2021

The articles in this section represent the stories behind the names on the board of the 2021 Board Competition Season for this golf course ... 2020 AGC captain Stuart Mason ( who now continues his role for another season because of COVID restrictions ) is pictured . These articles could be completed for any golf club ... contact us for details . The scribe who created all of these reports and this website is Paul Hackett . If anyone has pictures of the winners / contenders they are welcome to contact this website .

The draw reached the final stage after defending champion and 10-time Board Competition winner Mark Caffrey was defeated by 13-time Board Comp winner Brian Southworth whilst in the other semi Watson 2021 winner Jim Fallon defeated this years’ Bailey AND Gibson winner Chris O’Connell … in the final Jim Fallon built on his stellar ‘breakthrough’ season by outlasting 15-time Board Comp winner Brian Southworth to take the third trophy of the season .

Neil Royle has defeated favourite Danny Miller to take the Presidents trophy which is his third Board Competition victory of the season following on from his pairs victory in the JS Chorlton AND his earlier win in the 5 Club Shield . .

Big-hitting Chris O’Connell drives , wedges and 2-putts his way to a wire-to-wire victory in the Bailey to take his first Board Competition , using his length of the tee to great advantage and avoiding crucial OOBs on 3 occasions to keep his score intact whilst contenders Ged Grogan ,Captain-elect Danny Miller and 2020 hotshot Matt Astbury all bemoan a sloppy start whilst evergreen John Wilks fell foul of Amen Corner . With just 7 members beating their handicaps a day of benign weather which still saw the course come out on top .

Bob Kay overcame 2020 hotshot Matt Astbury to win his first individual KO and complete his 6th Board Competition victory , the competition earlier thrown wide open as KO King and defending champion Mark Caffrey having been knocked out on 19th hole by your scribe Paul Hackett who then outlasted in-form John Rossiter .. he joined Bob Kay , Matt Astbury and Raymond Corcoran and looking at the stats , Ray Corcoran was the only one of the quartet still to win a Board Comp with Bob Kay winning most on 5 , with Astbury (4) and Hackett (3) . Hackett and Astbury contested the semi-final with Astbury winning 3&2 whilst Bob Kay used his greater experience to give him the edge over Ray Corcoran. In the final Bobs’ greater experience told but this observer has no doubt that Astbury will win an individual KO before long .

Ged Grogan has captured the 11th Board Competition of his Alty career , holding his nerve to outlast evergreen Gordon Boardman as 2020 sensation Matt Astbury is denied only by a last hole blob ... solid performances by Andy Mills and Club Champion David Royle who completed the top 5 whilst defending champion Dave Drury led the field at the turn but was denied by a lack lustre back 9 and an absent friend whilst there was a regrettable absence of our lady members on this special inaugural mixed individual Board Competition .

John Rossiter has rolled back the years to win his third Board Competition outlasting long time leader Brian Nichols to win the Arthur Cooper Finsl on countback . Rossiter produced a ‘best in show’ back 9 bogey masterclass to prevail at the final hole . 14 time Alty legend Paul MacDonald left the golfing wilderness for an encouraging third place with local chums Richard Paulson and Andy Mills completing the top 5 and the Alty treasure that is Brian Cawley finishing in a very credible sixth place . Defending champion Gordon Boardman finished down the field on a day where the Division 2 higher handicappers found the format and conditions much more to their likings .

Andy Mills lands his first Board Competition with a sublime display , powering away on the back 9 to deny heartbroken unofficial Club Scribe Paul Hackett by 3 points with Club Champion David Royle in third place despite a 4 birdie blast … defending champion Matt Astbury maintains his form in 4thas front 9 leaders Rothwell and Shaughnessy wilt after the turn in the benign conditions .

Andy Mills completed a phenomenal dream weekend by taking his second trophy of the weekend with an excellent net 67 courtesy of the DQ of the unfortunate Paul McDonald . Mills won on countback from newbie Tom Wilkins who succumbed to crucial lapses on the final holes , in-form veterans Cawley and Hackett filled the minor places and Defending Champion Window made a top 10 defence as again the course continued to restrict good scoring despite the relatively benign conditions .

Neil Royle wins the first individual Board competition of his Alty career with a superb display , snatching the Shield from lineal champion Roy Dickens on the final hole with rejuvenated James Darmon in third whilst the minor places were taken by Southworths Brian (4th) and Paul (7th) with O’Connells Tony (5th) and Chris (6th) giving a familial look to the leaderboard on a day where the course again bossed proceedings .

