The Men’s County team annual friendly match against the Army produced a a wonderful moment and a pair of remarkable new records in the 104-year history of Cheshire men’s county golf.
Due to conflicting player commitments we were short of two players for the match at Pryors Hayes on 27th April and selectors turned to players at both ends of a very wide age spectrum to complete the team.
Chris Mitchelson, recently retired 65-year-old Wallasey member and regular in the Seniors team, had never quite managed to make it into the men’s county team despite years of trying. He couldn’t quite believe it when the phone rang and he was asked to make his debut. Chris is very well known in county golf circles, but in appearing for the county team at 65 he was breaking a record held by one of the world’s golfing greats, John Ball Jr. Ball had made his Cheshire debut in the first ever Cheshire men’s match against Lancashire in June 1921. Winner of one Open Championship and eight Amateur Championships, Ball was 59 years old at the time and until Chris’s selection remained easily the oldest debutant we’ve had.
At the other extreme of the age spectrum, James Clark of Sandiway GC and a highly promising young golfer now off +1.4, was also selected. James is just 13 years old and is the youngest ever to appear in the men’s team. Appropriately, James partnered Chris in the morning foursomes where a 52-year age gap and a combined age of 78 did not prevent them from winning their match 3&2. James halved his afternoon singles match. Chris won his and has since announced his retirement with a 100% winning record!
A remarkable and heartening moment in Cheshire history, proving that age is no barrier in this great game.
