GOLF is full of great characters who have given sterling service to their clubs for many years, and they don’t come much more popular than Ernie Ollerenshaw, who is currently celebrating 50 years continuous membership at his beloved Mellor and Townscliffe Golf Club.

Now the club is rewarding Ernie by making him the club’s only honorary life member at their forthcoming AGM.

After serving with the RAF in the second world war, Ernie then worked at AVRO in Woodford for 40 years and was a founder member of the AVRO Golf Club before moving to Mellor in 1959 - for nine guineas and no entry fee.

Ernie has countless memories of development at Mellor, including helping with the construction of the Burma Road bridge across the valley on the fifth par three hole.

Ernie has won a few competitions at his club and his lowest handicap was ten.

Other memories include losing his trolley in a pond on the seventh tee when it ran amok and he had to return next day to retrieve his precious four-iron from the murky depths of the pond.

Meanwhile, Winter League action at Chapel saw the divisions won by John Whalebelly on 37 points from Rick Skilton (35), and Carl Rutter with 39 from Eric Johnson.

Marple’s men were also in Winter League action in a BB Stableford and the Owens brothers - Alex and Greg - led in with a fantastic 47 points after a card play-off with Keith and Iain Graham and Anthony Warhurst and Will Henderson.

The latter pair have opened up a nine-point gap at the top of the league.

Heaton Moor ladies played a ‘Yellow Peril’ over 12 holes and first past the post after a cpo on 62 points were Diana Pinckney, Freda Keegan and Maureen Hall, from Cath Linsley, Doreen Roberts and Jackie Bickley.

Moor’s men played a BB Stableford and G Forkin and D Bond led in with 32 points, one clear of D Barton and R Cullen.

Houldsworth’s men played a Team of Three competition and the captain led in B McConnell and S Gooddy with 51 points.

A Texas Scramble at Reddish Vale saw P Bradshaw, B Timblin and Paddy Weadick on top with 47.4, from Paul Kerrigan, Phil Houghton and P Frankland (47.8) and Mike Boocock, LT Booth and J Watson (48).

IF your club has a new captain or lady captain just arrived or coming into office for 2009, let us know by contacting Geoff Garnett on either 0161 881 7550 or via email: ggggarnett@aol.com