Northern Golfer #90 April 2022

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CHAMPIONS OF CHAMPIONS Northern Golfer events, in partnership with Brewin Dolphin, heading to Longhirst Hall and George Washington in April and May

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EDITOR Dean Bailey 01661 844 115 dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Alan Hedley 07570 797 566 ahedley@northerngolfer.co.uk Simon Olver Chris Paisley Chris Simmons ADVERTISING MANAGERS Doug Brolls 07721 031 482 doug@offstonepublishing.co.uk Gillian Corney 07903 500 401 gillian@offstonepublishing.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson & Nicky Rogerson info@kgphotography.co.uk EVENTS Dean Bailey dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk

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Publisher: Gary Ramsay Address: Offstone Publishing Unit 5b. Bearl Farm, Stocksfield Northumberland, NE43 7AL Tel: 01661 844 115 E: enquiries@offstonepublishing.co.uk Twitter: @offstonepublish

If you needed a sign the golf season was upon us, look no further than this packed, 64-page edition of Northern Golfer.

Putting together the April edition of the magazine is always tremendous fun - the excitement for the start of the season brings with it great optimism at clubs right across the region. There are also the earliest events to report on - including Rachel Gourley’s win in the traditional English season opener, the Sunningdale Foursomes, and James Wilson’s win in the NE/NW PGA’s Turkey Pro Am. There are lots more positive news stories throughout Teeing Off - from course improvements at Seaton Carew and Alnmouth to the launch of new junior programmes, a look ahead to the Durham County Ladies Golf Association centenary celebrations, award nominations, and more.

This month we’ve also got the return of the Champion of Champions events to look forward to. They take place at Longhirst Hall on Saturday April 23 (men’s) and Bank Holiday Monday May 2 at George Washington (juniors and ladies). It was fascinating to look back at the history of the events this month - the recent winners of the three titles under the Northern Golfer name and the long history of the men’s event, which began in 1968. Speaking to some of the region’s greatest players - Doug McClelland, David Moffat and Shaun Philipson, and more recent winners including David Clark, Michael Nesbit and Phil Ridden - shone a light on the importance of the tournament and was a fantastic way to spend a couple of March afternoons.

So to was catching up with David Curry, Graeme Storm, Garrick Porteous, Michael Burrow and Sir Graham Wylie to discuss their memories of walking the fairways of Augusta National for our preview to this year’s Masters Tournament.

With more space in this edition, we’ve been able to tell more stories, including the fascinating tale of farmer turned greenkeeper Neil Forsyth.

We’ve also got columns from Chris Paisley, Chris Simmons and Simon Olver as well as details of this year’s Match Play Pairs. The entry deadline has been extended to April 29 - see page 53 for details.

A huge thank you to all the businesses and golf clubs that have supported this edition, and those in the past two years. Fingers crossed for an exciting and uninterrupted 2022 season.

Dean Bailey, editor editor@northerngolfer.co.uk

News from across the region including early season wins, junior developments, county golf, professional tournaments, and lots more

25 TOUR LIFE

With Chris Paisley

27 TOUR TIPS

With caddy Chris Simmons

29 ON COURSE

With greenkeeper Simon Olver

30 19TH HOLE

All the money in the world

36 MASTERS MEMORIES Looking ahead to The Masters with those who’ve walked the fairways of Augusta National

40 GOLFER PROFILE Allendale Golf Club’s Neil Forsyth

42 A ROUND WITH

Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs secretary Steve Slater

44 COURSE PROFILE Westerhope Golf Club

FRONT COVER

48 GEAR

Looking back at more than 50 years of the Champion of Champions tournaments

The latest equipment news

53 MATCH PLAY PAIRS Entry deadline extended

Pages 32-35

54 SPECIAL FOCUS

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04-21 TEEING OFF

We visit three of Yorkshire’s best courses

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58 TIPS

Going with the flow

60 COMPETITIONS

Win golf for four at Magdalene Fields, Bedlingtonshire, and Darlington golf clubs

Gold package golf club partners Seaton Carew Golf Club

62 FROM THE BUNKER Readers’ tales from around the region

NORTHERN GOLFER 03

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Rosie Belsham

Curtis Cup call up The R&A has announced an initial squad of 12 players who are in contention for selection for the Great Britain and Ireland team to play against the United States of America in the 42nd Curtis Cup match at Merion - including Whitley Bay’s Rosie Belsham.

The biennial encounter will be played June 10-12 with GB&I aiming to bounce back from their 12-8 loss to the USA at Conwy in 2021.

Elaine Ratcliffe, GB&I captain, said: “We have selected a group of very talented players for our Curtis Cup squad and we will be monitoring their form and results over the coming months as we look to select the strongest possible side to play at Merion.“ The top two GB&I players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking on April 21 will automatically gain selection with the six remaining players announced on April 26.

Rachel Gourley and Lottie Woad ©Kevin Diss

Rachel Gourley wins Sunningdale Foursomes

A

rcot Hall’s Rachel Gourley got her 2022 season off to a successful start - teaming up with Lottie Woad to win the Sunningdale Foursomes.

The 88th edition of the event brought together 128 pairs with Rachel and Lottie winning seven matches over five days. In the final, the England Girls internationals produced a dominant 6&5 win over professionals James Ruth and Paul Hendriksen.

“To win an event as big as the Sunningdale Foursomes to start the season is amazing,” said Rachel. “It’s good to know I can play good golf

right to the end of a very tiring week in some tough conditions.

“It was a lot of fun to partner Lottie. We were foursomes partners at under-16 level and it was good to be able to team up again. We play a lot of golf together - though she may be sick of me after staying with her family and playing so much golf.”

The only all-female pairing in this year’s tournament, Rachel and Lottie only needed to play the 18th hole once all week - winning their matches 6&5, 7&6, 3&1, 2up, 3&2, 2&1 and 6&5.

Past winners of the Sunningdale Foursomes include Dai Rees, Max Faulkner, Peter Alliss, Sir Michael

Bonallack, Peter Oosterhuis, Sam Torrance, Ronan Rafferty, Chubby Chandler, Luke Donald, Ross Fisher, and Charley Hull.

Meanwhile, Rachel will represent England in the Scottish Girls’ Open at Irvine and the French Under 21 Girls’ Championship alongside Close House’s Maggie Whitehead in April.

“There’s a lot to look forward to in my last year of junior golf,” added Rachel, who will begin her college golf career with Auburn University in Alabama in September. “I’ll be playing in a lot of events and representing England internationally too - there’s a lot of exciting tournaments to come.”

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04 NORTHERN GOLFER

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First college title for Jessica Hall

D

urham’s Jessica Hall won her first individual collegiate title at the Fresno State Classic at Belmont Country Club.

Jessica, who is in her senior year at California State University, Fresno, led the field with a third round of 70 and a six under-par total for the tournament.

“I felt pretty calm all day - just played exactly the same golf as I played yesterday and went out there and hit every shot the same,” Jess told Action News after holing the final putt in the third round with her parents in attendance.

“It’s her last year, so we hoped it might happen,” said her mum Carolynne. “It’s her birthday tomorrow, so it’s been a good time.

She’s been determined.”

“I said to her this morning, this is what she’s been working for for 15 years,” added her dad, Graham.

“The opportunity to win something.

You never know if you’ll be able to

Jessica Hall ©Fresno State Athletics do it. In golf, you hope to get into position to win but you never know if you’re good enough to get over the line when the pressure is on. It’s just fantastic for her to get over the line.”

Holding a two-shot lead on the par five 18th, Jessica had 200

yards into the green for her third shot. Her approach just cleared the right bunker, giving her two putts to win by one over Hawaii’s Momo Sugiyama.

As a team, the Fresno State Bulldogs finished third in the event.

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‘Cherish our history, embrace change’ NORTHERN GOLFER 05

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Wilson’s a winner again

James Wilson and Kieran Watson

Wilson and Watson win winter series James Wilson and his amateur partner Kieran Watson led the field in the final event of the NE/NW PGA’s Dunstanburgh Winter Pairs Pro Am Series.

The Tyneside-based pro topped the professionals’ leaderboard for a third time in the five event series as the duo topped the pairs order of merit - earning Kieran a £150 prize voucher.

T

yneside’s James Wilson continued his remarkable success since turning professional with victory in the North East & North West PGA’s Turkey Pro Am. James, who turned pro at the end of the 2021 season and earned a full card for this year’s EuroPro Tour, led the field of 24 professionals with a four-round total of 147 points (three under-par).

“It’s been amazing to get the ball rolling so quickly in my professional career,” said James. “There are a lot of good players on the NE/NW circuit and to be competitive and win events at this level is a great feeling.

“I wasn’t sure how turning pro would affect me, but it’s been a very positive experience. The pros have been incredibly welcoming, which has made a huge difference, and some success early on has helped build confidence.

“A huge amount of thanks must go to Kevin Batty and Steve Harrison

Wynyard Golf Club

l-r Kevin Batty, James Wilson and Steve Harrison for their work. It’s a long week for those guys with 96 people to take care of, but they made it look easy and put on a tremendous event.”

Meanwhile, Mark Ridley and Simon Robinson shared second place in the event as Matt Daley led

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his team to victory.

Next up for the NE/NW players is the Pro Series with four events in April - at Tyneside, Barnard Castle, Alnmouth and Penrith - followed by events at Bedlingtonshire and Castle Eden in May.

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Celebrating 100 years of women’s golf in Durham

T

he Durham Ladies County Golf Association will mark its centenary in 2022 with championships at its founding clubs and a Centenary Luncheon to finish off the celebrations in October.

Formed in 1922 by 14 member clubs, today the association administers women’s golf at 41 clubs with more than 1,600 members.

The 13 remaining founding clubs will host the association’s events in 2022 - starting with the Spring Meeting at Seaham on April 27. This year’s DCLGA Championship will take place at Seaton Carew May 27-29 while a new one-off event, the President’s Waltz, will be held at South Shields on June 13.

The year of celebrations will be rounded off with the Centenary Luncheon at Hardwick Hall Hotel,

l-r Durham’s county champion Shannon O’Dwyer, captain Chris Pascall, and president Diana Elsy where Jenny Lucas (nee Lee Smith) will be the guest speaker. Tickets are £27.50, email centenarylunch@ durhamladiesgolf.org.uk for more information and to book a place.

Diana Elsy, Durham Ladies County Golf Association president, said: “I hope 2022 will be an exciting year, filled with celebrations at

clubs all across our county. To have the opportunity to celebrate our centenary with our biggest events at our founding clubs will be fantastic, and we’ll mark each occasion with a one-off memento for the winners. On a personal note, the new President’s Waltz event at my home club, South Shields, will

be a highlight. Our luncheon will also be a tremendous occasion, when we hope to be joined by many of our past champions, captains, presidents, and those who’ve played in our teams and events, to celebrate women’s golf in Durham.”

For more information visit vwww.durhamladiesgolf.org.uk

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NORTHERN GOLFER 07

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Northumberland looking to build on 2021’s success

T

he Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs is looking to build on its success last season with a new management structure for the county’s men’s team and the appointment of a new president.

In 2021, the county celebrated phenomenal success with national titles for Phil Ridden and Andrew Minnikin, a third Big Six win in four events for the men’s team, and a first English Boys’ County Finals win.

Newcastle United’s Ian Harrison, who served as the county’s secretary for six years and has held a number of positions within golf in the region, was installed as president at the county AGM at Ponteland Golf Club.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to become president of the county,” said Ian. “I’ve done lots of different roles in county and league golf, and

l-r Andrew Minnikin, president Ian Harrison, Phil Ridden, and the Northumberland boys team I hope my two years as president will be a lot of fun. Our success last season was outstanding and we have some highly talented players in Northumberland right now. I’m looking forward to seeing what they achieve this year.”

Meanwhile, a new management structure for the county’s men’s team has been put in place. Graham

Forrest has taken on the role of captain, while Phil Ridden will serve as team manager with the assistance of Simon Coultas and Mark Laverick.

All four have been instrumental in transforming the boys system.

Graham said: “It’s a great honour to be asked to take on the role of captain. The success of our players in recent years is all down to their

hard work and commitment. Our role is to create a structure which identifies the best players and allows them to play their best golf. We have two reigning national champions and a national title-winning team of juniors right now and our winter sessions have gone well. It’s going to be an exciting season and we’re looking forward to getting started.”

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Stubbings and Maw team up at Seaton Carew

M

artyn Stubbings has joined Seaton Carew Golf Club as head professional, teaming up with fellow pro James Maw at the Teesside links.

