FLIXTON Golf Club stalwart Eric Gill has taken on another top role in the historic Balfour and Houldsworth Golf Committee.

Eric finished a two-year-stint as the B & H President last year with Don Jackson from Sale taking over his presidential role.

And now Eric takes over as the B & H chairman as they prepare for another busy season of top competitions, which are open to thousands of golfers within a 20-mile radius of Manchester Town Hall.

The B & H was started some 11 years ago by the Hon AJ Balfour and Sir William Henry Houldsworth, who were very prominent politicians as well as being keen golfers.

They provided two magnificent premier trophies - the Balfour Cup and the Houldsworth Trophy.

The B & H has no permanent home and relies on the hospitality of various clubs in the area to stage its competitions, which are run entirely by the committee who are all volunteers from local clubs.

The venues for the competitions are decided at an AGM when invitations to stage B & H events are considered by the committee.

It is considered a great honour to host a B & H event and clubs are invited to send representatives to support their bid.

Don Jackson said: "It is most important that the B & H keeps faith with the traditions built up, but we must also look to the future."

The B & H secretary is Alan Dunn of Saddleworth Golf Club and he is keen to spread the net of the B & H to more clubs in the area. Alan said: "Although our competitions received excellent entries we are always looking for more clubs to be involved in hosting our events and in providing entries.

"All of the eligible clubs received entry forms for our competitions early in the New Year and it is up to the players in the clubs to ensure that they are prominently displayed.

"Also full details of our competitions, history and entry forms can be obtained by visiting the website www.wgtbgolf.co.uk.

"The five competitions this year begin with the Balfour Cup, which is a singles men’s medal at Withington on May 11. The other competitions are the Houldsworth Cup at Stand on June 8, the GS Lancashire Trophy, the Junior Balfour Cup and the Senior Balfour Trophy, a betterball Stableford for over-60’s."

Sale Golf Club ‘living legend’ Donald McDonald was saddened recently by the death of one of local golf’s legends WM ‘Bill’ Coleman.

Donald said: "Bill died after reaching the ripe old age of 100 and duly received a card from the Queen.

"More than half of Bill’s lifetime was spent first as a caddie then as an accomplished golfer at Timperley Golf Club - later to become Altrincham Golf Club.

"Such was his ability as a golfer that George Duncan invited him to work for him when Mere Golf Club was officially opened. Bill declined the invitation as he was married with two children at the time and the wage for assistants was meagre to say the least.

"Apart from his playing ability, Bill had a natural talent to spot faults in his playing companion's game and there are countless golfers in Greater Manchester and beyond who have cause to thanks Bill for his encouragement and advice.

"Bill was a bit of a prankster as well and caught out many people who reckoned they had played Silverdales Golf Club - a family-run club invented by Bill for as practical joke.

"When his sight began to deteriorate he and his wife Norah moved to Bolton to live near one of their daughters and thus ended a golfing connection with Altrincham."

To get your club and individual results, achievements and special events in this report the contact is Geoff Garnett tel/fax 0161 881 7550 or email ggggarnett@aol.com

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