New Competition Expected to be a Knockout with Yorkshire Golfers

A brand new matchplay golf competition, exclusively for amateur golfers in Yorkshire, is set to be staged next year.

The Yorkshire Matchplay Golf Championship is an exciting knockout competition open to golfers who are a member of a club affiliated to the county union. Players have the option of entering either the Individual competition or the Pairs event. Both of which will be played initially on a local basis with the winners of each region progressing to a Grand Final.

The first round in each of the four regions; North, East, South & West, will be played over 36 holes on a home and away basis with a draw taking place for home advantage in subsequent rounds. The remaining two players in each region will compete in a Regional Final, also played on a two-legged basis, for a chance to meet their counterparts in the last four finale.

The winners of each Regional Final, in both the Individual and Pairs section, will be invited to compete in the Grand Final on the 16th September 2010. Finalists will be greeted with breakfast on arrival where a draw will be made for opponents prior to the semi-finals. After lunch the morning winners will then do battle in the afternoon to determine the overall champions. A third-place play-off will also be held for the morning losers. A prize presentation and evening dinner will conclude the day.

The venue for the climax of the championship is still very much under wraps but tournament director, Edward Battye, believes that entrants will not be disappointed, “We have one of the best courses in the country lined up to host our inaugural year Grand Final so those making it to the last four are in for a real treat. We are just putting the finishing touches to the day and hope to announce the location shortly.”

As well as a free day of golf and food the grand finalists will also be competing for over £1,000 worth of prizes so a tense day on the links is expected.

Battye, who heads up the company behind the championship, Golf Empire, is expecting the new competition to prove a real hit with golfers in the area, “Pre-registration only opened last week and we have already had a lot of interest. The price of entry is extremely reasonable {£15 for the Individual & £25 for the pairs} and with the first round being played on a home and away scenario, golfers are guaranteed at least two rounds with one of them away from their home course.”

The two-handiapper from Dewsbury District Golf Club but who lives in Huddersfield added, “Because the early rounds are played on a regional basis this will minimise any travelling and those who make it all the way through to the Grand Final can expect a fantastic day of golf.”

Although entries do not officially open until January a website, www.yorkshirematchplay.com, has been set up to provide further information to potential entrants allowing them to pre-register. The website contains the full rules and regulations of the tournament and will keep competitors up-to-date throughout the year with results and all the latest news.

The site also includes a Facebook page which has been created to act as a way for competitors to interact and engage in 'friendly banter'. There is a also a Twitter page where golfers can follow the championship.

Dewsbury Winter Ball - "What a great night"

That was the general consensus after the Mirfield club held its first Winter Ball.

The Pinnacle Suite looked fantastic after Helen, from Quellenevents, had set up the suite specially for the occasion. (see picture)

The evening started with the Captain and President, along with their wives, welcoming guests to a Champagne Reception in the downstairs lounge.

Then, in the Pinnacle suite, Dinner was served for over 80 guests. Again the feedback was all very positive with regard to the food, service, organisation and atmosphere.

Entertainment was provided by "Soul Story" featuring "Ellie Davis", a quality international group.

A special thank you must go to Vice Captain, Paul Jackson, who also celebrated his birthday on the day, Tracy, and the social committee for their efforts in ensuring the success and smooth running of the event.

Mad Mondays at Willow Valley

Monday Greenfees on all the Willow Valley golf courses are only £10 per person until the 22nd March 2010!

You can book online at www.wvgc.co.uk using code: MAD or call 01274 878624.

The offer excludes Bank Holidays and is subject to tee time availability.

Whiskey & Quiz News from Outlane

Outlane Golf Clubs steward Nick Hirst scored a very respectable 61 to win the Outlane Whisky Frolic with regular partner Dave Knapton.

Granville Jenkinson was also a happy man as he played with his grandson Bryn who donated his prize to his grandmother because he was to young to sample it.

The Sunday event saw Gavin Petts and Keith Birchenall winning with a 65 in a reduced entry due to the poor weather conditions .

