Keating at your service

Oldham captain Jim Keating

GOLF: NEW Oldham captain Jim Keating and his team have responded to a crisis by contacting the emergency services.

Facing a reduction in members in common with most golf clubs, finance is a worry.

Oldham has responded by reducing its usual £15 a round visitor charge to £9.99 for police, fire and ambulance service members.

“It’s a novel idea we came up with,” said the affable 73 year old, who lives in Hartshead, Ashton, with wife Joan.

“We are trying to attract new members with various deals, but so is everyone else and there seems to be a hard core of golfers going from one club to another wherever they feel the best deal is.”

The 24-handicapper has been an Oldham member for nine years, having originally been an accomplished squash player.

He now spends a lot of his time at the golf club with fellow member Joan and is keen to use his year as captain in an effort to bring the good times back to Oldham.

“I’m told that many years ago this was THE club to be at,” he said.

“I want to bring that back to Oldham through the golf, the atmosphere at the club and the social side.”