Martyn - who joins Seaton from Barnard Castle following roles at Dinsdale Spa and Rockliffe Hall, succeeds Clifford Jackson - and has hit the ground running.

“It’s been an exciting start,” said Martyn, who has overseen a full refit of the club shop since his arrival. “Being offered the position at Seaton Carew was a great honour, particularly for a Teesside lad. The work that’s going on under Tom Coulson on the golf course is very

exciting and we have a lot to look forward to ahead of hosting the English Amateur Championships in 2024 as part of the club’s 150th anniversary.

“It was never my intention to leave Barnard Castle after less than two years, but this was simply too good an opportunity to turn down.

Cliffy leaves Seaton in a great place and I’m looking forward to building on what he’s created.

“James and I have some exciting plans with the new shop and the excellent studio setup.

Golf continues to evolve and the experience golfers are looking for will continue to change, so we need to keep learning and adapting. We’re

Martyn Stubbings building a talented and passionate team, and looking forward to delivering a modern professional service which fits the needs of the club and its members.”

Martyn will be joined at Seaton by

James Maw PGA professional James Maw. James moves from Rockliffe Hall and will combine his work at the club with teaching and playing the NE/NW PGA circuit - on which he won the PGA Championship last season.

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Craig takes top job at Pont

Emily Baxter

New blood for county committee The Durham County Ladies Golf Association has welcomed Rebecca Gibson, 27, and Emily Baxter, 21, to its executive committee.

Houghton-le-Spring member Emily currently represents Durham’s team and has a handicap of three.

Meanwhile, Rebecca is a three-time winner of the club championship at Blackwell Grange and has joined the executive committee as county junior organiser having represented Durham as both a player and captain.

A

fter more than 30 years’ service, Craig Kilgour has been appointed course manager at Ponteland Golf Club following the retirement of Paddy Hetherington.

Craig, 51, was a decorated player for Durham while playing out of Ravensworth and won the Champion of Champions in 1994.

Having joined the Ponteland team on a YTS placement in 1987, he went to Hexham as deputy head greenkeeper for two years before returning to Ponteland in 1998.

“Ponteland has been a huge part of my life, more than 30 years of it, so it’s a huge honour to take up the role of course manager,” said Craig.

“I’ve seen lots of change in the industry and on the golf course in my time. The biggest change on the course was undoubtedly our extensive programme of tree management. It transformed the golf course, allowing more light and air to reach our fine turf areas, and

Craig Kilgour we’ve seen big improvements to the quality of our playing surfaces. Our greens management has also moved on a great deal in the last decade and we’re very proud of the greens we are able to deliver.

“We’ve built a very good reputation under Paddy’s leadership and I want to continue to develop that. We’ve got a skilled and

passionate team, and there’s lots to look forward to including the Northern Counties Seniors’ Championship this July. Hosting events is fantastic, but we set the bar high for our members. That’s our main focus and I want to continue delivering a high quality golf course for everyone who visits Ponteland, no matter when they play.”

Castle Eden Golf Club 18 Hole picturesque parkland course

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Some of Houghton-le-Spring’s juniors in their club hoodies

Houghton-leSpring juniors set for exciting year

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T

he junior members of Houghton-le-Spring Golf Club are set for an exciting year as the club continues its drive to increase participation and enhance its offering to young players.

Since 2016, the club’s junior section has more than doubled to 40 members with a new fee structure in place offering free membership to all qualifying children until the age of 16.

Now led by junior liaison office Graeme Willis, the junior section has also got their own unique club kit, including hoodies and reusable stainless steel water bottles for the junior team - which is part of the club’s wider drive to reduce single use plastics on the course.

“It’s a really exciting time for junior golf at Houghton-le-Spring,” said Graeme. “The committee has been incredibly supportive of the junior section and have welcomed our ideas to support its development.

“We have four groups within our junior section - starting with the Wee Wonders, who play on our par three course using larger holes and going right up to our junior league players. This year we have our youngest ever junior captain, 12-year-old Jacob Willis, and we’re looking forward to lots of fun events throughout the year.”

The juniors have met regularly throughout the winter months, including a session at Caddyshack in Durham, and will have a series of 19 club competitions this summer. They will also be part of the club’s junior open in August and have the opportunity to play in the North East Junior Golf League.

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PGA date for Slaley Hall

S

laley Hall will host the 2022 PGA Professional Championship this summer, adding to the EuroPro Tour’s return to the Northumberland resort.

The Association’s premier event, the Professional Championship was first hosted in 1973. This year, 144 players will take part from June 14-17.

Access to the event can be earned via performances in eight qualifying competitions which take place between April and May across the UK and Ireland.

At Slaley Hall, professionals will compete for an £80,000 prize fund and the chance to earn a place in the Great Britain and Ireland team for the PGA Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event for club professionals, which is set to take place in September.

Chris Joyce, interim head of tournaments at The PGA, said: “The PGA is delighted to be taking its flagship tournament to Slaley Hall

The Penrith Golf Hub team

Success story

in June for the 49th staging of the PGA Professional Championship.

The Hunting Course is one of the most testing courses in Great Britain and will provide a stern challenge for the 144-strong field.

This year’s tournament carries even

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more significance with six places up for grabs for the GB&I PGA Cup team to face America at Foxhills Club & Resort in September. With the support of the team at Slaley Hall, we look forward to another successful staging of this event.”

Despite two years of unprecedented challenge, Penrith Golf Hub has celebrated extraordinary growth since launching in December 2019.

Lee Edwards, Andrew Pickering and John Ingham purchased Penrith Driving Range in December 2019 and have transformed the facility with investment in industryleading technology.

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NORTHERN GOLFER 13

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Members of the academy with Steve McClaren

Open dates 2022: • Seniors Team – Tuesday 21st June

• Ladies Team – Thursday 25th August

• Seniors Pairs – Tuesday 6th September

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Juniors join McClaren Academy

T

en juniors from across the North East have been selected to join the newly formed Steve McClaren Golf Academy under-12 squad.

The players - Amelia Temperly, Mary McNamara, Charlie Hancill, Oscar O’Connor, George King, Evan Oliver, Finley Hall, Lewis O’Rourke, Thomas Suggit and Evie Goodman - will join the academy system led by Close House-based PGA professional Simon Robinson, strength and conditioning coach Stuart Parnaby, and sports psychologist Josh McClaren.

The players were selected following evaluation sessions at Close House, which included skills challenges and discussions with the academy’s coaches.

Simon said: “The evaluation day was incredibly rewarding and we’re confident we’ve identified 10 players with the right attitude to be part of the academy.

“The programme is a big commitment as we’re aiming to prepare players to become elite golfers through working with Stuart, Josh and I on a regular basis as well as doing their own practise. The passion of all the players selected really shone through on the evaluation day and we’re looking forward to working with them in the months ahead, and hopefully seeing them progress into the full academy squad.”

The academy was launched in 2020 by former England, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren and is run by PGA professional Simon Robinson, a former tour player turned elite-level coach to DP World Tour players; Stuart Parnaby, who works with top golfers including PGA Tour member Callum Tarren; and Josh McClaren, who has worked with a number of leading sportspeople including Women’s Super League players.

The full academy squad features Toby Mitford, Tom Hartshorne, Millie Hixon, Ben Mawson and Callum Brown. Their list of achievements in the first two years of the system includes a Durham junior championship, an 11-year-old reaching a two handicap, and a growing list of national and international honours.

Lough Erne to host EuroPro Tour finale The EuroPro’s Tour Championship will take place at Northern Ireland’s Lough Erne Golf Resort to close the 2022 season.

Following the conclusion of the season-ending event, which will be played October 19-21, five 14 NORTHERN GOLFER

PGA EuroPro Tour members will earn Challenge Tour cards for the 2023 season.

The tournament will take place over the Faldo Course at Lough Erne, designed by the six-time major championship winner and Ryder Cup legend Sir Nick Faldo.

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Go ahead for Whitburn

W

hitburn Golf Club’s members have given their backing to an ambitious fouryear course improvement plan put together by golf course architect Jonathan Gaunt.

The plans have been well received and more than £50,000 has already been earmarked for work in the coming year, with the club also in talks to purchase land to extend the third and seventh holes.

Jonathan visited the course, met with club officials, and created a detailed hole by hole plan along with estimated costs. Among the changes are new tees for the third, sixth and seventh holes, while a change of playing order for holes 15-18 will create a truly spectacular par three 16th played from a cliff top tee.

The plan aims to extend the course from 5,877 yards to around 6,040 yards - approximately the same length as it played in 1992.

The project will also include

Faldo Series returns

Whitburn’s 15th green viewed from the 18th tee with Marsden Bay beyond improvements to tee boxes and bunkering on most holes.

Construction has already started on a new path behind the current

17th green while work on the short 14th hole and a realigning of the 18th fairway for safety reasons are also ongoing.

Following the success of hosting its first Faldo Series event, some of the UK’s best junior golfers will return to Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course this summer.

The event will return to the Northumberland links August 9-11 with entries now open on the Faldo Series website.

The 2021 event was won

by Morgan Blythe, with Faye Wheatley also qualifying for the series’ grand final - which she went on to win.

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GOLF BREAKS

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We do all the booking, you relax and enjoy!

Email: bookings@alnmouthgolfclub.com Call: 01665 830231 Visit: www.alnmouthgolfclub.com 16 NORTHERN GOLFER

Flying the flag

B

lackwell Grange-based PGA professional Aaron Cox will represent the North East at this year’s England Golf Awards after securing a nomination in the Participation and Development Coach of the Year category.

Aaron - the only individual from the region nominated for this year’s awards - was instrumental in the creation of the six-hole junior course at Blackwell Grange. Establishing the course has allowed him to work with local schools and introduce junior tournament play. Since joining the club in January 2019, the junior section has grown from 12 to 120 while an innovative Aced Academy for the most talented juniors has introduced coaching, physio and fitness profiles via a digital app.

“I was chuffed to get the nomination and to make it onto the shortlist of four is brilliant,” said Aaron. “It’s been three years of hard work and there’s a lot more to do in the years ahead. To be acknowledged at this point in the process is awesome.

“Being nominated for a national award is a little surreal and I’m looking forward to the awards ceremony. Looking further ahead, I want to continue growing the programme and golf participation among young people.

“Some will continue along the process into the Aced Academy and elite competition while others will go on to enjoy the sport as a hobby and I hope all the kids enjoy playing golf for a long time.”

Meanwhile, the England Women’s Team - which featured Whitley Bay’s Rosie Belsham - has been nominated for Performance of the Year. Yorkshire’s Headingley and Malton & Norton golf clubs have been nominated for Tournament Venue of the Year.

This year’s virtual ceremony - hosted by broadcaster, journalist and avid golfer Naga Munchetty - will take place on Wednesday April 20 from 6.30pm on England Golf ’s YouTube channel.

Nominations were invited from the public for 10 of the 11 categories with Performance of the Year candidates nominated by England Golf staff.

Inkeeping with tradition, there is no shortlist for the Lifetime Service Award, which will be presented on the night.

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Seaton Carew restoration reaches major milestone

W

ork on restoring the golf course at Seaton Carew has continued in recent months as the club continues preparations to celebrate its 150th birthday in 2024.

Under the course management of Tom Coulson, who joined Seaton in May 2020, the links course had already undergone several changes, including multiple bunker renovations. Over the last few months, some 3.1 hectares of sea buckthorn have been removed, returning the course to one bordered by sand dunes rather dense shrubs.

“The removal of the sea buckthorn has made a big impact,” said Tom. “Retuning the sand dunes to their original aesthetic will make a big difference to the look of the golf course, returning

it to an authentic links, as was envisioned nearly 150 years ago. The course already feels more expansive and will only improve as the sand dunes regenerate and fill in those areas where the sea buckthorn had taken over.”

As well as clearing the sea buckthorn, Tom and his team have created five new fairway bunkers

on the seventh and eighth holes, tweaked the greenside bunkers on the seventh, and reinstated bunkers at the back of the seventh and eighth greens to enhance the challenge to specific pin positions.

A large bunker finished with a combination of sleepers, dune rough and revetting has also been created between the seventh and ninth

greens by combining two smaller traps, while another bunker has also been reinstated on the ninth green.

“We have ambitious plans for the golf course and we’re enjoying the process of working through the projects,” added Tom. “We’ve stretched ourselves as a small team and going forward we’ll be working alongside contractors on the biggest projects to maximise what we can achieve during the winter months.

We have more works planned for next winter and the process of improving the underlying agronomy on the greens to provide faster and, importantly, firmer surfaces is ongoing. In the short-term, our focus is now very much on preparing for the 2022 season and ensuring the course is at its very best for our members this summer.”

