Round Up Of 2015
The Scotsman Trophy
19th March 2015 / Stockport Golf Club
Sponsors - Ken Buckley - The Scotsman, Bob Morritt Advertising, Bob Bolton - Barton Grange Advertising, Steve O'Brien - UV Technology, Matt Hatton - Mediacom.
Our first meet of the year and what an amazing turn out of 63 golfers, 22 of whom were guests. We were treated to a fantastic windless, sunny day. It was almost too warm to wear the new MAGS sweater and certainly far too warm to wear the matching beanie! The scorecard holder and pitchmark repairer liveried up with the MAGS logo distributed by Ken and Cookie at the start made it feel like christmas again. Stockport was resplendent in the sun and presented a stern test despite the benign conditions. The greens were very tricky, partly due to recent hollow tining but they were still in excellent condition for the time of year.
Our winner on the day was the irrepressible Colin Axon playing off 6 handicap turning in a fantastic score of 38 points. There was a four way tie on 37 points for second place between David Bolton, Mike Massey, Ian Cook and Neil Blakely. Unfortunately David missed out completely as a terrific back 9 of 23 points from Neil secured the card playoff place. Cookies front 9 of 20 points earned him the front 9 prize and Mikes superb 22 points back 9 saw him awarded the back 9 prize. Nearest the pin on the 5th was won by Phil Sullivan whilst the closest to the pin on the 16th was won by guest Mark Dolan. Mark also won the overall guest prize with a terrific score of 39 points playing off a 4 handicap (the letter is already on its way to his home club).
The Spring Meeting Monty Milner Trophy
30th April 2015 / Davenport Golf Club
Sponsors - Monty Milner - main prize, Stuart Barrett, Robin Wiltshire Faversham House, David Bolton NES Global.
Davenport proved to be yet another popular venue for MAGS Spring Meeting and the first round of the double header for the NABS and Edward Bates trophies. 41 golfers turned out on a fine spring afternoon and were greeted by a golf course, resplendent in its first flush of spring foliage. 28 members battled it out for the magnificent Monty Milner trophy, now in its second year of existence. It is now the only trophy we compete for where the donor is on hand to present the prize. Let's hope he keeps going for a few more years yet as his generous sponsorship is greatly appreciated by us all! It was great to see former MAGS members and past captains Steve Brotherton and Cliff Rowbottom playing as guests - come on fellers it's time you rejoined us again!
There were some excellent performances on the day but the eventual winner with a score of 38 points playing off a 9 handicap was John Evans. Malcolm Ealand was narrowly edged into second place with 37 points. The front 9 was won by Mike Massey with 21 points and Monty Milner, working on the old theory of donate a prize to win a prize, managed the back 9 with 19 points. The nearest the pin prizes were won by new member Gareth Chadwick (10th hole) and Steve (well I'd better stay for dinner if I've won a prize) Evans (16th hole). The guest prize was won with a score of 34 points by Phil Jones playing off 24 handicap.
Our Captain treated us all to one of his engaging speeches and there was much mirth and banter around the dinner tables (until he started telling jokes!). Davenport is highly likely to feature on next years calendar such was the quality of the course and catering. Next up is Invitation Day on wednesday 3rd June playing for the Cyril Bond claret jug at Bramhall Park priced at just £32.50 - how do we do it!!
Member results
Guests results
Invitation Day Cyril Bond Trophy and Telegraph Trophy
3rd June 2015 / Bramhall Park Golf Club
Sponsor - The Daily Telegraph courtesy of Clive Kirkham
On what was arguably the best days weather of the year to date the Invitation day proved to be one for current and past captains of either MAGS or their respective clubs as the entire prize table went their way! Special thanks to Clive Kirkham for arranging generous Telegraph sponsorship that included a fantastic goodie bag. The course was in fine condition with excellent greens, although surprisingly, much of the scoring didn't reflect this.
There were 2 main competitions up for grabs. The Cyril Bond trophy, the claret jug for which, is awarded to the member of the winning pair. The winners guest receives a separate prize. The Telegraph trophy is awarded to the best combined individual scores for each fourball.
