16th hole
As we know, the 16th hole is the only hole on the course that has been changed from the original layout of 1912. The hole was altered from a 200-yard par-3, to the par-4 we know today sometime in the 1930s. But as the course was constructed, a reporter from the Manchester Courier visited the site and wrote an article about the planned course and the progress at Reddish Vale. The proposed 16th was described as:
'A medium length hole down another narrow piece of land almost enclosed by the river'
This description is clearly of a par-4 playing down the river, exactly as we know it today. By the time the same reporter returned in March 1913 however, the 16th hole had been reduced to a par-3 of 200 yards.
So perhaps it was the cost or the time that changed the original plan, or perhaps Alister Mackenzie didn't like the walk back to the 17th tee. But either way, our current 16th hole was actually in the original Alister MacKenzie plan all along - and what a spectacular hole it is.
If you look at this aerial view of the golf course taken in the late 1960s (click here to enlarge - it's the one at the bottom), you can clearly see the remains of the par-3 green on the 16th. Thank you to Duncan Cheslett for noticing this article and bringing it to my attention.
Fake golf gear online - Beware, there seems to be another wave of it at the moment. Just this week I have seen two fakes and one was brought in for repair because it was falling apart.
Assistant's news - Juniors
This week's junior coaching will be down on the practice ground where we will refresh our memories with all the stuff we learnt over the Summer holidays.
All coaching will last one hour and will cost £4 per child.
Next week (Sunday, 25 September) I will be away on holiday but our Junior Organiser Kevin Seaton is going to run a 5-hole competition for all stages. There will be prizes for both age groups. Please meet on the putting green for 2:45pm so we can get you into groups and out onto the golf course. It will cost £4 per child to be paid in the pro shop.
Saturday's Heyrose Bowl is the final major of the year at Reddish Vale. If you haven't already put your name down for the draw please get in touch so we can do our best to get you a game.
There will be yet another play-off for a major, this time between Paul Wheelton and Dean Martin for the Club Championship. Both Dean Martin and Paul Wheelton finished with a two-round gross total of 147. Good luck in the play-off to both competitors.
The Victory Trophy is the best nett score across both rounds. Dave Walton was the man in-form, his nett 140 finishing one ahead of Ethan Stansfield in second and Vaughan Stott in third.
Our Senior Championships are open to anyone over the age of 55. Nett 144 was the winning score this year, Bill Graty the lucky golfer. Mike Radcliffe finished a close second, just one shot behind. Nearly Mike - would have been three years running if Mike had gone one better!
42 golfers played in the Wednesday Section's competition this week. In Division One, Nick Hayward stormed to victory with a nett 65. Division Two's winner was Duncan Cheslett with a nett 68 and Martin McIlvenny's 72 secured the honours in Division Three.
