March Opening Competition of 2022 at Formby Ladies

 Friday March 18th Formby Ladies - I can't believe our luck, this early in March and we have a day that would have been good for summer.  What a great day to start Captain Sue O'Donnell's year.  The Club made us very welcome, as usual, and it was a lovely afternoon followed by dining together in the clubhouse.

 Approach to the 4th green looking fabulous! March...?

 

                                    The fifth green looking.. err fabulous!

Captain Sue decided that there would be a team comp based on a 6x3 waltzer.  That is one stableford score from a 3 ball to count on the 1st, 2 scores on the second and so on.

Team Prize: Dave Gant, Geraint and Lol Harris

Longest Drive – Men: Dean Straker. Ladies LD Denise McInerny 

NTP on the 5^th? Nick Pilkington – got the cake!

NTP in 2 (15^th) ....?

The Captain's charity this year is Derian House, a children's hospice in Chorley, and the blobs and biscuits fund started off with £36.

On to Warrington GC on 8th April.....

December 2021 - Christmas Competition at Formby Ladies

A lovely December Day at Formby Ladies for Captain Ian Robinson's last event as Captain of the Society.  Compared with some winter days this was beautiful, cool but dry and sunny, as the pictures below from Dave Gant show. 

Guess the hole?  I can't quite make it out....

Lol Harris on the 18th approach, having a last go at the heather.

Winner     Nuala Robinson     45 pts

Second      Evan Bale              44 pts

Third         Geraint Jones        40 pts

NTP                 Julian McInerny   

Longest Drive  Dean Straker,

Longest Drive Ladies Nuala Robinson

We retired after the golf to freshen up and went into Southport to enjoy a lovely evening at Trattoria 51.

Captan elect Sue O'Donnell baked a lovely cake which was raffled in the Christmas draw and it was won with much celebration by Bryan Robinson and the proceeds were £95 raised for the Cpts charity in the process!  Thanks to everyone for being so generous. 

Bubbly won by Nick Pilkington - for what you might ask!  I can't remember....was it NTP in 2.....checking!

 West Lancs GC - October 8th 2021

Winner     Captain Ian Robinson 35 pts on countback

2nd                        Nigel Williams 35 pts

3rd                         Dean Straker 34 pts plus  a 2.

 Ormskirk GC - Friday 3rd September  2021

 

Result Winner of September Bowl    Kevin O'Donnell 38 pts on countback

    

                                        2nd place    Peter S Watson 38 pts

                                        3rd place    Geraint Short   37 pts on countback

 Monday November 8th FORMBY MENS - CAPTAINS TROPHY

On a pleasant day, for November, 24 members of the Victoria Society enjoyed a splendid day at the magnificent links of Formby Mens Golf Course.  This is surely one of the best courses in the area, if not the country, and was generally in superb condition apart from one temporary green on the 17th, where the greenkeepers art of bunker building and revetting in particular were on display.

Our thanks go to Captain Ian Robinson and a couple of his member mates who facilitated such an excellent day, with a lovely meal to follow, at such a good rate of currency.  We will be forever grateful.

This includes our prize winners, in the quest for the Captains Trophy. In third place after a card countback was Denise McInernie with 36pts, an excellent return after a sticky start with successive blobs.  Second with a wonderful 38 pts was Paul Stanson.  Hard luck Paul, you were beaten to the Captain's prize by Chris Edwards, who amassed 40 points.  Is he in control of handicaps as well?  I believe he is...

The minor prizes were won by Dean Straker for the longest drive, and Pete Watson for nearest the pin, about 3 feet and he bagged a 2 as well.

Over the course of the year it has been great to get back to something approaching normality, and socialising in our own inimitable way.  The Captains charity has had a good year with money for blobs and biscuits, the delicious biscuits made next years Captain Sue O'Donnell.

Long may it all continue.... we just need a treasurer to fill the big boots left by Peter Watson.  Any takers....please..............

                                                The magnificent 9th tee at Formby

                                            A NTP winner dwarfed by an easy Formby bunker!

                             NTP winner Pete Watson completing his 2, the highlight of his day!

 HESVIC Trophy - Friday August 6th 2021

The Victoria Society retained the Trophy for an unprecedented 4th year on the trot after a tight match in difficult conditions.

After going behind early on in the morning fourballs the Victoria Society came back to gain a 3.5-2.5 lead by lunch.  The weather was wet in the morning making for unpleasant playing conditions.

The Society held their nerve in the afternoon greensomes to clinch a 7.5-4.5 overall win.  As usual Peter Watson was over the moon!  The cup was to be found at the end of the rainbow!

 Bromboro Golf Course - Friday 2nd  July

The Society enjoyed an excellent day at the beautifully presented Bromborough Golf Course on the Wirral in lovely weather in July.  The course was in great condition and the greens were suitably tricky.

