2021 GOLF jokes, info and Notices
They say the old ones are the best ones!
Ivor celebrates as his long wait is finally over
IVOR Tomlinson (Captain MTGS 2003/4) joined Didsbury Golf Club over 20 years ago when he was an
outstanding rugby player with Ashton-on-Mersey RUFC and enjoyed his golf for
the next ten years before taking a ten-year sabbatical.
He returned to Didsbury earlier this year to thoroughly enjoy his time on and off the course with many old friends with a very generous 19 handicap.
He has had plenty of golfing success over the years but getting a hole-in-one has always frustratingly eluded him despite many near misses.
But his wait ended at last playing in a club midweek Stableford when his 8-iron tee shot on the par three fourth hole bounced a couple of times before rolling into the hole.
His playing partners Billy Wells and Paul Slevin were delighted with Ivor’swait is finally over ace as they looked forward to celebrating his achievement in the usual style at the 19th hole which was also enjoyed by plenty of other appreciative members and like Ivor they can’t wait for his next one!
Ivor is sure to be back playing with MTGS whenever we get to play again.
Never believe fake news
DURING the current lockdown Denton Golf Club secretary Sandra Marston MBE, has encouraged members to send in pictures to brighten her excellent newsletter which is sent to all members every week.
One of the stranger pictures in a recent one showed what appeared to be a large crocodile in one of the water hazards on the course.
One of the theories (or rumours) is that it was introduced by former club President Garry Singh who had brought it back as a small baby croc from one of his many holidays in tropical places.
Garry strongly denies this and suggests that due to climate change and Denton being in such an attractive environment the crocodile has found a way to swim from Africa to Denton and enjoy life to the full as they love to eat golf balls.
I was playing in the club knockout, all square on the 18th, when I had a morale dilemma. I hit my tee shot on the 160 yard par 3 on to the green, but my opponent (John) hit his ball into the trees to the right of the green. We searched for a couple of minutes for his ball and just as time was running out John 'found' his ball. He chipped it close for a gimme 3. My 15 foot putt lipped out, for another gimme 3 and a halved match. Here is my dilemma, at what point should I have told the cheating John that I had found his ball and it was in my pocket all along ?
Ashton-on-Mersey Golf Club helps Adam into golf
ADAM Thompson is a young man with mild cerebral palsy and after great success in table tennis he is now looking to make his mark at golf at Ashton-on-Mersey Golf Club thanks to his long-time table tennis coach and mentor Brian Kean.
Adam, now 31, was a student at Ashton-on-Mersey High School when he first met up with Brian, a former international table tennis player and for many years a leading coach in the game as well as being a stalwart member of the golf club.
After a table tennis exhibition by Brian and John Hilton at his school Adam attended regular lunchtime sessions where his potential was recognised and with Brian he also attended weekly sessions at the Stockport table tennis centre.
Brian said: “This practice supported his performances in the disability circuit and my coaching sessions enhanced his technical knowledge and he had his first success in a disability competition in Bolton where he won every match to claim his first gold medal.
“Adam enjoyed my approach to much of what we did and a big
step was to get him into Flixton TTC which provided the opportunity to practice
with some of the best players in Manchester and in the Trafford League
Championships he won the singles title in 2018 and 2019.”
Adam added: “After winning at Bolton I
was called up to attend a GB Disability course, attended a National Grand Prix
and after 12 months won golf medals in both singles and doubles with my partner
from Melton Mowbray.
“In the following years I was selected to play in international events in Sweden, France, Czech Republic and Portugal and in 2008 I entered my first European Table Tennis Championships in Spain and won a gold medal in the mixed doubles – a very emotional moment to hear the national anthem played.
“In 2013 I was one of two players selected to represent GB in the INAS world championships in Hong Kong- and although beaten in the semi-finals I bounced back to win third place.
“So how did I get into golf – it was originally through Ron Buckley, the Captain of the Flixton TT team, who plays golf at the Altrincham GC and he invited me to come down and watch him play as I had played pitch and putt in my local park.
“After watching Ron play I borrowed a set of spare clubs from
my uncle to give it a go and before being unleashed on the course he took me to
the Altrincham Driving Range to see what I could do.
“I could just about hit the ball then but now my game is consistent although
due to my disability I’m unable to be a big hitter but I am consistent and hit
it straight and chipping is the best part of my game.
“Then thanks to Brian and Ashton-on-Mersey GC I was offered a membership at a reduced rate and was made very welcome at the friendly club.
“Once I have obtained a handicap I would like to enter competitions and continue to make improvements to my game and who knows where I will end up!!”
Brian concluded: “It is early days for Adam in golf but I have always instilled a work ethic as being paramount and despite a restricted use of his right hand if he keeps working as he is doing I am sure that he will do well and get a useful handicap and thanks to all at the club for their help in his development.”
Adam made his debut with MTGS at Denton and is looking forward to our next meeting,