Saturday Whisky Frolic:
Nick Hirst / Dave Knapton = 61 nett
Anthony Crossley / Gary Atkin = 62 nett
Alan West / Brian Dodson = 62 nett
Granville Jenkinson / Bryn Jenkinson = 63 nett

Sunday Whisky Frolic:
Gavin Petts / Keith Birchenall -- 65 nett

The Slack Lane club are also holding a Sports Quiz on Wednesday December 2nd at 7.30 pm to raise funds for their junior development programme. Anyone is welcome to enter a team of 4 for £20 which includes supper. To enter a team ring the club on 01422 374762 or quiz master Bob Hazelden 01484 655097.

Dewsbury Ladies Annual Dinner & Presentation Night

The Ladies of Dewsbury District Golf Club held there Annual Dinner and Prize Presentation on Friday 20th November.

Over fifty Ladies were present for the occasion with many neighbouring clubs being represented by their Lady Captain's.

Madam Lady President, Mrs Marie Franks, and Madam Lady Captain, Mrs Joy Wilkinson, hosted the evening which concluded with the presentation of the Trophies for the 2009 playing season.

2009 TROPHY WINNERS
Victory Vase: Mrs Linda Welsh
Infirmary Cup: Mrs Anne Wilkinson
Peace Cup: Mrs Christine White
Coronation Trophy: Mrs Stephanie Sykes
Veteran’s Trophy: Mrs Linda Dyson
President’s Bowl: Miss Laura Eagle
Lady President’s Trophy: Mrs Margaret Jessup
Armitage Trophy: Mrs Linda Welsh
Past Captain’s Cup: Miss Jayne Russell
Captain’s Brooch: Mrs Linda Dyson
Millennium Rosebowl: Mrs Christine White
Foursomes Cup: Mrs Janet Liley and Mrs Christine White
Centenary Fourball: Mrs Cora Woodside and Mrs Shirley Murgatroyd
Mrs McNiff’s Cup: Mrs Janet Liley
2009 Medal Winner’s Cup: Miss Laura Eagle
Micklethwaite Trophy: Mrs Jennifer Pinder
Handicap Basket: Mrs Dorothy Woodcock
Golfer of the Year: Mrs Christine White

Guests included:
Mrs Julie Smith ~ The Captain’s wife
Mrs Pat Hawkshaw ~ The President’s wife
Miss Christine Withers ~ Honorary Life Member Dewsbury District Golf Club
Bradley Park Golf Club: Mrs Sarah Picket
Crosland Heath Golf Club: Mrs Michelle Booth
Huddersfield Golf Club: Mrs Geraldine Stocchero
Longley Park Golf Club: Mrs Linda Parker
Marsden Golf Club: Mrs Beverley Collins
Meltham Golf Club: Mrs Margaret Bottomore
Outlane Golf Club: Mrs Cherril Smallburn
Woodsome Hall Golf Club: Mrs Helen Turner

The picture above from the evening showing "Golfer of the Year" Christine White (seated centre) alongside Madam Lady President, Mrs Marie Franks, and Madam Lady Captain, Mrs Joy Wilkinson. They are surrounded by other prize winners.

Hanging Heaton Junior Winners

Hanging Heaton Golf Club Junior Section held their annual presentation last week which was well attended by several members.

The winners of the main prizes are shown below.

Captain's Prize: C Dawson (9H - S Wilcock)
President's Prize: C Dawson (9H - S Wilcock
Lady Captain's Prize: A Webster (9H - D Hey)
Steve Simpson Trophy: J Milnes (9H - S Wilcock)
Ennerdale Trophy: Miss F Williams (9H - D Hale)
Barber Trophy: C Dawson (9H - D Hale)
Walsh Cup: Joe Button (9H - D Hale)
Ben Goodair Trophy: J Morton (9H - C Broome)
T H Crowther Trophy: Joe Button (9H - B MacIver)
John Bell KO: J Milnes
Most Promising: D Hale
Most Improved: C Dawson
Eclectic: Joe Button (9H - D Hale)
Young Junior of the Year: S Wilcock
Junior of the Year: A Link

Crow Nest Dinner is Big Success

Crow Nest Park Golf Club hosted its annual Gentleman's Dinner last Friday night in the Clubhouse at Coach Road, Hove Edge.