The programme of course developments will culminate with Seaton Carew hosting the English Amateur Championships in 2024, partnering with neighbouring Hartlepool Golf Club to host the opening rounds of the men’s and women’s championships, with the final rounds played at Seaton.

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FULL 7 DAY: Juniors 14-17 £65 • 18-25 yrs £240 • 26-64 yrs £500 • 65+ £480 Affiliation fee of £20 Gents & £25 Ladies not included Couples, Families, Student, Midweek available

For further details on all the above Telephone Golf Admin on 0191 2684247

Visitors welcome - Book through BRS via www.backworthgolf.co.uk Golf enquires please email:golf@backworthhall.co.uk The Hall, Backworth, NE27 0AH

THE LATEST GOLF NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Weekly - every Friday morning

Every Friday morning, we round up the latest golf news from across the region in Northern Golfer Weekly, plus bring you updates from the magazine and the chance to win fantastic prizes in our competitions

TO BE PART OF THE CLUB, HEAD OVER TO LINKTR.EE/NEGOLFER www.northerngolfer.co.uk

18 NORTHERN GOLFER

Allendale Golf Club

Returning to the wild

F

ollowing the success of his first book, Golf in the Wild, Northumberlandbased author Robin Down has published a sequel to his golf travelogue.

Following on from the first book, which took you on the journey from Robin’s home club Allendale to the far north of Scotland, Golf in the Wild – Going Home heads back to Allendale by a different route, heading east along Scotland’s remote northern shores, traversing the Flow Country, the Black Isle, the Moray Coast and the Scottish Heartlands and Borders.

Robin, treasurer of Allendale Golf Club for 20 years, said: “It was a journey I felt compelled to take - there would have been a strong sense of a job left undone if I had not gone home.”

Just as in the first book, Golf in the Wild - Going Home is about much more than lesser-visited golf courses, many of them with just nine holes and an honesty box. It is part local history, part memoir and part travelogue.

In its conclusion, it is also a work of the imagination. The story does not return to the Allendale course at High Studdon. Instead, an imaginary rail journey on the long-closed Border Counties Railway takes the reader from Riccarton to Hexham and along the Hexham and Allendale Railway, which closed to passengers in 1930. Its final destination is the old nine-hole Allendale course at Thornley Gate, which closed in 1992.

“I walked the course with a member who remembers it well - especially his hole-in-one at the eighth,” added Robin. “There is still evidence of greens and tees – a relatively short course, it would have been a real test with narrow fairways, electrified fencing around the greens and extra-lush semi rough, regularly fertilised by the cattle which were free to roam.

“The journey feels complete now and I hope people will visit the clubs on the route as they have after reading the first one. I’ve made many friends through the book, travelled to open competitions along the route, and established the Golf in the Wild Seniors Open at Allendale [the seventh edition is schedule for September 15].

“There may be another journey in the future, though we’ll have to see.”

Golf in the Wild - Going Home is available direct from the author at golfinthewild.org.uk/purchase, from Forum Books in Corbridge, and from Amazon.

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Bellingham Golf Club Boggle Hole Bellingham NE48 2DT admin@bellinghamgolfclub.com

Renovations continue at Alnmouth

W

ork to enhance the challenge presented by the golf course at Alnmouth Golf Club continued this winter, with the focus on the bunkering of the ninth and 12th holes.

Following the detailed master plan created by architect Howard Swan of Swan Golf Design and inkeeping with the original work on the golf course’s layout by Harry Colt, the bunkering on the ninth hole has been fully renovated and reshaped in the Colt style.

The 12th hole has also been fully rebunkered, while a new runoff area has been created in the back right of the green, increasing the challenge presented by back pin positions.

Minor changes to holes seven and 16 have seen run off areas tweaked to ensure they present the intended challenge to golfers and can be maintained to the correct level.

When complete, the programme will see an overall reduction in the number of bunkers on the course by around 40%, with every bunker that remains being renovated and returned to, or reshaped in, the Colt style.

Alnmouth general manager Daniel Harrison said: “The work carried out this winter by our team along with Swan Golf Design has gone very well and we’re looking forward to seeing the new bunkers in action. Aesthetically, the bunkers are much more inkeeping with the Colt style with their small revetted faces and fescue-strewn top edges, and we’re very happy with how the programme is progressing.”

Meanwhile, the club is also working with Tim Griffiths of LS Systems on a substantial upgrade its irrigation system.

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Seaton Carew Golf Club…

like you’ve never seen it before

For the best part of a century the true view of Seaton Carew’s renowned links has been hidden.

Following the removal of three hectares of sea buckthorn, the real nature of this wonderful and historic course has now been revealed.

Come and see for yourself.

Seaton Carew is the tenth oldest golf course in the country and is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2024 by hosting the English Amateur Championship.

It was recently included inside the best 50 in National Club Golfer’s Top 100 courses in England.

SEATON CAREW GOLF CLUB TEES ROAD, HARTLEPOOL, TS25 1DE WEB:

www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk

EMAIL:

secretary@seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk

Follow Seaton Carew GC on

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Opens 2022 Friday May 20th - Gents - 4BBB Stableford - £24 pair Saturday June 18th - Gents - 4BBB Stableford - £24 pair Thursday July 28th - Seniors 60+ - 4BBB Stableford - £24 pair Monday September 20th - Ladies Waltz - £27 team of 3 Friday September 30th - Gents - 4BBB Stableford - £24 pair Telephone the Secretary on 0191 2867636 (opt 3) or email secretary@westerhopegolfclub.com Sunday Lunch Bookings Welcome Telephone Shaun Mussett on 0191 2867636 (opt 5)

WESTERHOPE GOLF CLUB Whorlton Grange, Westerhope, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE5 1PP www.westerhopegolfclub.com

Visitor Packages (Parties of 6 or more) For more information telephone 01289 306130 or email secretary.m.f.g.c@hotmail.co.uk

PIER FIELD • Coffee/Tea and Bacon Rolls on arrival • 18 holes of Golf

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Prudhoe launches new junior programme

TOWN HALL • Coffee/Tea and Bacon Rolls on arrival • 18 holes of Golf • Two Course Meal

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MAGDALENE FIELDS GOLF CLUB Berwick upon Tweed TD15 1NE

www.magdalene-fields.co.uk

Andrew Scrimshaw

P

rudhoe Golf Club has launched a new junior golf development programme as it looks to build on its track record of producing elite-level golfers.

The programme includes a free membership incentive for new juniors under the age of 18 who are relatives of Prudhoe members, and free monthly group coaching. Juniors will also be able to take part in club events throughout the season and represent the junior team in league games. They will also receive a Prudhoe Golf Club Junior hoodie.

The new programme will be led by Prudhoe’s director of golf, Andrew Scrimshaw. Having started his own golfing career at Prudhoe, PGA professional Andrew has competed in tournaments around the world and is a regular winner on the NE/NW PGA circuit.

“I’m really looking forward to developing the junior programme at Prudhoe,” said Andrew. “I came through the ranks at Prudhoe and the club has one of the best track records in the region for producing county and England players.

“I came back to Prudhoe to help the club grow and creating a thriving junior section is going to be a big part of the club’s long-term future. We’ve got great support from the committee on the membership structure, our coaching programme is now in place, and I’m excited to see how the programme develops in the coming months.”

For more information on the junior programme, which is open to juniors of all ages and ability levels, contact andy.scrimshaw@prudhoegolfclub.co.uk or tel 01661 832466 (ext 2).

NORTHERN GOLFER 21

SPECIALFOCUS

The sustainable partnership reshaping the pathways at Whitley Bay Golf Club Pathways. The thorn in the side of many a course manager. Too wet in the winter, too dusty in the summer. Time consuming for the greenkeepers and budget-sapping for management. With the pressure to keep standards high and the desire from clubs to rethink old habits, Whitley Bay Golf Club is literally paving the way for a new approach to developing and maintaining its pathway infrastructure.

When a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the fifth tee was condemned, the club was left with no option but to use an old track that dropped steeply into a beck before rising sharply on the other side. With members concerned about the safety of the track underfoot, the club was approached by specialist surfacing company PMP Europe and presented with the option of using the supplier’s Flexipave system - a bonded 50/50 mix of rubber and stone aggregate, which is completely porous. The system allows water to freely drain through it, with the rubber content of the finished surface providing exceptional grip underfoot.

Paving the way forward The installation of 260m2 of the product in November 2021 by PMP Europe’s own team lead to immediate praise from members, and an instant desire from Whitley

22 NORTHERN GOLFER

Bay to resurface other course pathways using the material.

Working closely with Course Manager Martin Woods and General Manager Layla Levy, PMP Europe proposed a partnership scheme that would involve training the greenkeeping team at Whitley Bay to mix and install the Flexipave product themselves.

“We were instantly attracted to the scheme”, said Martin.

“By training our own team how to mix and install Flexipave, we are now able to undertake our own resurfacing works and factor it into our winter work schedule. We simply order the raw materials from PMP Europe, without having to wait for them to arrange their own installation team.”

On completion of the training in February 2022, Whitley Bay Golf Club became the inaugural member

of the PMP Europe Golf Club Partnership Scheme.

Officially launched at BTME in Harrogate, the scheme is now open to golf clubs across the UK and has already seen three more clubs added to the roster.

Kevin Sellwood, the regional manager for PMP Europe responsible for driving the Whitley Bay partnership, said: “Having met the team at Whitley Bay, it was obvious they had the skillset required to install our Flexipave system.

By utilising their staff during the quieter periods - and avoiding installation costs the scheme will reduce the remedial costs associated with the old whin dust paths.

The old paths also caused issues with machinery, with the dust getting into engine air filters, so there are further cost savings in creating better quality paths.”

“We only see the partnership with PMP Europe getting stronger and we are delighted to be ambassadors for their Golf Club Partnership Scheme”

SPECIALFOCUS

Before installation

After installation

Practical benefits & long-term sustainability Another major benefit of the Flexipave system is the minimal ground preparation required.

The system can be installed directly on to a compacted stone base - already in situ on many courses. It is also tree-friendly, allowing water and air to penetrate to roots while allowing them to develop without cracking the surface.

The sustainability of Flexipave also played a major part in the development of the relationship, as explained by Layla.

“The rubber in the Flexipave surface comes from recycling vehicle tyres with every square metre using three old tyres. To date, if all the tyres we’ve used had been incinerated, they would have produced around 18,000kg of CO2.

We have made long-term commitments to sustainability and using this material will play a huge role in achieving our targets.”

The club’s commitment to sustainability has seen it become part of the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, an international not-for-profit founded 16 years ago to help inspire, support and reward credible sustainability action and and promote golf’s social and environmental value. The recycled element of Flexipave, along with its ability to allow water to recharge back into the ground, makes it compliant with the driving ethos behind the GEO Foundation.

By 2026 the club has an ambition to complete its entire 4,000m2 pathway network, which will utilise over 10,000 recycled tyres.

Layla added: “We are delighted with the Flexipave initially installed by PMP Europe.

The additional paths installed by our own greenkeepers have also been warmly received by club members. Our greenkeepers are delighted to have another string to their bow.

They are also able to carry out the work at short notice with materials in their store. We only see the partnership with PMP Europe getting stronger and we are delighted to be ambassadors for their Golf Club Partnership Scheme”.

The PMP Europe Golf Club Partnership Scheme is now open to all golf clubs in the UK. For further information about the Flexipave surface and the partnership scheme, contact PMP Europe on 01226 447292 or email golf@pmpeurope.co.uk NORTHERN GOLFER 23

The course is in really good condition and we are looking forward to the start of the season, Membership is available (Full £750 April – March 2023 and 5 Day Mon-Fri Membership £620 April – March 2023)

Sunday Lunch Special

Trackman 4 Trackman 4 is used by Tour Professionals on all world wide tours. We are wanting to bring you the same in-depth information enabling you to enjoy your coaching experience and improve your golf game. Trackman 4 will provide accurate in-depth information and videos ranging from full swing and most important putting. This information will be sent to you to revisit and provide you with the ability to continue to practice with a purpose. Please feel free to contact Darlington Golf club professional shop for coaching session and package prices.

