Formby Ladies Sunday 10th December 2023

VICTORIA SOCIETY CHRISTMAS COMPETITION

After our November match at Helsby was called off it was a great pleasure to play Formby Ladies on Sunday.   And after the rain and gales of Saturday it was wonderful to walk onto the course with clean shoes and trollies, and walk off 18 holes later with them as clean as when we started.  The course was in excellent condition and after some early light drizzle the sun came out and we had a glorious conclusion to our rounds.

The 9th green from the 10th tee

15 golfers played, well done to them all for turning up in such unpromising circumstances but it turned out to be a lovely afternoon, followed, the evening, by an excellent meal in VOLARE in Southport, attended by 30 members.  The food was superb.

As for the competition, there were some excellent scores, especially considering the conditions.  The winner with 40 points on countback was treasurer Pete Watson, seen below grinning like a Cheshire cat, with Captain Nigel (centre) and Secretary Chris (right).  Thanks to them all for the hard work they have put in this year to organising a great years golfing.

In second place was Evan Bale, and in third place on countback again was Bryan Robinson.  For the minor prizes, the men's longest drive was won by new member Terry Broderick, the Ladies LD by Denise McInerney, back after her achilles has recovered.  Nearest the pin on the16th was John Wilson, and nearest the pin in 2 on the 7th was Evan Bale.  There was one 2 - can't remember offhand who.  I'm sure someone will remind me. Oh and Golfer of the Year was Kevin O'Donnell.  (Ed - I suppose that compensates for scoring 39 points today and finishing 4th!)

Captain Nigel won the raffle for the scrumptious fruit cake baked by Sue O'Donnell, and this raised £140.  Donations for blobs and biscuits (also made by Sue) throughout the year helped raise a total of around £600 which has been donated to Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley.  Thanks to everyone for their generosity and company over the year, and here's to 2024.

  Hurlston Hall - Friday 6th October 2023

Unfortunately the rain had rained for the previous few weeks and this made for a wet course, making scoring hard work, which was a pity because in dry conditions Hurlston can be an enjoyable challenge.  However 18 golfers played the course and there were some good performances to spread the prizes around.  Well done to everyone who completed the round!

Winner        Evan Bale           32 points

2nd              Paul Hooton       30 points

3rd               Chris Edwards   28 points

Nearest the pin on the 7th was Peter Watson

Nearest the pin in 2 shots on the 14th was Nick Pilkington - an amazing feat to get on the green in 2!

Longest drive on the 18th Evan Bale.  Well done to Evan for hitting it long (as he always does) and straight!

Next meeting - November 10th Helsby Golf Club

 Prenton Park - Friday September 8th 2023

What a beautiful, excellently presented course to play in the middle of this scorching September heatwave..Prenton Park was as pretty as a picture and a lovely place to spend the afternoon, albeit a challenging time in the heat.  

Keeping concentration in the heat was a challenge, for me at least, but others managed very well, although the golfer here looks like he is about to fall over! 

Peter Hyde managed to head off the ladies challenge to win the September Bowl. 

PRIZES as follows:

Winner        Peter Hyde             37 pts

2nd              Nuala Robinson     36 pts

3rd               Sue O'Donnell       35 pts

Nearest the pin in 2 on the 18th Dean Straker

Longest drive John Wilson

And Peter Hyde cleaned up with nearest the pin on the 7th and also 2.  A good job he had the camper van for all the prizes.

We finished with a lovely meal served by the friendly staff in the comfy clubhouse.

Onward to October and a trip to Hurlston Hall for Captain Nigel's day out....

HESVIC TROPHY FRIDAY 4th August 2023

Treasurer Chris Edwards reported - sad news I'm afraid despite our gallant efforts we were not able to retain the trophy for a seventh year. We were narrowly beaten by a strong Hesketh Casuals side. I think it will make us more determined next year.  The score was 6.5 - 5.5 so hardly could have been closer, another 1/2 point and we would have retained the Trophy.

