Golf club keeping it in family

It is very much a case of keeping it in the family at Morecambe Golf Club where there has been a unique '˜double double' so far as the club officers are concerned.
Paul Halpin (Captain), Morgan Halpin (Junior Captain), Marjorie Pickles (Lady Captain) and Geoff Pickles (President).Paul Halpin (Captain), Morgan Halpin (Junior Captain), Marjorie Pickles (Lady Captain) and Geoff Pickles (President).
Paul Halpin (Captain), Morgan Halpin (Junior Captain), Marjorie Pickles (Lady Captain) and Geoff Pickles (President).

It began with the election of Majorie Pickles as the new Lady Captain where she joins husband Geoff Pickles, the club president.

Then Paul ‘Jockie’ Halpin was elected the new Club Captain following on from the election of his son Morgan as the Junior Captain.

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“It really is a unique situation’, said Geoff Pickles. “There has never ever been a husband and wife team holding such office at the same time, let alone a father and son”.

Marjorie added:“We both feel privileged to be members of this great golf club and being President and Lady Captain at the same time is a huge honour, particularly when the club is looking forward to exciting times with changes on the course and in the clubhouse. It’s a very friendly club so our roles are enjoyable and rewarding.”

Geoff and Marjorie moved from Nelson to Morecambe over 37 years ago and they have been members of Morecambe Golf Club for nearly 30 years.

Geoff was headteacher of a local school for children with special educational needs for more than 25 years and Marjorie was his secretary.

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Both are now retired and enjoy foreign travel as well as the challenge of golf, with modest aspirations for success on the course.

Paul Halpin has been a member of Morecambe Golf Club since 1978 and at one time harboured ambitions to become a full time professional working as an assistant to Morecambe’s then professional Donald Helme.

These days he plays off a handicap of six, one less than 17-year-old Morgan who, himself, works part time in the Morecambe Golf Club’s Professional’s Shop.

Like his father before him, Morgan hopes to become a teaching golf professional and when he leaves school in the summer is planning to seek his PGA teaching qualifications helped by the club professional Simon Fletcher.

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“He is a really promising young player”, said his proud father.

Paul Halpin added: “It really is a tremendous honour to be elected Morecambe’s captain and I am looking forward to the future with some relish. We have ambitious plans both on and off the course and I am very excited to be part of these.”

Paul got his year of office off to a start at the Captain’s Drive in where his drive off the first tee was watched by his three children and his wife, Jane, a founder and director of the children’s charity, Unique Kidz.

The next big event in the captain’s diary is his annual dinner where the guest speaker will be Manchester United legend, Alex Stepney.