50 members and their guests gathered and were entertained by the Guest Speakers Mike Ingham, ex Golf Professional at Cleckheaton Golf Club, Rod Taylor a TV Producer & Director, and author of The Guiness Book of Sitcoms and Rochdale comedian Dudley Doolittle.

The evening went entirely to plan with a membership auction and a game of knockout Bingo providing additional entertainment on the night.

The photo above shows the top table officers and guests. Left To Right; John Turner,President CNPGC, Glyn Owen, Vice Captain CNPGC, Mike Ingham ex Professional, Cleckheaton GC, Martin Broadbent, Club Captain, CNPGC, Rod Taylor,John Wordingley, Captain, Lightcliffe GC.

Elland Off

The Elland Alliance, due to be played tomorrow, has had to be called off due to the amount of rain that has fallen lately.

An Alliance organiser said, "Having inspected the course, there isn't a possibility of the event going ahead."

The next event will now be at Hebden Bridge on the 8th December 2009.

Nett 57 Wins Pro's Comp at Outlane

The Pros fourball betterball at Outlane Golf Club saw the winners pick up 13 nett birdies to have a clear win in the first division.

Meanwhile the second division winners put their two shot win down to a blistering second nine which resulted in only 27 to add to their opening 33 which was the same as second placed grandfather and grandson Dean and Matthew Clarke who must have thought they had done enough to win it.

Pros 4 Ball Better Ball Results:
Division 1:
Peter Sellers / Neil Morison = 57 nett
Ron Hardy / Michael Hales = 60 nett
John Firth / Patrick Wray = 60 nett

Division 2:
Richard Godino / Brent Ashton = 60 nett
Dean Clarke / Matthew Clarke = 62 nett
Roy Beaumont / Barry Hinchcliffe = 63 nett

Full House at Elland

The starting times for the next Alliance fixture are now available to view online.

The fixture at Elland Golf Club on Tuesday 24th November is totally full with a reserve list in place should anybody drop out. Start Sheet.

Chris Qualifies as Mind Factor Coach

The Halifax, Huddersfield & District Union of Golf Clubs Team Manager, Chris Mear, has recently qualified as a Certified Mind Factor Coach and is now hoping that his new skills will be able to benefit local golfers by improving their game.

Mear, a former President of the Union and Captain at Meltham Golf Club, successfully completed the four day Mind Factor Institute course in Manchester and is now fully registered to impart his knowledge on to others. The intensive course consists of several elements of the mind game focusing in particular on four quadrants; Before golf, During golf, In between golf, and After golf.

Mear, who plays off a handicap of just three, told the Huddersfield Golf Blog, "We also did some work on the power of belief, and how you might believe what you are thinking but your mind may not! I am now really looking forward to working with clients to give them the power to harness their own mind and make their mind believe."

The course also covered hypnotherapy and the power of persuasion in relation to improving your golf game. Mear added, "There was just so much information to take in it was brilliant, the course was very intense and after four solid days everybody was very tired at the end but we all left the course feeling great."

The winter period is a fantastic time to work on the mental side of the game and those interested in working with Mear can contact him via email on meargolf.mindcoaching@googlemail.com or by phone at 07887838189 or 01484 859979.

HHDUGC 2010 Fixtures Announced

The Halifax, Huddersfield & District Union of Golf Clubs have announced their fixture list for next season.