Onwards to 2024....

 VICTORIA GOLF SOCIETY 30th ANNIVERSARY DINNER

This was a very enjoyable evening hosted by Captain Nigel at the Athenaeum Club in Liverpool.  A fascinating tour of a very interesting building in central Liverpool was included with a dinner.  A memorable evening much enjoyed by the guests shown above.

Pleasington Golf Club Friday 30th June 2023

Well perhaps it should have been expected but after the last few weeks of almost wall to wall sunshine, we experienced a wet days golf.  It started with intermittent drizzle, thank goodness for a few dry interludes, because by the end it was dull, chilly and persisting it down with a heavy drizzle.  Well done to those 17 brave souls who made it to the end, it was a bit of an endurance test.  

Which was a shame because the Pleasington course looked beautiful and in good weather would have been a pleasure to play. The average score of 25 points perhaps reflected the trying conditions.

For those who made it to the end there was a delightful chicken and veg meal followed by sticky toffee pudding and custard.  Just what the doctor ordered.

Results:

1st      33 pts        Kevin O'Donnell  - this is the Victoria Society JULY TROPHY (not the bubbly)                       

2nd    32 pts        John Warham 

3rd    30 pts        Evan Bale

Nearest the pin and the 2, Andrew Lang.

Longest Drive    - John Wilson

NTP in 2 tba

SHAW HILL GOLF CLUB CHORLEY

Friday 9th June 2023

20 members of the Society met on a warm day, during this long hot, dry spell to play at Shaw Hill.  The Course was baked dry and the ball ran a long way, not always where a golfer would like!  The greens were variable some dry and bare, others nicely green and well presented.  The course did look very picturesque.

Results:

Winner John Wilson 39 points.

Second Mark Patterson 37 points

Third    Nick Pilkington 35 points

A special mention must go to Val Sumner who won nearest the pin on the third hole.  This was very well done because for the ladies it was a 200 yard par 4.  Excellent Val.

Nearest the pin in 2 on the 8th a 430 yard par 4 for the men, but a par 5 for the ladies.  Huh. What was that all about?  Surprisingly (haha) won by Dean Straker one of the few who could reach the green in 2.  The ladies had no chance.  Good advice from the locals....eh...

And finally a MONSTER drive from Nick Pilkington won him the longest drive prize.  No 2's today .... perhaps a few near misses, certainly a couple from me...

 The Hesketh Golf Club - Friday 19th May 2023

Today was a lovely day to contest the Cochrane Carpet Care Trophy which, as Chris explained, goes back a long time and is an important part of the history of the Victoria Golf Society.  The Golf Course was in lovely condition, with firm fairways and greens, combined with a stiff westerly, making for a tricky days golf.  Nevertheless several golfers out of the 32 that played, achieved good Stableford scores.

The presentations were as follows:

1st with 39 points                    Evan Bale

2nd with 38 points                   Alison Hyde

3rd with 37 points on a cpo     Bryan Robinson

The ladies longest drive was by Val Sumner.

Men's longest drive was by Paul Yates

Nearest the pin in 2 and winner of the Captains Prize was Evan Bale, and NTP on the 16th was won by Dean Straker.

An overdue award was also made to Dave Gant as Golfer of the Year for 2021...

Afterwards, when everyone was in, we dined and enjoyed a lovely meal, in elegant surroundings, thanks a bundle to Pete Watson for organising a splendid occasion.  The blobs and biscuits collection raised over £70 for the Captains Charity.

A reminder for the Anniversary do at the Athenaeum Club in Liverpool on Friday 19th July...which promises to be an occasion not to be missed.....

KNOT T END GOLF CLUB FRIDAY2023 APRIL 14th 

15 members of the Victoria Golf Society managed to find their way Knott End GC (some more easily than others) on a dull afternoon, and after a wet week in this part of the country.   

