WILMSLOW Golf Club’s new captain Ben Cartwright is supporting the BIGGA Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund during his year in office.

He feels that it is about time everyone recognises the tremendous hard work green staff put in when most people are in bed.

He said: “Given the lasting effects for many clubs of last year’s blistering summer, Wilmslow’s greens, tees and fairways have, due to our fantastic green staff remained in fabulous condition.

"And if you do not believe me just ask Tommy Fleetwood after he had played here in December."

Cartwright's golfing history goes way back beyond his 21 years with Wilmslow.

“I began my golf at Romiley 56 years ago," he said.

"My lowest handicap was 11, 21 years ago, and it has now risen to 20. Why does putting get more difficult as you grow older?

“I have been fortunate to play many of the great UK courses plus a few around the world but for me my favourite is Royal Lytham and St Annes on the first time of my many attempts to tame it.

“I succeeded in parring the first hole, par three, then it went all downhill.

“The seventh was a par five and seemed longer than an airport runway but the most humbling moment came when I stood in the Bobby Jones bunker on the legendary 17th and paced out the path of his awesome shot to the green and into the history book of The Open Championship.

“Back at Wilmslow my favourite hole is the 16th – a slight dog leg par four and a very pretty hole but importantly your drive has to be very precise both in terms of distance and position if you are to get a view of the green.

“I normally play three times a week including the highly popular foursomes 'roll up’ on a Sunday morning and my other hobbies are photography, travel and enjoying all things Italian and being a lifelong supporter of Manchester City.

“My own personal golfing highlight was to get through to the 1987 finals of the Famous Grouse Foursomes at St Andrews.

"After the R and A clubhouse dinner we were allowed into their trophy room where I held the original Open trophy – we were told that Tom Watson, having won the Open five times, was only ever allowed to take a replica home to the USA!

“My chosen players in a fourball would be my late playing pal Mike Bacchus, a very dry wit – notably – ‘every shot gives somebody some pleasure’, Seve Ballesteros – I followed him around like a faithful dog for the whole of the first round of the Open at Royal Birkdale in 1983 and by the end I swear we were on smiling terms – and finally for obvious reasons Pep Guardiola, an inspirational leader with charisma and by all accounts a gentleman on the golf course."

“Wilmslow is open for new members who understand the traditions of golf. They do not initially have to have member sponsors but are given six months temporary membership to network and find three sponsors.”

It was close in division one in a Saturday Stableford at Styal with Mike Burchell winning a card play-off on 36 from Rob Sanderson, one more than Chris Hart.

In division two Andrew Murray was the main man with 39 points, one more than William Geddis and Andy Grundy.

A Sunday Stableford at Styal was won by Grundy with a great haul of 44 points taking him clear of Robert Hughes 41, Andy Withington 39 and club star Harry Reid 38.

The Manchester and District Golf Alliance's Dunham Forest Trophy draw has handed holders Chorley a bye into round one. The preliminary round includes Alderley Edge v Dukinfield, Wilmslow v Turton and Hindley Hall v Styal.

The draw has also been made for the City Glass Men’s Foursomes Knock Out featuring seven pairs from each club in the fierce match-play knockout format.

The preliminary round features Fairfield v Alderley Edge.