Dave Gant is in a rich vein of form and won with 44 points, an excellent achievement off his handicap.  He was closely followed by Geraint Short with 43 points and Rene Lock in 3rd on a countback with 42points.  Well done to you all.  A nice meal in convivial circumstances was enjoyed by all.

This is the hole where a Bromboro member made a hole in one! Read Closely!

Dave Gant celebrating his eagle at the 7th.

The nearest the pin competition was somewhat of a non event, in terms of balls on the green!  Here's Brian checking things out!

There were 3 2's recorded by Roger Barron, Bryan Robinson and Dean Straker.  Well done gents.

 7th June 2021 - Victoria Society meeting at

             WARRINGTON GOLF COURSE

At last we have had a Victoria Society Golf Day.  This was at the beautiful Warrington GC which was presented immaculately and was very enjoyable for the 20 members who made it on at lovely summer day.

Some people had obviously been sharpening their games up during the various lockdowns and James Kilduff and Steve Griffiths both returned remarkable 48 points in the Stableford Competition.  Unfortunately for Steve he had a bad back nine (only 23 points) so came second.  Third was Nick Pilkington with 38 points, not surprisingly he thought he was in with a chance of a win.

James says because of work he can only play golf 3 months of the year.  Just as well for the rest of us.  His long hitting was very impressive.  Steve Griffths had a very steady day but 23 points on 9 holes is just not good enough!

Never mind.  Golf, friendship and fun were the winners on this day.  Dave Gant played very steadily except for a first for him on the short par 4 12th.  His drive took an unfortunate bounce into the right bunker, from where he took 2 shots to get out, going straight across the green into the opposite bunker. then he returned to the original bunker for 4 sand shots.......

We finished with a very nice meal served in Warrington GC's dinning room. What a joy to return to some semblance of normality.

Our next match is at Bromborough GC on Friday 2nd July

Photos to follow........

 Fixtures 2021

After a long long winter, hopefully if things go to plan we can be up and running again by May. So here's looking to a wonderful golfing summer!

May 21       Hesketh GC - rained off

June 7         Warrington GC - going ahead in the sunshine.....

July 2         Bromborough GC

Aug 6        The Hesvic Challenge - By invitation at Formby Ladies GC

Sept 3         Ormskirk GC

October 4   Venue to be Confirmed

Nov 8         Formby Mens GC

Dec 5         Formby Ladies GC

Fixtures 2020

VICTORIA GOLF SOCIETY FIXTURES 2020 COVID 19 - we have had to amend our fixture list in light of restrictions imposed due to the Corona virus outbreak.  At the time of writing, courses are open for members but not for Society Golf.
FRIDAY 13TH MARCH	FORMBY LADIES GOLF CLUB	https://www.formbyladiesgolfclub.co.uk/
FRIDAY 17TH APRIL	WEST LANCASHIRE GOLF CLUB	CANCELLED due to COVID 19
FRIDAY 15TH MAY	HESKETH GOLF CLUB	CANCELLED due to COVID 19
MONDAY 8TH JUNE	WARRINGTON GOLF CLUB	CANCELLED due to COVID 19 Booked for 2021.
FRIDAY 3RD JULY	BROMBOROUGH GOLF CLUB	CANCELLED due to COVID 19 Booked for 2021.
FRIDAY 7TH AUGUST	FORMBY LADIES Society Day	A Society Day was organised at Formby Ladies GC and was enjoyed by about 30 members.
FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER	ORMSKIRK GOLF CLUB	The Society enjoyed a lovely afternoon at Ormskirk GC.  The fairways were particularly good to walk on and play off.
MONDAY 5th OCTOBER	CALDY GOLF CLUB	The showery October didn't stop members turning up at Caldy but a few didn't make it to the 18th hole.
MONDAY 9TH NOVEMBER	CAPTAINS DAY FORMBY GOLF CLUB	We were not able to play this fixture, but hope to enjoy a round at the fabulous Formby next year.
SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER	FORMBY LADIES XMAS COMPETITION AND DINNER	Well there was no dinner but at least we were able to have a coffee before the round in a Tier 2 clubhouse!  Hooray.   After that it was a beautiful afternoon to play golf on the lovely Formby Links, not a sign of mud anywhere.  And to cap it off we had a HOLE IN ONE for Nick Pilkington at the 12th.  Not a Comp but worth a reward I think!  We don't have them often!  We were able to celebrate with a beaker of mulled wine afterwards, which was very welcome.  A GRAND DAY OUT at last. Here's Nick picking his ball out of the hole!!

Formby Ladies March 13th 2020

 An early start to the season didn't deter 33 golfers from the Society enjoying, for early March, a pleasant afternoon at Formby Ladies GC, not spoilt by a short shower. The course was in good condition considering the recent February rainfall, but the unusually high water table meant some bunkers were GUR.

