JD Farmer Seniors

JD Farmer Seniors Trophy

For the first time ever, we begin with an "up side Down" report. 

It was at the Presentation that the B&H President Keith Dingley announced that this trophy

will from now on be given a name. the same as the other 3 B&H trophies.

It was the at the instigation of the current B&H Chairman,  John Douglas Farmer,

that the seniors competition was set up 20 years ago in 2005. The personalisation of the trophy

is also recognition of the work which John farmer  has put in to managing and developing the B&H

for over a quarter of a century  

Ian Marsh and Kevin Speight

of Bury Golf Club

winners of the 2025 JD Farmer Seniors 

at Davyhulme Golf Club - 12th August 2025

Report of the 2025 JD Farmer Seniors 

 The day started off rather cloudy and a touch on the chilly side for mid-August, but it did not stop the hardy golfers going out in shorts and polo shirts. Some were forced to don their water proofs late morning, when some "warm" rain started to fall. But by lunch time things has heated up and it became extremely hot in the afternoon.

As anticipated by many, the Bury Captain, Kevin Speight and his partner Ian Marsh, who were first out, set the pace for the day with 48 points.

Had they been playing in the very first Seniors, which was held at Worsley GC in 2005, they would have had to settle for 3rd place. The winners way back in 2005 were P Doyle (18) and D Beswick (16) of Swinton Park GC, who won on a CPO with 49 points. M Shore (10) and A Dunn (16) of  Saddleworth GC, took second place.

In the next hour only 2 pairs managed to break 40 points and it wasn't until the 9.10 pairing of Anthony McGuire and John Carr came in that we saw the first 44 points of the day. This would eventually secure them 6th place on a CPO.  The 12.20 pm lunch time pairing of Mike Lomax and Stuart Murphy of Worsley GC, showed it was possible to snap at the heals of the leaders with 45 points and they moved into second place. As the temperature started to heat up, Kieran Morley and Harry Sharkey went out at 13.40 pm and turned the up heat on the score board with 46 points. However, nothing for the rest of the day came close to their score and they finished in 2nd place. 

During the heat of the afternoon, we had 2 more 44 points returned which secured prizes. G Kemple and Gavin McCarthy of Flixton GC moved into 4th place on a CPO, while Frank Birkenshaw and Dave Street of Breightmet GC claimed 5th place.

On behalf of the B&H Competitions Committee, Keith Dingley expressed his thanks to Davyhulme Golf Club for hosting the competition, for the excellent state of the course and the day long services provided by the bar and catering staff to players in the Clubhouse.  

 B&H President Keith Dingley presented a cheque to the Davyhulme President, in appreciation of the club hosting the competition. The Dayhulme Captain thanked the B&H Committee for the excellent and most efficient way that the competition had been organised and run and thanked all those who had taken part in what turned out to be a day of friendly and competitive golf.

This was the first time that the Seniors Balfour had been held at Davyhulme Golf Club and there will be another new venue in 2025 at Withington Golf Club.

Today was the 20th Anniversary of the Seniors Balfour, (now the JD Farmer Seniors) which has turned out to be one of the most popular and well supported of all the Balfour and Houldsworth Competitions.

A total of £1,300 in Prize Vouchers were awarded to pairs to share and spend in the Pro's shop:

First - £500: Second - £300: Third - £200: Fourth - £150: Fifth - £100: sixth - £50

Ian Marsh and Kevin Speight  receive the JD Farmer Trophy

DP GC President Chris Icley & Captain Peter Gaffney

and B&H President Keith Dingley & Chairman John Farmer

Winning score of 48 points.

SECOND PLACE WENT TO  Kieran Morley (Flixton)  

& Harry Sharkey ( Davyhulme)

WITH 46P OINTS

___________________________________________________________________________

Third place winners were Mike Lomax  and Stuart Murphy

of worsley  Golf Club  with 45 points  

___________________________________________________________________________

Fourth  Place winners were G Kemp and Gavin McCarthy 

(Flixton)  WITH 44 POINTS  (cpo)

_______________________________________________________________________  

fIFTH  Place winners were Frank Birkenshaw 

and dave Street (Breightmet)   WITH 44 POINTS  (cpo)

___________________________________________________________________________

sIXTH Place winners were John Carr (Davyhulme)

and Antony McGuire (Denton)  44 Pts  - CPO

____________________________________________________________________

The B&H President, Keith Dingley thanked Davyhulme GC  for hosting the competition

and presented the President, Chris Icley, with a cheque for the club.

Mr Captain Peter Gaffney  said how delighted Davyhulme Golf Club had been to host the Senior Balfour for the first time.

He thanked the B&H Committee members and all who had contributed to such a sucessful day.

President Keith Dingley

B&H President Keith Dingley announced that the Senors Trophy

will from now on be given a name, the same as the other 3 B&H trophies.

It was the at the instigation of the current B&H Chairman,  John Douglas Farmer,

that the seniors competition was set up 20 years ago in 2005. The personalisation of the trophy

is also recognition of the work which John Farmer  has put in to managing and developing the B&H

for over a quarter of a century  

The President then closed the Presentation, thanking the Davyhulme Captain Peter Gaffney,

the President Chris Icley and  all those  who had taken part in the 2025 JD Farmer Seniors.

Special mention went to the bar and catering staff who had catered for the needs of golfer

from early morning until the Presentation at 8.00pm. The President also thanked the green staff

for the excellent presentation of the course which saw 7 Eagles, including a Hole-in-one, and 109 Birdies.

and all who had made possible a great and enjoyable day's golf at Davyhulme Golf Club.

 One of the visitors from Halifax Bradley Yorkshire, Eric Shrimpton,

who normally spends much of the year fishing,

managed to miss the lake in front of the 17th green and

made a catch of a different sort today with a Hole-in-one,

seen here with his partner  with his partner Mark Rosser.

Click here to view the full results of the 2025 JD Farmer Seniors Cup

The 2026 JD Farmer Seniors will be played at   witington  Golf Club  on 15th August 2026.

The Tee-sheet is now open for those who would like to secure their preferred times.  

Click here to enter JD Farmer Seniors at Withinton Golf Club 202 6

CLICK TO see the entry pages for all of the 2026  B&H Competitions