GARETH Moore, the new captain of Sale Golf Club, is proud to succeed his namesake David Moore in office.

Gareth has been a member of his club for 23 years and said: “You would have to look hard to find a club that makes new members more welcome than Sale.

“The course I believe is the most diverse and toughest on the Mersey and following the alterations in recent years it has some really nice features with elevated tees and challenging drives over trees for those who can hit the ball 260 yards.

“Sale has very active ladies and junior sections with our assistant professional Peter McKenzie coaching juniors of all ages on most Sundays during the summer months.

“We have well attended socials and quiz nights and also some special fun golfing events planned this year by younger members who would not normally join the social scene – Sale is certainly a club I would advise people to try.

“My own golfing highlight at Sale came a few years ago in an invitation BB Stableford where my partner and I had scored 27 points after nine holes and finished with 45, and I was on the card for 16 of the 17 scoring holes.

”I played scratch golf for the first nine holes off the white tees and only two over par for 12.

“I was playing off an 18 handicap at the time (now 23) but we still only managed to finish fifth despite me scoring that well for so many holes consecutively.

“My favourite hole at Sale is the 13th – a par four only 373 yards in length with a dog leg left to the green which is protected by a brook that runs along the side of the right of the hole from about 80 yards out to run on past the green.

“You need to be 200 yards off the tee to see the green and there is a large tree guarding the right of the hole and a stone bridge across the brook adjacent to the green – it is our signature hole but not one of the hardest.

“My chosen charity is Parkinson's Disease Society because my father suffered and died of the disease – he was a strong and able man who had his later years blighted by it.

“My chosen golfers to play with in a four-ball in the modern generation would be Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and my personal favourite Lee Westwood who I would love to see win a major.”

Sale Golf Club, as holders of the trophy, will host the finals day for the Manchester Alliance’s hugely popular inter-club team competition for the Archie Preston Trophy for mixed foursomes.

The preliminary round has been completed and it is now down to the last 64 teams, with Sale facing a top tie against Stockport.

The rest of the draw affecting local clubs is: Chorlton v Blackburn, Pleasington v Didsbury, Ringway v Portal, Dunham Forest v Pike Fold, Davyhulme Park v Birchwood and Northenden v Haydock Park.

The Alliance Men’s Seniors inter-club knockout was introduced three years ago and has gone from strength to strength.

There are now 64 teams in the first round draw and holders Swinton Park are at home to Ashton-under-Lyne.

The draw for local teams includes: Whitefield v Chorlton, Poulton Park v Sale, Dunham Forest v Pike Fold, Ashton-on-Mersey v Werneth Low, Ringway v Swinton Park, Bolton v Northenden, Davyhulme Park v North Manchester, Greenmount v Withington and Didsbury v Stand.