Season › 2021-22 › General Forum TW Golf Day By Derek Knox 19/04/2022 Share: Due to popular demand, I have tentatively organised this year's ToffeeWeb Golf Day. I was somewhat reluctant, as the last one at Aldersey Green Golf Club had so many Cancellations, but we did end up with 11 playing and an Adjudicator/Marker. Considering the 11 who turned up, apart from the Marker, there were none from the Merseyside Area, besides myself, and living in Chester, I'm not sure that counts as Merseyside!However, I digress slightly, the few who did travel, from as far afield as Scotland, Hampshire, Bristol and Worcester, had a wonderful and enjoyable day and had the privilege and chance to meet Ted Draper in person, and witness him opening the competition by hitting the first ball. Sadly Ted has passed on since that day, ironically not from the cancer he was being treated for and responding well, but by way of a lung infection in the non-affected lung, which refused to respond to the many antibiotic treatments. Stephen Vincent, Ged Hogg and I attended the funeral and later the Celebration of Ted's Life at Boughton Cricket Club. Ged had only managed to get off work for an hour, so had to go back. Many of Ted's family expressed a desire to attend the next Golf Day, should one be arranged. Talking to his family, that Golf Day had meant so much to him, he hardly stopped talking about it. The granddaughters compiled a short film made up mostly of stills, and home videos over the years, and how much he enjoyed both his family and life. I was both surprised and almost welled up personally that, at the end of the film, there were shots of all the members of TW, along with Ted, who attended that Golf Day. This year, it will be held on 8 July at Hawarden Golf Club, Groomsdale Lane, Hawarden, Flintshire CH5 3EH. Although technically in North Wales, it is on the outskirts of Chester. Easily accessible via A55/M56 and M53. I have provisionally booked 6 Tee Times from 10:30 am. There will be bacon sandwiches and coffee, from 09:30 am. 18 holes of golf with Longest Drives, and Nearest the Pins, a two-course meal and Presentation and a Raffle (any donations gratefully received). The course is significantly different to Aldersey Green with a mixture of blind, hilly and undulating holes, interspersed with a few flat holes. It is walkable, for the younger and fitter golfers, but a buggy is advisable if suffering from any restricting ailments. They only have about eight buggies and two electric trolleys for hire, in addition to push-pull trolleys. If required, please inform me, and I can book them well in advance. The cost of the Day with everything (excluding buggy or trolley hire) will be £40.00. I had hoped to get it nearer to the end of the season but, with so many re-arranged fixtures and Everton being away too on the last day, plus the availability of the course, it just wasn't feasible. Everyone is welcome, but please state whether you wish to play or just support. A rough idea of your handicap and golfing ability will be required, but please in the interest of fairness, be as honest as you can be. Also, please only commit if you can definitely make it, barring emergencies, as meals and tee times have to be compensated for, once booked. Hawarden is listed in most golf books and magazines as the hidden gem of North Wales. It is always very well kept, and having a fairly new Head Greenkeeper, he has made a significant impact since his arrival. Working closely with the Greens Committee, there are very noticeable improvements being undertaken. It is a very friendly club with excellent catering facilities. Last year, the money generated from the Raffle was for Cancer Research UK, which I intend to honour again, but this time to split it between Connah's Quay Tigers Football Club. This was Ted's favoured charity at the funeral, should any donations be offered, and one he held a lot of interest in. Any questions please do not hesitate, but get in touch with me: Derek Knox del_kath@yahoo.co.uk — or by text to 07565 140075. Thanks in anticipation of your support! Reader Comments (13) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer David Pearl 1 Posted 19/04/2022 at 17:22:31 Well in, Derek, l have tweeted it, not that it means much but let's hope for a good turnout and we can raise some money again. Derek Moore 2 Posted 19/04/2022 at 19:35:15 Hope you guys get a great turnout, better weather and no cancellations. I'm far too far away in New Zealand to make it sadly, but if I ever come over in the summer I'd definitely be keen. Just wanted to also extend my condolences, belated as they are, to the family and friends of Ted Draper. It's too far for me to make a golf day but certainly not to send up a prayer and light a candle. Vale Ted, gentleman and Evertonian. "The Ted Draper Annual Memorial Golf Day" deserves to be a thing, here's hoping this year's iteration is the first of many more to come. Best of luck again lads. Jon Harding 3 Posted 19/04/2022 at 21:38:07 Gutted, Derek, but the Bristol branch will be missing this year. I'm back from 2 weeks holiday (Cape Verde) in early hours of the Wednesday before and am then in London on the Saturday for a gig (Midnight Oil). There's only so much a man with a full time job (allegedly) can fit in sadly.And sorry Derek but Harding junior will also be absent as he's hoping to be over in Canada this summer on an internship with Golf British Columbia. Young Dan is down to 4 handicap and currently standing at 6 foot 8 btwI'd heartily recommend this event to all Evertonian golfers. Derek knows how to organise a fun golf day with loads of prizes and you can guarantee having plenty in common with your playing partners! Derek Knox 4 Posted 19/04/2022 at 23:23:54 Thanks Jon for your kind words of recommendation, but tinged with sadness that you and Dan will not be able to attend this time, but I wish you both the very best, and Dan with what is presumably a Golf Scholarship. That lad can't half hit a Golf Ball, longer and straighter than his elder peers, and you must be a proud Dad !It is almost inevitable that any date chosen will enable some to attend, while making it impossible for others, but in an ideal World you will be at the next one. All the best my friend and thanks again.Derek Moore thanks for your antipodean message of both support and condolences too, on behalf of the Draper Family. I do hope it becomes a regular feature on the TW Calendar, and yes, next year I WILL make it the Ted Draper Memorial Trophy. Ted's wife specifically asked at the Funeral Celebration to be able to Present the Trophy to the Winner on the day !I try to keep in touch with the family too, as mentioned before, some of the nephews have expressed a desire to attend and compete. I'm sure Ted is looking down and will be so proud to see not only his name live on, albeit it in Memory, and on his Trophy with some of his family involved. Take care Derek, who knows you may be able to make it over one day, you will be more than welcome. 