mottram hall
SATURDAY 18TH JUNE 2016
FIRST TEE: 11:00AM
2016 champion
allan gannon
Our 2nd Major of 2016 was "The High Tee Open" hosted by Mottram Hall Golf Resort in Cheshire.
The course was playing tough on the day with distance and accuracy required to tame the 18 holes. Penal rough and tight fairways meant that only the accurate would survive. Having been playing some solid golf in 2016, it was great to see Allan putting everything together in one round. Some laser like driving was coupled with solid iron play and today work around the greens to give him his first Bunkers victory - and a Major Champion to boot. 38 points was a superb score to muster and congratulations go to our 2016 High Tee Open Champion - Allan Gannon. |
OFFICIAL BUNKERS REVIEW
Our 2nd major of the season saw us head to Cheshire to play at the renowned Mottram Hall for “The High Tee Open”.
The build-up to the event saw days of torrential rain, but fortunately the golfing gods were again on our side and we were blessed with a dry day. The course showed signs of the poor weather it had experienced – with some standing water in run off areas, but the course condition generally was great. With lush and soft fairways that were like playing off “Axminster carpet” and greens that ran smooth and true – even if they were a touch long and therefore slower than we would expect.
The course plays long and is a real test of distance and accuracy as anything wayward gets tied up in the penal rough grass – which was damp for our visit and therefore even tougher to get out of if you were to careless enough to go offline.
The real disappointment with the course was the bunkers throughout and the tee boxes generally. Every single bunker should have been marked “ground under repair”. They were all under stocked with sand, compacted and rock hard and were like playing off a worktop. For such a prestigious venue to have such poorly conditioned bunkers is a real shame and they spoilt many a score throughout our visit. The starter warned us they weren’t great, and said that there had been numerous complaints that had fallen on deaf ears.
The tee boxes generally were patchy and uneven – which again, should never be occurring at a venue that puts itself in the bracket that Mottram Hall does.
There were a range of scores on the day, with some really solid scores in the high 30’s that represented superb play given the condition of the course in parts and the length it played. But on the other hand, some members really struggled to put a score together and will have had rounds that they want to quickly forget.
Lloydy – on the back of 2 hours sleep after a night shift – was quick to inform us that he was ‘ripping his 3 wood like Stenson’. The usual chuckles followed as we are now used to hearing supremely positive comments like this, but he had the last laugh as he put together a superb knock of 37 points to take 2nd place. A chip in from 60 yards would have helped and and a number of 3 and even 4 point holes. Superb mate – well done.
Pete Bilson kept up his rich form with another great knock of 37 points to take 3rd place but the winner, and 2016 High Tee Open Champion was Allan Gannon with a superb score of 38 points. His driving was ‘on song’ with laser like precision and this accuracy was the base to allow solid iron play and the foundation of a great score. A blob-free round and a constantly sprinkling of 2 and 3 pointers saw Allan through to victory. Congratulations to Allan, which is just rewards for some much improved performances and consistency in 2016.
Other items of note were Paul Davies JNR’s 1-inch missed putt – where he leant over the cup to scoop the ball back and avoid standing on playing partners lines, only to ‘duff’ the floor and see the ball nudge forwards 2mm – Oh dear oh dear!
Also, the frantic searching on the 5th hole for Graham Smiths “GameGolf GPS” device. This was its debut round following his £200 purchase and it lasted 4 holes before the cold panic set in as he realised it had fallen from his belt. Cue 3 groups of four players all searching from tee to green for it. Fortunately, it was located a short distance away, and the excuses formulated to tell his Mrs could be put on the back burner!
All in all, it was another superb day out – and as always with the Majors, it was enjoyable to spend an hour or two afterwards as a group. Sitting down to discuss the round and life in general over a few beers – it’s what golf is all about!
The build-up to the event saw days of torrential rain, but fortunately the golfing gods were again on our side and we were blessed with a dry day. The course showed signs of the poor weather it had experienced – with some standing water in run off areas, but the course condition generally was great. With lush and soft fairways that were like playing off “Axminster carpet” and greens that ran smooth and true – even if they were a touch long and therefore slower than we would expect.
The course plays long and is a real test of distance and accuracy as anything wayward gets tied up in the penal rough grass – which was damp for our visit and therefore even tougher to get out of if you were to careless enough to go offline.
The real disappointment with the course was the bunkers throughout and the tee boxes generally. Every single bunker should have been marked “ground under repair”. They were all under stocked with sand, compacted and rock hard and were like playing off a worktop. For such a prestigious venue to have such poorly conditioned bunkers is a real shame and they spoilt many a score throughout our visit. The starter warned us they weren’t great, and said that there had been numerous complaints that had fallen on deaf ears.
The tee boxes generally were patchy and uneven – which again, should never be occurring at a venue that puts itself in the bracket that Mottram Hall does.
There were a range of scores on the day, with some really solid scores in the high 30’s that represented superb play given the condition of the course in parts and the length it played. But on the other hand, some members really struggled to put a score together and will have had rounds that they want to quickly forget.
