Friday 10th October 2025 at Pleasington Golf Club

The second Friday of October found the Victoria Golf Society enjoying a pleasant dry, still day in the heart of Lancashire at Pleasington Gold Club.  The course was beautifully presented giving a really good impression of how a golf course should be set up.  The signage was excellent as were the information boards around the course.  The Blue plaque on the 12th tee described the occasion at nearby Hoghton Tower in 1671 when King James I enjoyed a nice bit of beef and proudly anointed it SIR LOIN, and so it has been that ever since. There is also the nearby Sir Loin pub which is well worth a visit...

Back to the golf... on such a good golfing day the scores should have been good and they were, with several young (bandits) guns featuring.....

First Prize, winning the Alan Bleaze (bless him) trophy:

Winner                       Gareth Ball    41pts

2nd place                    Lee Morris 38 pts cpo

3rd place                    Michael Simonsen 38 pts

For a change the other prizes were shared with the ladies....

Longest Drive (mens)     Paul Yates

Ladies LD                              Nuala Robinson

Nearest the pin on the 16th    Sue O'Donnell

NTP in 2 on the 6th               Alan Dean - on his home course....

Yours truly did a spot of directing and ball spotting on the 7th for those who didn't know where to go!  Believe me the hole is easier than it used too be thanks to extensive ground work an d tree removal in the last 2 years.  I was suitably entertained by a variety of shots, some closer to me than others (thanks Evan).  Michael Simonsen hit his tee shot into the rubbish on the left, but chipped it out and it ran all the way down the chute to the fairway below. Lee Morris went one better with his drive ending up on the lower fairway.  Well done guys....

Other highlights (for me) included Bryan on the 12th topping his tee shot which smacked into one of the roped posts and bounced 50 yds back down to the bottom of the cliff face where the tees were!  He still managed a 4. 

Alan Dean on the 9th green, with Hoghton Tower hill behind.

A lovely meal was served to finish off a very enjoyable day.  Thanks to all......and Captain Bryan's charity fund is now well over £400......

Looking down to the 7th fairway and green, and the final group of hardy souls, who had yet to slog their way back up to the rest of the course!

John Wilson on the approach to the 5th green with fabulous autumn colours....

 Friday September 5th - BOLTON GOLF CLUB

After the showers of early September we were blessed with a lovely afternoon for a round at BOLTON (LOSTOCK) GOLF CLUB.  The course was in splendid condition, lovely underfoot, fast fairways which rewarded long straight drives but punished anything not quite in the right slot.  The greens were true, well at least I thought that, but many seemed challenged by them.  That's golf I Suppose.

Well Alan Dean wasn't challenged scoring an impressive 37 points to win the September Rose Bowl.  Second on a card playoff was Gareth Ball, and third your write (Kevin O'D) both with 34 points.  (Gareth must have had a good back nine, because I had 19 points on my 9 holes!)

Other results:

Longest Drives:            Men        Alan Dean

                                     Ladies     Val Sumner - well done Val....

NTP                                             Gareth Ball

NTP in 2                                      Evan Bale  

A put from just 3' from the pin, an excellent drive followed by an even better chip.  We're glad to report Evan didn't need 3 puts as someone suggested, but got his birdie as well as another later.

Chris Edwards came in with a 2 - another wag suggested the tee shot must have been very close to the pin.  How far was the put Chris?

We enjoyed a very nice meal, the pastry from the chef for the meat pie and apple tart was to die for. And thank you for your generosity towards the blobs and biscuits.  Captain Bryan's fund raised £80 on the night.  (Perhaps a nod to Bolton GC's tricky greens?)

The sublime view from the 10th tee.  On the day the Peak District and Welsh hills were clear.

A 'shocked' Alan (on the right) receiving the lovely Rose Bowl from Captain Bryan.

