WITH his 'hands-on' work ethic and 'empowering people' management style new course manager Steve Dun was welcomed warmly at Ross-on-Wye Golf Club recently.

Previous manager Robert Wilband stepped down having been associated with the Gorsley based club for more than 38 years.

Wilband leaves the course with considerable pride and satisfaction for while in his care the Ross course was independently recognised as 'No 1' in the Gloucestershire Golf Union's Top 100 Golf Courses rankings, a position they have impressively retained since league tables were introduced in 2012.

He leaves the course in good hands as Wilband has substantial experience having been in charge of two prestigious Cheshire courses at the Dunham Forest Golf and Country Club in Altrincham and The Mere Championship Golf Resort in Knutsford.

Wilband explained that both courses are tree-lined with heavy soil bases which suggests he is an ideal candidate to reproduce that knowledge and expertise in sustaining and enhancing the playing conditions at the Ross club.

A self-made man, Wilband's culture is one of course improvement in small chunks.

Among other things, the new course manager will advance the work the club has taken over the past few years in making the course available to golfers all year round through over £300,000 of investment in equipment, drainage and pathways, including drainage to all the greens.

This work, along with keeping the greens in use when frost is present, means that in the past two years the Ross-on-Wye Golf Club has been able to keep golfers on the course every day apart from when snow was on the ground.

On the course the latest winter competition for Ross Golf Club's men's seniors (60+) members was blessed with Spring-like playing conditions so there was no shortage of entrants for a 16 holes drawn pairs 4 Ball Bettter-Ball stableford event with 32 pairings taking part.

Club Treasurer Graham Jell and Andrew Petersen were able to find the ideal combination as their impressive 42 points score topped the final leader board following a closely fought tussle.

David M Rees and Andy Childs surprised themselves and their countless friends in finishing runners-up with 41 points followed by third place prize-winners Graham Weare and Richard Nightingale with 40 points.

While Tim Rigden and Fred Stott also amassed 40 points they just missed out on prizes through count-back.

Seniors Captain, Andy Baldwin presented the prizes after the lunch that followed and alerted members to the third winter competition on March 13, when a drawn Florida Scramble Team event will await them.