2015 Meeting Reports

Autumn Meeting No.2 - The Otley Golf Club - 10th September

"The Sun continued to shine on the County Members at Otley"

The sun shone from dawn to dusk at Otley where one hundred and forty eight members gathered to participate in the County Members' Autumn Meeting No 2.

The scoring was good and very competitive at the top with many competitors saying how good the course was presented. The photograph shows Messrs Dobson, West, Goulding and Dickinson on the first tee in the bright sunshine.

The competition was so fierce that there were eleven scores of 40 or more points that did not make the prize list.

Congratulations to Messrs Fisher and Pratt from The Mid Yorkshire Golf Club who won on countback from Messrs Bentley and Makepeace.

Autumn Meeting No.1 - The York Golf Club - 27th August

"The Sun Shines on the Largest Entry of the Year at York"

The York Golf Club attracted the largest field of the year with one hundred and eighty four County Members participating in the County Members' Autumn Meeting No.1.

This being the 125th aniversary of York Golf Club's formation, it was appropriate that everything ran smoothly, and so it turned out, with the sun shining from dawn to dusk and there was not a drop of rain. Everyone commented on how fantastic the course was and, in particular, how true and quick the greens were. The photograph shows Past Yorkshire President J T Whittam and D.I. Loker, who won second prize, with playing partners on the first tee at 8:51 am with the sun shining strongly.

York is well known for being a flat course with easy walking: however being flat does not make the York course easy, with many of the scores reflecting this. But overall the scoring was excellent, illustrated by the fact that there were nine scores of 40 points returned, none of which won a prize, with 41 points or more being required to get on the winners "podium".

Congratulations to Messrs Hallam and Barrigan who won the event with 46 points, a score which brought gasps from the other competitors and which has drawn the attention of the IOC who are asking for a blood test!!. This really was an excellent score and it is clear that many of their putts found the bottom of the cup. The sort of day that we all dream of!

Summer Meeting No.2 - The Woodsome Hall Golf Club - 23rd July

"Woodsome Hall attracts large entry"

The Woodsome Hall Golf Club attracted one hundred and seventy two County Members to participate in the County Members' Summer Meeting No.2.

An overcast morning turned into a bright warm afternoon, very pleasant for playing golf, but the challenging course kept the high scores in check; and the undulating course meant that most players were in need of sustenance and refreshment when they finished. Consequently, the unique, fabulous looking period clubhouse, overlooking the surrounding hills and vales, was busy from 7.30 in the morning until 8.30 in the evening.

The photograph show Messrs Cooper, Kelly and Moody with the President on the first tee, with the clubhouse in the background.

A host of pairs scored 38 or 39 points but 40 or more points was required to win a prize. Indeed it was the last pair to finish, Messrs Fretwell and Squire who pipped the rest with 42 points.

Summer Meeting No.1 - The Scarthingwell Golf Club - 9th July

"Bright and Beautiful........."

What a beautiful, bright day for playing golf, when one hundred and twelve County Members descended on Scarthingwell Golf Club for the Summer Meeting No.1.

This was the first time the club at played host to a County event and they really did themselves proud as everyone commented on how much they had enjoyed the day.

The photo shows County members enjoying the sunshine after their rounds

It was very tight at the top for the prizes, with 43 points being required to get into the prizes and 44 points claiming top spot.

The wnning pair were Messrs Fitzmaurice from Fulford and McLeod from Forest of Galtres.

Seniors Meeting No.2 - The Easingwold Golf Club - 18th June

"Come back Summer........."

Broken sunshine greeted the early starters, but the sun quickly disappeared and we were left with an overcast, cloudy day with a cool westerly wind for the Seniors Meeting No. 2 at Easingwold Golf Club.

This is an ideal course for Seniors with easy flat walking; but a course that offers significant challenges for the unwary. The course attracted 178 players to enjoy the golf and the chat in the bar afterwards. Many of those who regularly attend County Members events could be considered single figures in the latter, if not in the former.

During the first part of the day the scores were reasonable but not eyebrow-raising with lots of 37, 38 and 39 points being returned. It was in the second half of the day that we saw a plethora of 40 plus scores being returned, so many that some scores of 40 and 41 points did not make the prizes.

The winning score of 45 points was returned by Messrs Stringer and Newsome of Wakefield G.C, pictured. They waited nearly three hours between finishing their round and the prize presentation, which was very nice to see.

Seniors Meeting No.1 - The Shipley Golf Club - 4th June

"Here comes Summer......."

What a pleasant and welcome change!

Warm sunshine with a gentle breeze was the order of the day for the players in the Seniors Meeting No. 1 at Shipley Golf Club. It was a smaller than normal field with 110 players, but they all enjoyed themselves, with sweaters being abandoned for the day.

We normally don't request a half-way house from the host club, but the Shipley Ladies insisted, and we began to wonder what the queue was for at the half-way house. It soon transpired that some players were receiving more than just a cup of tea, and were also receiving a massage from the Ladies. We considered disqualification was as a result of help from an outside agency, but only in jest.

Messrs Birch and Mutch of Moortown were early front runners with 43 points, and whilst others threatened their score, they were never surpassed. Messrs Kelly & Cooper of Fulford came second with 41 points for a second successive "podium" finish.

The photograph of Messrs Hodges, Smith, Spencer and Barrett on the first tee, shows the bright sunshine.

Spring Meeting No.2 - The Cleckheaton Golf Club - 21st May

"Fair Nithered"

It was a fresh northwesterly nithering wind that greeted the players at Cleckheaton for the Spring Meeting No.2. The temperature barely rose into double figures all day, but the 144 County Members who played put all that to one side and enjoyed their day.

Just like the Spring Meeting No.1 at Leeds two weeks earlier, the cold start to the year meant that there was very little growth on the greens, so putting was just as tricky. However, that did not stop some good scores being returned, with forty plus points was required to get into the prizes.

A closely fought competition saw Messrs Hallam and Clemmit edge the top place, on countback, from Messrs Johnson and Brierley.

Spring Meeting No.1 - The Leeds Golf Club - 7th May

"Presidents" Day

The early morning saw a cloudless blue sky, soon to cloud over and become cold and mizzly, but by lunchtime the players were experiencing sunny intervals, with warm sunshine on their backs. There were 144 County Members taking part and they all thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the challenging Leeds Golf Club course.

The cold start to the year, that we have all experienced, meant that the greens had not seen much growth during the preceding springtime and were therefore quite quick and tricky. Many players seemed to have hard luck stories about three putts or missed tiddlers, and the scoring reflected this, with 37 points being in the frame for much of the day. However some good scores in the second half of the day increased the score required to win a prize. In the event 38 points gained fifth spot, with three sets of 39 points, but the winners with 41 points outshone everyone else.

The winners were Messrs Deeming and Bentley from Hessle Golf Club. Mr Deeming is a recent Past President of the Yorkshire Union, and although he counted on most holes on the front nine, he admitted choosing a good partner, as his partner, Mr Bentley, counted on every hole of the back nine, with 22 points off his own bat.

So it was very fitting that the new President, Mr Peter Finnegan, should present the winners prize to one of his predecessors.