Crosland Heath will host the P.S. Cockroft Trophy, the Union's premier strokeplay event, on Sunday 8th August. As usual this 36-hole tournament will act as the qualifier for the Matchplay Championship with the top 32 progressing to the knockout stages. The first two rounds will be contested at Saddleworth a fortnight later, the quarter-final and semi-final matches will be played on Saturday 18th September at Halifax Bradley Hall with the 36-hole final taking place at Huddersfield Golf Club the following Sunday.

The Junior Matchplay final will take place on the same day with the strokeplay qualifier held at Bradley Hall on Sunday 4th July. The Junior Team Championship is at Outlane on the 6th June.

Halifax Golf Club host the Foursomes finals on the 19th September. Outlane is the venue for the Handicap Team Championship on Sunday 29th August with West End staging the Scratch Team Championship on Sunday 25th July. The Second Division of the Scratch Team Championship is at Queensbury on the 20th June.

Meanwhile the 9-hole Club Championship will be competed for at Longley Park on the 2nd May and the Seniors Strokeplay Championship heads to Elland on Tuesday 29th June.

In relation to team matters the Senior Team will take on the Junior Team in a pre-season game at Bradley Park on Sunday 18th April. The season then pans out for them with home ties at Woodsome Hall, Huddersfield, Dewsbury and West End. These are intersected by away trips to Hull (Kirkella), Bingley St. Ives and Catterick. The 6-man Team Championship will be held at Doncaster (Bessacarr) on the 12th September.

The Juniors will play their home matches at Meltham (twice) and Bradley Hall with away days at Kilnwick Percy (KP Club), Northcliffe and Harrogate (Starbeck). Their 6-man Team Championship will be held at Wakefield Golf Club on Thursday 26th August. The Inter Union Club Team Championship is at Brough this year and will be played on Sunday 11th July.

Campbell and Scott record second win of Season

Having won the opening alliance fixture of the season, Mark Campbell and Michael Scott from Crow Nest Park, took top honors at Meltham last Tuesday.

Scoring an excellent 44 points, with a superb front nine of 23, they won by just one shot from home pairing Leon Bolton and Richard Clark.

Setting off like a train, the pair from Crow Nest Park had accumulated twelve points after just four holes, thanks mainly to two gross birdies on the first two holes. That kind of scoring is hard to maintain but with further gross birdies, this more than made up for their three single pointers in the round.

Not to be outdone second place pairing Bolton and Clark also had 23 on the front nine and had it not been for their single pointer on the relatively easy par4 15th, they could have been walking away with top spot.

In the Pro-Am section West End professional Darren Arber and his partner Andrew Baxter claimed first position with an amazing 45 points, this won the Pro-Am competition by 6 points.

The pair from West End between them scored a gross level par 71 for their round, which left them nine under nett!! In fact, their back nine of 24 points was one the highest recorded in recent times during alliance events. In second place were Chris Hanson and Ian Clegg from Woodsome Hall with 39 points.

In what was an unusual time for an Alliance to be held at Meltham the weather was actually not too bad. The day was overcast but surprisingly warm with just some intermittent light drizzle. The course itself was in good condition but recent essential maintenance to the greens did mean they were not up to their usual standards.

The service and hospitality received at Meltham was excellent and many complimented the meal afterwards. The Alliance would also like to thank Meltham, and in particular Paul Davis for his efforts in helping to organise the day.

The next event is at Elland Golf Club on Tuesday 24th November where the entry field is already full with 8 pairs in reserve. The alliance then moves onto Hebden Bridge on Tuesday 8th December where the field is also filling up quickly.

In the picture above are the the winners. Left to right; Pro-Am winners Andrew Baxter and Darren Arber. Centre is Barry Isles (Secretary of the H.H.D.G.A) followed by Am-Am winners Mark Campbell and Michael Scott from Crow Nest Park.

Leading Scores.

The latest professional's order of merit will be published later this week which includes details about the new scoring system. The fixtures for the second half of the season will also be posted later this week.

Details about a 'new' competition, The Champion Club Trophy, will also be announced shortly. This will be played for an old Alliance trophy that has recently been handed back to the Alliance which can no longer be played for under the original rules so has been re-devised under current regulations.