Prodigiously talented youngster Callum Doublard sets aside his Trafford Leisure duties and wins his first Board competition at only his second attempt, prevailing by a stroke from evergreen George Sainthouse with third-placed Brian Nicholls lamenting Amen Corner lapses after he had lead at the turn and pulled 3 strokes clear with just 6 holes left whilst wily operators Rossiter and Terris completed the top 5 on a day of gentle weather where the course again proved to be too tricky for most .

Andy Miehe and John Rossiter added the second pairs Board Competition of their Alty career with an ultimately dominant back 9 display giving them a 2 hole victory over familial pair Tony and Chris O’Connell with former Captains Norman Crowther and Roy Dickens in third place .

Chris O’Connell takes the winners voucher after a remarkable campaign which saw him improve his handicap by EIGHT strokes to ultimately outlast the magnificent challenge of Johnny Boardman , whose efforts placed him in first position until that crucial penultimate round where O’Connell took control . Third-placed Andy Miehe had also conducted a fine series of scores and was just one point behind until O’Connell claimed the W .

Danny Miller posts a crucial score in the Seniors Trophy to extend his record-breaking total to 35 Board Competitions and snatch the RAFA trophy from the grasp of long-time leader Nathan Butterworth in second place with a late flourish from Keith Ralston giving him third position . .Alty stalwarts Dave Drury , Jason Denton and Andy Mills completed the top 6 after a long season

Glen Rothwell continued his iron grip on the prestigious Tommy Povey Trophy , emerging victorious for the 7th consecutive year , his 8th in 11 seasons to take his Board Competition total to 23 . Club Champion Danny Miller overcame Jason Denton on countback to take second place with Messrs David Royle , Ralston and. Utterworth completing the top 6 .

Andy Moss was ‘the boss’ as he and your scribe Paul Hackett sensationally snatch the Wilson trophies from evergreen pair Bernie Wood and Gordon Boardman with a sublime -11 back 9 , successfully clawing back a FIFTEEN shot deficit after the front 9 on a day where at least 9 pairs had or shared the lead with the improving Wetherills claiming a fine third place finish . An extraordinary tale that is a lesson to all of us that we should NEVER give up !

Jim Fallon has finally won his breakthrough first Board Comp on countback to beat a field of 52 golfers from serial contender Paul MacDonald with 2021 hotshot Chris O’Connell delivering a stunning back 9 masterclass to romp up the leaderboard to finish third as again the course restricted the vast majority of us to above handicap scoring .

Chris O’Connell produces an absolutely stunning back 9 to come through the field and deny Brian Nicholls , who had similarly recovered from a poor start that ultimately cost him . Third-placed Alastair Cairns produces a solid but unspectacular round in 3rd place whilst dandy Committee member Andy Window was similarly effecient but rued poor starts to front and back 9, those quartet the only members to beat their handicap on a dry but cloudy day ideal for golf but the hardening fairways and greens allied with the varying bunkers giving the majority of us a troublesome day as the course again bossed the show …

Nathan Butterworth strolled to a truly magnificent 6th Board Competition victory , delivering a front 9 scoring masterclass and then showing course management composure to consolidate his position with a stunning net 66 to leave all challengers in his wake , not least 2001 Barlow victor Keith Walton senior who finished second on countback heading the sextet of Chris O’Connell, Bernie Wood,Nick Alderson,Ian Cheetham and Jason Denton , all of whom finished 5 strokes behind him , none of them getting close enough to properly contend after front 9 leader David Roy Terris (2018 Tommy Barlow winner) had fell away after a truly sensational start .

Former Club Champion Glen Rothwell produced a sensational flawless course record 5-birdie 66 ( net 62 ) to destroy the field with fellow ‘Hall of Famer’ Captain-elect Danny Miller holding off 2021 hotshot Andy Mills for second with Derek Salmon recovering from an opening 10 to take 4th place on a day where our Captain Stuart Mason and his team fed and watered us wonderfully with us responding to score well in the benign conditions .

Self-proclaimed Stableford specialist James Darmon superbly regains the Golden Jubilee Trophy he won in 2017 as he snatched victory on countback with a ‘Championship holes’ masterclass from double 2021 trophy winner Andy Mills whilst Andrew Wood and 2021 hotshot Chris O’Connell bemoan sluggish starts in the minor placings with the course only yielding two members beating their handicaps despite the benign conditions .

Andrew Moss gains redemption for his unlucky countback defeat last year to produce a phenomenal display to ease to a 5 point victory over the excellent Philip Wright and claim his first individual Board Competition whilst wily veteran John Rossiter played top notch course management golf but can bemoan a poor finish in third with ‘t’Committee’ elite all finishing prominently .Mr Captain a very decent 4th , tournament host Bernie Wood a fine fifth with Dibble an encouraging 6th on a dry sunny day in stifling conditions which saw just 7 of the 53 competitors beat their handicap . Newcomer Cameron Arnold was Blobmeister 🦞(7) whilst defending champion Dave Drury was a decent 15th.

