My Blog

Delamere Forest hosted our latest Corporate club event last Thursday- in near gale force winds but thankfully no rain! Everyone seemed to really enjoy the course even so, for me its the best inland course in the North…no question. We had 40 guests and 39 points won which was terrific. Peter Scullion and his partner Warren pipped the day’s sponsors from Cleveland Golf, Ben Davis & Barry Mellis. In 3rd spot though were Mary & Rachel from Mere & CC with 37 pts, helped in no small way by back to back eagles from Mary , this years Lady capt! She made a nett eagle at the par 5 11th and then holed her tee shot at the 140yd 12th…all this after starting from the 10th! Nice start or what!

From Delamere it was straight to Manchester and the Lowry Hotel for the Aspire Sportsquiz dinner, I hosted a table there for the 4th year, a fabulous evening for a brilliant cause. hosted by 5 Live sports presenter Mark Pougatch. in my opinion the best sports dinner of the year. They raised a record 23k, in this climate amazing!

The previous day I was hosting a day for 02 at The Belfry, again gale force winds but no rain and another  splendid day. All this comes after my victory in  a small pro am at Fairhaven, a 4 under par 68 managed to beat the field by 1, inc my son Tom by 4! Still a 6th place for him earned him a few bob too. It was a good debut for my new Adams irons and Srixon Z Star ball I am so pleased with both, like a kid in a sweet shop.

The Senior Tour has just had the Qualifying school for the 2010 season, bad news of my mates though, Torsten Geideon managed 12th spot & Pete Allan 22nd thus neither made the coveted top6 that would enable them to play a full season , I am gutted for them both.

Next for us is the Manchester Alliance at De Vere Mottram Hall, we are to sponsor the event again in our quest to support local golf in our community.

Watch this space for winners news, as Tom and my car sponsors from RRG fancy their chances!

cheers

Well another very tough day on the course for the final round of the Oki Senior Tour Championship at Castillon, Spain.

Very high winds battered the course at the end of play in day 2, and continued throughout the whole day Sunday. Whipping down the valley and away to the Med’, the course really did bear its teeth for the seasons finale. Franco was in the lead by 2, but much of the locker room talk was of ‘top spot’ in the money list. 3 contenders Woosnam, Glenn Ralph and Sam Torrance, Sam was best placed but needed top 3, Ralphy could nick it with a low one or Woosie may hang on to a slender lead……and then there was I playing for a top 40 spot to retain my exemption for 2010! There are agendas right down the list, top 20 to make the Open etc.

Anyhow, without boring you all too much. Sam finished 3rd so wrapped up the OOM title, Woosie, who I was paired with played some great stuff , raking low long irons , back to back eagles at our 8th & 9th but could only manage 71. He’s off to Japan now for an event on their tour. talk about have clubs will travel! Me? Well Sunday was my best striking round of the week by far, some delightful irons to the greens and putted like my Mum..bless her! A score of 75 was just plain poor for how I played, 36 putts and a travesty, I ought to be shot!

Incidently, Mike Harwood another former PGA champion won by 3 after an incredible round in the conditions of 66!

Although I did just manage to finish 40th by 140 euros, just ahead of  former Ryder Cup player and PGA Champ Tino Rocca! That just about secures an exemption for next season should I wish to play. It was great to have my son Tom on the bag for me this week, he reads greens so well and we did not get a bad club all week, pity the ‘old man’ didn’t putt according to orders!

He embarks on the PGA degree course at the Belfry 8am Monday, so all go in the Murray household too.

Lots of corporate golf to sort out now for the coming year at the office, a series of  golf schools to fix up too, both here and in Portugal. Details will follow from Sandra if required soon, and my search is very much on for a sponsor for the 2010 season.

Big thanks just now though to my bank sponsors who have supported me over 3 years and are now in public ownership, so are unable to continue.

Adios for now, lots to tell you re new clubs, grooves regs and a new ball contract too, watch this space!

A disappointing day at the ‘office ‘ for me today!

A 1 over par 73, after Friday’s 72. Yesterday was a sickner as I did not miss a fairway, and dropped shots on 3 occasions when hitting a wedge into the green, my strength too! Normally that is, what a frustrating game this is. I played with Irishman Dennis O’Sullivan who played great for 68, he has followed up today with another and is in 2nd spot.

‘General Franco’, Angel is leading the field on -10. The scrap is on now for the order of merit title, Sam Torrance is favourite as he is the best placed of the contenders, Ralphy is -4 and still in it though, and Woosie is level par and needs a low one tomorrow whilst in my company! So do I though for a very differnt reason, to maintain my exemption for 2010 season I need to beat Rocca & Rodriguez who are 3 shots in front just now! That’s pressure!

The course was battered by storm force winds at the end of play today, and there is more forecast on Sunday.

Wish me luck…please!! I  just need to hole a few putts thats all…easy!

Cheers  A