2022 Open Events at Darlington GC MAYOR OF DARLINGTON’S CHARITY GOLF DAY Date - Sunday 3rd April 2022 Format Pairs Better-Ball Stableford open to ladies, gents and junior players with a handicap Competition Entry Members £5.00pp | Visitors £12.50pp Tee Times 8 – 2pm THE SPRING 4 PLAYER TEAM TEXAS SCRAMBLE Sunday 24th April 2022 Format Texas Scramble £40 per team of 4 (£10 per player) Tee Times 8am – 12 Noon The Royal Waltz Friday 3rd June 2022 The competition is for teams of 4 players and open to gents, ladies and juniors with a club handicap Format is a Stableford Waltzer which is the best 2 scores, best 3 scores then all 4 scores and stays in this cycle 2.3.4 2.3.4 ect.. £20.00 per team of 4 Members (£5pp) £50 per team of 4 Visitors (£12.50pp)

THE AUTUMN 4 PLAYER TEAM TEXAS SCRAMBLE Sunday 25th September 2022 Format Texas Scramble £40 per team of 4 (£10 per player) Tee Times 8am – 12 Noon SENIORS OPEN (GENTS OVER 55) Thursday 11th August 2022 Format Better-Ball Stableford, Tee Times 8 – 1pm £25 per pair LADIES TEAM OPEN (LADIES) Thursday 1st September 2022 Tee Times 9am – 2pm, Format American Texas Scramble TEAM OPEN £40 per team of 4

Bank Holiday Monday Shootouts! 2022 18TH APRIL EASTER MONDAY 2022 SHOOTOUT! (MIXED) Tee Times 8 – 2pm | £10 Per Pair Members | £25 Per Pair Visitors 2ND MAY PAIRS SHOOTOUT! 2020 (MIXED) Tee Times 8 – 2pm | £10 Per Pair Members | £25 Per Pair Visitors 29TH AUGUST SUMMER SHOOTOUT! 2020 (MIXED) Tee Times 8 – 2pm | £10 Per Pair Members | £25 Per Pair Visitors

The Darlington Golf Club (Members) Ltd | Haughton Grange, Darlington, Co. Durham. DL1 3JD t: 01325 355324 | e: office@darlington-gc.co.uk

TOURLIFE

Chris Paisley

Getting back on track Chris Paisley on searching for form and finding light at the end of the tunnel

T

hings are not exactly going to plan on the golf course at the moment.

As I write, I have just missed my second cut in a row in South Africa. I did make the cut in Kenya, but had a poor weekend and finished towards the bottom of the leaderboard.

This has probably been the longest period of poor form of my career so far. In golf, confidence is everything and after an extended run of poor form, my confidence has taken a hit.

I have had some relatively low moments, where I have doubted myself, over the past 12 months. When you are putting everything into something and not seeing any real progress, it can be demoralising. Fortunately, I have the benefit of a lot of experience. It’s not just personal experience either, I have watched other golfers go through the highs and lows and I know it is all part of the journey.

You have to be proactive to get yourself out of the lows, but you also need a tremendous amount of perspective and patience - two things that this run of form has forced me to learn.

I do finally feel that I am on an upward trend. I have been doing some work with a new coach, Jamie Gough, and it is going even better than I hoped. I have improved my swing massively in a short space of time. Jamie works with a handful of other tour players and travels to every single event. Having him keeping a constant eye on me at events seems to be working really well. I’m hitting it better on the range, in practice rounds, and in most of my tournament rounds.

I’m happy with where I am physically and mentally, and I’m just patiently

waiting for the low scores to come in. For the first time in a long time, I am certain they are coming.

I have one more event left in this fourweek run, the Qatar Masters. I have some fond memories of the event, including a hole-in-one on the 17th in 2016. If it is the week that things click, fantastic, if not, I’ll keep plugging away to dig myself out of this slump.

I am sure I have said this a few times in my column, but you are never as good, or bad, as you think. One thing I do know is that I am on my way back to better form and I believe this period will have made me stronger as a person and golfer.

© Getty Images NORTHERN GOLFER 25

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THE LATEST GOLF NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Every Friday morning, we round up the latest golf news from across the region in Northern Golfer Weekly, plus bring you updates from the magazine and the chance to win fantastic prizes in our competitions.

TO BE PART OF THE CLUB, HEAD OVER TO LINKTR.EE/NEGOLFER

Weekly - every Friday morning

26 NORTHERN GOLFER

www.northerngolfer.co.uk

TOURTIPS

Chris Simmons

What’s in the bag?

DP World Tour caddy Chris Simmons gives an insight into the equipment used by the best players in the world

T

he clubs we carry week-in and week-out on the tour are the most important part of our players’ setup. Each is customised to their needs - from overall weight, swing weight and shaft flex to the grinds on the soles of the wedges and irons.

While some players use the latest exotic shafts, others have a special supply of older shafts no longer in production and carried by the tour vans for their clubs only. In my experience with Matt Jordan, I know his clubs are the same as what you or I could purchase, there’s nothing special about them other than the high tolerance tests they’re subjected to.

When it comes to equipment, there is one standout difference between tour players and amateurs - tour players don’t change their swings to suit clubs. These guys know their swings and know what the club should be doing, so it’s always down to the fitter to get it working correctly.

The tour players have access to as much equipment as they want and changing out clubs for new ones is down to personal preference. Generally, wedges will last three to four months and irons will be changed least often. Driver changes are swayed by the manufacturers. In my experience, 75% of the guys are testing new products as soon as they’re available, roughly 15% will take some more time, and 10% won’t even look at it during the core season. They will all always use the newest headcover though.

When it comes to choosing 14 clubs for a tournament, some players like to tinker and others don’t. These decisions are based on the course, specific shots required and conditions. Matt travels with 16 clubs in his bag, always having a spare driver and the option of a two-iron or Callaway’s Utility Wood, which fits the gap between his irons and three-wood well in the right conditions.

Some guys travel with a lot more and it’s really important we put the bag away on

Wednesday night with 14 clubs in it and those extra ones don’t go near it again.

The most important thing on equipment for every player, and something every amateur should be doing too, is to test every club in your bag and know their specs. That starts with knowing your lofts and lies, and checking them regularly - we check ours every couple of months on tour.

Club golfers can also access the same launch monitors we do to test equipment and it’s really important when you’re shelling out £500 on a new driver. Take the time to talk to your pro or club fitter, try out the kit and feel confident you’ve got the right setup, backed up by data, before making a change.

Having confidence that your clubs are fit correctly can make a huge difference to your scores and it’s something we can all do the same as the best players in the world.

NORTHERN GOLFER 27

GEORGE WASHINGTON

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ONCOURSE

Simon Olver

Making the most of your course Simon Olver, course manager at Ganton Golf Club, on maximising each golf course’s natural characteristics and taking a more holistic approach to greenkeeping

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ach golf course is a unique environment - a delicate balance between golfing challenge; visually inspiring design; natural landscape; and complex networks of flora, fauna and habitats for animals large and small. Greenkeeping teams must ensure this balance doesn’t sway too far in any one direction while making sure their golf course remains true to what makes it unique.

The number one aim of any golf course is to be playable for golfers. At Ganton, we must balance playability between our membership and elite-level championships.

This means having options in our setup from a wide selection of tee positions to being able to make short-term adjustments.

Any change we make has far-reaching impacts. For example, introducing longer carries from each par five tee box presents benefits and challenges. Environmentally, the change is a positive one as the area requires less mowing. However, the golf course would be less playable for many golfers. In this example, we must balance sustainability and playability.

You must also think about aesthetic heritage - is the change you want to make inkeeping with the overall vision of the original architect? This is particularly important when changing bunkers and green complexes on older courses.

Ensuring you make the most of your course is individual to each site. There has been a great deal of work done across the UK in recent years to remove non-native trees from courses and while invasive, this is important to maintain the character of many courses. Look at old photographs and drawings, and analyse what is important to your golf course, what is historic, and where nature has begun to reclaim the land.

Making the most of your natural resources is also important. At Ganton, we are blessed with a very sandy site and can make use of that in a number of ways. Work to make all of our pathways sand-based has improved the overall aesthetic of the golf course while a major project to clear an overgrown area on the 18th hole and remove gorse bushes has revealed a uniquely Ganton feature (pictured below).

Understanding what makes your golf course unique is vital education for greenkeepers and members. While revetted bunkering looks fantastic, it is not inkeeping with many architectural styles. Meanwhile, huge bunkers present great golfing challenge but are incredibly time consuming to maintain. Understanding your club’s unique history, position and budget should inform every choice you make - from changes to the features of the golf course down to your signage and pin flag designs.

Working in a more holistic way across your whole site will also become more important as the world becomes more environmentally conscious; legislation restricts the use of pesticides and chemicals; the cost of maintaining courses increases; and access to mains water changes.

We’ll undoubtedly see more clubs turning to conservation greenkeeping and being far more sustainable. There is a great deal of support available from BIGGA and GEO on areas such as reducing environmental impact and water management, and clubs should seek this out sooner rather than later.

NORTHERN GOLFER 29

19THHOLE

Dean Bailey

All the money in the world Does the PGA Tour really think bigger pay packets make golf more exciting?

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hat do you watch on a Sunday night? Do you always have the golf on, or do you - like me prefer Peaky Blinders?

There seems to be a lot of people in my boat judging by the feedback golf coverage receives on Twitter.

So, what is the PGA Tour doing to entice us, the golfers they rely on for their broadcast rights deals, to tune in every week?

Investing in the TV product? Creating stories and drama we can follow? Broadcasting an innovative and exciting spectacle?

Visiting golf courses which are fascinating? Telling us how great it is that the second placed player at The Players earned the sixth biggest cheque in tour history - that’s the one.

While the money is astronomical, Cameron Smith earned $3.6m dollars with his win at The Players, it doesn’t excite me.

Sure, it’s cool, but it didn’t make me watch the final round.

Seeing the best players in the world tackle the par three 17th at TPC Sawgrass in the wind did get my attention. So does watching golf on interesting courses or ones with great history - the majors and events at Riviera and Pebble Beach are good examples. The money on offer doesn’t matter to me - I’d rather watch great golf on a spectacular course with nothing at stake.

© Shutterstock/Isogood_patrick 30 NORTHERN GOLFER

Star power is a huge part of the equation too. That’s why we watch the majors, when we know we’ll see the best players.

So what can the PGA Tour do to make me watch its tournaments week-in and week-out?

The new Netflix series, being produced by the team behind the sensational F1 series Drive to Survive, will surely create more star power. Giving storytellers the space to delve into the people in golf, rather than just their swings and shots, will surely give us characters to follow. Just watch Drive to Survive I bet you’ll soon have a favourite driver and team principal.

Letting drama and tension between the players play out would help too. Build it up and pair them together. The PGA Tour needs to do more to show us why we should care about the guy in 12th place beating the one in 13th.

Their effort with the Korn Ferry Tour-based series One Shot Away on YouTube - which starred Darlington’s Callum Tarren was a good start. More of that kind of storytelling please.

Sports thrive on drama, the dynamics between competitors, and the stories that can then be told. That’s what carries a viewer through a long season. I hope to see some more of it in the near future, and to be inspired to watch more golf on TV.

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

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CHAMPIONOFCHAMPIONS

Champions of Champions As we continue to build up to the return of the Champion of Champions events this April and May, Dean Bailey charts the event’s history and speaks to some of the past champions

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head of this year’s Champion of Champions events, we’ve looked back through the history of the tournaments - journeying all the way back to the inaugural men’s event in 1968.

The first Champion of Champions, hosted by City of Newcastle, was won by Doug McClelland. The South Shields-based player, who went on to have a decorated professional career on the European Tour, remembers the buzz the tournament’s launch generated.

“The event was truly ground-breaking as it brought together a limited field from right across the North East,” said Doug. “It grew very quickly into the most important amateur event in the region.

“My win in 1968 - beating Robert Webster in a playoff - was one of my last as an amateur before I turned pro in 1969, shortly after defending the title at Tyneside.

Beating the best players from across the region was a huge achievement and I’m very proud to have it on my golfing CV.” A pair of victories for Whitley Bay’s Gordon Clark - Amateur Championship winner in 1964 and a Walker Cup player - followed, separated in 1970 by a victory for South Moor’s Roy Clark. In 1972, City of Newcastle’s David Moffat lifted the trophy at Arcot Hall. An England international, David recalls the competitiveness between players from Northumberland and Durham at the tournament.

“It’s 50 years ago now, but I still remember the day - a blustery one at Arcot Hall,” said David. “I played with Harry Ashby, shot rounds of 73 and 66, and beat Harry to the title.

“Winning an event like the Champion of Champions was a tremendous honour

because of the quality of the field. There were some hellishly good players in the 1960s and 1970s in the North East, as there are today, and the Champion of Champions has been won by some of the true greats over the years.”

