In recent years many golf clubs have seen a husband and wife team enjoying a year together as Captain and Lady Captain.
Heaton Moor Golf Club have seen this a number of times with the latest pair being John and Jill Howarth who have just finished a very enjoyable and successful year together in the roles.
But the club have now appointed two new top officials to set a unique record in the 133-year-old history of Heaton Moor.
The new Captain is Mark Roberts and the President is his dad Mike and it may be a very rare appointment of father and son in these roles on the same year for clubs in the region.
Mike was a very good footballer in his younger days first playing for Runcorn and just losing out in the FA Vase final.
He then joined Macclesfield Town coaching and playing for his last three years and his final game for Macclesfield at the age of 40 was when they won the FA Vase.
He then worked very hard with great effect at Heaton Moor serving time as Chairman then Captain and was a dynamic force in moving the club forward for many years.
He introduced Mark to golf as an 11-year-old junior in 1988 and he also had plenty of impact on and off the course with a lowest handicap of five with a highlight of winning the club championship.
Mark’s biggest impact at Heaton Moor came after he took over the role of Junior Organiser in 2018 when they had just five juniors.
His hard work and innovative schemes saw the number of juniors grow to around 100 by 2021 with assistance from Jackie Hall who then took over his role.
Jackie has kept up with the good work as the junior numbers have now grown to over 160, probably the biggest in Cheshire two of whom, including new Junior Captain Jacob Thorp, being selected for Cheshire Boys squads.
Mike and Mark are affectionately known as Steptoe and Son at Heaton Moor and with Jacob and new Lady Captain Elaine Alkin, who has strong Irish family connection in golf, they intend to continue the great work being done at their club..
Feature Pic: Mark and Mike. Photo above from left to right, Mike and Mark with Jacob and Elaine
Copy & Photo’s courtesy of Geoff Garnett