HESVIC TROPHY - Friday 1st August 

The Victoria golf team were again triumphant in the annual Ryder Cup style event held at Formby Ladies Golf Club. It was a sunny but blustery day making playing conditions difficult. After the morning greensomes the match was very close with Victoria leading by 3.5 points to 2.5.

The team came good in the afternoon taking  the fourballs by 4.5 to 1.5 making the overall match score 8 points Victoria to 4 points Hesketh.

A highlight of the day was a hole in one at the 16th by Victoria member Terry Broderick.

Judging by the photos a sunny day was enjoyed by all.....ed.

 Friday 4th July - Helsby Golf Club

We had a breezy summers day on an interesting Helsby Course, particularly those holes with some magnificent trees in the middle of several fairways.  So accuracy off the tee was at a premium.  Coupled with the hard ground which sent errant shots off into goodness knows where, as usual a course presented with its own variety of difficulties!  Having said that, even light rain for an hour or so, didn't dampen anyone's spirits!

The Fazackerleys experienced varying fortunes, Susan with her new driver winning the ladies longest drive, so that is working well.  Then James added to his buddies entertainment in retrieving a ball in a bog and doing a 'MUD' walk much to their amusement.  Muddy shoes and ankles resulted.

To the prizes:

Winner of the Summer Trophy:    Mary Bale 41 pts

                                 Runner up:   Barrie Minerro  39 pts

                                            3rd:    Val Sumner 38 pts

Longest Drive                               Captain Bryan

Ladies LD                                     Sue Fazackerly

NTP                                               No -one!

NTP in 2                                       Captain Bryan - well done mate!

The Helsby staff served a lovely meal afterwards in their elevated dining room.  Thank you...and here's Mary with the Summer Trophy......

     

   

Lymm Golf Club - Friday 6th June 2025

 The June Trophy was played at Lymm GC.  The tree lined course required much use of the tree-woods for some of us!  However as long as you hit the ball straight you'd be ok, as was proved by the scores.  The tricky closing holes proved troublesome for many, including the blogger, and probably dented some ambitions.  Gareth Ball nearly defended the trophy he won in 2024, well done Gareth.  However an enjoyable afternoon with a pleasant meal in the comfortable club house.

Results:

Winner of the June Trophy            Alan Dean     41 pts cpo

                       Runner up               Mary Bale     41 pts

                       Third                      Gareth Ball    40pts

Longest Drive (a monster)            Chris Edwards

Ladies LD                                      Sue O'Donnell

(with a tricky ditch proving crucial)  

NTP                                                Alison Hyde ( and getting the 2!)

NTP in 2 Captains Prize                Gareth Ball (small consolation)

2's                                                  Alison Hyde, Alan Dean, Paul Yates

£66 raised for the Captain's Charity from blobs and biscuits.... thank you everyone.

      Ahhhhhh!  Geese and their goslings on the 12th tee.... Protective parents hissed aggressively at us!

                                    Captain Bryan presenting the June Trophy to Alan Dean.....

The Hesketh - Monday May 12th 2025

 In this summer which is evoking memories of 1976 (apologies to anyone not over 50) we had a glorious day at the Hesketh in Southport.  Glorious in the weather, glorious with the course fighting the heat, but slowly getting scorched, and glorious with the scoring, 12 of the 28 players under par!  This was partly because if you hit the ball straight it would run and run and run.....sometimes, particularly in my case, into bunkers, which were fair but a challenge nevertheless.  

Yes it was slow, with our 4 ball finishing at around 7.45pm but it was such a lovely evening, it was no hardship to sit and enjoy the weather and the view.

So to the results....

First        Paul Yates with      44 pts and winner of the May Cup

2nd         Denise McInerney 42 points, well played Denise....

3rd          Evan Bale              40 points

Longest Drive        James Fazackerly

Ladies LD              Denise McInerney

NTP                       Terry Broderick

NTP in 2                Susan Fazackerly - Captains Prize

2s - Mark Field, Bernard Quigley.