In the 1970s, titles also went to players including David George (Whickham), Jack Ord (South Moor), Jackie Angus (Warkworth), Jimmy Hayes (Gosforth) - who would win again in 1984 - as well as Jimmy Thomas (Ravensworth) and Alnmouth’s Peter Deeble - the first back-toback winner in 1979 and 1980.

The tournament was evenly split between the two counties in the 1980s with champions including Tyneside’s Neville Dunn in 1982, Seaton Carew’s Alex Robertson in 1986, and Arcot Hall’s Graham Pickup in 1989.

After a decade without a back-to-back winner, Prudhoe’s Shaun Philipson another England international and one of Northumberland’s best ever amateur golfers - won the title in 1991 at Brancepeth Castle and 1992 at Newcastle United.

“For county golfers, the Champion of Champions was right up there with your county championship,” said Shaun. “The promotion in The Journal helped, as did the respect the players had for the tournament.

My win at Brancepeth was my first big title and was a really important step in my career, it gave me the belief to win big events in the years that followed.

“Following it up at Newcastle United in 1992, the year I won my first Northumberland County Championship, was a great feeling as the counties rarely competed together in strokeplay and very few people ever won it twice.”

Jimmy Dryden from South Shields

NORTHERN GOLFER 33

CHAMPIONOFCHAMPIONS would win the following year before Ravensworth’s Craig Kilgour won the event at Blyth in 1994.

“I remember the win well, it was a big month for me,” said Craig, who won the club championship at Ravensworth, the Carlisle Open and the Champion of Champions that month.

“It came at what would ultimately be the end of my elite amateur career as my golf fizzled out in 1995. Winning the champions was a big occasion, arguably the biggest of my golfing career, given the quality of the field.”

After a gap year in 1995, Rothbury’s David Clark - now PGA professional at Morpeth and a regular winner on the NE/NW PGA circuit, lifted the trophy at Matfen Hall.

“I’d just turned 18 and winning the Champion of Champions was a huge deal,” said David. “The event always brought together a strong field and playing out of Rothbury, I imagine I was a bit of a shock winner. I certainly didn’t have huge belief in my golf at the time. I carried that hit of confidence forward, established myself in the county side and had two good seasons before turning pro at the end of 1997.”

A win for Ponteland’s Rob Wiggins followed in 1997 before South Moor’s Jimmy Handy won the title in 1998 at his home club.

“Winning a three-man playoff at my home club, birdieing the 16th and 17th, was a great way to add my name to the Champion of Champions trophy,” said Jimmy. “It’s certainly one of the highlights of my long golfing career. The event was always something every player looked forward to as soon as they qualified.”

Another future PGA professional would win in 1999 at Slaley Hall Westerhope’s Michael Nesbit picking up his final win before turning pro.

“Back then, we had a thriving amateur scene in the region and it would get really competitive between the counties,” said Michael. “The field was deep and playing at Slaley Hall made it feel like a really big event.

To be part of the history of such an important event in North East golf is brilliant.”

Michael would hold onto the trophy for eight years before the tournament was resurrected in 2007.

Northumberland-based players dominated the early years of its return - Morpeth’s Sandy Twynholm winning in 2007 before Newcastle United’s Simon Lee won in 2008 at Slaley Hall.

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1999 winner Michael Nesbit

2018 ladies champion Jess Baker and 2018 junior champion Rosie Belsham

2013 winner Richard Aisbitt

2007 winner Sandy Twynholm

CHAMPIONOFCHAMPIONS

2017 men’s champion Stewart Fell and 2017 ladies champion Rebecca Ferguson

2019 champions James Wilson (junior), Faye Wheatley (ladies) and Josh Bassitt (men’s)

2010 winner Craig Penny “Getting to play a big event at Slaley Hall was always a highlight of the year,” said Simon. “Winning was a huge deal for me - certainly one of the biggest wins of my amateur career. To get it done on a tough golf course gave me a lot of confidence at the end of a difficult year and I kicked on to have one of my best years in 2009.”

Simon’s win was followed by City of Newcastle’s Phil Ridden - who won his first Champion of Champions at Slaley Hall in 2009 before recapturing the title in 2011 at Close House after Newbiggin’s Craig Penny lifted the trophy in 2010.

“It’s a great honour to be one of the few people to win it twice,” said Phil.

“In 2009, I remember the big fuss was Bruce Grobbelaar playing. I’d been successful for a little while locally, but my expectations weren’t particularly high as while I enjoy the Hunting Course, it’s not a great match for my game. To win it and finish off a really successful year was a great feeling.

“The win at Close House, just a few months after the Colt Course opened, was a bit different. I was one of the favourites having had such a successful year - winning The Lagonda Trophy and a lot of scratch events that

1996 winner David Clark season. The story goes that I had 23 putts that day and while I don’t think the number was that low, I remember holing a lot.

“For me, the Champion of Champions isn’t all about the top county players. It’s also about the guys from some of the smaller clubs. Those players make the event special and it’s great it is back up and running with all the clubs in the region represented.”

Durham-based players then picked up the trophy in the final two years of The Journal’s stewardship of the event - Tyneside’s Ricky Lee and Brancepeth Castle’s Richard Aisbitt winning in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

While the men’s event would not be played for four years, Northern Golfer launched the Junior Champion of Champions in 2015 with Tyneside’s James Wilson winning his first of two titles.

“Winning an event on the scale of the Champion of Champions was a really important step in my junior golf,” said James. “It was nice to put my name on the map. To have those two titles to my name is something I’m very proud of.”

Wynyard’s Briony Bayles then captured the junior title in 2016 before

2017 junior winner Joseph Robson

2018 men’s winner James Glenn

Jimmy Hayes, winner in 1976 & 1984

1974 winner Jack Ord

Northern Golfer resurrected the men’s championship and launched the ladies event in 2017.

The first trio of events were hosted by Ramside Hall in 2017 with Tynemouth’s Stew Fell and Rebecca Ferguson winning the men’s and ladies titles respectively as Hexham’s Joseph Robson won the junior title.

“I can’t believe it’s been five years,” said Rebecca. “It was one of those days when everything went right and to win my first regional event, and be the first person to put their name on the trophy, was very special.”

“Winning the Champion of Champions was a huge occasion,” said Stew. “It’s my biggest win so far and stands out as some of the best golf I’ve ever played.”

In 2018, England internationals Rosie Belsham and Jess Baker won the junior and ladies titles respectively as Durham-based American James Glenn won the men’s title.

Garforth’s Josh Bassitt then became the first Yorkshire-based winner of the men’s event in 2019 as James Wilson won his second junior title and Whickham’s Faye Wheatley signalled her rising stardom with victory in the ladies’ event.

“The day was a battle in tough weather and I’m very proud of the way I stuck in and got over the line. To get back to winning golf tournaments was a great feeling after taking a break from the game after university. To win my first event outside club golf after three years was tremendous and I’m looking forward to returning to defend my title,” said Josh.

“To win and be on the cover of Northern Golfer was fantastic,” said Faye. “It really inspired me to work hard on my game and I’ve enjoyed playing in big tournaments around the country ever since.”

The 2022 Champion of Champions events are open to reigning club champions from clubs in Northumberland, Durham, Teesside, Cumbria, the Borders and North Yorkshire within Northern Golfer’s circulation.

The men’s event will take place at Longhirst Hall on Saturday April 23 while the ladies and junior events will take place at George Washington on Bank Holiday Monday May 2. For more information and to enter go to www.northerngolfer.co.uk/ champion-of-champions-2022 NORTHERN GOLFER 35

MASTERSMEMORIES

Masters memories Alan Hedley and Dean Bailey look ahead to the first men’s major of 2022 and share the stories of some of the region’s finest players and caddies, and their visits to Augusta National

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n invitation to compete in The Masters remains one of golf ’s most coveted items. This year, like each of the previous 85 tournaments, the best players in the world will gather at Augusta National Golf Club to compete for the Green Jacket and the first men’s major championship title of the season.

This year’s tournament, which takes place April 7-10, will feature one player from our region - Lee Westwood.

Lee, who has been attached to Close House since 2011 and now calls Newcastle home, will compete in his 21st Masters. The 48-year-old will be looking to build on his six top 10s and three top fives in the event when he tees it up at Augusta.

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“I’m looking forward to The Masters, it’s a special week,” said Lee. “People look forward to watching it and I certainly look forward to playing in it. It feels familiar, we all know the golf course and it signifies the start of the golfing season for all of us.”

The Masters is essential viewing for golfers, occupying a must-watch position alongside every Ryder Cup and Open Championship. For a lucky few, it is also a must-visit event. Just a handful of the North East’s best golfers have walked the fairways of the Dr Alister MacKenziedesigned golf course, accompanied by their caddies or a reporter from our region. As we look ahead to this year’s event, we caught up with some of people who have been part of The Masters…

MASTERSMEMORIES

NORTHERN GOLFER 37

MASTERSMEMORIES Alan Hedley (right) with Graeme Storm and his mum Jane

ALAN HEDLEY Golf writer, 2000 The approach to Augusta National was not what I’d expected. As I turned into Washington Road, having flown into Atlanta and driven to Augusta for the 2000 Masters Tournament, a bustling eyesore of gaudy restaurants and bargain stores greeted me. ‘This can’t be right,’ I thought, just as the signpost appeared.

After an inspection of my credentials, I was allowed through the security barrier with a warm “Welcome to Augusta, sir”. The drive up Magnolia Lane - the tree-lined, magical approach to the clubhouse - left me in no doubt I was in the right place.

My first stop was the clubhouse, where I met media manager Glenn Greenspan.

If I’m completely honest, it left me rather underwhelmed. A site of great history and a comfortable place to relax, it is by no means ostentatious. The tour included a visit to the Crow’s Nest, a clutch of rooms at the top of a nearvertical staircase where the amateurs playing in the Masters may stay - among them was Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm, invited following his win in the 1999 Amateur Championship.

The tour headed outside, passing the giant oak tree which is a popular meeting place during Masters week. The vista around the clubhouse is surprisingly vast - the 10th tee to the left and par three course beyond did catch my eye though.

We drove down the hill at the 10th and into Amen Corner - where the majestic beauty of Augusta is revealed. It’s simply a breathtaking riot of colour with Rae’s Creek sparkling in the Georgia sunshine. Having failed to impress this Geordie making his first visit to Augusta so far, my tour guide took great delight in watching my jaw drop as I drank in the view at holes 11, 12 and 13.

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David Curry and David Beardall

Green is my abiding memory of the week, not just the green jackets worn by the members and the winner, but the overwhelming prevalence of that very specific shade - it’s everywhere.

Souvenirs are much in demand outside the gates and I recall being offered $20 in a bar for, of all things, a green pencil. I parted with it in return for a beer… it seemed the least I could do.

For Graeme, then 22, it was a memorable week.

It was also a week to remember for his mum, Jane, who became the first player’s mother to caddie in a major championship. While Graeme didn’t make the cut, a step into the professional ranks followed soon after and the rest, as they say, is history.

DAVID CURRY Player, 1987 & 1988 Prudhoe’s David Curry, the Amateur champion of 1986, was one of the final winners of the Amateur to earn a pair of Masters invites for his 11&9 victory over Geoff Birtwell at Royal Lytham & St Annes. On his first visit, in 1987, he missed the cut by five shots with two rounds of 78. The following year, he opened with a round of 74 to lie in 16th place before slipping back through the field with a second round of 80 as he chased the cut mark.

“Getting to play in The Masters as an amateur from Northumberland was an amazing experience,” said David. “In those days, we didn’t have funding and I had to take a week off work. I begged, borrowed and stole to make it across.

“Playing Augusta National after months of golf on winter greens in Northumberland was never going to be easy and I was very proud of how I played in ’87. In ’88, I was better prepared and shot 74 in the opening round. It was going well on the back nine on Friday too, but I made bogey at 13 in a howling wind - a much tougher hole when

you’re hitting two woods rather than a drive and a short iron like they do these days! I dropped another shot and then had to chase it on 17 and 18 to make the cut, which didn’t work out.

“Playing those two tournaments was tremendous fun and I have no regret about how I played. It’s a long time ago now, but I’ve got some amazing memories and stories from those trips and it’s great fun to watch it still - though they play it very differently with modern equipment.”

GRAEME STORM Player, 2000 For Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm, the invitation to play in The Masters in 2000 was one of many prizes on offer in 1999’s Amateur Championship, which he won with a 7&6 victory over Aran Wainwright at Royal County Down. That week, Graeme’s last as an amateur, he took a local caddy for his practice rounds before his mum, Jane, took the bag in the tournament - a role she had taken many times before, including for Graeme’s win at The Amateur. While he didn’t make the cut following rounds of 83 and 76, the event was an important step in his golfing career.