Lloydy – on the back of 2 hours sleep after a night shift – was quick to inform us that he was ‘ripping his 3 wood like Stenson’. The usual chuckles followed as we are now used to hearing supremely positive comments like this, but he had the last laugh as he put together a superb knock of 37 points to take 2nd place. A chip in from 60 yards would have helped and and a number of 3 and even 4 point holes. Superb mate – well done.
Pete Bilson kept up his rich form with another great knock of 37 points to take 3rd place but the winner, and 2016 High Tee Open Champion was Allan Gannon with a superb score of 38 points. His driving was ‘on song’ with laser like precision and this accuracy was the base to allow solid iron play and the foundation of a great score. A blob-free round and a constantly sprinkling of 2 and 3 pointers saw Allan through to victory. Congratulations to Allan, which is just rewards for some much improved performances and consistency in 2016.
Other items of note were Paul Davies JNR’s 1-inch missed putt – where he leant over the cup to scoop the ball back and avoid standing on playing partners lines, only to ‘duff’ the floor and see the ball nudge forwards 2mm – Oh dear oh dear!
Also, the frantic searching on the 5th hole for Graham Smiths “GameGolf GPS” device. This was its debut round following his £200 purchase and it lasted 4 holes before the cold panic set in as he realised it had fallen from his belt. Cue 3 groups of four players all searching from tee to green for it. Fortunately, it was located a short distance away, and the excuses formulated to tell his Mrs could be put on the back burner!
All in all, it was another superb day out – and as always with the Majors, it was enjoyable to spend an hour or two afterwards as a group. Sitting down to discuss the round and life in general over a few beers – it’s what golf is all about!
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event info
2nd MAJOR EVENT OF 2016 - THE HIGH TEE OPEN
Current Holder: Paul Davies SNR
Format: Stableford Singles
Handicaps: Players will play off FULL handicaps. [Except new members who are 3/4 handicap]
Groups: Will be drawn on the day of play
Tee: Players will play off the yellow tees.
Mini Comps: There will be TWO nearest the pins and 1 nearest the pin in 2 shots. [Will be added below prior to play]
Prizes: Will be for 1st, 2nd & 3rd
Other information: The Captain v President, Order of Merit & Wall of Shame will be in play.
Current Holder: Paul Davies SNR
Format: Stableford Singles
Handicaps: Players will play off FULL handicaps. [Except new members who are 3/4 handicap]
Groups: Will be drawn on the day of play
Tee: Players will play off the yellow tees.
Mini Comps: There will be TWO nearest the pins and 1 nearest the pin in 2 shots. [Will be added below prior to play]
Prizes: Will be for 1st, 2nd & 3rd
Other information: The Captain v President, Order of Merit & Wall of Shame will be in play.
club info
_Club Website: www.mottramhallgolf.co.uk
Currently ranked 20th best course in Cheshire, Mottram Hall is a Championship golf course is set in 270 acres of Cheshire's finest parkland, located one mile from the picturesque village of Prestbury,
It is the host venue for the 2013 European Senior's PGA Championship. The 7,006 yard 18-hole, Par 72 Championship golf course comprising of magnificent parkland fairways dotted with oak and beech trees and tricky, well-guarded greens is broken up into two contrasting circuits of nine. The front nine, with its impressive back-drop of the 18 Century Hall, gently rolls over meadowland and offers the golfer many chances to make a score. The back nine winds through some lush woodland and is a much more demanding test of golf.
The hotel is a regular haunt for ex-United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who took up a role as Honorary Captain of the golf club in June 2013. Ferguson has been a regular face at the resort for many years.
Currently ranked 20th best course in Cheshire, Mottram Hall is a Championship golf course is set in 270 acres of Cheshire's finest parkland, located one mile from the picturesque village of Prestbury,
It is the host venue for the 2013 European Senior's PGA Championship. The 7,006 yard 18-hole, Par 72 Championship golf course comprising of magnificent parkland fairways dotted with oak and beech trees and tricky, well-guarded greens is broken up into two contrasting circuits of nine. The front nine, with its impressive back-drop of the 18 Century Hall, gently rolls over meadowland and offers the golfer many chances to make a score. The back nine winds through some lush woodland and is a much more demanding test of golf.
The hotel is a regular haunt for ex-United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who took up a role as Honorary Captain of the golf club in June 2013. Ferguson has been a regular face at the resort for many years.
course info
Below are some information links to help you get to know the course:
DIRECTIONS
Mottram Hall Golf & Country Club
Wilmslow Road, Mottram SK10 4QT- Tel: 01625 828135
Mottram Hall is 50 minutes drive from Skelmersdale and 55 minutes from Liverpool, 8 miles from junction 6 of the M56.
CLICK HERE FOR MAP
Wilmslow Road, Mottram SK10 4QT- Tel: 01625 828135
Mottram Hall is 50 minutes drive from Skelmersdale and 55 minutes from Liverpool, 8 miles from junction 6 of the M56.
CLICK HERE FOR MAP