We’re now approaching the tail end of another CGS season, with five events already completed it was again time for the weekend double header. The CGS’s weekend away where the Chairman’s Plate and the Charlie Sifford Memorial Trophy were both up for grabs!. This year’s event was held in Cheshire at Mottram Hall. Prior to booking this fixture good things were heard about the Mottram Hall course and in that respect it didn’t disappoint. The course isn’t short and provided a stern test for CGS members. The only downside to the whole Mottram Hall experience were the hotel facilities. All other venues chosen for our weekend away have always provided leisure facilities to guests staying in the hotel, this was something which allowed members to bring their partners so that whilst the golfers were golfing, our non-playing guests could use the hotel spa facilities to relax. This wasn’t the case at Mottram Hall who charged an additional fee per day to use the spa facilities. As hotel residents we weren’t expecting this and as such Mottram Hall would not be a venue many members would like to return to. Most of the CGS members travelled from the Midlands and on average the travelling time was an hour and a half and to not have access to the spa facilities whilst being a hotel guest is truly unacceptable, we can understand that people not staying in the hotel wishing to use the spa should pay, however hotel guests shouldn’t.

As mentioned, this fixture was a double header, this meant that the first day’s scores would count towards the 6th Major the Chairman’s Plate, and those same scores would become the round-one scores for the 7th Major which is the Charlie Sifford Memorial Trophy which is a two-round event with the final days play on Sunday becoming round-two for the CSMT.

With 25 members in attendance the two days were very competitive. The weekend also provides ample opportunity for members to win on course prizes for nearest the pins, there was also birdie and school money to be won. With 36 holes played, opportunities to add additional Order of Merit and Birdie Challenge points provided some with the points necessary to winning either of those season long competitions.

After travelling to the venue, the first groups teed off at 11:00am followed by nine groups all playing for the Chairman’s Plate.

After four and a half hours of golf the first groups headed back into the clubhouse for their scores to be tallied. Once all the groups were in the winners were calculated and the winner posting 35 points was Dale Bromfield. His 35 points was enough to clinch his first Major of the season. The 6621 yards course is one of the longest we’ve played on all year. Playing from the yellow tees it wasn’t easy, but Dale managed his game well and posted the winning score to lift the Chairman’s Plate and add 35 points towards the first round of the Charlie Sifford Trophy. In runner up spot with 34 points was Simon Dixon with Roan McLeod in 3rd scoring 33 points.

After our evening meal and presentation to the winners it was off to the bar for some rest and relaxation and to forget what could have been.

After a good night’s rest it was time for some breakfast and a trip to the practice facilities to iron out any flaws for the second round of the Charlie Sifford Trophy.

The whole idea around these two round events is to show over a weekend who’s the most consistent performer and the winner always shows that they were the most consistent. We’ve yet to see someone play very poorly on day 1 then perform outstanding on day 2, the winner is usually within the top three on both days.

Our venue of choice for the weekender usually includes two golf courses so it’s usually a clean slate for all when the second round starts, on this occasion we played the same course twice and in some ways it’s a good thing as it gives you a chance to play better the second day after gaining an understanding where to hit the shots.

The Mottram Hall course as mentioned is over 6000 yards long and some of the holes are doglegged with thick rough awaiting a wayward shot. There are some reachable par 5’s but the tee shot is paramount to provide you with the opportunity to reach the green in two otherwise it’s a lay-up to try and make par.

With the sun shining play got underway. The day two scores weren’t as good as day ones, so much for playing the same course twice, we obviously didn’t learn much!

Anyway, the winning score was only a point off the first day’s total and being the only woman in the field and scoring 34 points Jackie Simms provide the best score on day two, pipping the inform player Dale Bromfield on count back.

With both rounds and competitions now complete It’s obvious who the most consistent golfer was over the weekend, with a combined stableford points tally of 69 winning the Chairman’s Plate and the Charlie Sifford Memorial Trophy as the most consistent performer over the two days was Dale Bromfield. Winning the Charlie Sifford meant that Dale now as two major wins for the season, winning both his seasons’ majors in the same weekend.

In runner up spot for the Charlie Sifford was Anthony Davidson with 66 points, his first-round score of 33 points was followed by the same on day two. He was unlucky in his first round which represented the Chairman’s Plate as he lost out to Roan McLeod who also scored 33 points on day one to claim 3rd on count-back, however runner up in the two round event more than compensated. In third for the Charlie Sifford was Errol Murray with 64 points.

With only two majors to go its very close at the top of the Order of Merit with Roan McLeod leading the way with 614 points to Anthony Davidson on 608, some consistent golf over the next two majors would be enough to seal Roan’s first CGS Order of Merit title. Having scored four birdies on day two of the Charlie Sifford Roan also accelerated his charge for the inaugural Birdie Challenge League title moving clear from Trevor Lammy by some 40 points.

Our next Major will be at Harborne Golf club for the TNCMC Trophy followed by Handsworth Golf Club for the Players trophy the final major event of the season.