“The whole week was so memorable,” said Graeme. “I didn’t perform to the best of my ability and didn’t make the cut - I just wasn’t ready - but it was an eye-opening experience and undoubtedly helped when I turned pro.

“Though I’d been unwell in the build up, nothing would have stopped me playing in The Masters. I practised with Tim Herron, Paul Lawrie, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn before playing with Brent Geiberger and Mark O’Meara - who I’ve been lucky enough to catch up with at tournaments in the years since.

“Playing in the par three tournament with Jean van de Velde and Loren Roberts was magical with

MASTERSMEMORIES Garrick Porteous

Michael Burrow

Sir Graham Wylie caddying for Lee Westwood in The Masters par three tournament in 2015 so many people packed onto such a small course.

My girlfriend, Sara, who is now my wife, caddied for me and she loved it too.

“Having my mum on the bag for the tournament was really special. She caddied for me at The Amateur and in the Walker Cup, and travelled everywhere with me, so it was the right way to end my amateur career.

“The big difference playing the course, rather than watching on TV, was the hills. There are big elevation changes and it’s a tough course to walk. You have to be able to position the golf ball precisely and that takes time to get your head around. You also need to know to play away from certain flags and use the slopes - it’s not just at the 16th on Sunday. There are lots of holes that require that knowledge and creativity to play well, and avoid those really quick downhill putts.

“When I look back, I actually played better golf in the first round, though my score was higher. You learn to minimise mistakes quickly at Augusta, even after just one tournament round.”

dinner is something I’ll always remember.

“I’ll also remember skipping balls across the water on 16 in the practice rounds, and playing with Mark O’Meara in the par three tournament when he made a hole-in-one on the second.

“The delay in the cheers reaching the green when I birdied the 12th on Friday is something you’d never understand until you’ve stood on that green and looked back to where all the fans are gathered around the tee.

“I was lucky enough to play the course a couple of times in the November and February before the event - including being the first person to play the course after the Eisenhower Tree was taken out after being damaged - and got a feel for the undulation changes everyone is so surprised by on their first visit. However, most of that preparation went out the window on Thursday morning as the golf course is very different after they’ve done their work on Wednesday night.

You definitely need tournament rounds, not just practice rounds, to play well at Augusta.”

high expectations - he’d won in Dubai earlier that year and was climbing up the world rankings.

“Ultimately, it’s a golf course like any other.

You can work it out and you can hole putts. They do make it tough for the caddies though. They’ll speed up the greens from practice to tournament rounds. They also switch the direction they mow the fairways, so the ball doesn’t roll out. On holes like the 11th, you’ve got a lot more club to hit over the pond on a tournament day. All the banks are cut back towards the water for the first time too, so balls don’t cling on to slopes on holes like 15 like they did. You learn about all that really quickly on the Thursday of your first visit.

“I can confirm the boiler suits are very hot - I’ve worn every combination I can think of under there and still not worked it out.

“The highlight of my three trips has to be being paired with Tiger Woods in 2019. It’s not very often I feel like a kid at a golf tournament these days, but shaking his hand on the first tee at Augusta is an experience I’ll never get over.”

GARRICK PORTEOUS Player, 2014 The region’s most recent winner of the Amateur Championship, Garrick Porteous competed in the 2014 Masters - shooting rounds of 76 and 80 on his Masters debut.

“Driving through Augusta, you’d never expect this world-famous golf course to be there.

“Once you make it past security, the drive down Magnolia Lane is just as special as you’d think and the whole occasion really hits you.

“One of the most nerve-wracking parts of the week was the Amateur Dinner on Monday night.

I had to give a speech to the members and as I stood up, I noticed Condoleezza Rice [ former US Secretary of State] was sitting at the table. That

MICHAEL BURROW Caddy, 2014, 2018 & 2019 Tour caddy Michael Burrow has made three trips to Augusta for The Masters, caddying for Garrick Porteous in 2014 and Haotong Li in 2018 and 2019 - when he finished T32 and T43.

“Growing up watching The Masters on TV, Augusta National was this magical place which didn’t really exist. I was 10 years old when Tiger Woods won in 1997 and I remember thinking I’d never be able to visit the golf course like I could the Open Championship venues.

“It was a little surreal to go for the first time with Garrick - it’s very odd to work on a golf course you feel you know so well. Going with Haotong was a little different as he went in with

SIR GRAHAM WYLIE Par three caddy, 2015 Close House owner Sir Graham Wylie caddied for Lee Westwood in 2015’s par three tournament and faced a nerve-wracking putt on the ninth.

“To caddy for Lee in the par three tournament was fantastic - from going in the clubhouse to get my overalls to being inside the ropes on the practice ground,” said Graham. “Lee played very well, hitting it to 2ft on the first two holes. At the ninth, he hit it to 3ft - another great shot on a very easy day for caddying - and then handed me the putter. The greens were just as fast as the main course and I was terrified. I made it, got a cheer after Lee encouraged the crowd a little bit, and then got out of there as quickly as I could.”

NORTHERN GOLFER 39

GOLFERPROFILE

Greenkeeping in the wild Neil Forsyth, greenkeeper and secretary of Allendale Golf Club, on his passion for his home club, switching from sheep farming to greenkeeping, and his hopes for the future of golf in rural Northumberland

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olf brings together people from all walks of life, each drawn to the game for a myriad of reasons. For some it’s a sporting challenge while others enjoy the scenic locations of golf courses.

For Neil Forsyth - greenkeeper and secretary at Allendale Golf Club - it’s a deep love of his club.

“It’s definitely Allendale or nothing for my greenkeeping career,” says Neil.

Having decided against continuing his training as an accountant, Neil chose to work outside - on his family’s farm, primarily rearing sheep 1,000ft above sea level in the Pennines, and building drystone walls. A golfer since he was a child and a member of Allendale since 1999, his passion for golf and the sale of his farm in 2017 led him to the greenkeeping position in early 2018.

“I could drive a tractor and played to a decent standard - that was about it,” says Neil of his credentials for the role. “I thought someone was joking when they offered me the job without an interview, I knew nothing about greenkeeping. I had barely heard of any of the duties, but through lots of research and a huge amount of support, I got to it.”

The only employee of Allendale Golf Club, Neil is assisted by long-time volunteer greenkeeper Ian Robinson.

Neil began work on the course in early 2018, the same week as the Beast from the East covered Northumberland in a blanket of snow.

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“My first job, after a bit of a delay, was to clear the debris once the snow melted,” says Neil. “The first day I cut the greens, Ian watched me do the ninth and walked back to the shed, so I guessed I’d be fine from there.

“I couldn’t have learned the ropes without Ian’s support. He’s volunteered here for a long time and without him we wouldn’t be in the position we are.

David Thompson [head greenkeeper at Hexham Golf Club] has also been a huge help, particularly on some of the more technical aspects of course maintenance.

I knew about fertilisers from farming, but I’d never aerated turf or sprayed a wetting agent. David walked the course with me very early on, shared a great deal of his knowledge, and pointed me in the right direction.

“I’ve been very lucky to work with good people throughout my first four years here. I’ve got to know good guys in the industry who supply our greenkeeping products, like Peter McMorran at GBR Amenity and Glen Baxter from Rigby Taylor, and they’ve been a huge help in choosing the right products and working within our budget.

“We’ve got a great group of members here too. They’re keen to see the golf course at its best and help out a lot when we need some more hands. Meanwhile our treasurer, Robin Down, has kept the whole club moving forward for the last 20 years.”

Under Neil’s stewardship, the golf

GOLFERPROFILE

course has progressed a great deal, earning high praise from members and visitors, including the Northumberland county boys team when they played a match against Cumbria at Allendale in 2021.

“Each year, I’ve learned a little bit more and taken the golf course a step forward. Having played a lot of golf over the years, I knew I had to start with the greens. We did the initial work on a very tight budget - starting with an old heavy roller to improve their trueness. As I’ve learned more, I’ve done more to improve the profile of the turf, including working with Benny Watts of North East Procore Services to hollow core them.

“To hear the praise of the members and visitors makes the hours of work, research and learning worth it. I was so proud to hear the praise from the county boys team when they played here. That’s why I do this, to have people come to Allendale, enjoy the course and tell people about it.

“We’ve always had tremendous views and I want to present a golf course to match.”

With a limited budget, Neil makes the absolute most of his equipment and materials. He has a small fleet of mowers and hand cuts the nine greens whenever possible.

In autumn 2021, he sold the last of his sheep to be able to spend more time on the golf course in his fifth season here.

The work is already paying off for the club too. As well as the high praise received, green fees have more than doubled in the last two years - thanks in part to the pandemic and the increase in people playing golf, but also by an increase in return visitors and members joining as their primary or second club.

“We do the best we possibly can with our small budget,” says Neil. “We look after a great deal of the equipment ourselves and have invested wisely to ensure each new bit of kit improves what we’re doing.

“My aim is to take the course one step forwards each season. I’m a golfer and want to see and play on golf courses at their very best. We’re never going to be able to transform the course overnight, but we have a great passion for Allendale Golf Club.

“There’s nowhere better to work outdoors on a sunny day and I take great pride in hearing that our members enjoy playing here more each year. That’s a great reward when you’re so invested in the club and golf course.”

NORTHERN GOLFER 41

ROUNDWITH A ROUND WITH...

Steve Slater The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs’ secretary shares some of his favourite golfing memories and chooses his dream fourball

S

teve Slater, secretary of the Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs, has built an enviable reputation in the club game in his home county, particularly in recent years. Winner of the Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs alongside Neil Elborn in 2006, he beat a stellar field of national champions to the City of Newcastle’s club championship in 2020 at the age of 60 before winning the Northumberland Seniors Championship in 2021. A one-handicapper, he took on the role of county secretary in 2021 and we caught up with him at his home club to find out more...

1 How much golf do you get to play?

I play a bit less than I did in my year between retiring and becoming secretary, but I’m still lucky to play three or four times per week in the summer and get in a couple of practice sessions.

2 How did you get into golf?

I started as a kid, pulling my dad’s trolley before he gave me some cut down hickory clubs. I joined John Jacobs, now High Gosforth Park, when I was 13. I had a few years out when I started work then took it back up in my early 20s and have played ever since.

3 Which is your favourite course in the North East?

My home club, City of Newcastle, is a real favourite. I’ve been a member for 32 years and love playing here. I’m also a member of Alnmouth, which is a wonderful place to play with some stunning scenery.

4 And further afield?

That’s a hard question! Carnoustie is very special and I have great memories of playing on the west coast of France on the links/ parkland hybrid course at Golf de SaintJean-de-Monts.

5 What’s your best score?

A four under-par 68 at City of Newcastle in 2018 - with no bogeys.

42 NORTHERN GOLFER

6 Which is your favourite golfing memory?

Winning the club championship at City of Newcastle was very special. To win it for the first time at the age of 60, beating some of the best players in the county, was something I never thought would be possible. To do it with a set of borrowed clubs I’d had for a fortnight was just incredible.

7 What about embarrassing moments on the course?

Before I played, I remember the joy of finding a 10p piece on a green while caddying for my dad. His playing partner, whose marker I’d just pocketed, took it very well. While playing, I put a rather large sky mark on a brand new driver on the first tee when playing a league match. There were quite a few people watching and I got down to the front of the ladies tee rather quickly.

8 Do you have any golfing superstitions?

I don’t use golf balls with fours on them. I haven’t used once since I got my handicap below three through fear of going back up.

9 What are your strengths on the course?

I drive it straight, which keeps me out of trouble.

10 And your weaknesses?

While I’m straight, I’m not long off the tee which can put pressure on my short game on longer courses.

11 Which is your favourite club in the bag?

My Odyssey 2-ball putter.

12 Who is your best golfing friend?

It’s impossible to pick just one. I’ve got so many friends in golf, at the clubs I’m a member of and so many others. If I could only pick one, I’d say Colin Henderson - we always have a good laugh on the course.

13 Though you didn’t work in golf until you turned 60, was it something you’d always wanted to do?

I thought about switching careers a few times over the last 40 years but I never made the jump. Working in a sport you love is fantastic and having the opportunity now has been a lot of fun. We’ve got a lot to look forward to as a county following the incredible success our players had in national tournaments in 2021.

14 Who is your favourite tour player?

I always enjoy watching Lee Westwood and his commitment to competing well into his 40s is fantastic. The other player I’d pick out is Bernhard Langer. What he’s been able to continue achieving well into his 60s, after the huge problems he had on the greens, is just phenomenal.