The 9th green looking resplendent, with the eventual winners holing out

It was good to see so many new faces along with the regulars.  The biscuits were thoroughly enjoyed by all, with newbies to the Society being very pleasantly surprised.

There was an exceptional return of EIGHT 2s, from Nuala Robinson, Della Thomas, Steve Neale, Evan Bale, Denise McInerney, Mark Caddick, Chris Edwards and Lol Harris.  With a sleeve of Srixons for each this used up most of the seasons ball allocation!!

Dos Banditos

Captain for 2020, Ian Robinson explained that this year's charity is Cancer Research, and contributions for blobs and biscuits will be welcomed.  He noted that this year’s charity was chosen in honour of an ex-captain and blogger of our Society, Kevin Allars. The 2020 Captain's Challenge will be the most ‘blob’ free rounds for those with a handicap of 18 and under, and the most nett birdies for those with a h/cap over 18.

The subsidiary prizes of nearest the pin and longest drive were won by Steve Neale and Damian Ryan.  Third in the contest for the Spring Pairs trophies were Peter Watson and Sue O'Donnell on 47 points, second also on 47 were Paul Stanson and Evan Bale.  The winners with 48 points were this year's Captain Ian Robinson and last year's Captain John Wilson, a dream team indeed.  John Wilson was last year’s holder of the trophy [with Charles Shepherd].  He is going for the hat trick next year.

Next meeting West Lancs in April.

Wallasey Golf Course November 2019

Wallasey November 8^th 2019

27 members of the Victoria Society enjoyed a wonderful day at a chilly but sunny Wallasey GC on November 8^th.  It was a real treat after the wet weather of previous days and the course was in immaculate condition with fast greens and plenty of deep bunkers. The course was a credit to the greenkeepers of Wallasey.

However scoring was not easy and the winner of the Alan Bleeze Memorial trophy with 32 points was Treasurer Peter Watson.  Second and third on 30pts after countback were Ian Robinson and Paul Stanson. NTP was won by our guest the Head Greenkeeper from Wigan GC Paul Walker, with a shot that ended up 12” from the hole.  Needless to say no one bested him.

The longest drives were won by Chris Edwards and Nuala Robinson and 2’s were scored by the aforementioned Paul Walker and Steve Jones.

We enjoyed warming drinks under the watchful gaze of Frank Stableford, to whom we raised a glass, and then dined on a lovely curry and apple pie and custard, before heading home after a very satisfying day.

Formby Ladies – Auberge Trophy, December 1st 2019

An excellent sunny day, on a course frozen hard after successive sub zero nights, made for an interesting day for the Victoria Society Christmas meeting.  The course was firm so we played on Winter greens with extra large holes which helped the scoring.  Scoring was also helped by the firm surface so shots ran and ran, provided they were straight, otherwise you could unexpectedly end up in bother.  A few of us did!

The Formby Men’s Clubhouse, looking resplendent in the sun, a venue next year?

Above – the view from the 10th Tee – a fabulous day

The whole day was a hugely enjoyable one for the 30 players, and we all met at the Auberge Restaurant in Southport for a lovely meal and plenty of wine!  This was excellently organised by Chris Edwards and Peter Watson. The group tottered onto the stairs to pose for a photo towards the end of the evening.

The winner of the Auberge Trophy, The Claret Jug, was Steve Neale with an amazing 49 points!  No he wasn’t playing in a skirt with 6 shot allowance!  Closely followed by Helen Jones and Bryan Robinson on 46 points, Bryan nicking 2nd place on countback. Roger Barron amassed 48 points but sadly for him as it was his first competition with the Society he can’t collect a prize.

To cap a fine evening Bryan Robinson also won the Captain’s Raffle and collected a lovely fruit cake with a delighted look on his face!  Merry Christmas Bryan!

The Ladies Longest Drive was won by Della Thomas and Paul Stanson collected the men’s prize.  Nearest the pin in two on the 7th was won by guest Lisa Greenhalgh
TWOS – Peter Kenny, Dave Gant, Della, these being conventionally made on Par 3s.  However Peter Watson managed a 2 on the 4th, for 5 points he points out, and Roger Baron also had a 2 on a Par 4.  Well done guys!

The Captains Challenge for the year was the best points scorer on the Par 3s in up to 5 meetings.  The gross winner was that man Peter Watson yet again, and the winner with most Stableford Points was Kevin O’Donnell.  Thanks to the Captain John Wilson for sponsoring these prizes and keeping spreadsheets of the scores throughout the season.  Dave Gant was the winner of the Victoria Society Order of Merit for the 2019 season.  Well done Dave.

Finally many congratulations to Captain John Wilson for all his hard work and year raising so much for the McMillan Nurse Charity.