Welcome to night fifteen of our virtual 2020 Drax Golf Club Presentation Evening(s). 🎙
Yesterday we recognised the fantastic achievement's of Joshua Backhouse in the Barlow Cup. We also gave a detailed history of the competition and its origins.
Tonight we celebrate the winner of this years Dennis Banks Memorial Shield and take time to look back at Dennis' contribution to the Club. Dennis was a founder member of the club and worked at the power station on the ashplant. Dennis was apart of the team that brought over waste ash which helped to make the fairways and greens as they are today. Dennis sadly passed away from a heart attack which he had at work a few months before the course was officially opened but we're sure he would have hit a few balls to try out the set up which was an original 9-hole course which we then played twice.
Dennis was a keen golfer and enjoyed playing with fellow members as part of the Drax Golf Society and was joined by his son Dale as a guest. Dennis passed away in January 1990 and the Drax members at the time planted a flowering pear tree in his memory which was right of the first tee. Unfortunately, the tree was damaged a few years ago in bad weather and was removed but a new tree was planted towards the dogleg on the Par 5, 10th fairway.
Dennis' son Dale joined the club in 2005 and that was the first time he had seen the original tree and so in memory of Dennis, Dale and his two sisters, Dawn and Deanna, brother Dion and myself decided to donate a memorial shield to be played for every year to the club. Dale has come close a few times to winning the competition with a second and third over the years and would love to be able to win it in the future.
This year, the competition was toughly fort with 14 of the 52 players shooting under their handicaps! That's some good golf in our eyes. However, as always, there can only be one winner! This year, the competition was won by Sean Parker with an amazing 42 Points! 🏆
Congratulations Sean! We are sure there are plenty more to come. 👏
Congratulations Sean