The Bradford Golf Union’s 2011 calendar got underway with the inter-club foursomes strokeplay at Bracken Ghyll.

President Howard Thorpe hailed the opening to the upcoming schedule and praised the host club of the first event. He said: “It went very well on what was a beautiful but blustery day. Bracken Ghyll prepared the course magnificently and they couldn’t do enough for us.”

Mark Evans and Chris Howe of Hollins Hall won the event with rounds of 69 and 76 respectively.

Although Thorpe is happy with the current health of the union, he admitted that an upcoming rise in clubs’ operating costs is a potential obstacle on the horizon.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the way things are progressing. We’ve made a lot of changes to make sure we’re moving forward.

“However, Bradford Met are withdrawing the discretionary rate reduction, which will impact on golf clubs as their rates will rise, so clubs are bracing themselves for that.”

INTER-CLUB FOURSOMES RESULTS – Strokeplay: 1 M Evans & C Howe (Hollins Hall) 145, 2 A G Brown & D Bairstow (Bingley St Ives) 146 (countback), 3 M Gaffney & P Fenton (Cleckheaton B) 146, 4 A Jowett & S Irving (Cleckheaton A) 147.

Matchplay, first round (at Branshaw): Hollins Hall bt Rawdon 5&4, Skipton A bt Bradford B 3&1, Keighley B bt Cleckheaton A 3&2, Baildon B bt Bracken Ghyll A w/o, Keighley A bt Bingley St Ives one up, Baildon A bt Bracken Ghyll 4&3, Northcliffe B bt Cleckheaton B 1 up, West Bradford A bt South Bradford A w/o.

Second round (at Branshaw): Holllins Hall B bt Skipton A 5&3, Keighley B bt Baildon B 2&1, Keighley A bt Baildon A 20th hole, Northcliffe B bt West Bradford A 1 up.