Day Of Danger But A Big Success

Wolves Former Players Association have launched Ryder Cup month with another highly successful staging of their annual golf day.

A dozen Molineux favourites were joined in the warmth of Oxley Park by Gary Owen and Joe Mayo from Albion and Nottingham Forest and Derby star Archie Gemmill.

Steve Daley, Kenny Hibbitt, John Richards, Colin Brazier, Phil Nicholls, Terry Wharton, Mel Eves and Phil Parkes took to the course on a day that raised another handsome sum for local causes. 

And they were once more fed and watered in mid-round by the northern-based trio of good pals, Norman Bell, Gerry Farrell and Paul Walker, who based themselves at the refreshments hut at the top of the course to help competitors refuel. 

Farrell is currently captain of the club in Morecambe at which he is a member and received more than one suggestion that he should join the playing ranks at next year’s event.

He might even consider that a safer option because Walker – a good friend of his from the Molineux youth and reserve teams more than 50 years ago – was almost struck by an overhit shot while sitting at the back of a green.

Nicholls was not even that lucky, being hit on the shoulder by a shot from his playing partner Eves that deflected off a buggy. He was able to laugh off the incident, though, and continue his round.

Also in attendance in a non-playing capacity were Willie Carr, who took to a buggy to follow round his good mate, Hibbitt, and Steve Kindon, who arrived for the dinner and other social pleasantries afterwards.

Mayo and Owen have both participated in the competition more than once before but Gemmill’s presence – confirmed to Richards on the day he was travelling to Durham to make a hall of fame presentation to the family of Joe Gardiner in July – was a real bonus.

The two were team-mates at Derby under Peter Taylor for a few weeks in 1982-83, the striker having gone to the Baseball Ground on loan.

Two other notables in the field were Sky Sports reporter Johnny Phillips and Wolves general manager for marketing and commercial growth Russell Jones.

The day’s proceeds of around £8,000 will be divided between Compton Hospice, The Good Shepherd charity in Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, The Haven refuge in the city centre and The Crafty Gardener ‘community interest company’ off the Newhampton Road.