YELLOW BALL TUESDAY JULY 30TH 2024, REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Michael Healey . Tue, 30 Jul at 20:53 Seniors - despite 8 regular members contesting the Senior Pairs knockout early doors, 32 further seniors threw their tallies into the bag for a Yellow Ball in the scorching heat. The course was great today, greens fast and true, the ball running on fairways and overall an enjoyable day for everyone's golf. There were two prizes only, despite the top four cards all competing closely: Yellow Ball Result: First: Ken Tieszen, Mike Griffiths, Dave A Jones and Mark Hughes - 165 points Second: Fred Court, Chris Jacques, Jon Falcus and Mike Healey - 162 points

MATCH vs HAWARDEN AND KITTY COMPETITION JULY 23RD 2024. REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY AND ANDY MITCHELL

Seniors - I received the following report from Malcolm last night but (with many grandchildren in tow) only now able to publish. Thank you Malcolm. Match v Harwarden (H) - Another really good win today for our team against Hawarden at home - 6.5 - 1.5. Nigel and I were the only losers - on the 18th! He was an excellent replacement for you with an interesting speech, as you can imagine. The course and weather were superb - the Hawarden boys were complaining that the greens were too fast! Hayley's food once again did us proud and we received numerous compliments from our visitors about the course and food. Our next match is at home to Aldersey Green on Thursday, 8th August - there are still a couple of places available. There was also a report from Andy Mitchell detailing early risers in an Individual Stableford: First: Andy Mitchell - 32 pts, Second: Tom McGrady - 30 pts, Third: Alan Pocklington - 26pts - thank you for organising Andy

MILE END MATCH FROM MIKE HEALEY

With only one tee to play from at Mile End (10.00am), we have had a think about timing and I have decided to go with a pre-draw. My grandchildren insisted on helping to make sure there was no cheating so any written complaints can go to them in triplicate and sent to their address in Prestwich. An earlyish meet is still advised for admin purposes (9.30ish/9.45ish) and for me to collect your £15.00. I am attaching yet another spreadsheet for your perusal - you will note your playing partner and tee time (you may have earned a 20 minute lie-in). I am putting buggies out first followed by Stuart Miles, who will collect kitty comp money after your game and resolve cards. If we can get away earlier, I would like the buggies ready and waiting and I have used 8 minute gaps in between tee times. It is not about rushing round but getting everbody away within the hour if possible. I also have a couple of other minor prizes to make it worthwhile for all. We have been advised that food will be served as we arrive back in groups rather than wait for 36 to appear. Thank you all for your co-operation and see you on Thursday.

SENIORS 2 DAY CHALLENGE. REPORT FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - Having missed the Two Day Challenge personally, I am a bit out of the loop, hence late report. For certain, you all had a mixed bag of weather with early starters on Tuesday seeing the rain and warm, muggy, cloudy conditions on Thursday. Despite some pools of water across some fairways from the heavy rainfall, I believe the greens were like lightning, which doesn't always suit all, but still the results came through. For the headline on this report, we must congratulate Tom Blackshaw on his magnificent score, especially on the second day. A combined 38pts with 44pts (82pts) is one of the best, if not the best score I have seen as a senior. I cannot remember any score for this competition being over 80pts in the past, so well done Tom. The runners-up were some 14pts behind on 68pts and equal second from Paul Cheetham and Richard Collier led the rest of the field. Well done to all who took part in a great field of 44 participants. I am listing the top six results for your perusal: Senior Two Day Challenge: 1st: Tom Blackshaw - 38pts and 44pts (total - 82pts) 2nd=: Paul Cheetham - 34pts and 34pts (total 68pts) 2nd=: Richard Collier - 35pts and 33 pts (total 68pts) 4th: David Palferman - 39pts and 28pts (total 67pts) 5th=: Michael Carnell - 34pts and 32pts (total 66pts) 5th=: Don Waright - 38pts and 28pts (total 66pts)

SENIORS RESULTS JULY 11TH 2024 VIA MIKE HEALEY

Seniors - I didn't play today and I thank Richard Collier for standing in at short notice. Tom did another magnificent job of organising everybody for today's home match with Northop GC. We registered a resounding 8-0 victory and possibly may consider this club for am/am fixtures in the future. The rain persisted but not uncomfortably so and nobody came in looking like bad adverts. By all accounts, all matches were convivial and Hayley's two course meal was well received. Indeed, one of the away members admitted that their players sign up early to play Clays because they like the food so much. Richard Collier was the only player to register a two (on the second hole) and was duly presented with his golf balls. The wine raffle also took place and both bottles (red and white) went to the opposition - small compensation for their match loss. All in all, a great game and great company - thank you again Tom. Reminder - the sign up for the match versus Hawarden at home on 23rd July has been posted. We are currently one player short and could always do with a couple reserves. On my arrival at the club today, 7 other seniors had booked early for an individual Stableford, which was won by Alan Barnsdale with 35 points and Wyn Jenkins arriving in second with 28 points. Remember our Open on Thursday 15th August - some members have been asking about getting partners. I am happy to put up a notice for you to sign next Tuesday and you can then pick your own partners. Other Opens - Peter Bowen is still not fit after his proceedure and is asking if anybody could take his place on Tuesday 13th August to play in the Pryors Heyes Open. Please contact Brian Beaton if you can fill this place. Last of all - following our outing to the Antrobus Open last week, Brian was presented with a free two ball visitors voucher worth £60.00. We conducted a draw on Tuesday and your Captain picked out his own number. Now I know what you are thinking?! We conducted the draw completely independently but nevertheless, I have accepted the voucher and I am conducting a blind auction between now and the end of the month. Please e-mail your bids to me and the best bid will receive the voucher. All proceeds will go to the Senior funds raised by the raffle on the day of the Open. I hope everybody believes that to be fair