Withington past captain (and MAGS past captain) Bob Bolton partnered by current Withington captain Dave Southern were clear winners of the fourball betterball invitation day, the Cyril Bond trophy going to Bob. The Telegraph trophy also went to the Withington duo in concert with former Northenden captains (an unholy alliance if ever there was one!) of Cammie Stewart and Monty Milner (also an ex MAGS captain). It must of really pained Monty to say 'good shot' to Dave and Bob despite knowing it was in their team score interest! Dave Southern also picked up the nearest the pin on the 4th hole knocking about a foot away whilst the current captain of Grange Park GC, Paul Bradley was closest on 15. Paul also had the best individual score of 39 points on the day.
RESULTS:
Cyril Bond Trophy
Winners - Bob Bolton (10) Dave Southern (13) 45 points
2nd place - Phil Sherrat (14) Rob Griffiths (14) 43 points
3rd place - Declan McKenna (20) Steve Rogers (16) 42 points
Telegraph Trophy
Winners - Bob Bolton (10) 38 points Dave Southern (13) 37 points Monty Milner (18) 31 points Cammie Stewart (12) 30 points =136
2nd place - Chris Hamer (12) 31 Pete Moore (12) 30 Billy Howard (18) 27 Bob Morritt (18) 30 = 118
3rd place - Malcolm Shannon (14) 33 Mark Redfearn (8) 29 Ken Buckley (16) 23 Mike Williams (21) 29 = 114
Captains Day - The Arthur Wood Trophy
July 5th 2015 / Worsley Golf Club
Sponsors - Graeme Wood for providing the main prize and to Ian Cook, Phil Sullivan, Andy Garner and Ford Garrard for other prizes. Thanks also to our Captain Mr Mike Williams for his generous provision of wine and drinks at the bar.
44 intrepid golfers set sail in glorious sunshine on Sunday July 5th, this was Captains day at it’s best, most of them made it back in during what could only be described as torrential rainstorms. What started as shirts and shorts became waterproof’s , canoe’s and anything else that made life easier to get back to the clubhouse. However those who stayed out produced some quality scores with a three way tie for 1st place.
Worsley GC was in fantastic condition, the Captain thanked both the green-staff and catering for the excellent condition of the course and a fantastic meal, members and guests thanked Captain several times for a fantastic day and what has been a fantastic year so far, that’s nearly 200 golfers at the first four events.
RESULTS:
Rob Axon 37 points
John Evans 37 points
Declan McKenna 37 points
These placing went down to a back nine then back six but congratulations to all 3 for what was fantastic scoring in horrendous conditions.
Back Nine Winner with 21 points was Darren Johnson
Front Nine Winner with 19 points was Chris Hamer
Visitors prize with 36 points went to Phil Sharratt, congratulations to him and it was a pleasure to welcome all John Evans guests who hopefully we will see again at Wilmslow
Nearest the pin prizes went to Stuart Barratt – yes Boris has finally come good and Mike Myers
Mike Sallabank Hole In One
11th September 2015 / High Legh
Hello everybody, Mike here, I’m busy building these pages for the new site and I’ve noticed that Bob conveniently left out all results from the scene of my fantastic hole in one. The sad thing is that I was actually playing with Bob when it happened and he was running around like a lunatic in celebration. Here’s a picture so we don’t forget ever again.
Mike Sallabank hole-in-one on the 2nd hole at High Legh GC
Autumn Meeting John Cartwright Trophy, NABS Trophy and Edward Bates Trophy
8th October 2015 / Wilmslow Golf Club
Sponsor - Tony Wedd
The sun shines on the righteous and certainly did once again today as it has done at every MAGS meet this year. It was a beautiful afternoon on a course in magnificent condition. Wilmslow provided us with their usual warm and friendly welcome and looked after us like royalty with bacon barmcakes on arrival (even wrapped up ready to go for the late arrivers!). Following some last minute cry-offs 44 intrepid golfers took to the course and produced some splendid golf between them.
The Autumn meeting is traditionally played as the last meet of the year and for the John Cartwright trophy. In addition those members that played at the Spring Meeting are eligible for their aggregate score of the Spring and Autumn competitions to go forward for the NABS trophy. Any past captains amongst this number are also eligible to win the Edward Bates trophy as well. John Cartwright worked at Edward Bates Advertising in the 1960's and was one of the founding members of MAGS and captain of the society in 1964.
