Ringway Golf Club’s 2024 President Patrick Air is a true legend at his club having been an active and dedicated member since he became a junior member 55 years ago.
Patrick said: “It is an absolute honour and a privilege to be asked to serve as President of Ringway Golf Club.
“Since then I have see 53 Captains and over 40 Lady Captains (they started in 1982) and my subscription in those days was £8 per year and the entrance fee was £100 paid on your 18th, 21st and 25th birthdays and when I joined there were no more than 10 juniors. “Two other juniors from my era, still playing golf, are Andrew Fairlie and Neil McLean.
“We met as teenagers all those years ago and there was one competition a year – Fathers v Sons- played in the summer holidays.
“Juniors were only allowed to play after 4.30 pm on a Sunday- Oh how times have changed for the better! Today the Ringway Junior Section is the envy of all of the other golf clubs in Cheshire!
“Personally my current handicap is 17.5 and my lowest was five.- but few people are old enough to remember me as a single-figure golfer!
“There are too many people that I need to thank but I would like to thank the six people who gave the money in 1909 to start Ringway Golf Club.
“Ben Staniforth, the young assistant professional at Ringway, had his Great Great Great Grandad as one of these six.
“Ben’s Grandad Steven Buckley, a former Cheshire President, was the club champion when I joined and he was club champion at Ringway on nine occasions.
“I would hope to continue the excellent work of the many that have gone before me in my role and finally I was proud to have been made an Honorary Member of the club four years ago.”
Pic (top): Patrick (left) with Captain Ian Rankin, Lady Captain Patricia Taylor and Junior Captain Ed Lord
Copy & images: Geoff Garnett
