LADY golfers are tuning up for the forthcoming battles in the Bell Cup, the premier competition of the Manchester and District Ladies’ GA, which has an entry of more than 80 clubs looking to make the finals day at Tytherington in September.

In preliminary round action are Sale v Knutsford, Dunscar v Dunham Forest and Disley v Ringway.

Through to round one are Hale v Great Lever and Farnworth and Northenden v Davyhulme Park.

The other MDLGA competitions of the season begin with the Bunty Booth final for winners from the member clubs’ qualifying competitions will take place at Blackley Golf Club on June 6.

Rossendale GC will host the Challenge Cup competition on July 4 and the team event will take place at Leyland on August 21.

The season will conclude with the Greensome Stableford at Astbury on September 18.

Entry forms will be available in all member clubs for players who wish to compete in the competitions.

Ringway and Dunham Forest can rest easy in the Premier Manchester Alliance Club KO competition after being given byes but the rest of the teams are all in early action.

With home ties are Flixton against Mellor and Townscliffe, Hale versus Davenport, Davyhulme Park against Crompton and Royton and Sale take on Werneth.

On their travels go Altrincham to Hart Common, Ashton-on-Mersey with a scenic trip to Vale Royal Abbey and Acre Gate to Regent’s Park.

The Manchester Alliance Greensome Stableford at Leyland, sponsored by Jonathan Gallagher of Greg Norman, once more enjoyed excellent weather and produced a close finish in both the pro/am and am/am sections.

Ashton-on-Mersey pro Kris Andrews, fresh from golf in the Algarve, found an excellent partner in Jim Cooper of Fairfield, his former club, as they posted 39 points to win a cpo from the Davenport duo of Tony Stevens and his amateur partner Fraser McLachlan.

Stevens has also been enjoying warm-weather golf in Spain and Portugal recently.

There was also a cpo for third place on 38 points with Danny Midgelow (Northenden) and Carl Kennedy (Shrigley Hall) easing out Ashton-under-Lyne’s James Rowland and Mike Scowcroft.

Recent am/am winners Colin Owen (Birchwood) and Steve Rhodes (Shrigley Hall) led in the am/am section with 38 points with Chris Harrison (Leyland) and Ian Meedes (Harwood) winning a cpo on 37 to snatch the runners-up spot from Fairfield regulars Bob Davenport and Steve Thomas.

The launch of the National County Card gives golf clubs the opportunity to generate more income – at no cost.

The NCC is being launched by Rob Sutton, a member of Withington Golf Club and a joint managing director of Hi-Tech Media Ltd, which is based in Sale.

Rob said: "The NCC is the brainchild of Withington’s much respected and experienced professional, Steve Marr, who has worked in the golf industry all over the world for the past 30 years.

"The scheme is available to all private 18-hole golf clubs and allows their members to play at courses across the UK at favourable rates.

"Each club that enrols on the NCC will be rewarded with a payment of £5 for everyone of their members which joins the NCC.

"A further £5 per card will be made available for County Unions and Golfing Charities generating new revenue for all elements of the game

"Our objective is to address the issue of club-discounted green fees, to drive fuller memberships and address some of the imbalances within the golf industry.

"The card is not restricted to areas or counties and crucially all golfers will be verified with their club – if you are not a member of a golf club, you will not be sold a card and card holders can use it nationally which encourages private golf club members to play courses all over the UK.

"The NCC will be available to all private golf club members with a valid handicap certificate for the cost of just £24."

For more details on the NCC visit www.nationalcountycard.co.uk.

Winter golf is now in full flow and will continue at all clubs until the end of March.

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

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