The Autumn prize was hotly contested with 4 players tied on 38 points. Unfortunately on a back 9 play-off Neil Blakeley came 4th with 17 points. Back 9 was insufficient to separate 12 handicap Chris Hamer and 11 handicap (yes that's right 11 - down from 17 this year!) David Bolton who both had 18 points each. On the back 6 however, Chris had 12 points to David's 10 so took second prize. The winner with a back nine of 19 points off 12 handicap was Steve O'Brien.
In the NABS trophy 9 handicap John Evans was a clear winner adding a 36 point autumn score to his his 38 points from spring giving 74 points combined and a clear victory over Steve O'Brien on 71 points and Chris Hamer on 70 points. The Edward Bates trophy was won with a brace of 34 points combined, by Monty Milner snatching the win away from Bob Bolton whose combined score of 30 and 36 fell 2 shots short of Monty.
Neil Blakeley was compensated for his lost play-off with a winning total on the front 9 of 21 points and on the back 9 dear old Ken was gutted to hear that Robin Wiltshire had pipped him to the prize by 1 shot with 20 points. There were 2 shots of the day, one by Chris Hamer for his nearest the pin at the 9th and the other (and somebody said rather uncharitably, 'shot of a lifetime') was by Howard Anson for a magnificent nearest the pin on the 17th.
A strong contingent of guests from St Helens produced a worthy winner of the guest prize in the shape of Rob Griffiths, a regular guest supporter of MAGS. His score of 35 points just edged it by one shot from Steve Dunn.
RESULTS & PRIZES:
John Cartwright Trophy - Steve O'Brien (12) 38 points on card play-off
Runner up - Chris Hamer (12) 38 points on card play-off
NABS Trophy - John Evans (9) 38+36=74 points
Edward Bates Trophy - Monty Milner (19) 34+34=68
Front 9 Neil Blakeley 21 points
Back 9 Robin Wiltshire 20 points
Nearest pins 9th & 17th Chris Hamer & Howard Anson.
Texmas Scramble & AGM Thursday
12th November 2015 / Hazel Grove G.C.
Prizes courtesy of MAGS surplus!
The AGM and Texmas Scramble have now been a combined event for 3 years. With nearly 40 golfers out on a November afternoon it suggests a successful format. Good weather once again played its part making it a clean sweep of excellent rain free conditions for every meet this year, all barring a 20 minute squall at Wilmslow. There was the usual high standard of bandits and banter on and off the course. The scramble competition was a close run affair with 2 teams scoring a 66 gross but the team of Colin Axon, Monty Milner, Ford Garrard and David Bolton won out after the 10% reduction giving them a final total of 59.3.
Ford, Colin, Monty, Captain Billy and Dave
The AGM went off smoothly. Ken introduced a couple of minor changes to the society rules. The first involving the Captain for the year having a new requirement that he 'audits' the accounts for the year - sounds like a euphemism for giving the nod to Ken's winter getaway courtesy of club funds!! Secondly it is now a requirement that any trophy winner ensures that there is adequate insurance cover through their home insurance in the event that the trophy is stolen or damaged. The society is in good financial health and we have enjoyed an excellent year. Attendance numbers have been the highest since the halcyon days of the 60's and 70's. Ken then announced the dates and venues for next season that can be viewed on the Competition calendar 2016 page as seen on the side navigation bar. Outgoing Captain Mike Williams gave his farewell speech thanking everyone for their support, offering generous thanks to Ken, Ian Cook and Bob Bolton for their help in making not just his year a success but for the success of the society generally. He then announced in the new Captain Billy Howard and signed off with a joke (not quite in the same league as his 'black box' special but it raised a titter and a groan nevertheless!). Billy applied ubiquitous scouse humour to his inaugural speech and its a fair bet that we are in for plenty of laughs throughout next year. Billy congratulated Mike on a fantastic year and was seen to be genuinely humbled to be our Captain for 2016 - it won't last once we start barracking him! Here's to next year.
New Captain Billy Howard
Captain Billy Howard with outgoing captain Mike Williams
