09/08/06 - A lackluster display from the Union's elite resulted in a disappointing defeat as the York Union entertained the HHDUGC in the 5^th round of Inter District league matches. York ran out winners by a margin of 22-14.

 The morning foursomes started badly with losses in the top four matches, the top game of Ben Crowther & Edward Battye proved pivotal on the 16^th & 17^th holes, a missed short putt at the 16^th enabled the York pairing of Martin Brown & Jamie Miller to get back to all square, when the HHDUGC pair failed to make par from 50 yards out at the short par 4 17^th the York pair took full advantage to win the hole and then the game 1 up.

 The foursome’s wins came from the Halifax West End pairing of Frank Greaves and Sam Bridges who closed out their match with a rock solid par 4 to win 1 up. Our other winners were the Bradley Hall pairing of Mick White & debutant Andy Appleyard, in a closely fought match a fantastic tee shot by Appleyard on the 156 yard 15^th hole to 2 inches enabled the HH&DUGC pair to go 2 up, 2 more pars at the 16^th & 17^th slightly eased the pain of the first four foursomes results.

 Trailing 8 –4 after the foursomes, it was always going to be an uphill battle, and therefore very important that we got off to a good start. Ben Crowther the Union Champion signalled his intent early on by driving the 328 yard par 4 first hole and winning the hole with a birdie, Ben’s form continued and he won his match on the 16^th hole winning 3&2.

 Richard Broadley battled hard in a nip and tuck encounter, eventually getting ahead for the first time on the back nine, and closing his match on the short par 4 17^th hole to win by 2&1. Edward Battye turned his game around in the last 2 holes, 2 down with 2 to play Edward won both 17 & 18 to gain a very creditable half. Unfortunately the next 3 matches went down leaving York in a very strong position, Iain Powell losing 3&2, Andy Shaw 7&6, and Edward Oddy 4&3.

 Toby Garrett had a very close game with the experienced former England and Yorkshire player Jonathon Plaxton, Toby was 1 up with 1 to play but unfortunately got a flyer down 18 finishing 30 yards behind the green in the 15^th hole greenside bunker, he wasn’t able to get up and down and had to settle for a halved match. James Thompson carried on his run of good form, by beating local Pike Hills member Jonathan McNutt by 3&2.

 The next 3 matches all went the way of the York Union ensuring their victory, Frank Greaves and Sam Bridges both losing on the last hole, whilst Mick White lost to the experienced Jim Batt by 5&4. Andy Appleyard played well in the final singles match out on the course to gain a well deserved 2&1 win over Kevin Parker, to crown his senior team debut.

 Although a thoroughly disappointing result, the positives that came out of the match were the performance of our younger players, who are growing in experience with every match, and also the emergence of Ben Crowther as a major force in the inter district union league.  

Sam Bridges being welcomed to the team by HHDUGC Union President Fred Ibberson and Team Captain Chris Mear.

04/08/06 - Woodsome Hall Golf Club were promoted to the top flight of the Yorkshire golf leagues at Abbeydale Golf Club. A strong team performance earned the Fenay Bridge club a place amongst the elite sides in the county and will now do battle at Fulford on 23rd August.

Huddersfield Golf Club were unable to join them as they finished in 12th position, nine shots off a qualifying position and only avoided relegation by two shots, largely due to the performance of Richard Broadley who claimed the best first round score of the day with a 70.

For Woodsome Hall Chris Dyson was the anchor man with solid rounds of 73 and 74 for a 147 total. This laid the foundations for Matthew Broadbent (154), Robert Scollick (154) and Richard Holt (157) to take the team up.

Results

31/07/06 - Richard Baigent and Robert Ogden teamed up to win the HHDUGC Four Ball Championship Final at Halifax Golf Club from club-mates P Bailey and L Woodhead. Baigent a 14 handicapper and Ogden playing off seven won by three clear shots. Home team pair Phil Higson and Bernard McGuire finished third with a score of 66.