15 Which golf events do you enjoy most?

As secretary, our county championship is the pinnacle of our year and is always great to be a part of. In the professional game, there’s nothing like the Ryder Cup. I went to Celtic Manor in 2010 and it was outstanding.

The atmosphere was unlike anything else I’ve experienced.

16 Who do you admire?

My wife, Helen. Throughout our life together she’s encouraged me to play golf and to follow my passion for the game. She’ll caddy for me and attend county events, and her support over the years has been incredibly important to me.

17 Which three people would join you in your dream fourball?

Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Bernhard Langer - three players I’ve admired for a long time and would love to play with.

18 If you could have one mulligan, when would you have used it?

Keep it, my glass has always been half-full.

ROUNDWITH

NORTHERN GOLFER 43

COURSEPROFILE

Go west

Dean Bailey visits the mature parkland course at Westerhope Golf Club

W

esterhope Golf Club has stood the test of time as well as any club in our region.

Opened in 1941 as a nine-hole layout and extended to 18 holes 10 years later, the course was designed by 1902 Open champion Sandy Herd. Little has changed since then, though minor alterations and the maturing of the course’s trees has ensured it remains a popular venue for Northumberland county events and continues to produce many talented golfers.

Played side by side, the opening two holes give a perfect introduction to the challenge you’ll face here. Bordered by tall trees, the fairways are generous but must be found - any visit to the trees will see you pitching out sideways at best.

At the slightly longer first, most will not need to worry about reaching the bunker in the centre of the fairway and can hit driver from the tee to leave a wedge or short iron to a long green protected by two bunkers - one on each of the front corners. At the second, another straight tee shot will leave a shorter approach to a better protected and smaller putting surface featuring four bunkers in its front half.

The first of Westerhope’s par threes follows - a slightly uphill, 170-yard hole which can catch out some with a narrow slither of water and deceptive, large bunker well short of another long green which is pinched in the front third by a pair of bunkers.

44 NORTHERN GOLFER

Having walked past the clubhouse, the short dogleg fourth hole catches out many players.

Driver is not required here, though you must make sure to make it over the two sycamores on the left side, not far from the tee. The hole then turns left and rises to the green - pitches can be hard to judge with no view of the putting surface and two large bunkers staring back at you.

Fighting Fifth, some 220 yards from the back tee, can be one hell of a fight to complete. The hole requires a long iron or wood to be threaded through the narrow entrance to the green, which is watched over by two long bunkers.

Birdie opportunities follow at back-to-back par fives. Both turning from left to right, the 517yard sixth is the trickier of the pair with its blind tee shot followed by a narrowing approach to a raised green perched beyond two deep bunkers.

Leaving a straight pitch onto this green is highly recommended. At the 525-yard seventh, favour the left side to get a better view for your second shot around the corner. The sweeping left-toright fairway is generous, as is the green, which measures some 42 paces from front to back.

An equally good birdie chance follows at the short par four eighth hole. With the fairway and green sitting up from the tee box, this is an inviting hole to hit driver on. A relatively straight drive will leave a wedge or pitch shot to one of the smallest greens on the course. Avoid the bunkers here - they’re particularly deep.

The longest hole on the course and played all uphill, the par five ninth requires three good shots to make it to the green. Be careful with your alignment on the tee - the hedge on the right is closer than it first appears. The approach to a wide green must navigate a single bunker on the left corner and a small, steep mound on the right side which can be tricky to navigate around.

The picturesque par three 10th is set against a backdrop of tall pines which loom close to the green. A mid-iron is all that’s required to find the green beyond the two bunkers.

The signature par four 11th is next (see fact file).

A similarly narrow tee shot follows at the considerably shorter par four 12th. Many should choose an iron from the tee as it is very easy to run out of room on the left side and tangle with the hedge. The green is a particularly small target with trees looming close to the left side while a trio of bunkers await those who bail out to the right.

Much like the previous short hole, the par three 13th is beautifully set among the trees. Just under 150 yards from the back tee, the bunkers at the front of the green have been combined into a horseshoe-shaped trench of sand waiting to catch any mishit shots. Beyond the sand you’ll find a very generous green for such a short par three just don’t let that bunker intimidate you.

The final par five at Westerhope, the 507-yard 14th is tremendous fun with its downhill tee shot and approach. Having found the fairway between

COURSEPROFILE

FACT FILE CONTACT Westerhope Golf Club, Whorlton Grange, Westerhope, Newcastleupon-Tyne, NE5 1PP Tel 0191 286 7636 www.westerhopegolfclub.com

the bunkers on both sides, the full challenge of the hole lies before you. Big hitters can make it down the hill to the green in two, though finding the small, peanut-shaped green pinched in the middle by its two bunkers - can be challenging.

The 15th should be played sensibly to give you a chance of making birdie or a simple par.

Two bunkers guard the fairway from those laying up - the first around 190 yards from the back tee - while those taking aim at the green at this 270-yard par four must avoid two more deep bunkers at the front of the green as well a ditch on the right side.

The most demanding hole on the back nine, the 454-yard 16th is played uphill to a wide fairway bordered by trees on the left and out of bounds on the right. Having found the fairway, a long iron or wood is required to reach the green, which features no bunkers but is guarded by a single tree on the front left corner and several turf mounds on the right side.

The trees gather in again at the 419-yard par four 17th, which requires a tee shot shaped right to left to make the most of the slope and run down the hill. From here, the cross bunker some 70 yards short of the green should be no issue, though the two large bunkers at the front of the green are very popular.

Heading back uphill to the clubhouse, the 347-yard 18th can yield birdies for those with the stamina left to drive up the hill through the trees and find the fairway of this left-toright dogleg hole. A short shot uphill, played in the shadow of the clubhouse beyond a thin bunker on the front left corner of the green, is all that remains.

GREEN FEES See website for full details and contact the secretary for group bookings TOTAL DISTANCE White tees 6,392 Yellow tees 6,145 Red tees 5,845

Westerhope has a record of producing elite-level golfers and today continues that tradition with several members of the Northumberland county boys team based here. A programme of junior coaching is delivered by professionals Michael Nesbit and George Cowan, with the club supporting junior programmes each season

FEATURES Spacious clubhouse with first-floor bar and excellent catering Practice ground, chipping and putting greens Pro shop Buggy hire Trolley hire CADDY’S TIP The trees loom close to all the fairways at Westerhope and driving the ball accurately is essential to scoring well here SIGNATURE HOLE The toughest driving hole at Westerhope, the 431-yard par four 11th captures the unique challenge of the golf course perfectly. Played with a slight dogleg to the left, the tee shot favours a right-to-left shape to work around the trees and find the narrow fairway. From here, the long approach is slightly uphill to a green with two bunkers guarding much of its length on both sides. A long, challenging par four that requires two (or three) excellent shots.

OUR VERDICT

A test of driving accuracy with high quality putting surfaces, trips to Westerhope are always ones to remember NORTHERN GOLFER 45

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GEARNEWS

All the gear…

The new releases just keep coming as the game’s biggest brands launch new irons, wedges and putters this month. There’s also new clothing and footwear for the upcoming season, electric trolleys and bags, and so much more to try out.

LONG IRONS

PING i525 irons RRP: £180 per club (steel), £190 per club (graphite) eu.ping.com

PING has unveiled its latest players-distance iron offering, i525, boasting significant distance gains, and improved feel and sound.

“What’s most satisfying in the i525 iron from an engineering standpoint is how our team has been able to maximise the flexing of the metal-wood-style face structure while creating a pleasing sound and feel,” says PING president John K Solheim. “As golfers know who’ve played this type of iron design, they often sacrificed feel for more distance. That’s not the case in the i525 as we’re able to provide golfers a solid-feeling iron with the increased ball speed they need to hit longer, higher shots that hold the green.”

The strength of the variable-thickness, maraging steel allows for a thinner, more dynamic face structure with an internal sole undercut in the stainless steel body to increase flexing for more ball speed.

Meanwhile, a polymer is precisely injected onto the inside of the face to improve feel and sound without interfering with face deflection - the source of the irons’ increased ball speed. Tungsten toe and shaft tip weights combine with a tiered, dynamic face structure and cavity to expand the perimeter weighting while preserving ball speed, and PING’s Friction Face with MicroMax Milled Grooves provides an average of four extra grooves on each club.

The new irons are available in 3-UW in 10 color codes (lie angles) for right and left-handed golfers. There are also three loft options Standard, Power and Retro - as well as a wide range of stock and optional shaft options.

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IN THE MOMENT

Mizuno M.CRAFT OMOI putters RRP: £279 mizunogolf.com Mizuno has launched three new M.CRAFT OMOI putters featuring a heavier head design for greater stability. Forged from 1025 carbon steel and CNC milled, the OMOI putters increase moment of inertia for improved stability at impact. To balance out the increased head weight, Mizuno has created a lighter grip and shaft combination to shift the club’s centre of gravity.

The new putters are available in three traditional OMOI head styles - OMOI 01, a slant neck blade; OMOI 02, a plumber’s neck blade; and OMOI 03, a full mallet design.

Weighing in at 370g (#1 & #2) and 383g (#3), the putters also come with an additional weight kit including a pair of 3g and 13g weights which are interchangeable with the 8g weight fitted as standard.

“Our testing showed that locating more of the overall club weight in the head provided more consistent face rotation through impact,” says Mizuno’s director of R&D David Llewellyn.

“We’ve added up to 28g depending on the model, without increasing size or losing the precise feel of the original M.CRAFT. Plus, unlike many MOI-orientated putters, the new OMOI models also give incredible feedback off the face.”

The putters are available in three finishes - double nickel, blue ion or black ion. There is also a black-out option which comes with a KBS Tour black ion-plated shaft, Lamkin OMOI Sink Fit Pistol grip and a blacked-out headcover.

GEARNEWS

SMALL AND MIGHTY

PowaKaddy CT8 GPS trolley RRP: £949.99 (standard lithium battery), £999.99 (extended lithium battery) www.powakaddy.com PowaKaddy has continued to push the boundaries of lightweight, ultra-compact design with the launch of the CT8 GPS trolley.

The new model joins the CT6 in PowaKaddy’s compact range and boasts a fully integrated GPS, accessible via a 3.5ins full colour touch screen display.

The CT8 GPS follows the success of the CT6, which was the UK’s best-selling compact trolley in 2020 and 2021.

Users can access a pre-loaded bank of more than 40,000 golf courses worldwide, with no annual fees or subscriptions needed.

PowaKaddy’s simple 2-Fold system allows the CT8 GPS to fold 20% smaller than the previous C2i model and 35% smaller than its closest competitor.

The widescreen display offers features such as a scorecard, stroke index information (for both men and women), Active Green View showing the green shape on each hole, and Drop Flag technology to provide accurate and precise distance measurements to any pin.

SUMMER STYLE

FootJoy SS22 clothing RRP: Various www.footjoy.co.uk

LET’S PLAY BALL

TaylorMade Tour Response and Soft Response balls RRP: £39.99 (Tour Response), £29.99 (Soft Response) www.taylormadegolf.co.uk

TaylorMade’s new Tour Response and Soft Response golf balls aim to provide innovative options to players of all levels with tour-level DNA .

The Tour Flight Dimple Pattern, which is also found in TaylorMade’s TP5 and TP5x balls, has been added to Tour Response for the first time, while the ball retains a soft feel thanks to its 100% cast urethane cover. The ball also features a low 70-compression design with a Hi-Spring core.

Combining the new technology with a striking new visual alignment aid, Tour Response Stripe features 360° ClearPath Alignment technology. The 22mm band helps aim putts better, faster and more consistently while providing feedback on the quality of the roll of each putt.

Meanwhile, Soft Response is the softest ball in TaylorMade’s range - designed to give amateur golfers an enhanced feel while maintaining ball speeds and distance.

FootJoy’s Spring/Summer 2022 clothing range brings together lightweight materials, engineered fabrics and golfspecific designs to wear on and off the course.

The men’s range includes four new collections – Jackson, Hudson, Duxbury and Deer Park – which balance fresh, playful prints with classic styles and a sophisticated palette.

A refreshed women’s lineup features new designs and garment styles to equip female golfers with more choice, including a unique Watercolour collection, pops of bright coral colour, and dedicated styling.

The collections are accompanied by the full range of FootJoy clothing for men and women, which can be combined with the headline designs in hundreds of ways.

NORTHERN GOLFER 49

GEARNEWS

HYBRID PERFORMANCE

ECCO BIOM C4 shoes RRP: £210 www.ecco.com

ECCO GOLF has unveiled its latest innovation in hybrid performance footwear - BIOM C4.

