Oak Tree Root Golf Society

ELMER FUDD CHALLENGE TROPHY

The sun shines on the righteous, and also those who are crap at golf! Didsbury Golf Club hosted our 2nd major and conditions could hardly have been better as we played out 18 holes on a course in fantastic condition. Disbury is still a tricky course though so scoring for the major was low, Trevor Orrell winning on 32 Stableford points, a point ahead of Les Davenport.

Other winners were Paul Molyneux who fired in a dart on 18 to claim Nearest The Pin, Mike Phillips skilfully did bu**er all to win the sweep and Les Davenport had the days only 2.

Thanks to all who turned up and see you in two weeks at Davenport.

Up next on Sunday 24th May…

🚨 MAJOR ALERT! 🚨 Our second Major of the season is here. The Elmer Fudd Challenge Trophy will this year to be held at Didsbury Golf Club. Tony Littler is currently the bookies favourite, coming off a comprehensive win in the last match and being defending champion. Will someone come out of nowhere to win, or will the Mersey be filled the golf balls of vanquished foes? Find out on Sunday.

Majors are Stableford comps and the captains challenge is postponed.

Summer League Round 3 - I missed Antrobus but the results were as follows:

- Tony Littler won with a nett 72, winning by 3 shots from Paul Robinson.

- Paul Robinson won NTP, Paul Molyneux scored a 2 and Vinny Brady won the sweep, giving them all £5.

- I believe the Splash Pot took in a huge amount. Presumably Brian James’s 11 on the 8th was a big factor in that.

Next up, the major at Didsbury on 24th May.

Up next on Sunday 10th May…

Summer League Round 3 - “Just keep swimming.”

Well LIV is having its difficulties but the Oakies show goes on, as we head to the delightful Antrobus Golf Club for Summer League Round 3. Expect the Splash Pot to get a nice top up, with plenty of holes having water (and considering how badly some of us hit it, almost all the holes have water within reach). After the brief respite of a major, it’s back to strokeplay/medal and count your putts for the captains challenge. It’s also the 3rd round of Summer Matchplay competition.

BYO Ball Retriever.

OAK TREE ROOT MASTERS

Jimmy Shaw did a Rory/Faldo/Tiger/Jack and went back-to-back to win the Oakies first major of 2026 on a sunny day at Blackburn Golf Club, which was in terrific condition. Batty took 2nd place on a card count back.

Jimmy also took the Nearest the Pin whilst Brian
James put in a superb showing of skill to win the sweep.

Thanks to all who attended and played. Not sure who won the horseshoe, but we appreciate your efforts and you probably put in a great show, tried your best and that’s what matters. Go you.

Up next on Sunday 26th April…

🚨 MAJOR ALERT! 🚨 Our first Major of the season is here at its traditional home of Blackburn Golf Club. Now that the kids have finished their warm up competition at Augusta, it’s time for the Oak Tree Root Masters. Can Jimmy Shaw defend his crown? Can Mike Phillips take his recent form into the comp and go one better than last year’s 2nd place? Or will Paul “Course Record Machine” Shaw win the trophy for the first time?

Majors are Stableford comps and the captains challenge is postponed, so no excuses for not bringing your A game. (Disclaimer - “A” could stand for Average. Your golf game depends on your own talent. Oak Tree Root Golf Society is not responsible for how many balls you lose.)

Summer League Round 2 - April showers? 4 seasons in one day? Whatever you call it, Breightmet wasn’t easy today as we faced rain, hail, wind and some bizarre bright object in the sky that made everything warmer. I think I remember something similar from last September. Only 9 holes open, as we played the extended par 74 course, but Mike Phillips walked away wearing a green jacket. Nothing to do with prizes, that’s just the colour of his waterproof coat.

As for the on course action, Mike Phillips did come in to victory on a nett 71, well clear of Vinny Brady on nett 77. A cheeky self-draw in the sweep gave Mike a nice boost to the prize money. Trevor Orrell won Nearest the Pin and Paul Robison the horseshoe.

In the match play, the resistable force of Tony Littler beat the movable object Paul Robinson 2Up in a see-saw match that saw the lead change hands multiple times. Stu Cullen managed to beat Brian James in their match and not sure who won the other, but considering the 12 shot handicap I would assume Vinny beat Dave.

Lastly, does anyone know if there’s any truth to the rumour that Paul Shaw couldn’t make today because he’s still in a police cell in Georgia, USA? Last seen being dragged away from the Augusta National Golf Club shouting “You need to let me in, I shot 90 at Disley!!!”?

I mean, 12 under at Augusta National on manicured grass is all well and good, but could he do it on a wet and windy April Sunday at Breightmet?

Up next on Sunday 12th April…

Summer League Round 2 - “I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me cry.”

Breightmet Golf Club will host our second round of Summer League 2026, for a normal league fixture and summer match play round 2. Can Dave B continue his SL win streak? Will Paul Shaw break another course record? Will Les question someone else’s handicap? Will I play well and then have a complete meltdown on the 11th with the O.B. left? These questions and more to be answered before the clock strikes Monday.

Don’t forget to wear underpants.

Summer League Round 1 - we got the new season off with some very winter-esque weather. It’s was wet, cold and windy. However, barring the use of mats the course was fully open and on normal greens, which hasn’t often been the case since last October.

Dave Birchall was our first winner of the season, with a nett 79. Vinny Brady took 2nd place on countback, to add to his win in the sweep. Nobody won Nearest The Pin on a difficult 14th (into wind, wet and with a tricky front pin) and Jimmy Shaw claimed the horseshoe.

Hopefully we’ll have all dried out before round 2 at Brieghtmet in 2 weeks time.