The pair returned a winning 7 under par 63 and are pictured below receiving their trophy from Union President Fred Ibberson. 

Baigent (left), Ibberson (centre) and Ogden (right)

31/07/06 - Toby Garrett from Meltham Golf Club eased to victory in the Junior Matchplay final at Halifax Golf Club. He beat Daniel Crisp from Huddersfield Golf Club 7&5 in a one sided final.

31/07/06 - A strong team will line up at Pike Hills as the HHDUGC side take on bottom of the table York in a match they must win to keep any hope of winning the championship alive. Edward Oddy returns and Andy Appleyard is given a debut after impressive performances recently for Castlefields in the Scratch League.

31/07/06 - Warren Locket (Woodhall Hills Golf Club) fired a 63 (8-under) to set a new Professional Course Record last week in the 26th staging of the Dewsbury District GC Pro-Am.

31/07/06 - Four rounds of golf ...... in just one day! That is what local golfers did for charity. Read More.

29/07/06 - Richard Broadley from Huddersfield Golf Club is second in the Yorkshire Order of Merit after his 5th place finish in the recent Oakdale Acorn trophy.

29/07/06 - David Astin (Hebden Bridge) broke the Pleasington course record with a blistering 63.

Full Story

29/07/06 - Several local youngsters competed in the Yorkshire Under 16 Boys Championship.

Yorkshire Boys Championship

29/07/06 - Huddersfield based golf retailer Direct Golf UK gave away £1/2m worth of baseball caps to golfers attending the Open Championship at Hoylake last week!

29/07/06 - The HHDUGC Junior Team lost their match against Leeds Union at Saddleworth Golf Club.

28/07/06 - Local professional golfer, Chris Hanson from Crosland Heath Golf Club was unfortunate to be on the wrong end of a thrilling 8-hole sudden death play-off for the EuroPro Tour GMS Classic event at Mollington Golf Club, Cheshire.

A runners-up spot stilled earned Hanson a cheque for £5,000 and will be a massive confidence booster for the youngster, who turns 21 next week. It also represents massive strides in improvement in his first season as a professional, where he has worked closely with coach John Eyre, and sees a return to the kind of stunning form that his amateur career was built upon.

Hanson put himself in a winning position with a birdie-eagle-birdie sequence at the start of the homeward nine on route to a superb closing round of 66 for an 11-under total of 202. A par on the final hole would have secured his first title this year and a prize of £10,000, but a bogey meant he had to endure the mammoth play-off where he lost out to James Ruebotham from Welwyn Garden City.

Hanson said, "It will be a good experience for me. I've got a lot of positives to take into the next event at Collingtree Park next week. I enjoyed the play-off, but eight holes was a lot of golf, especially in this heat and after 18 holes today."

Commenting on his round he added, "I didn't look at the scoreboard whilst I was going round so I didn't know until afterwards that I could have won outright, but that's life."

David Astin from Hebden Bridge closed with an excellent 67 to earn a tie for 12th place.

28/07/06 - Meltham Golf Club added the HHDUGC Scratch League title to the Team Championship, which they won convincingly in June earlier this year, to mark a remarkable season for the team captained by Chris Mear.

Going into last nights matches three teams could have emerged victorious as only five points separated the top three sides. However, as news of an 8-0 victory for Castlefields at home to leaders Bradley Hall filtered through, Meltham were crowned champions at West End.

Graham McLean won two of the three points required to land the title by beating Frank Greaves 4&3. Despite Anton Sheard losing heavily to Ian Marsland and Roger Hunt going down to Chris Ingham, James Thompson's 3&2 victory over Sam Priestley meant that with Bradley Hall's heavy defeat Meltham had chalked up enough points to win their first ever Scratch League Championship in the clubs history.