Royle brothers Neil (12th) and Des (6th) add to their haul of trophies with a commanding display today , easing to a 2-point victory over the evergreen combo of Bernie Wood and Gordon Boardman who again are dashed in their pursuit of a 2021 pairs title whilst the new combination of Alty stalwart Mark Snape and newboy Ben Haslam take third place on a cloudy but dry day on our beloved course . MORE TO FOLLOW …

Brian Southworth breaks clear from a 4-way tie after 17 holes to magnificently net birdie the final hole to snatch the Holiday Cup by a stroke from fellow multi-Board Competition winner Keith Ralston and recent Watson winner Jim Fallon in the inclement conditions today with several members bemoaning crucial lapses to halt their challenges on a day where the course bossed the field not least Greg Hall , who NR’d on the 7th. hole but whose scores on the other 17 meant that even with a 9 on 7 he would’ve won the trophy ! MORE TO FOLLOW …

Jason Denton shoots a magnificent 72 to take a commanding but non-decisive 4 stroke lead of legendary former champion Glen Rothwell with fellow HallofFamer Danny Miller , precocious rookie hotshot Chris O’Connell and golfing stylist Derek Cullen ‘punching’ 5 strokes away . Defending champ David Royle is 7 strokes back and has much to do whilst serial contender Mark Snape and fellow low handicapper Nathan Butterworth were shock No Returners on a day where the course leaked birdies to the main contenders but also wreaked its vengeance at the Amen Corner holes to most . A compelling day of drama awaits tomorrow with the main contenders put together in three sets of fourballs to up the mental stresses as they seek our greatest prize .

Club legend Danny Miller has finally achieved his Holy Grail with a magnificent victory in the J Ford to become Club Champion and join James West on an incredible tally of 33 Board Competitions. Miller magnificently came from 6 strokes back to deny long-time leader Jason Denton ( whose stunning golf had rightly put him in control of the competition) and ruthlessly capitalise on him sustaining an injury AND recording a horror quad bogey 9 on the 15th hole , snatching the lead with just one hole to go and then nervelessly holing a 10 foot par putt on the final hole to deny Denton the chance of a 37th hole play off and to finally claim the Club Championship after over 20 years of trying . Derek Cullen put up a marvellous performance in third to outlast former champion Glen Rothwell whilst precocious 2021 hotshot Chris O’Connell continued his startling improvement in fifth with defending champion David Royle in sixth on a day that showcased the agonies and ecstasies of our sport .

Brian Price (98/32/66)ultimately strolls to his long-awaited first Board Competition of his Alty career and simultaneously becomes the first ever 28+ handicap golfer to win a trophy , smashing his handicap with a consistent and occasionally brilliant display . Stalwarts Jim Fallon , Tim Dibble and William Wroe Vets hotshot Peter Yates all finished 6 strokes back after all threatening to deceive whilst front 9 leader down the field in 8th place your scribe Paul Hackett bemoans a 6/7s dominated journey home . MORE TO FOLLOW …

David Royle produces an Amen Corner masterclass to cruise to victory and take his 6th Board Competition after an indifferent front 9 to thwart record-seeking Danny Miller from #34 with the great mans’ crucial mistakes on the ‘easier’ holes ultimately costing him the Shield with third placed front 9 leader John Cullen AND fourth placed Keith Ralston having similar woes on the journey home on a day where the course again was gloriously obdurate to our elite players .

The scratch pairing of Andy Mills and Brian Nicholls combined beautifully to win the Royles Challenge Trophies today . The duo dovetailed well throughout and eased to a two point victory from second placed pair the magnificent Dan Hartley (who shot 45 points today ) and unfortunate Joe Hadfield (who was Scoring Higher In Tandem) whilst the Royles continue the wait to win the trophy donated in honour of two late members of the family but Neil and David will rue poor scoring at benign holes on a day where the sunny and benign conditions belying the receptive fairways and quicker greens that meant that our beloved course again bossed most of us with no pair reaching the par score of 72 points .

