Sandiway toasts success on and off the course

Jan 8 2008

Sandiway golf course

A CHESHIRE golf club is celebrating the most successful season in its 85-year history.

And, if winning 10 county titles wasn’t enough, Sandiway’s clubhouse has even been voted ‘Most Welcoming Clubhouse of the Year 2007’ to cap a year to remember.

The club won the award in the annual competition organised by trade magazine Clubhouse. Sandiway captain, Brian Baister, was presented with the trophy at a special dinner and prize-giving ceremony at The Warwickshire Golf Club. It is the first time in the history of the awards that a north west club has taken the top honour.

Sandiway’s secretary/manager, Keith Melia explained: “The award came out of the blue. The first we knew about it was when we were contacted by the magazine and asked if our captain could be present at the prize-giving ceremony as we had received a nomination.”

Nominations are submitted to the magazine, which are then followed up by the publication’s representatives, posing as potential customers asking a number of questions concerning the club, its facilities, and generally how visitors and guests are treated.

Having initially met the criteria, the club was contacted again by one of the magazine’s inspectors, who confronted the club with a more comprehensive list of queries.

It was some time later that the magazine revealed that they had put the club under scrutiny without revealing their true purpose or identity.

“It is a great honour and a huge compliment to our staff, who dealt with both of the enquiries in a friendly and professional way,” added Melia.

This latest accolade follows a stunning season from several of the club’s members in which they bagged the County Seniors Championship, County Ladies Seniors Championship, County Ladies Championship, County Boys Championship, County Foursomes Strokeplay, County Over-35s Championship, County Championship Team Event, Mid Cheshire Junior League, East Cheshire Shield and the Cheshire Shield Final.