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The Halifax Huddersfield & District Union of Golf Clubs senior team, travelled to Catterick Golf Club for their 2^nd fixture of the season to play the Teeside Union, Catterick GC was the venue 2 years ago when the result ended in an 18 – 18 tie, so the match was set up for another close finish.

The morning session started at 10.00 with overcast skies and the temperature a little chilly. Ed Battye & Mathew Colcombe were first off, they fell behind early and after 9 holes were 3 down they never recovered losing 6 & 5.

The Meltham pairing of Jamie Bower & Graham McLean were 2^nd out, winning the 4^th hole par 5 with an eagle to go 2 up, they then coasted all the way to a 5 & 4 win, Aaron Schnacke & Steve Martin had a very close match finally winning on the last hole, Dave Stafford & Ben Adamson battled very hard to earn a well fought halved match, unfortunately the Halifax Golf Club pairing of Clive Crawshaw & Jamie Smith couldn’t get anything going losing 5 & 3. The final foursomes pairing of Chris Lander & Andy Wilford also came across a Teeside pairing on form losing 6 & 5 leaving H/H trailing 7 – 5 after the foursomes.

Battye lead the team out in the afternoon he struggled early on going 3 down after 9 holes, only to fight back eventually losing on the 18^th hole, Bower had a close match being level after 9 holes, Jamie stepped up a gear to win 4 & 2, Schnacke was definitely out of sorts and never really played the golf he is capable of losing 4 & 2.

Colcombe had a very tight game with ex Bradford Union captain Neil Harker Bell but finished very strongly to win 3 & 2, Martin was 2 down with 3 to play, he got the match to all square on the 18^th tee, Steve hit his approach shot to the last found the lateral water hazard at the side of the green but a magnificent pitch guaranteed him a bogey which his opponent could only match leaving the match halved, a crucial game which Steve had turned around.

McLean got off to a flying start winning the first 4 holes; however his opponent made a spirited recovery forcing the game to the 17^th hole where Graham managed to win the hole and the match 3 & 1.

Smith struggled early on being 2 down after 10 holes, but fought back to halve the match for another very valuable point, every point was now becoming crucial.

Crawshaw took control of his game early on but had to go to the 17^th green before closing the door on his opponent for 2 & 1 victory, Stafford fought hard for his win all square after 15 holes Dave secured the win when his opponent 3 putted the last green for a 1 hole victory, Adamson had another close encounter 2 up with 2 to play, he eventually closed the deal on the last hole with a solid par.

Lander struggled for much of his round but did show the fighting spirit for which the team are now becoming renowned for going to the 17 green before finally succumbing.

By this stage I felt we needed to win one of the last 2 singles to win the match, Wilford had about a 100 yards pith to the 16^th green with his opponent much nearer the green, Andy played a fantastic shot the ball never leaving the pin bounced once kissed the flag and dropped into the hole to win 4 & 2 and secure the points.

I was very pleased with the win, we all individually dug deep, and turned around a possible losing position into a win, this shows the character and the team spirit we have built in the last 2 seasons, and we are all looking forward to the next match at Meltham Golf Club against the Sheffield Union on the 23^rd of June.

The Halifax, Huddersfield and District Union of Golf Clubs, kicked off their season in style beating the York Union at Halifax golf Club on Sunday the 19^th May by 22 pts to 14 pts.

In a very close match Halifax, Huddersfield ran out the winners, the morning foursomes were fiercely contended, The opening match Ed Battye & Mathew Colcombe were beaten 2&1, Andy Shaw & Richard Broadley won their match comfortably 4&3, Aaron Schnacke & Dave Stafford lost their match 3&2, Steve Martin & Ben Adamson won their match 4&3, Andy Wilford & Graham McLean lost their match closely 2&1, and the home club pairing of Jamie Smith & Clive Crawshaw won by the margin of 6&4. this left the match balanced at 6 pts each going into the afternoon singles matches.

Because of the nature of the York team and their never say die attitude I knew that the afternoon was going to be a tense one filled with drama.

Battye led the team against Yorkshire county player Brown, Battye was 1 up after 11 holes but 2 birdies and an Eagle from the County man put paid to Battye’s resistense eventually losing 3&2.

Broadley was up against another County player in Hally, Broadley led for most of the match and stood on the 17^th tee dormie 2 up I though that this match was going to be our first win of the afternoon, but a bogey 4 on 17 and a fine birdie from Hally ended up as a halved match.

Schnacke had a see saw battle all the way round after being 3 holes up after playing 4, Walker fought his way back into the match, Schnacke won the 16^th hole to go 1 up, when his opponent missed the green on 17 and failed to get up and down once again I thought Aaron was going to close the match out but a 3 putt put paid to that scenario, Walker hit the ball close to the hole on 18 approx 15 feet away but Schnacke 2 putted from 30 feet to claim the match.

Colcombe had another battle royale with Forder, Colcombe winning the 17^th hole with a par 3 to go one up, but Forder holed out from the very front of the green from 60 feet for a birdie, unfortunately Colcombe who was much closer to the hole could not hole the putt and the match ended as a half.

Shaw was in yet another close encounter which went all the way to the 18^th green where Shaw  held his cool to 2 putt from the front of the green to win the match by 1 hole.

Martin was 1 up playing the last when a very untimely shank cost him the hole, with his match ending in a halved match at least we were not losing matches on the 18^th Green.

Crawshaw  used his home knowledge to win his match comfortably 4&3

Smith was always in control of his match closing out his opponent 4&3

Stafford fought hard after being 3 down he won the 15^th hole to get back to all square, but then a lost ball on 15 effectively cost him the match as he went down by 2&1.

McLean was always in control of his match getting into an early lead and keeping hold of the match with some very impressive solid Golf winning 5&4.

At this juncture of the match we had reached the magic 19 pts required to win.

Adamson played well throughout his match and finally winning by 2 holes.

Anchor man Wilford battled hard and halved his match leaving the final result 22 – 14 in Halifax Huddersfields favour, an Excellent start to the seasons campaign, I was so proud of my team who fought all the way to beat a York side who will take a few scalps on their way through this season.

Chris Mear

Team Manager