THE Manchester and District Golf Alliance is the biggest, most active and successful organisation of its kind in England organising a variety of competitions for the 114 affiliated clubs within a 35-mile radius of Manchester Town Hall.

Their president for more than 25 years has been Flixton Golf Club stalwart John Dowd and each year the Alliance captaincy alternates between amateur and professional players.

This year’s captain is amateur John Davies, of Sale Golf Club, who has been a long-time supporter of the Alliance, both as a player and sponsor, and it was an honour he was delighted to accept taking over from Swinton Park professional Dave Smith.

Davies has also had memberships at Chorlton, where he was captain, Davyhulme Park and Boysnope Park and he is hoping not to beat the record number of postponed Alliance Winter competitions (eight) posted by his amateur predecessor Doug Craig of Davyhulme Park in 2016.

To date the Alliance has lost seven winter competitions, six of them in 2018 due to the awful weather golf clubs have suffered over the past months.

He said: “It is a privilege and an honour to be president of such a fantastic golfing community that lives up to its motto of ‘friendship through golf’ in its weekly winter competitions and the unique Inter Club Knockout summer competitions.

“The success of the Alliance is shown by the number of professionals who support the Alliance winter competitions, which include a match-play knockout and the order of merit.

“Phil Archer (Birchwood) who was a member of the GB and Ireland PGA pro team who beat the USA in 2017 is a great example to his fellow pros and, along with several other top local professionals, is a great supporter of the Alliance.

“Members of Alliance clubs can enter the weekly competitions and find out more about the Alliance activities on the website www.mdga.org.uk.

“There is all to play for before the winter season concludes on President’s Day at Davyhulme Park on May 2.”