Golf Sports Section Annual Reports  2001
2002 2003 2004 2005  2005
By Secretary DC Ian Hill The season got underway back in April with the first county medal at Green Drive Golf club in April. John Wilkinson and Dave Butler took the honours with fine net scores of 66 each. Early May saw the first team match led by Captain Tim Parker (now retired) At Myercough college. Always a good opener on greens that can challenge the strongest minds. We won again keeping our 100 % winning streak intact. Since 1999. The force team was eliminated in the Battle of Norfolk in a closely fought match in late May held in the local zone final of Royal Norfolk ! You may have read the fine report detailed by Captain Parker. I understand his sword hangs proudly in his hallway to serve as a small reminder of this experience. At the same time as this match the National Championships were being contested on the fine course of Belviour Park Belfast. A week that suffered more than most from the Irish weather systems known locally as always raining. Day three was rained off and this led to the days sight seeing of Belfast city centre. A treat in itself followed by a few glasses of the local brew. I understand Rod Stewart who was in town attracted several competitors to attend his concert in the town that week. Ian Hill finished in the top ten and went on to represent the force against the Civil service later in the season held at Walton Heath Surry. The North west championships were held at Formby Hall a delightful golfing complex where we saw an excellent turn out of Lancashire Officers. Ian Hill took the top honours along with Dave Butler. June saw an attempt to move the county medal inland to encourage competitors to attend. my thanks goes to Ian Geogerty who organised this event. It was held at Turton Golf Club in conjunction with an Eastern division match. Garstang golf club held the final medal attended by 17 players a fantastic turnout to a course that is improving every year. The Christmas dinner was Ok too I can confirm. Carl wood closely followed by Tim Parker took the honours with scores of 67 and 68 respectively. The Palfrey trophy was played at Didsbury golf club where we used some retired officers and were defeated by GMP officers in a match played in good spirits. Mid Sept saw us eliminated by Merseyside in a battle royal held at West Derby Golf Club Merseyside. Dave Butler summed up the match by stating " How can a ball hit three trees and still end up in the middle of the 18 fairway on a shot ? " The luck was definitely not on our side this day it was fair to say. End of September saw Captains Day held at the finest of golfing venues Fairhaven Golf Club. Nigel Barnes took the net honours with scores of 147 net followed by Gary Haley and Dave Butler on 151. Ian Hill won the Woodmansey trophy gross prize with an am 72.Again the event was struck by heavy rain during the afternoon. All credit was due to those that managed to complete 36 holes. 20 players attended and reported a fine day and thanks to Tim for arranging such fine prizes in his final season as a Bobby. The 2006 season holds much expectation of success with some strong new players fighting for team places. The inter divisional match is on the agenda again if the support is there. Fairhaven hosts the British Championships week commencing 5 June. Volunteers sought. special leave available. Membership has risen I am pleased to say again and there are now 68 golfers on our books. It will be difficult to see if we can maintain these current levels of participating in matches / competitions with the proposed budget cuts for sectional sport but one can only try. Good luck to all in 2006. 2004 By section secretary PC Peter Murphy The team overall had a good year without winning too much. We reached the Northern Zone finals of the British Police Team Championships, narrowly losing to Cumbria. In the North West regional Hart Trophy we made the final (gaining revenge on Cumbria in the semis) but were beaten by Merseyside. In the annual Palfrey Trophy match against GMP we won easily to regain the trophy which we had lost the previous year for the first time in 20 years. Back in its rightful place! Individually for County Players it was a fantastic year. Inspector Martin Kay entered the North West PSUK Championships for the first time and blew away a very strong field over two rounds to win the event. PC Ian Hill had two excellent rounds to be runner-up in the Gross section of the event. Following on from this Ian took part in the National PSUK Championships and for the first time in Lancashire's history he won it! After four rounds it needed a play-off to sort it out and Ian won at the third extra hole. 2003 By section secretary PC Peter Murphy The force team are the reigning British Police Team Champions .In the finals held at Moor Allerton Golf club in Yorkshire the force team defeated a strong Met Police team in the semi-final and overcame Norfolk in the final to win the competition for a record equalling fourth time. PC Ian Hill, last years force captain, reduced his handicap to +2 over the season which would class him as a semi-pro. He sets the standard for the rest. DC Bob Thompson and Pc Pete Murphy represented the force at the British Open golf championships held at Royal St. George's in the summer. The pair acted as Army golf Marshals and were involved in the on course protection of many of the worlds leading golfers. 2002 By section secretary PC Peter Murphy The year started badly when we were knocked out of the British Police Team Championships in the first round by Merseyside.
In the annual challenge match with the golf squad of Myerscough College we managed to retain the trophy.
In the regional Hart Trophy we made it to the finals but were beaten by Cheshire.
The Palfrey Trophy, against GMP, was again won by ourselves, about the 10th year running!
In the PAA National Final we had six players representing the force and PC Ian Hill, for the third year running, made the top ten and was selected to play for the British Police team. The County medals were well supported this year and the culmination of
these led to the Chief Constables Final at Fairhaven Golf Club and this was won by DC Bob Thompson of A division.
27 golfers played in the medals and 22 represented the county in the force team.
2001 By section secretary PC Peter Murphy In the British Police Team Championships the force were runner-up in the national final and the force were also runner-up in the Hart Trophy team knockout. In the PAA Regional DC Barnes was 2nd overall with Chief Inspector Boyce being Stableford winner. In the PAA Nationals DC Barnes was 5th overall and went through to represent the British Police. In the Palfrey Trophy versus GMP the Constabulary won the event.  
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