NEW SADDLEWORTH Golf Club captain Andy Dunster is hoping to extend activities beyond the Ladcastle Road course.
In these tough economic times, when golf has been especially hard hit, Andy says it is important for clubs to widen their appeal.
Andy (52) points to a recent skiing trip undertaken to the Pyrenees by seven couples from the club, including him and wife Karen, Lady Captain Julie Ward and her husband John, and also pilates keep-fit classes for members.
He said: “I am hoping to attract new members but, more importantly, try to keep existing ones.
“And I am sure one way of doing that is to put on other activities for them.”
Andy, who lives in Uppermill, has been a member at Saddleworth for 32 years and plays off a handicap of 10.
He has won two majors, the Ladcastle Trophy with Alan Entwistle who will be his president during his year in office, and Mixed Knockout partnering Eileen Milnes.
“It would be nice to win a major on my own which is a target as well as getting down to a single-figure handicap,” he explained.
In his youth, Andy was also a rugby player at Saddleworth Rangers where his position was hooker.
Andy, who has children Tom and Holly, is the managing director and joint owner of Medlock FRB, a specialist leisure construction company.
His charity for the year is the Benjamin Maly Cardiac Fund as Benjamin, the young son of Graham, the northern secretary of the Professional Golfers’ Association, has a serious heart problem.
JULIE WARD is Saddleworth’s new lady captain describing it as a great to have the honour bestowed on her.
The 22-handicapper from Greenfield, who works as a bookkeeper, has been a member at Saddleworth for 18 years.
Julie (55) says she was a late starter taking up the sport in her late thirties saying it is a perfect hobby as she enjoys an outdoor life.
And husband John and son Rob are also members at Saddleworth so there is a family feel – her father was also a golfer.
Julie, who has served on the ladies committee and as their treasurer, says her biggest playing achievement was winning the Henry Hartley Trophy, the club’s mixed knockout.
Other hobbies include ballroom dancing, which she did as a youngster and which she was inspired to rekindle by the popular television series Strictly Come Dancing, sailing and dog walking.
Julie’s charity for her year in office will be the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.
You must be logged in to post a comment.