The 75th West Lancashire Masonic Golfing Society annual tournament took place in August at Dunscar Golf Club near Bolton. The principal guest for the day was the society president, Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews.
Mark was accompanied by Barry Fitzgerald, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters Peter Schofield and Malcom Bell, along with Chris Gray, Chairman of the Furness and South Lakeland Group.
The weather was perfect and the club were very welcoming to the 50 competitors who had assembled from all areas of the Province. The staff went out of their way to ensure everyone had a wonderful and enjoyable day including several non-Masonic guests who enjoyed a round of golf and the fraternal companionship of the members of the Furness and South Lakeland Group. It is hoped that this may help encourage them to join Freemasonry in the future.
The green-keeping staff had prepared the course superbly and it offered a challenge to every golfer, regardless of their handicap. The competition was followed by a delicious two course dinner in the clubhouse, after which the awards ceremony took place, with Mark presenting the trophies.
The winner of the individual event was Norman Wharton of Hartington Lodge No 1021, who scored a creditable 43 points. Runner up in this event was Peter Trelore of Thurston Lodge No 2525. The main group team event was won by Furness and South Lakeland Group with golf representative Allan Whitaker and the team picking up their individual prizes and trophy.
The other individual trophies being played for were won by the following: Darren Holmes of Rivington Lodge No 8013 won the Arthur Entwistle Trophy 0 to 14 handicap; Tony Fletcher of Rivington Lodge won the Owen Smith Trophy 15 to 28 handicap; Phil Thompson of Birchwood Lodge No 8861 won the Over 60’s Hamer Trophy; Ian Latham of Southport Temperance Lodge No 2815 won the Over 70’s Isherwood Gregory Trophy; Dean Fawcett of Semper Sursum Lodge No 5622 won the Nearest the Pin; Bob Avery of Semper Fidelis Lodge No 4428 won the Nearest the Pin in two; the winner of the two’s competition was Darren Holmes of Rivington Lodge..
Masonic Golfing Society Chairman, Peter Schofield, presented Mark Matthews with a cheque for £800 in favour of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. In addition, a further £200 was donated to the Lancashire Golf Union Junior Section and the raffle on the evening raised a total of £390 for charity. In closing Peter Schofield thanked the society committee, vice chairman Steve Gregory, treasurer Tony Fletcher and Mike Turner along with individual group golf representatives across the Province for all their tremendous hard work and commitment in the organisation of what was a wonderfully successful event enjoyed by everybody who attended.
If you are a golfer and would like to play in next year’s tournament, please contact Mike Turner at westlancsmgs@gmail.com