28/07/06 - Willow Valley narrowly escaped relegation to the bottom tier of the HHDUGC Scratch Leagues by winning 6-2 away at Queensbury. This victory saw them climb above both Hanging Heaton and Lightcliffe who must now play-off to decide relegation after accumulating the same number of points.

28/07/06 - Marsden Golf Club gained promotion from the 5th division of the HHDUGC Scratch League with a comprehensive 7-1 win over rivals Elland.

28/07/06 - CHRIS HOLMES of Meltham won the Wednesday Golf Society meeting at Bradley Park.

27/07/06 - Fine Rounds of 69 and 67 put Chris Hanson in with a real chance of victory in the GMS Classic at Mollington Golf Club. At 6 under par he stands just four shots of the lead going into the final round, currently in a tie for 5th. David Astin made the cut on 1 under.

25/07/06 - THE Huddersfield-Halifax Ladies Golf Festival takes place at Outlane on August 14, 15 and 16, as part of the club's centenary celebrations.

25/07/06 - Toby Garrett will start as favourite as he takes on Daniel Crisp in the final of Junior Matchplay Championship at Ogden Golf Club on Sunday 30th July.

25/07/06 - The local HHDUGC Scratch and Handicap leagues are set for some of their tightest ever finishes! 

Going into the last week of matches, where a four man team competes in a head-to-head singles matchplay contest, it couldn't be closer in some of the leagues.

None more so than in the first division of the Scratch section where three teams are still in with a shout of the title. Bradley Hall lead Meltham by just two points  with West End just a further three points back. However, Bradley Hall's final match is away to Castlefields where a home whitewash would see both sides tie on 34 points and neither side claim the title. This result is not out of the question as home knowledge around the six-hole course is paramount.  Nearly any sort of defeat for Bradley Hall would leave the door open for Meltham who travel to West End, who themselves could still claim the title if results went their way. Hebden Bridge have played all their games and are already relegated.

The second division title is a two-horse race between former giants Woodsome Hall and Huddersfield. Woodsome, who are undefeated this season, lead by 5 shots and entertain the Fixby Hall side in the final match. Only two points are required for the Fenay Bridge side but tensions will be running high and Huddersfield will be hoping for a major upset as they aim to regain their place in the top league. Crow Nest Park are already relegated.

In the third division runaway leaders Dewsbury aim to maintain their 100% record away to Hanging Heaton whilst the battle for relegation is as close as it comes. Willow Valley lie bottom by just a single point from Hanging Heaton. They travel to Queensbury who are themselves not safe only 2 points ahead of Willow Valley. Lightcliffe have played all their matches and if results were to go there way they could drop from their current second position and finish bottom of the pile and face a second successive relegation. 

Halifax look set for promotion unless Todmordon beat Ryburn 8-0 which would then take them up. Ryburn must win by 8-0 to avoid relegation and send Bradley Park down.

Promotion and Relegation is still wide open in the fifth division of the scratch section.

In the Handicap Section Willow Valley have posted a score of 44 points and lead the division by 7 points. They have played all their games and can only be pipped to the title if Castlefields can win 8-0 away at Bradley Hall. That would send Bradley Hall down as they need to score more points than Halifax in the final round of matches to avoid dropping out of the top flight.

Crow Nest Park are already guaranteed of competiting in the top division next year after blitzing the second division. However Lightcliffe take on Woodsome Hall in a crunch match to decide the relegation issues in the league. Two points behind but with home advantage, this is probably one of the toughest deciders to call.

Dewsbury will be promoted from the third division unless Bradley Park beat rivals Elland 8-0 to force a play-off. Elland look set for demotion to the fourth division as they only have seven points on the board, although they do have a game in hand.

The fourth division is very close with Queensbury, Crosland Heath and Longley park all still in with a chance of promotion.

Everything is already settled in the fifth division where Outlane gained promotion with Ryburn finishing last.

25/07/06 - The HHDUGC Junior Team lost their match against Leeds Union at Saddleworth Golf Club. 

