I love this club and I am very keen to keep steering Birstall golf club in the most positive way, I feel that the club has such a good and diverse membership that all integrate and enjoy our golf and social time together, long may this continue to thrive.

I would like to extend my thanks for our outgoing Captain Atul Patel and wish him all the best in his new role as past Captain, our visit to La Cala was an incredible trip and I wish to thank Atul and his team for a great year of 2022.

I would also like to express how pleased I am to welcome Jeff Smith as my Vice Captain, Jeff is a good friend, and I am sure that we will work very well together for the good of our members.

Sandra Clarke (Dutch) has very kindly offered her services of Lady Captain and will be joining our Captains Drive in on Sunday 5th March, it would be great to see many members attend this event and both Sandra and I look forward to welcoming you to our special day. I look forward to working alongside Sandra in 2023(or rather being told what to do by her)! I also look forward to being more involved with the ladies section during my Captains year.

I am very keen to watch and support our Scratch team (first team) and getting to know our elite golfers a little better, who knows maybe I will even pick up some golfing tips along the way, I know that the guys really enjoy support from the members, so if you can join us either home or away it would be greatly appreciated.

Let’s all look to a having great and successful 2023, we have lots to look forward to with some excellent new green staff that will continue to nurture and improve our golf course, we also have some exciting plans for a possible new club house that will futureproof our club for many years to come.

Finally, I look forward to seeing all our members both old and new and wish everyone a great 2023 golfing season.


Andy Crane,
Men’s Captain 2023

I have been a member of Birstall Golf Club since 1976, at that time my father Harry Cooke was a member of the Club. The Golf Club was his sanctuary away from 5 women in the house. He never the less taught me how to play and made me abide by the rules of which I still do to this day.

I am so honoured to be the Lady Captain of Birstall Golf Club for the second time, the first time was 28 years ago. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since then but I have made a vast amount of friends in different areas of this great sport, and have learnt a great deal.

My charity for the year is Motor Neurone Disease, a dreadful illness, I hope will be eradicated in a short time.

I am looking forward to having Andy by my side for the next year and his Vice Captain Jeff Smith. Congratulations to Sunil Patel as our next President and Mick Newton as his Vice.

Finally, I wish everyone of you a happy and successful 2023 in all you do.



Sandra Clarke,
Lady Captain 2023