David in positive frame of mind for centenary year

New captain of Werneth Golf Club, David Whaley.

WERNETH captain David Whaley had only been in office for five days when he won his first major club competition of the season . . . at snooker!

David won the club’s winter snooker handicap (he’s not sure how) and is even less optimistic about his chances on the Garden Suburb course.

“It’s the club’s centenary year and, while I’m looking forward to it immensely, it will be very busy,” said the 48-year-old, who achieved his goal last year of getting down to single figures for the first time to be able to tee-up as captain off a nine handicap.

Last season also saw David’s only major golfing success at the club when he teamed up with then-captain David Whittingham to win the Daily Mail Foursomes.

Deputy editor at the Oldham Chronicle, David has been a member at Werneth since 2000 when he returned to the area after working for 15 years in Birmingham.

Married to Wendy with a son, daughter and two step-sons, David lives in Shaw and as well as being a former competitions secretary on Werneth’s council, he has also been ‘A’ team captain before becoming fixtures secretary for the Oldham and District Golf League five years ago.

He is vice-chairman of Heyside Juniors Football Club with whom he has become a Level-2 qualified coach for their under-15s side.

In his playing days, the former Chadderton Grammar School and Greater Manchester Schools’ midfielder became a striker with Chadderton GSOB and Scandalls FC in the 1980s before a long association with top amateur side Sutton United while living in the Midlands.

During his year of office, in which the club plans to open a new 13th tee and give all the holes names after local landmarks, David hopes to support the Christie at Oldham campaign recently publicised in the Chronicle.