🙠Peter Moore 5 Posted 20/04/2022 at 11:01:10 Thanks very much Derek for organising this. I will be able to attend this year and will update my handicap when nearer as I have only recently taken up golf again after a 10 year gap since playing regularly, and I was never better than an 18 handicap at my best, but will hope to be nearer that than I am now. Just in process of submitting 3 cards for handicap at Wharton Park Golf Club in Bewdley where I am now a member. First two handicap cards were rounds of 101 and 106, so I am hoping to be doing better when I play again on Saturday to lower the handicap. But the golfing gods seem to offended by my prolonged absence from the course, as they keep cursing me with hooks, slices, shanks, thin and fat shots as well... Apart from that I am playing ok 😳The event sounds wonderful and I echo the condolences stated about the passing of Ted Draper. I hope he is resting in peace, free from the angst of the scrap against relegation. I wish the golf day to be well attended as it deserves to be. The course sounds really interesting too, really looking forward to a good day among fine company. Well done Derek and thank you very much indeed. John Hall 6 Posted 20/04/2022 at 12:50:52 So sad to hear that Teddy has passed away Derek.Great to hear that the golf event is once again being arranged and hope that participation numbers are better than last year.I would love to have attended but have not travelled for over two years now as I am unable to have the Covid vaccine having had the simple influenza vaccine a few years ago which left me hospitalized for quite a while after suffering a severe anaphylactic episode.Will be most pleased to make a donation for the charities mentioned. I still have the bank transfer details from last year so please drop me a mail and let me know if I should send to the same address and account number.Will be up and waiting at three a.m. in the morning our time here to watch the game. Best of luck with the tournament. Gerard Hogg 7 Posted 21/04/2022 at 11:07:46 Thanks for organising the TW Golf Day event again Derek. That's a great deal you managed to get at Hawarden which is a fine course. The wonderful Ted Draper Trophy will again be up for grabs.I would advise anybody who plays golf, no matter the standard, to come along, it's a great day.By the way Derek, there was a Merseyside presence last year, I'm a Kirkby lad currently residing in Bebington. Stephen Vincent 8 Posted 04/05/2022 at 19:17:48 I understand that we have all had other things on our minds, but I would urge you all to support Derek and the Golf Day. We raised an incredible amount of money for a great charity last year. It is a brilliant event well worth attending whether you play golf or not. Derek will have no problem accommodating those who just want to attend the meal at lunch time. Fantastic day out and great to spend time with fellow blues and review the season, plan for the next over a few beers. Danny O’Neill 9 Posted 04/05/2022 at 19:24:34 I never took to golf but, if I'm in the country, I'll try and make it for the bacon sandwiches!! Derek Knox 10 Posted 07/05/2022 at 14:57:22 Danny, you know you'd be welcome, even if just for the Bacon Sandwiches and Coffee, but it would be better if you stayed for the Meal, Presentation and Raffle too.I was hoping that we would have had a better response up to now, but as Stephen said, most of us have been worried about our team, so it is understandable. Hopefully the next couple of our results, with assists from other results too will allay any fears, and we can all start to relax. Ray Roche 11 Posted 24/05/2022 at 13:07:57 Hi Del, Sorry about the late response, but like all Toffees, I have had things to worry about!!I hope to be able to attend again, last years Golf Day was excellent despite several people crying off. Hawarden is an interesting and enjoyable track and any golfers who haven't played it before will surely enjoy it. Have you any idea how many intend to play yet?It's quite easy to get to so I hope people realise that! 🙠COYBG(Come on you blue golfers)😠Derek Knox 12 Posted 24/05/2022 at 14:08:01 Thanks Ray, I too am hoping, now the heat is off and we are safe, that people's attention may turn towards the Golf Day. There have only been about a dozen thus far; ideally I would like to see about 20-24 to make it a success and a decent competition. As you say, I have never met anyone yet who hasn't liked Hawarden Golf Course or Club. They are doing a lot in terms of improvement both on the Course and in the Clubhouse and Catering.I played with a lad from the Worcester area last week and he was very impressed with the Course and the homemade Steak and Kidney Pie we had afterwards. Not to mention a nice pint too. I am still also hopeful of getting some more donations for the Raffle. I have got a few things myself to put in but more would be gratefully received. Ray Roche 13 Posted 24/05/2022 at 18:24:25 Well done Del, I'll provide a raffle prize of some description on the day.ðŸ‘ðŸ»Come on ToffeeWebbers, let's make this day out a success. I know that there's quite a few golfers read these pages so please help out! 🙠Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. 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