Captains Year
Paul Cassidy on his happy and successful year at the helm.
The 7th of November 2008 will be forever etched in my
mind. I had just entered the car wash in West Kirby when my mobile phone rang and the distinctive voice of MGM Groves boomed out. “Cassidy, I am coming to see you in an hour at your home. Be there! Over and out!” The subsequent St Andrew’s Dinner on the 29th November
was both a terrifying and fantastic evening. Mike descended the stairs, flanked by the past captains, and paraded around the hall, finally approaching me. We stood face to face and his hand came down on my shoulder. Luckily the resulting compound fracture quickly healed. The next four months passed very pleasurably and my appointment was confirmed at the AGM on Saturday 28th March… Then started a year which I shall remember for as long as I live. My diary was by this time full and with the tremendous support and encouragement of Angela, the present Mrs Cassidy, I set out as Captain of this magnificent club. Formal dinners at Wallasey, West Lancs and The Society of Liverpool golf Clubs were followed by our own Spring Dinner. Panic set in fairly early in the approach to this major event, but my resolve was strengthened by huge support and encouragement, not least from Mike Groves and Anthony Shone, who invited me for drinks and to meet Hamish Ritchie, Captain of the R&A, who was our guest speaker. Hamish is a fine man and it was a pleasure to meet him. He quickly put me at ease and sitting next to him at the dinner was a delight. The following Saturday was the Formby Dinner which
was superb. The close and long standing friendship between Hoylake and Formby made for a wonderful evening, one that will really stay in my memory. As you may imagine lots of golf was now being played and I was relieved that my game was improving. A match against a team of left handers hand picked by Bill Agnew and followed by a jolly good lunch, was a great success. I still think it’s the wrong way round to play this game! Next on the agenda was a visit from a team from Troon and a match which was played over a weekend with a most enjoyable dinner on the Saturday evening. Another of the many highlights of the year was a trip which Angela and I made to The Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club to celebrate the centenary of its first holding the Open in 1909. Prince Andrew, our Patron and also Patron of Cinque Ports, was in attendance and an excellent weekend of golf and dinners ensued. Members of the club entertained us regally and we made many friends. Back home at Hoylake I remember
gate-crashing Pat Baty’s 80th Birthday lunch in the library. I seem to recall proposing to the lovely Pat, but as yet have not had a reply! Summer 2009 was a wonderful time at Hoylake despite
the weather being variable. There were many matches, both formal and informal, and I had the opportunity to play some mixed golf. The joy of captaining Hoylake was made even greater as I shared the year with the beautiful Sarah Beazley, Captain of the Royal Liverpool Ladies’ Golf Club. Sarah is a wonderful golfer and it was a delight to serve alongside her. In July Tim Marshall organised a match at Prestwick Golf
Club which was a huge success. Prestwick has got to be one of the greatest Scottish courses and the lunches are to die for. On to Gleneagles at the end of July for four days followed by three days at Falsterbo Golf Club in Sweden for its Centenary. This was a truly magnificent affair and Angela and I were superbly looked after by Hans Eklund and his lovely wife Marie. Golf on Saturday was followed by a gala dinner for 850 people held in a marquee on the practice ground. The whole evening was conducted in English and we left at 3am on Sunday morning after quite literally dancing the night away! August was a delightful month with golf and great fun culminating in the Hoylake Scratch Mixed Foursomes. Sarah and I were persuaded to enter and a terrified RLGC Captain stepped on to the first tee literally shaking. I fully expected the worst but with Sarah playing superbly we managed to give a good account of ourselves and although we lost we took a very good pair to the 16th. I was then able to enjoy the rest of the weekend with some really delightful people in my first and probably my last appearance in the event!
The Spring Dinner
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