SENIORS VETS TROPHY RESULTS FROM MIKE HEALEY

Seniors (and on this occasion) may I add Vets for this particular Trophy. I am going to start off by giving you all a huge thank you for your generosity last Thursday, following the medal. Maureen Elkin sat at the bar selling raffle tickets on behalf of Nightingale House and we contributed just over £100.00 between us. The Jean Key Charity for Nightingale House was a success the evening afterwards with 14 seniors and others taking part (this has been reported previously on ig). Jean sent me a personal e-mail the following day and asked me to thank you all - well done. Before today's golf report, dates are cropping up fast so keep checking your diaries. One important one is our very own Senior Open, which is on Thursday 15th August. The committee keep checking and there are very few golfers signed up for that date, let alone senior golfers from Clays. It is one of our biggest fund raisers of the year for the senior section so please find a partner to challenge others and do sign up as soon as possible. If you play elsewhere with golfing friends, ask them to bring friends to the Open and make a day of it socially. Remember £100.00 each for the winning pair and good prizes thereafter. We need you to rally behind the committee - your committee NEEDS YOU. Don has promised to raffle a boat - I'm not sure we saw one last time it was promised but it raised a lot of laughs, not to mention money. Get signing up!! Senior / Vets Trophy - I believe the highest age for seniors, way back in the day, started at 45 years of age and increased as the section grew bigger. When certain members reached the age of 70 years, it was decided to split the difference and add a Vets Trophy to the already played for Senior Trophy - hence the name of the competition. 44, shall we call them for today only, elder brethren, turned up for this board competition on a day forecasting horrendous conditions (that's dedication) and there were some good scores returned at the end of the day. I am not going to make an excuse of the weather for my disastrous score but it certainly didn't help. On/off showers throughout could not have helped anybody but looking at the top of the leaderboard, the top dozen scores or so did not seem to have done too badly. Most of us managed to get through the puddles that appeared but I feel obliged to report a magnificent "Barnes Wallis" style shot bouncing through the large puddle on the 11th fairway by Mike Drake. Somebody suggested "Ducks and Drakes" - I don't take responsibility for that one! We had to go into admin for dates of birth to determine who represented the Seniors and who represented the Vets so don't be embarrassed if your name appears in the latter half. There is only one trophy for each of the above but I am reporting the top three in each divide. Well done to all and I believe there might also be some twos prizes to follow when the competition is eventually closed. Senior / Vets Trophy ResultsThird: Seniors - First: Dave Palferman - 67 (c/b) (Winner of Senior Trophy) Vets - First: Reg Peacock - 69 Second: Ken Burgoyne - 67 (c/b) Second: Chris Jacques - 70 Third: Nigel Davies - 68 Third: Don Wraight - 71

DENIGHSHIRE QUALIFIER TEAM HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP AT OLD PADESWOOD JUNE 30TH 2024

Hi Derek, The Denbighshire Qualifier for the WG Team Handicap Championship was held at Old Padeswood on Sunday 30th June. The Clays 2 team consisting of Keith Hawthorne, Aaron Jones, Iqbal Shergill and Richard Collier were the worthy winners of this event. It is a stableford format with the best 3 scores out of 4 to count. Clays 2 amassed a magnificent total of 120 points - that's an average of 40 pts per player! They will now go on to represent Clays in the Finals of this event. This is held at Celtic Manor in early September. Congratulations to all 4 members of the team. It is worth mentioning that they will be joined at Celtic Manor by our Ladies Team who are competing in the Ladies version of this competition. Alan Pocklington Competitions Secretary

SENIORS MEDAL JULY 4TH 2024

Seniors Medal Thursday 4th July Division 1 1st David Mole Jones (14) 68 2nd Reg Peacock (20) 69 Division 2 1st Kenneth Burgoyne (25) 69 2nd Brian Beaton (26) 69 Division 3 1st Peter Lord (32) 73 2nd Paul Cheetham (37) 74

Jean Key Charity competition

Thank you to the thirty-three competitors who took part in this charity competition, it was a great evening. The weather was kind, and the halfway house was well stocked with delicious homemade cakes and savouries. Behind the scenes, Jean and all her supporting friends had been busy donating raffle items, making cakes, organising the competition, finalising cards and generally helping to make the event a success. The winners of this mixed competition were. Jayne Gibson 31pts, £50 voucher for the Club Shop Angela Thomas Williams 27 pts, £40 meal voucher for Pant-yr-Ochain Shan Stapley, nearest the pin on 5th, voucher for Salon 120 Hairdresser Craig Mathieson nearest the Pin on 12th, £40 meal voucher for Hickorys Top 10 results 1st Jayne Gibson 31pts 2nd Angela Thomas Williams 27 pts 3rd Kim Harcombe 25 pts 3rd Luke Steel, 25pts 5th Beverley Hood 25 pts 6th Mick Mc Hugh 23 pts 7th Tony Harcombe 23 pts 8th Shan Stapley 23 pts 9th Sue Falcus 23pts 10th Pauline Peacock 23pts There were 19 raffle prizes, and the following members have a winning ticket. Please collect your prize from reception. Sue Williams, Pauline Peacock, Hayley (Clays), Bob Jones, Ruth I, Pauline Wright, Alan Pocklington, Dave Palfreman, Mick Carnell, Jack Whitehouse, Sharon Price, Stuart Leyland, Carol Jones, Jo Morris, Jayne Gibson, Steve Monk.