Otley Golf Club held its 93rd annual meeting which was attended by 138 members who saw Tom Walsh elected as president, David Payne as Captain and Joe Barber as Vice-Captain.

The two vacancies on the committee were filled by Peter Lockwood and Alistair Kirkpatrick.

Unfortunately due to ill health the retiring President was unable to attend so a Past President Brian Mould handed over the Presidency to Tom Walsh.

Arthur Griffin, the 1999 Captain, presented the new captain with his Captain's blazer. David Payne congratulated Arthur on his successful year in office and presented him with a retirement gift.

The new President Tom Walsh, above right, joined Otley Golf Club in 1961 and was Captain in 1990. He plays off a 12 handicap and is also an accomplished snooker player having represented Otley Conservative Club and Otley Mechanics Institute. As a retired building site manager he has used his expertise, skills and labour to the benefit of the club and at present is remodelling the 13th tee.

David Payne, right, had his drive in on Sunday, February 6, and it was extremely well attended. A full clubhouse enjoyed David's hospitality after the event. David joined Otley Golf Club as a 12 year-old and now plays off a six handicap.

Whilst working in Zambia he was a member of the Nkana Golf Club where he reduced his handicap to three and qualified for the 1979 Lusaka Open playing alongside such golfers as Brian Barnes, Ian Woosnam and Gordon J Brand.

Apart form his work and golf his other interests include being the main organiser of the Yorkshire Junior Golfing Association, broadcasting for BBC Radio York as their rugby union correspondent and commentating on both rugby union and cricket for hospitals through the Leeds Cricket and Football Hospital Relays Association.

He also presents a weekly programme for the Wharfedale Hospital Voluntary Broadcasting Service and is on the committee of the Leeds Amateur Operatic Society.

Weatherwise it was another poor week at Otley Golf Club. The ladies didn't play at all and out of the 52 pairs who entered the men's four-ball, better-ball medal on Saturday, only 19 pairs ventured out and only 15 pairs completed the round. However, it was a good day for the Walsh family.

Leading scores: T J Walsh (three) and I Walsh (15), 59; M Lavers (11) and D Broadwell (15), 66; T Walsh (12) and H Walsh (eight), 66; P Lockwood (12) and B Ellse (14), 66; S Thornley (14) and P Howarth (10), 68; D Newton (nine) and J Denmark (10), 68; D Murphy (16) and D B Hall (12), 68.

Horsforth GC

THERE was a low entry in the Men's Stableford on Saturday at Horsforth Golf Club, with 79 members playing and only 53 returned cards.

Division One - 1, D Brooke (12), 38 points; 2, P Burtonshaw (12), 36; 3, D Vine (5), 34, best back nine.

Division Two - 1, J B Green (13), 40 points, best back nine; 2, G O'Sullivan (16), 40, best back nine; 3, J Turner (18), 40.

Division Three - 1, E March (21), 38 points; 2, D Coverdale (26), 37, best back nine; 3, P Edmondson (21), 37.

Ilkley Ladies

THE first of the February stablefords was played by Ilkley Golf Club ladies on a windy but warm day with the occasional shower thrown in.

The Lady Captain, Marjorie Bradley, won Division One with 20 points and was followed by three players on 19 points in Ann Gillon who took second place on a countback, Sue Hatfield and Daphne Hawkins. In Division Two the winner was Angela Harrison with 23 points from Julie Ormondroyd with 22.

Once again the weather was kind for the February Medal but even so with very little run on the ball scoring was not easy for the majority of competitors. In Division One Liz Downs and her playing partner Ann Newman came in with two good cards.

Results were: Division One - Liz Downsa (11) 72; Jill Parfitt (20) 75 from Ann Newman (6) 75.

Division Two - Kath Pickles (22) 83 on the back nine from Jackie Foster (22) 83.

The penultimate Winter Foursomes Competition was played at Pannal Golf Club when very high winds tested everyone's skills. Ilkley Ladies scored 70 points to finish fifth with Ann Newman and Marjorie Bradley taking third spot with 29 points. Having been lying in first place at the start of the day the Ilkley team has slipped back to third but they are still well placed for the final round next month and hope for a strong finish.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.