Birdies Galore at Outlane

The Outlane annual Turkey Trot proved to be a fourball better ball of low scoring for a lot of players.

The winners, Ken Robinson and Steve Howlett, didn't have their usual partners to play with but teamed up to perfection to take first prize with a blistering 60 nett.

The three partnerships who scored a 61 must have thought it was a winning combination especially Andy Statham and 15-year-old Michael Thomas who were one of the first out whilst all the other Turkey winners were out in the later stages which proved to be the birdie period for low scoring!

TURKEY WINNERS:
Ken Robinson / Steve Howlett = 60 nett
Andy Statham / Michael Thomas = 61 nett
Peter Hey / Peter Lawton = 61 nett
Mark Clare / Trevor Mullins = 61 nett
Andy McLaughlin / Patrick O'Flynn = 62 nett
Andy Fearnley / Russell Cole = 62 nett

Oldroyd's Four Decade Treble

Dewsbury golfer Bob Oldroyd recently completed an amazing treble, spanning four decades, when he claimed the Veterans knockout title at the Mirfield based course earlier this year.

As well as many successes in general club competitions the former Club Captain's illustrious golfing resume now includes being Junior Champion in 1968, the Scratch Winner in 1984 and now his newly achieved Veterans crown.

Club Manager Mick Thorpe praised Oldroyd's treble, "This is quite an achievement to have claimed these titles over a 41 year time span and he is still going strong!"

He added, "No one else has managed this fete at the club and we doubt it will have been achieved many times at any other club."

Alliance: Meltham Start Times

The start times for the next HHDGA Alliance meeting have now been published.

The fixture will take place at Meltham Golf Club on Tuesday 10th November. The full start sheet can be seen here.

Dewsbury Lady is Yorkshire President

Last Monday, the 19th October 2009, Christine Withers from Dewsbury District Golf Club was enrolled as the new President of the Yorkshire Veteran Ladies' Golf Association.

Christine has served as both Lady Captain (1970) and Lady President (1975-76) at The Pinnacle Club.

She has also previously held the office of Captain of the Yorkshire Veteran Ladies' Golf Association in 1998.

Popular Winners as Alliance Returns to West End

Having been excellent supporters of the Alliance for many years, Meltham pair Neil Paxman and Tony Baier proved very popular winners at last weeks Alliance meeting at West End.

In another high scoring and tight competition, Paxman and Baier (pictured below with West Professional David Rishworth) scored an excellent 43 points to claim top spot and end a 10 year drought since their last win.

Being one of the later pairs to complete their round they overtook long time clubhouse leaders Dave Rollinson and Frank Roby from home cub West End. Two other pairs matched Rollinson and Roby’s score of 42 points but it was their excellent 22 points on the back nine that grabbed them second place.

On an interesting note, every Alliance event has specific local rules relating to the course and conditions on the day but this is the first time that Alliance officials have had to have a rule in for balls lost through birds stealing them. In fact on the day some dozen golfers reported balls vanishing from the course!!

In the PRO-AM Bradley Hall professional Rob Booth and his partner Andy Hare (pictured below) claimed first position with an excellent 41 points that included four birdies. In second place, after a card play off, were David Astin from Woodsome Hall and his partner John Gumbley from Hebden Bridge with 39 points.

In what was a welcome return to West End after 10 years, the weather could not have been any better and with the course in excellent condition the day proved a huge success, highlighted by the fact that this was a record field for an event at this time of the year, for which the Alliance would like to give thanks.

James Washington, one of the Alliance's organisers commented, "The service and hospitality received at West End was excellent and many complimented the meal afterwards. The Alliance would also like to thank West End Golf Club, and in particular David Rishworth for his efforts in helping to organise the day and for conducting the presentation with Barry Isles so professionally."

The next event is at Meltham Golf Club on Tuesday 10th November.

Leading Scores.