting his best ever Society Score came Russ Howard with 38 points from 101 strokes - just missing out on breaking the hundred. Well done lads, all three of you had a great game.

The course a par 70 and playing 5592 yards was in excellent condition, with tight fairways and good testing greens. It was a course we all tend to enjoy and will therefore be included on the playing calendar for next year.

In fourth place came Stan Malpass (19)  with 35 points from 91 strokes and playing on his own course and possibly for the last time before he moves to Gorstyhill. Another sound round Stan. In fifth place came Kevin Abell (15) with 32 points from 91 strokes. Kevin playing some great golf at the moment and was very unfortunate not to have won the Stableford Competition in Scotland. Still his Stableford Score puts him three points clear at the top of the Order of Merit Table with one game to play and just one player, John Smith, that can realistically catch Kevin. So, it’s all on the last game at Gorstyhill to decide who wins the Stableford Order of Merit - Kevin or John?

Phil Greatbatch wins the Gorstyhill GC Classic Trophy and guest Karl Furniss wins the Stableford Competition

plus Kevin Abell wins the Stableford  and

Phil Stonier wins the Strokeplay Order of Merit Titles

What another fabulous day we all had at Gorstyhill Golf Club on Friday 16th October,2009. The weather was just perfect for golf. It was our last Society Day of the year and the members responded with a great turnout of 16 members and 2 guests. The best score of the day came from guest Karl Furniss (h’cap 14) with an incredible 38 points from 84 strokes and playing some great golf with 7 pars, 1 birdie and just 2 double bogies. However, it was Phil (Turtle) Greatbatch (h’cap 23) who came in with 37 points and in second place to take home the Gorstyhill Classic Trophy. Phil played some lovely  golf off the tee and only missed one fairway all afternoon. Well played to both Karl and Phil—two great games.

The course a par 72 and playing 5859 yards was in very good  condition. The greens were  slow due to them  being hallow tined a week previously but nevertheless the fairways were in excellent condition and a test for us all.

In third place came Jon Downs (16) with 35 points from 95 strokes. The round consisted of 6 pars, 2 birdies and unfortunately, a pair of 9’s on the first and 6th holes and an 8 on the 10th hole ruined a great card. Jon must be a good bet for next year!