Ian Cheetham takes the first individual Board Competition of his Alty career ( and second in total ) with an awesome display in the dry sunny conditions , including magnificent 4 net eagles as he strolled to a 4 stroke victory over serial contender Danny Miller . Mercurial high handicapper Greg Hall overcomes a horror start to finish third on countback from 2021 hotshot Chris O’Connell with Alty newboy Simon Rockett seeing his strong challenge evaporate courtesy of Amen Corner whilst defending champion John Thompson is a credible sixth on a day where a second member of the 28+ club emerges victorious in successive weeks as the course again restricts all but two of the membership to beat their handicap despite the dry and benign conditions . MORE TO FOLLOW …

Unknown newboy Oliver Murray played only his second competition round at the course and made a nonsense of his allotted 29 handicap by destroying his 50+ rivals to ultimately canter to victory and take the Autumn Cup by 5 strokes from fellow new boy and 7-comp ‘veteran’ Ben Haslam edging serial contender and fellow high handicapper Tim Roberts into third with stalwarts Dibble , Nicholls and Window completing the top six on a day where conditions were benign but the fairways were receptive to bounce , the members struggled on the greens and for the third time in succession , a 28+ handicapper has taken the spoils in this new era of golf . MORE TO FOLLOW …

Nathan Butterworth has taken the 7th Board Competition of his Alty career and his second of the season with a magnificent display this morning . Nate was just one stroke ahead of resurgent high handicapper James Darmon with Balfour hero Keith Ralston third and Messrs Dibble , Christian and O’Connell senior completing the top 6 . MORE TO FOLLOW …

Howard Johnson and David Roy Terris have won the 2021 Summer KO , defeating Andy Miehe and John Rossiter in the final .

The magnificent Fallon brothers adapt famously to the world of Greensomes golf to take their first pairs title by winning the R Gyves and Gardner trophies , a dominant net 61 leaving them 4 strokes clear of Alty stalwarts Grogan and Rothwell with cereal bridesmaids Drury and Gleave taking third on a day where members enjoyed the format and enjoyed a rare day of collective success against our beloved course … MORE TO FOLLOW

Captain-Elect Danny Miller takes a record-breaking 34th Board Competition by lifting the Divot Party and leads a Committee shutout top 4 on countback from Captain Stuart Mason , Bernie Wood , Timothy Dibble with Mr Andrew completing the top 5 with a heroic 6th place finish that could’ve been so much more from Glynis Brown .

Paul Hackett has fired a phenomenal net 62 to outlast newboy Craig Seery (who shot a magnificent 65) in a ‘Duel in the Sun’ who was cruelly and unexpectedly thwarted . John Cullen , best gross man David Royle , John Wilks and Mark Snape all had fine scores and completed the top 6 on a day where the receptive bouncy fairways , dry and sunny conditions made the course vulnerable to low scoring . Earlier today , hotshot Nate Butterworth had the agony of seeing his wonderful tee shot on 13 come to a halt FOUR INCHES from the hole to deny him a hole in one .

Classy Mark Snape wins the 14th Board Competition of his Alty career with a hard fought victory today , winning by just a single stroke from nearest challengers Andrew Wood and Chris O’Connell , with m newcomer Cameron Arnold and Balfour hero Keith Ralston completing the top 5 on a day where Andy Moss had the joint lowest score but his name does not feature in the results . Undoubtedly lessons are to be learned today .

Matt Goodall strolled to the 11th Board Competition of his Alty career with a dominant display today . A four stroke victory from record breaker Danny Miller with 2021 double winner Andy Mills again beating his handicap in 3rd and stalwarts Dibble ad Sainthouse completing the top 5 on a day where the benign conditions left the course vulnerable to good scoring .

The magnificent Nick Alderson returns in triumph from the golfing wilderness and gives a course management masterclass to defeat an elite15-man field and stroll to a 6 stroke victory with the only sub-par round of the day from the in-form Keith Ralston with Alty stalwarts Ged Grogan 3rd and 4th respectively on a day where the cold dry and windy conditions made it hard to compete. Back in 5th position Tony O’Connell had been dealt a final hole ‘rough justice’ penalty stroke which robs him of the second place voucher . This was Aldersons’ 5th Board Competition of his Alty career after 6 years without a trophy to take the £70 voucher first prize ..

James West , the record-holding 10-time Club Champion of Altrincham pictured completing the ceremonial tee shot of the competition that celebrates him and his father Roland , who was himself a 2-time Club Champion and former Club pro .

Danny Miller emerged as the most notable performer of 2021 with a fantastic record 3 victories (including the Club Championship) 6 second place and a third place finish whilst Neil Royle had 3 victories plus winning a pairs event at Blackpool North Shore GC whilst Andy Mills , Jim Fallon and Neil Royle also had 3 victories . Special mentions to Chris O’Connell who won twice with one runners-up and 3 third-place/Semi-Finalist spot whilst your scribe Paul Hackett had 2 victories , one runners-up and 2 Semi-Finalist spot and also win a Senior Open pairs event at nearby Dunham Forest GC with David Christian .