A great vote of thanks must go to Peter Watson for his organisation of the day, with an excellent meal  beautifully served by the attentive Hesketh Staff.  Thanks to the Hesketh members who helped to facilitate the day, which will long live in the memory.

2025 Captain Bryan Robinson presenting Paul Yates with the May Trophy

Evening sun on the 14th hole at the Hesketh

Grange Park Friday April 11th 2025

 A lovely afternoon during this prolonged beautiful spring weather, and 26 golfers arrived at pretty Grange Park GC for the afternoon.  The course was firm but fair with tricky greens, but playing golf in tee shirt and shorts in early April is a bonus, for which we are very grateful.  Some of the scenery as we worked our way around the course was lovely, with ponds and other water features adding to the interest without affecting the golf too much!  Another feature was the almost complete absence of traffic noise which these days is a real blessing.

A comfortable winner with 36pts was Graham Greene, followed by second and third places with a distant 31 pts.

Winner of the Spring Trophy            Graham Greene        36 pts

                                    2nd cpo         Mary Bale                 31 pts

                                    3rd                Denise McInerney     31 pts

Longest Drive            Michael Simonsen

Ladies LD                  Yvonne Greene

NTP                            Yvonne Greene -  completing a successful afternoon for the Greene's. Well done.

NTP in 2                     Keith Robinson - Captains Prize a bottle of bubbly!

We sat down to a very pleasant meal served in the upstairs restaurant, having been very impressed by the all round presentation of Grange Park GC (St Helens). 

Captain Bryan Robinson on the right, presenting the Spring Trophy to Graham Greene.  (I must ask him to autograph some books.)  Secretary of the Victoria Golf Society Chris Edwards assisting.

Next meeting, May 12th at that top Southport venue THE HESKETH.

Formby Ladies March 14th 2025

 24 golfers turned out on a cold but dry day at Formby Ladies for our opening comp of the year, and Captain Bryan Robinson's first event of the year.  The course was dry after all this favourable weather but the greens were a little lumpy but work has to be done on them sometime.

Newbie Lee Morris started with a birdie on the 1st for 4 points then repeated it on the 7th.  This was the NTP in2 hole and Lee was just 3ft form the pin in 2!  But in the same group Evan Bale hit a huge (straight this time) drive and putted onto the green to within a foot from the hole to claim the prize!  The closest ever!  Well done Evan.

Winner of the Dave Martin Trophy         Paul Hooton  40 pts  and a £25 M&S Voucher (Captains Prize)

                                            2nd place     Alan Dean      37pts cpo

                                            3rd               Paul Yates      37 pts

Longest Drive                    Chris Prescott

Ladies LD                          Denise McInerney

NTP                                    Chris Prescott

NTP in 2                            Evan Bale

2s                                       Paul Yates

As usual we had a lovely meal in the clubhouse after a largely very pleasant day.

Nick Pilkington caught this lovely image of the sun setting just as we were about to dine.....

And here's Captain Bryan presenting Paul with the Trophy......and the blobs and biscuits raised £71 for the Captain's charity, the British Heart Foundation.

Next meeting is Grange Park on 11th April.

 

Heswall 8th November 2024

Apologies - I thought I'd done this....

A cold dank day made golf hard work and the condition of the course did not help.  It was a pleasure to finish have a hot shower and a warm meal.

Winner Chris Edwards     39 points

2nd Susan Fazackerly     37 pts

3rd Denise McInerney    35 pts

Don't know who won the other prizes.....if you did please let me know.

Christmas Competition Formby Ladies December 15th 2024

 A very pleasant afternoon for golf at Formby Ladies was welcome after a damp and chilly few weeks locally.  A good turn out of 19 golfers on the day turned in some good scores in the excellent conditions.  Good underfoot, and plenty of run on the ball made playing enjoyable providing you hit straight.  The greens were tricky with some cut shorter than others so judging distance was often difficult.

