Meet the captains
Date published: 14 April 2010
GOLF:
Ian banking on a ton of tradition
IAN McGloughlin, who has the distinction of being the 100th captain at OLDHAM, is keen to utilise his financial expertise to establish the club as a sound commercial proposition.
The 42-year-old, a senior Manchester-area bank manager for NatWest, has the backing of a young, forward-thinking committee which, for the first time, contains professional James Rowlands and greenkeeper Phil Brown.
He said: “My aim this year is to apply certain commercial principles to drive the club forward without affecting its traditions.
”Lots of golf clubs are facing a difficult time in the current economic climate and that is something we are trying to tackle at Oldham.”
Ian, currently a 13 handicapper after being as low as 10, is proud of being Oldham’s 100th captain.
He said: “It’s a great honour. The club has been in existence for 116 years, but some were captain more than once and others were captain for three or four years during the wars.”
Ian was a member at Saddleworth Golf Club for nine years before taking a break from golf and indulging in his other sporting love - cricket.
A member at Greenfield CC, he won the Saddleworth League’s Moore Cup for second X1s when his team defeated Heyside in the 2001 final.
During his time at Greenfield, all-rounder Ian had a top score of 114 and a best-bowling haul of six for 13.
After ending his cricketing career, Ian return to golf and joined Oldham in 2002.
He has won the club’s Centenary Trophy, one of the majors at Oldham, has been on the committee since 2003 and has been heavily involved in the organisation of competitions.
And to that end, he has been a diligent researcher of club tournaments and now has to hand an extensive record of the many events held at Oldham.
Oldham retain close links with Royton’s Kingfisher School for handicapped children and Ian is keen to raise as much money as possible for this cause during the club’s company day on Friday, July 2.
And teams which take part will be greeted with a course in excellent condition.
“Our greenkeeper Phil has done a great job,” said Ian. “He has had to cope with a lot of problems with the weather and fusarium in the last two years, but has worked tirelessly and the course has come on in leaps and bounds.”
Driving force with eye on the future
DEREK Miller has a spring in his step as he takes on the captaincy at BROOKDALE.
The 54-year-old, who has been a member for 11 years, replaces Lewis Marland and can’t wait for the new challenge.
“I’m happy to become captain and am looking forward to the responsibilities that come with the job,” he said.
“I’ve always loved my golf. About 20 years ago a mate of mine suggested we have a game at Heaton Park.
“Next thing I knew, I’d been bitten by the bug and I haven’t looked back since!”
Derek is yet to win a major competition at Brookdale, but has seen his handicap improve during his time at the club. Having played off 21 in 1999, he is now down to 16.
He has two sons - Daniel, 28, and Adam, 26 - and a daughter, Cherry, who is 24.
But it’s not just his offspring who are driving him to distraction - he’s a Class 2 HGV driver!
Rather than choosing a charity, Derek has decided proceeds will be pumped straight back into the club’s junior section.
He said: “We have around 65 juniors here, but they need our support.
“If we make the effort, they will be more inclined to stay instead of shooting off to play football.
“They are the future of the club.”
