Round Up Of 2012
Spring Invitation
Tuesday, March 27th 2012 / Northenden Golf Club
Sponsored by EasyGo Golf and Fairway Rider
18 holes 4 ball better ball stableford 3/4 handicap
The Spring Invitation, our first outing of the season was hosted once again by the home club of our Honorary Secretary Monty Milner. Northenden Golf Club basked in unseasonably warm sun as the mercury hit record March temperatures, matched only by some outstanding golf scores. New Captain Derek Mee had raced back from the Andalucian Open having spent an exhausting 4 days with Tournament Starter Hedley Muscroft, arriving just in time to see everyone off at the first tee. Sixteen pairs competed for the top honours but it was the Hazel Grove professional amateur combination of James Rowlands and Malcolm Shannon that prevailed with a terrific score of 44 points. Hazel Grove pro' James was magnanimous in victory despite hogging the scoring column of their winning card. Hot on the winners heels were Tony Wedd and Simon Armstrong with 43 points. Third place went to Mike Bebbington and Northenden steward Richard Singleton with 42 points. On 41 points the 5 and 6 handicap pairing of Colin Axon and Dave Hoyle took fourth spot. The front 9 victors were Monty Milner and Paul Smith with 20 points whilst Neil Custis and Steve Rogers took the back 9 with 21 points.
Results:
Winners Malcolm Shannon (14) and James Rowlands (Scratch) 44 points
Tony Wedd (21) and Simon Armstrong (10) 43 points
Richard Singleton (13) Mike Bebbington (18) 42 points
4th place Dave Hoyle (6) and Colin Axon (5) 41 points
Spring Meeting
Friday, April 20th 2012 / Dunham Forest Golf Club
Sponsored by Media Force Ken Buckley; Runner up Stockton While & Partners Tony Stockton; Front 9 Phil Sullivan; Back 9 Direct Marketing Services Bob Morritt
Despite April being one of the worst on record for weather conditions the course was very well presented with slick greens to test early season putting strokes. An unusually low turn out for such a renowned course were treated to a super day of golf rounded off by an excellent meal and much wit and repartee from our Captain Derek Mee. In first place with a score of 36 points with his newly reduced handicap of 8 was last years Captain Bob Bolton. Ken Buckley handed the trophy over, along with a smile of pure delight (or was that a grimace?). In second place was serial prize winner Robin Wiltshire with 34 points. Hot on Robin's heels with 33 points was Ken Buckley and Colin Axon was a further shot back with 32 points. The best front 9 score was won by Mike Massey with 18 points and Ken Buckley took the back 9 with 18 points. Judging by the photo below of Ken with prize donor Bob Morritt he couldn't wait to get his hands on the prize - a voucher for his bespoke tailor Marks & Spencer. We had 2 guest competitors both of whom had impressive scores. Anthony Guy off 15 handicap with 37 points pipped 12 handicap Ian Ladyman by a point to take the guest prize. Next up is Captains Day at our Captains course, Disley where Derek Mee is also celebrating 50 years of membership.
Captains Day
Tuesday, June 20th 2012 / Disley Golf Club
Main prize donated by Mr Captain Derek Mee, Runner up Graeme Wood One Communications, First 9 David Wolstenholme The Loop, Second 9 Peter Hey Life member, Guest prize Monty Milner Easy-Go Rental Trolleys.
Way back in 1961 a group of golfers from within the advertising industry convened for a game of golf around Disley golf course. It was something of an experiment to ascertain if such a group could come together on a regular basis to enjoy the spirit and camaraderie of our wonderful game whilst exploiting the opportunity to discuss business at the 19th hole. The experiment was deemed a resounding success and the Manchester Advertising Golfing Society was born with its first official meet held in 1962. This was the same year that Derek Mee joined Disley Golf Club. Derek also joined MAGS the following year and is our longest continuous serving member so it is particularly fitting that he is our Captain in this 50th anniversary year of MAGS.
So to the golf and in what can only be described as the worst year of summer weather in living memory, never mind the last half century, the sun managed to shine through the broken clouds and kept the rain at bay. A good turnout enjoyed a course in splendid condition proving to be an excellent test for the assembled field. The winning score of 36 points proved the difficulty of the test and even our Captains guest, a Disley member, could only mange 35 points. Our Captain arranged for us to enjoy a first class evening meal before entertaining us with another of his witty speeches in his inimitable style.
Winner: David Bolton 21 handicap 36 points
Runner up: Eddie Wright 12 handicap 35 points
Front 9 holes: Monty Milner 15 handicap 17 points card play off from Colin Axon and Jim Sinclair Smith (sorry guys - you know the rules Monty wins play-offs!)
Back 9 holes: Graeme Wood 28 handicap 18 points
Guest prize: John Aitchison (Disley GC) 35 points.
MAGS AGM
November 2012 / Northenden GC
Jim Sinclair Smith becomes 51st Captain as Monty Milner bows out as Honorary Secretary after 25 years
As the celebration of MAGS first 50 years came to close on the course at Wilmslow with the Autumn meeting won by Robin Wiltshire, the AGM saw the departure from office of 2 giants of our society. The 50th Captain Derek Mee was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior date with the surgeons knife and a new hip. However his closing speech, delivered by a deputising Bob Bolton, proved to be the most succinct of the year! In it Derek wished to thanks all of the membership for making it a truly memorable year in his second term of captaincy, the first of which was way back in 1973. He also expressed wishes that the society would continue to recognise its roots and history under the guidance of the new Honorary Secretary and paid huge tribute to the tireless work and efforts of the outgoing Hon Sec Monty Milner.
Jim Sinclair Smith was duly anointed as our new Captain and presented with the Captains Medal of office and tankard. He also gave sincere thanks to both Monty for his stalwart performance over the last 25 years and to his now immediate predecessor Derek Mee for a fantastic 50th anniversary year. Jim expressed his delight at being asked to Captain MAGS and hoped that as many as possible would support the meets next year. He congratulated the new Hon Sec and thanked him for the speedy work he had put in to arrange a calendar of venues for 2013. Jim's first official duty as Captain was to present Monty with an inscribed jade memento on behalf of the membership.
So to Monty Milner. What can be said about Monty that hasn't been said before? He took over as Hon Sec in 1988 having served for several years as deputy to Cyril Bond whom many of you will remember fondly. Monty thanked all the members for their support over the years in what had been a labour of love. He felt that the time was right to pass on the reigns to a 'younger man' and was really pleased to announce that Ken Buckley had offered to fill the role. Monty wished Ken all the best for the years ahead and felt that he was ideally equipped to swell the numbers of the society and extend its fortunes into the future.
Ken addressed the meeting and added his thanks and plaudits for the enormous contribution Monty had made to MAGS over the years. He went on to announce that he had met with new Captain Jim and discussed possible venues for 2013. The most notable of these was the Captains day which will be held on a sunday at Formby Hall. This is a new idea and generally met with approval. The other venues include Ringway, Sandiway, Whitefield and Wilmslow. Ken outlined his plan to increase membership and attendance and said that due to his involvement with other golf competitions within our industry he was confident of producing a calendar that presented the least possibilities of fixtures being too close together. Ken said he was really looking forward to working for the MAGS membership and especially with Jim in his year of office.
With the official business of the meeting concluded the assembled throng went on to enjoy a wonderful Beef Wellington provided by the Northenden caterer.
