Looking to an Alliance re-shuffle

Jan 12 2008 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THE Halifax, Huddersfield Alliance is in dire need of a “freshening up” in the words of president Jim Crompton – and if his hopes are realised a ground breaking professionals v amateurs match and an order of merit will be introduced.

A match between professionals and an amateur side is already provisionally earmarked to open next season’s programme in September.

“After I got back on the Alliance scene I started to think that something might be done to freshen things up a bit,” said Crompton, who returned to the area and moved in as part-time Marsden professional after a lengthy spell based at The Manor at Drighlington. “We have talked about various things and I came up with some ideas as I think the Alliance has been flagging a bit. I thought we might do something like the West Yorkshire Alliance in having a professional-amateurs match, also maybe a Christmas Texas Scramble, and I’d definitely like to see an order of merit created.”

If some form of sponsorship can be attracted for an order of merit – and he is hopeful on that front – Crompton feels it would encourage professionals to support more events.

There have been occasions, he said, when an event clashed with others and some of the younger members of the pro ranks went off to them instead of sticking with the Alliance.

“I’m just trying to get something extra and new into our fixture list but it’s all just talk at the moment,” said Crompton.

Everything comes down to money, however, and he appreciates the problems that could arise in getting professionals to turn out when there is no prizemoney to play for, which would likely be the case for a professional-amateurs match.

And without much income from such an event the cost of the use of a course, plus some professionals having to pay for the staffing of shops while they were away, could be stumbling blocks.

“Whether we would get enough professionals to play I just don’t know,” he said. However, the West Yorkshire professional-amateur match, played for the Sam Smiths Trophy, is always a popular pipe opener to their season, teams of 12 playing fourball and foursomes, though, of course, they have far more players from which to select.

Their Christmas Texas Scramble – it was postponed at Fixby last month due to bad weather – involves teams of four completing together.

After a shotgun start they dine together and it is always fully subscribed.