On the day John Wilson had an excellent round coming in with 41 points, his best round of the season by far won him the Auberge Brasserie Trophy.  Well done John. Two players finished with 35 points with Chris Edwards pipping Julian McInerny to second place.  4th was Paul Hooton with 31 points.

The other prizes were as follows:

NTP                                     Paul Stanson

Longest Drive                    Dave Allen

Ladies LD                           Nuala Robinson

NTP in 2 Captains Prize     John Wilson

The Society's Champion Golfer of 2024 is Chris Edwards.

Afterwards we met at the Auberge for a lovely meal and evening, expertly organised by Chris Edwards, join by a few members.

Captain's Day - Southport and Ainsdale GC Thursday 17th October

We were blessed with a wonderful day's weather at S&A, light winds and an excellent surface, which after the deluge of the previous day was a delight. It was a priviledge to play these famous old links on such a lovely day, and to enjoy the hospitality in the lovely clubhouse.  The rain on Wednesday made the greens receptive which certainly helped me, and made the course a touch easier.

Nineteen golfers supported our Captain Nick Pilkington on his day, and there were some good scores and no less than FOUR players registered 2's, to the Secretary's chagrin.

Results:

Winner of the Captains Trophy    Terry Broderick    36pts cpo

                                  Runner up   Pauline Curry       36pts cpo

                                        Third     John Whalley       35pts cpo

Other prizes:

Hole 13 nearest the pin                   Evan Bale

Hole 17 Longest Drive                   Terry Broderick

Hole 4 nearest the pin in 2 shots     Paul Stanson

2s were recorded by                        Nuala Robinson

                                                        John Gradwell

                                                        John Whalley

                                                        Paul Yates

Before the presentations we were served a lovely chicken dinner, followed by a Creme Brulee crumble....heaven!

Next meeting Friday November 8th at Heswall Golf Club.

Four balls on the 10th green in 4 shots, from the last 4 ball group!  Just ONE 2 though!

Terry receiving the Captain's Trophy, and he also collected the

                                          May Trophy, making it a bumper night for him!

Southport and Ainsdale, beautiful in the sunshine.  What a treat!

Preston Golf Club - Friday September 6th

In this 'summer' we are getting used to surprises.  Well today our surprise was scorching sun and a temperature of 26'C, on a slightly soft course after a bit of rain recently!  To those from central Lancashire the course was beautiful, with some gentle walks up and down across the brook that runs through the course.  There are plenty of mature trees to decorate the course, and catch the unwary, and to provide some welcome shade at times.  To those from nearer the coast used to flatter courses and firm fairways where the ball runs and runs, it was a bit of a shock!  Such is life.

We all seemed to enjoy the day and a cooling beer on the terrace afterwards, followed by a sumptious roast beef meal, one of the best we've had anywhere!

Results:

Winner of the September Bowl:    Paul Hooton          39pts

2nd                                                 Peter Watson         38 pts

3rd                                                 James Fazackerly  35 pts plus the only '2' on the day.

Longest drives    Men                    Nick Pilkington

                            Ladies                Sue O'Donnell

Nearest the pin                               Lindsay Jessup

Nearest the pin in 2                        Kevin O'Donnell - the Captain's Prize, a lovely gift of 

a bottle of REDLEG, a spiced, rum based grog! Hic.....

A couple of shady characters here - Captain Nick presenting the gorgeous September Bowl to Paul.

HESVIC TROPHY - FORMBY LADIES - 2nd August 2025

The HESVIC TROPHY is competed for once a year at Formby Ladies GC between Hesketh Causals and the Victoria golf Society.  The match is played  over 36 holes in an enjoyable and long day. This year we were blessed with excellent weather and even better the Victoria Society came out on top by 7.5 points to 4.5 and regained the trophy we had lost the previous year.

Onward to our next meeting at Preston Golf Course on Friday 6th September.