Chorlton Golf Club star James Gilsenan has enjoyed a great season with two club records to his name to add to his long list of successes.
The first was to set a new joint club record of 63 playing in the club’s Harry Andrews competition, which included seven birdies plus an eagle two on the par four 18th hole where he put a two-iron off the tee to four feet from the pin and holed the putt with the round being witnessed in awe by his playing partners Dan Gathercole and John Crane.
The previous record of 63 was posted by Jonathan Davies in 2009.
Then the next record came when playing in the 36-hole competition for President Steve Costello’s Trophy – a top club major.
In a bogey competition James was locked on +7 with Jonathan Garrigan and according to the competition rules this brought a further 18-hole play-off.
But they still could not be separated, both scoring +2 which meant that for the first time in its long history that the competition was extended to 72 holes and finally James prevailed to win the coveted trophy for the first time.
James has enjoyed some ups and downs in his golfing life as he explained: “I started playing golf at the age of 14 and two years later I was working at Dunham Forest with their professional Ian Wrigley.
“I got my handicap down to scratch at the age of 17 and became the assistant pro at Dunham for three years before moving to Alderley Edge and Prestwich as the assistant to Anthony Sproston.
“After four years as an assistant pro and not much success I decided to quit golf and didn’t play or touch a club for eight years.
“In 2008 I rejoined Chorlton as a full member and sustained a couple of injuries (wrist and trapped nerve in the back) which cost me three more years of playing since rejoining and now my handicap is one.
“Since 2008 I won the Mersey Championship in 2010, was the club champion in 2012 and from 2003-2008 I was a nine-time major winner at Acregate GC including being the course record holder with a round of 61.
“I would like to dedicate the 63 and the President’s Trophy to my late mother and father (who was a Chorlton member for 35 years) who have both sadly passed away in the last 24 months, my mother in February 2015.
“I went through quite a bad patch during this time which resulted in my handicap rising from one to three.
“I would like to thank Dave Mackinnon, our club professional for the lessons and guidance he has given me in getting my game back together and getting me competing for honours.
“Now I am hoping that my four-year old son Max will carry on the family’s golfing success as he has joined the new junior academy, following in his dad’s and grandad’s footsteps and becoming a Chorlton member of the future.”