The course was somewhat of a challenge, with thick rough if you left some fairways, early season greens and a few of us being confused as to where to hit the ball on some parts of the course. Having said that, we didn't get rained on, the weather slowly improved and we had fabulous views across to Barrow and the Lake District as the evening weather improved.  

Having said all that some golfers managed to beat the conditions, notably John Wilson with an impressive 43 points to win the magnificent Douglas Trophy for the THIRD time.  Yes his name will be on it 3 times.  Well done John. Mark Gabott was a battling second with 35 pts and Barrie Minero played well to make 34 points.  

The other prizes were as follows:

Longest Drive - Chris Edwards (in the absence of Dean)

NTP on the ?? hole Kevin O'Donnell

NTP in 2 on the 16th Peter Watson

Much to the chagrin of the treasurer 3 TWO's were recorded so he had to release 3 sleeves of balls from his stache, to Steve Neale, Captain Nigel Williams and Kevin O'Donnell.

I hope everyone had decent journeys home across the ever winding roads of this part of very rural Lancashire.  Onward to the Hesketh GC on May 19th.

Formby Ladies March 17th 2023

Friday 17th March (St Patrick's Day) heralded the start of the new season for Victoria Golf Society. The weather was reasonably kind with sunny warm spell’s broken up with the occasional rain shower. As always first event has its hiccups. 2 golfers cried off on the morning and one golfer who shall remain nameless drove to the wrong golf course with his partners clubs making for a fraught hour for the secretary reorganising tee times. 

Captain Nigel on the 1st tee with Steve......

The club also welcomed two new members John Edwards and Paul Hooton. In the end everything went fine with Paul Stanson winning with 42 points closely followed by Nick Pilkington on 40. Dean won men’s longest drive and Nuala the ladies. Peter Watson claimed both nearest pin awards. 

Captain Nigel presenting the trophy to Paul.... well done!

Our next event is 14th April at Knott End Golf Club

AGM and Programme for 2023

The Society AGM was held at the Hesketh GC on Thursday February 9th and the programme of meetings for 2023 was announced.

March 17                Formby Ladies GC

April 14                  Knott End GC

May 19                   Hesketh GC

June 9                     Shaw Hill Golf and Country Club

June 30                   Pleasington GC

August 4                 Hesvic Trophy by Invitation 36 Holes Formby Ladies GC

September 9           Prenton GC

October 6               Captains Day at Hurlston Hall Golf and Country Club

November 10         Helsby GC

December 10         Formby Ladies GC Christmas Competition and Dinner

2023 Captain Nigel Williams is planning a 30th Anniversary Dinner at the Athenaeum Club in Liverpool.  The menu for this will be around £50 for canapes, 3 courses, 1/2 bottle of wine per person, and promises to be an event not to be missed for existing and former members of the Society.

New Members are always welcome to the Society.  So if you like to play different courses in the North West in a relaxed, mildly competitive environment, with the emphasis on fun and enjoying ourselves then contact the Treasurer on pswgolf@aol.com.

 Formby Ladies final event of 2022 played 15th January 2023

This was played in January on what turned out to be a very pleasant day apart from a very light shower.  The course was lovely as usual and the greens were in excellent condition.  The December event was cancelled because of the frozen course in the December cold spell, almost unheard of in this area.

15 Golfers turned out, and had a competitive day, with prizes awarded as follows:

1st Denise McInerny      43pts so Denise wins the Christmas Claret Jug. 

2nd Peter S Watson        42pts

3rd Evan Bale                39pts

Longest drives, Dean Straker and Lisa Greenhalgh

Nearest the pin in 2 shots on the 7th John Wilson, and 15th Dean Straker.  So John won the wonderful Captain's cake prize, and gleefully took it home to consume!

2's John Wilson and Nick Pilkington

In the evening we visited the Nepali restaurant on Lord Street, and enjoyed a very nice meal and evening, although be careful if they say the food is 'spicy', they mean HOT!