Six points all after the morning foursomes the home side then self destructed in the afternoon and handed Leeds victory by 24 points to 12. A tail end collapse was the contributing factor. 

The encounter was effected by a fire near the first tee which meant the ladies red tees had to be used!

Ben Ellis in action at Saddleworth with a Fire Engine in the background after a nearby blaze.

24/07/06 - DEWSBURY'S Jimmy Main chalked up another Wednesday Society success.

21/07/06 - Huddersfield Golf Club are still gunning on all fronts in the HHDUGC Foursomes. 

Earlier this week saw both the Scratch and Handicap sides progress into the Semi-Finals of the respective competitions. In doing so they joined their Junior counterparts who had already reached the Semi's earlier in the month.

A place in the final at Dewsbury Golf Club on the 24th September is at stake and the Junior side face the tough prospect of beating defending champions Meltham at Bradley Hall to secure their place. The scratch pairing also play Meltham at Bradley Hall whilst the handicap couple take on Woodsome Hall at Meltham!

20/07/06 - Chris Hanson and David Astin both finished in the Top 25 of The Squibb Demolition International Open at The Players Club in Bristol. Astin picked up £475.50 for his 13th position finish whilst Hanson pocketed £360 for finishing 23rd.

20/07/06 - Meltham and Crosland Heath Golf Clubs were relegated from the Yorkshire 3rd Division Team Championships at The Cleveland Golf Club.

Results

20/07/06 - TWO teenagers soared to victory in Meltham Golf Club's mixed greensome.

18/07/06 - Queensbury Golf Club retained the Nine Hole Clubs Championship at Crow Nest Park on Sunday.  

The three man team of Ross Heslop, Karl Smith and Sam Town posted a 220 total to snatch victory by a single shot from Hanging Heaton. Host club Crow Nest Park finished third, although at one point they looked like clinching the championship on their own turf.

Heslop lead the way for Queensbury with a 70, Smith contributed a 71 and Town, last years Silver Salver winner, a 79 to give the Bradford postcoded club a second win in as many years in a repeat of last year when Hanging Heaton finished in second place!

The Silver Salver for the leading nett score went to Duncan Lambert for a fine round of 66. The five handicapper from Crow Nest Park must have thought his score would be enough to put the home club in with a shout of the title (which they won back in 2003) and when Les Holmes posted a 73 it was theirs for the taking. However, a poor round from Mark Widdop handed Queensbury the title. Lambert also carded the lowest gross score of the day with a 71.

18/07/06 - Toby Garrett (Meltham GC) finished 18th in the Seaton Salver at Seaton Carew GC.

Seaton Carew Scores

18/07/06 - Latest news from the Huddersfield Examiner Matchplay Golf Tournament.

Read the full Huddersfield Daily Examiner story.

14/07/06 - Edward Battye (Dewsbury GC) and Richard Broadley (Huddersfield GC) both finished in the top six in the Bingley St. Ives Scratch Salver.

14/07/06 - Deana Rushworth raised over £1,300 for charity.

13/07/06 - Meltham retained the Junior Team Championship at Ryburn Golf Club. However, the event was called off prior to the conclusion of play due to bad weather. The completed results stand. Sam Bridges (West End) won the Lightcliffe Tankard for the lowest gross score, he shot 66. S Hetherington (Hanging Heaton) took home the Lightcliffe Trophy for the leading nett score with a 57 off his handicap of 13.

Sam Bridges, James Lord and Alex Battye are unavailable for the matchplay stages of Junior championship.

Draw

13/07/06 - Huddersfield born golfer Dan Greenwood blows Open chance.

11/07/06 - David Astin (Hebden Bridge) failed to progress to The Open proper at Hoylake next week and play alongside Tiger Woods et al. A very creditable performance at Formby Golf Club meant he finished in a tie for 26th place. Only the three leading players out of the 96 strong field qualified. A poor start to his second round dashed any hopes.

Formby Scores