News 2023

The 66th Annual Dinner was once again held at the Worsley Marriott Hotel and Golf Resort on Thursday 2nd November on what was yet another splendid evening which was attended by 100 Members and Invited Guests.

The Top Table Guests included the County Union Presidents of Derbyshire- Peter McGrath, Cheshire - Tony Gregory and Lancashire - John Moorcroft with After Dinner Speaker, James (Jim) Robertson who is a former Criminal Defence Solicitor and Procurator Fiscal - Scottish Crown Prosecution Service also present were Presidents and Captains of our Associated Captain Societies.

Worsley Marriott Hotel and Golf Resort provided excellent service with the catering being of a high standard which was very much appreciated by all those present.

After the meal the President of Cheshire, Tony Gregory was the first speaker who shared an eclectic assortment of amusing stories before Proposing a Toast to the Association.

Our Captain Bernard Stone responded to the Toast by thanking the President of Cheshire for his kind words then gave a resume of his year and related his story about the Northumberland Match and how the visitors had left the Trophy at home. Whereupon, the Northumberland Captain, Danny Finlay produced the missing Trophy and presented it to the Captain.
Bernard spoke of his time on the Manchester & District Executive and how he has enjoyed his Captaincy then thanked everybody for their support particularly Tony Draper and David Sanders for their organisation of the Annual Dinner. He then announced the President, Captain and Vice Captain nominations for 2024 as being Geoff Sable, Steve Misell and Peter Keown respectively.

James Robertson concluded the evenings entertainment with very amusing stories about his life as a criminal lawyer in Scotland was very entertaining and well received.

May 2023

Gentlemen,
It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be nominated and accepted as Captain of our illustrious Association. But let me begin by congratulating and thanking immediate past Captain Ian Michael (together with his President Tony Draper) on such a splendid job last year. Picking up from the disrupted years of Covid, they provided an excellent year of golf culminating in the revived Annual Dinner, which was a great success. Well done to both of them.
Looking forward, we have a wonderful opportunity to play some competitive golf within a true friendly, social atmosphere. It would be nice to see good support, not only for all the matches, but particularly, for the internal competitions. Captain’s Day will be held at The Manchester Golf Club, which is acknowledged as one of the best inland courses in the country, not only by its members and visitors but also by England Golf. There is an ample supply of buggies for hire and a good event is anticipated. Incoming President Brian Ashfield will host his day at the challenging and scenic Chapel-en-le-Frith Golf Club in the High Peak, a course that I am looking forward to playing again.
Our list of matches is augmented this year with a fixture against Flintshire Captains and Past Captains in September.
Details of all matches and competitions can be found on the web site and I would encourage you to log in frequently to keep informed of events.
I am looking forward to working alongside the new blood on the Executive. Some roles and committees have been reassigned to meet the changing needs of the membership.
It has been decided to hold the Annual Dinner once again at The Worsley Marriott following a very successful event last year. This year’s date for your diary is Thursday 2nd November. An excellent speaker has been booked and I look forward to welcoming as many members and guests as possible for our social highlight.
Best Wishes for the golfing year ahead. I am looking forward to meeting many members during the season on calm and sunny days.

Bernard Stone
Captain – 2023/2024

I was absolutely delighted to finally be appointed as Captain at the AGM in May 2022, after all the delays resulting from the pandemic, and here I am now writing this note with the 2023 AGM fast approaching. I’m really not sure where the last 12 months have gone, but what I do know is what a busy and enjoyable year it has been.

Following Covid in 2020 and the restrictions that remained in place during 2021, it was indeed satisfying for all that we could finally resume with a full programme of events.

Looking at the golfing season overall, of the 10 matches we played, the results proved very even with Manchester Captains winning four, losing four and halving two, all of which were very much played in the spirit intended. I would therefore like to thank all the Members who took part for their valued support in achieving such a satisfactory outcome. Many thanks also go to the Members for supporting our 2022 Competitions and trust the choice of selected courses during the season were appreciated.

Our first competition this year is the Founders Trophy to be held at Withington Golf Club on Wednesday 10th May, followed by the AGM. Our first match of the season finds us with a home fixture against Leicestershire & Rutland Golf Captains to be held at Pike Fold Golf Club on Wednesday 24th May.

The full programme of competitions and matches for 2023 can be viewed on our website, please visit www.manchestercaptains.co.uk. All the contact and entry details are now published on the site, and once again I am sure the Members will appreciate the selection of good golfing venues and some great days ahead to look forward to.

Our last Annual Dinner was held in November 2022 at the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club. The evening was enhanced by the attendance of Mr Les Wilson, President of England Golf, and our Guest speaker.
Mr Geoff Miller OBE, other invited guests, representing Golf Unions and Captains Societies’, together with our own members and guests which made it an enjoyable evening.

This year’s Annual Dinner will once again be staged at the same venue on Thursday 2nd November 2023, please put the date in your diary. Further details will be provided on the website, and by correspondence, as we look forward to another great occasion at a lovely venue and will once again be supported by esteemed guests and a celebrity guest speaker.

I would like to personally thank all the members of the Executive for their valued support and guidance throughout the year, and we look forward to continued enhancement of the Society in the future.

At the AGM Bernard Stone will be installed as Captain and Brian Ashfield as President, I would like to wish them both a very enjoyable year and thank them for their support, and it goes without saying that in return they will receive my fullest support during their period in office.

We also look forward to officially welcoming Keith Walmsley, Steve McDermott, Mike Burchell and David Murray onto the Executive the same evening.

Being Captain of Manchester & District Golf Captains has been an honour and privilege and I thank you all for the courtesy and respect shown to me during my year in office. It has been a most pleasurable experience and your support has been very much appreciated. May I wish you all a happy, healthy and successful golfing year ahead.

Yours sincerely

Ian Michael
CAPTAIN (2022/23)

Dear Member

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

As I write, the rain continues to fall unabated in typical North West winter fashion, is it any wonder we look forward to spring with such anticipation!

Last year thankfully enabled the golfing program for Manchester Captains to resume in full and we were fortunate enough to enjoy many great courses for both the competitions and matches. Many thanks to all the Members for their support and participation, as I am sure I can speak for all when I say it proved to be a most enjoyable season.

For 2023 we have managed to reserve a further selection of good courses for both competitions and Society matches. The matches once again involve our regular selection of Captains Societies with a mixture of both home and away fixtures. Full details of the golfing program are included in the attached calendar, and further details for registration and entry will imminently be available on the website, www.manchestercaptains.co.uk. All Members are of course eligible to play and we look forward to your participation.

Our Annual Dinner following on from the success of last year, will once again be held at the Worsley Park Marriott Golf & Country Club on Thursday 2nd November 2023. Full details including Guests of Honour will be circulated in due course.

The first competition fixture in 2023 will be the Founders Day Trophy to be held at Withington Golf Club on Wednesday 10th May, followed by the A.G.M. at which Bernard Stone will be installed as Captain and Brian Ashfield as President, along with the new Executive appointments.

We continue to await a confirmed date for the first Society match of the season away at Shropshire & Herefordshire that may well be staged before the 10th May, but hopefully the date will be confirmed to you all very shortly also the Derbyshire home match at Sale.

Being Captain of M&DGC has been a great honour and a privilege and I thank you all for your courtesy and respect shown to me during my term in Office. It has indeed been such a memorable and pleasurable experience so far and I thank you wholeheartedly for your wonderful support.

In concluding, I wish everyone a successful golfing year ahead in 2023.

Yours sincerely

Ian Michael – Captain