The C4 design offers unrivalled 360° breathability in a finely tuned balance of cushioning, rebound, waterproofing and airflow. ECCO’s advanced technologies are also incorporated to offer optimum support, control and stability while BIOM Natural Motion technology allows the foot to move naturally.

A Gore-Tex Surround construction is combined with an Exhaust Grid to create a waterproof shoe that scoops air towards the sole of your foot. The progressive Mtn Grip outsole has three sections providing traction, stability and rotational support.

The C4, available in four colourways, also comes with a new, stretchy mesh sock that offers unparalleled comfort.

SCORING CLUBS

PING Glide 4.0 wedges RRP: £160 (steel shaft), £170 (graphite shaft) eu.ping.com

PING has launched the fourth iteration of its Glide wedge series, with a focus on delivering lower-launching, higherspinning performance.

The new 4.0 Glide wedges feature 8620 carbon steel with an activated elastomer insert behind the face to create a softer feel while ensuring each club delivers high levels of spin and consistency.

In developing the wedges, PING’s engineers also expanded the grind and loft options to make custom fitting more precise and offer greater versatility in all conditions. They also improved the precision-milled face and grooves with a new Emery Face Blast finish adding more texture to the hitting surface - creating more interaction between the club and ball for increased spin and lower launch.

The Glide 4.0 wedges are available in 17 grind and loft combinations with four sole grinds (S, W, T, E) to match a golfer’s angle of attack and typical turf conditions.

50 NORTHERN GOLFER

BOLDLY TACKLING THE ELEMENTS

Mizuno apparel collection RRP: Various mizunogolf.com/uk

Mizuno’s latest clothing collection features performance fabric technologies across a range of garments and accessories.

The collection is built on a toolkit of core performance technologies – Nexlite Flex rainwear; Breath Thermo and Thermal Plus for cold weather; and BioGear and Move Tech to ensure players can move well in all conditions.

The range includes everything from polos to base layers. New outerwear includes the Windproof Jumper and new Move Tech Winter Trousers. Meanwhile, the new Nexlite Flex jacket is water resistant to 20,000mm, breathable at 25,000g/m2 and features 15% additional stretch compared to its previous iteration.

GEARNEWS

ON A ROLL

PING PLD Milled putters RRP: £399 eu.ping.com PING has launched four tour-validated models in a new series of Putting Lab Design (PLD) putters.

Each design in the PLD Milled line has a history of winning championships. Each is machined from forged, 303 stainless steel and requires more than four hours of milling to shape every surface and radius.

The range includes favourites like the Anser and newer, tourinspired models like the DS72 - the choice of Viktor Hovland.

“The PLD Milled is an exciting addition to our putter line,” says PING president John K Solheim. “We’ve given the new putters a very clean, premium look to emphasise the precision process they undergo. As we collaborate on new designs with our engineers and tour staff, we’ll add new models to bring golfers the latest in tour-proven performance on the putting green.”

IN FOCUS

Zoom Focus S rangefinder RRP: £199 www.zoomgolf.net The new Focus S rangefinder from Zoom is packed with premium features.

Crystal-clear optics lead the way with a wide 7° field of vision, 6x magnification, ultra-bright LCD display and an adjustable eye piece also part of the new setup. The rangefinder also features vibration feedback, slope mode (with a visible switch to turn off for tournament play), flag scan mode, and continuous measurement for scanning the course. Zoom has also brought back one of its most popular features from the Focus X rangefinder - a micro USB rechargeable battery that lasts more than 50 rounds on a single charge.

ROLL WITH IT

Evnroll 2022 putters RRP: from £329 evnroll.com Evnroll has added to its award-winning product line for 2022, including two new models - ZERO and ER11vx.

The California-based manufacturer has also expanded its V-Series line with new hosel and black finish options, added two models to its Midlock line, and launched new ladies and left-handed putters.

The ZERO Putter showcases FaceForward Technology - which aligns the shaft close to the centre of gravity but toward the toe instead of the face, causing the face to point forward toward the target. The Gravity Grip further enhances the technology as the downward gravitational pull of the steel rod aims to lock the putter face to the target line. It is milled from aluminium and features a 30g steel weight in each of the four corners to maximise moment of inertia.

READY FOR ALL WEATHERS Golfstream waterproof cart bag RRP: £169 www.golfstream.co.uk

Golfstream, the Kent-based trolley manufacturer, has launched a new lightweight waterproof cart bag.

Weighing just 2.1kg including the rain hood and carry strap, the new bag combines new styling and a host of useful features - from full length cushioned dividers to nine spacious pockets including a waterproof soft-lined valuables pocket, a cooler pocket big enough for several drinks and a long side pocket with internal netting dividers.

Protection from the rain is provided by an easy on/off waterproof hood and the bag also features external accessories loops and a quick release carry strap.

NORTHERN GOLFER 51

Thank you to our partners for their continued support of Northern Golfer magazine and its online platforms Retail and brand partners

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Northern Golfer - The voice of golf in the North East and beyond To join the Northern Golfer partners club and learn more about how we can work together to promote your business or golf club, contact Doug Brolls (Durham and wider region) on 07721 031482, doug@offstonepublishing.co.uk or Gillian Corney (Northumberland) on 07903 500401, gillian@offstonepublishing.co.uk

MATCHPLAYPAIRS2022

2021 Match Play Pairs winners Vaughan Raine and Shaun Elliott

Match Play Pairs entry deadline extended Northern Golfer’s Match Play Pairs tournament is back for its 21st year - entries close April 29

E

ntries for the 2022 edition of Northern Golfer’s Match Play Pairs tournament will close on April 29 - head over to www.northerngolfer.co.uk/match-playpairs-2022 today and use the online entry form to be part of the event.

The 21st year of the tournament will see pairs of golfers from across the region compete in fourball betterball knockout matches at courses across the North East and North Yorkshire.

The entry fee has been frozen at £30 per pair.

The final, at a neutral venue to be confirmed, will take place in September/October 2022 with the winners receiving prize vouchers worth £600 while the runners up will receive prize vouchers worth £100.

As well as receiving their £600 prize, the

winners will appear in Northern Golfer magazine and earn a place in the golfing history books.

The 2021 tournament saw 64 pairs set out to reach the event’s final at Close House. In the final, Brancepeth Castle’s Vaughan Raine and Shaun Elliott were victorious over Newbiggin-based brothers Mark and Lee Warren.

The victory completed a hat-trick of wins for Brancepeth teams in the event following Ashley Coveney and Andrew Howard’s win in 2020, and James Melville and Jimmy Guy’s victory in 2019.

Vaughan, a four handicapper, said: “It’s a great feeling to come through the season and get our names on the trophy. We’re proud to have added our names after the lads from Brancepeth. It’s a tough event, we’ve had some close matches and I’m over the moon to have won it.”

Shaun, who plays off a handicap of 14, added: “I’m delighted we got the job done. All of our games have been played to a really high standard and we’ve had to stick in to make it all the way through. We’ve played some cracking courses and the lads we’ve played have been great company.

We visit new courses every year and have found some real gems which we would have never got to without the Match Play Pairs.”

Northern Golfer editor Dean Bailey added: “We’re looking forward to another action-packed year of matches. The tournament is a longstanding part of the region’s golfing landscape and the list of past champions highlights the diversity of players and clubs involved over the last two decades. Let’s see if anyone can break the run of Brancepeth-based champions in 2022.”

To enter, and for more information including all the rules and how handicaps are calculated in the event, head over to www.northerngolfer.co.uk and click on the Match Play Pairs tab NORTHERN GOLFER 53

A TOP 25 VENUE IN YORKSHIRE

Yorkshire Seniors Championship Venue 2022

SUMMER FOURBALLS FROM £140 Summer Societies SPECIAL GOLF RATES from £35 per person Food options available from £4.50

SPECIAL OFFER Groups above 40 FREE fourball on the day worth £140* Summer Green Fee Rate Mid-Week £55, Weekend £60 *Cannot be used against bookings already made

Open Events 2022 Sunday 15th May -

Rabbits 12-28 £40 per pair

Thursday 16th June -

Seniors Open £40 per pair

Sunday 19th June -

Auchterlonie 36-Hole Scratch £35 Includes light lunch) Index limit 5.4 Draw will be made for tee-times

Thursday 14th July -

Over 55’s Mixed AmAm £80 a team

Friday 29th July -

Men’s Pairs £50 a team (Includes a light meal)

Sunday 7th August -

Mixed Open AmAm £80 a team

Friday 26th August -

Men’s Team AmAm £100 a team (Includes a light meal)

Thursday 6th September - Ladies Open AmAm £80 a team CDH & Handicap required, Limits 28 (Men) , 36 (Ladies)

Selby Golf Club, Mill Lane, Brayton Barff, Selby YO8 9LD Tel:- 01757 228622 - Email manager@selbygolfclub.co.uk - www.selbygolfclub.co.uk

YORKSHIREFOCUS

White rose county This month we head into Yorkshire to visit three of the county’s finest courses

Selby Golf Club Founded in 1907, Selby Golf Club is home to a stunning golf course with a par of 71. Laid out on free-draining sandy soil, it is playable year-round with firm conditions a hallmark of the course.

Measuring 6,377 yards from the back tees, the course is no pushover with three par fours stretching to more than 400 yards including the challenging 16th, played downhill to a two-tiered green guarded by two front bunkers. The tricky, uphill par three 17th follows with the green guarded by multiple bunkers. The par five 18th can offer a good birdie opportunity when players avoid the many trees and greenside bunkers.

The course at Selby is laid out in two loops, both returning to the clubhouse, making it ideal for evening rounds in the summer or 27hole golf days. Meanwhile the floodlit, covered driving range has four bays allowing you to practice in all weathers.

Catering is top-notch too and societies and visiting groups can expect a warm welcome.

Selby Golf Club, Mill Lane, Brayton Barff, Selby, YO8 9LD tel 01757 228 622, www.selbygolfclub.co.uk

Whitby Golf Club

The spectacular clifftop course at Whitby Golf Club, which is 130 years old in 2022, is a must-visit.

From its commanding position on the edge of the cliffs, and with views around the North Yorkshire coast to Kettleness and across to Whitby harbour and pier with the Abbey ruins dominating behind, it can be tough to concentrate on getting your ball around the course.

Not too long, nor too difficult, the layout punishes the wildest players with thick rough, while bunkering and run off areas will catch out many players who are not used to firm and fast conditions.

As with all links courses, the true difficulty of the course is defined by the wind - benign conditions will yield good scores here while a stern test awaits should the wind blow.

Whitby Golf Club, Low Straggleton Sandsend Road, Whitby YO21 3SR, tel 01947 600 660, www.whitbygolfclub.co.uk

NORTHERN GOLFER 55

YORKSHIREFOCUS

Ripon City Golf Club Set in beautiful parkland, the 6,084-yard course at Ripon City Golf Club aims to challenge players of all abilities while offering a number of scoring opportunities - and a very friendly welcome.

The rolling Yorkshire landscape provides natural elevation changes and frames many of the holes, while a combination of water and bunkers will punish players who are too aggressive or find themselves out of position.

The finest example of this is found at the par three 14th. This 162-yard hole is played over water to a green protected by a bunker at the front left corner. Members and visitors watching on from the clubhouse behind the green make this shot even more daunting.

Improvements to the course in recent years have added to the classic English parkland design, while maintaining the original style of the course and its architecture. The balcony on the clubhouse provides the perfect place to relax after your round.

Ripon City Golf Club, Palace Road, Ripon, HG4 3HH, tel 01765 603 640, www.riponcitygolfclub.com

RIPON CITY GOLF CLUB • Perfect venue for visiting parties and societies Beautiful parkland course • Superb greens • A Great Yorkshire welcome awaits

2022 OPENS 19TH JUNE MENS 4BALL TEAM EVENT £80 PER TEAM 21ST JULY SENIORS BETTERBALL EVENT £40 PER PAIR 22ND JULY LADIES TEAM EVENT £60 PER TEAM 23RD JULY MENS OPEN £40 24TH JULY MIXED OPEN TEAM EVENT £80 PER TEAM 11TH SEPTEMBER TEAM EVENT £80 PER TEAM 5TH OCT LADIES TEXAS SCRAMBLE OPEN £40 PER TEAM OF 4

56 NORTHERN GOLFER

CLUBPROMOTION

WHITBY GOLF CLUB GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Whitby GC have been in the headlines for all the right reasons this year Firstly, Sam Foster our newly appointed club manager was shortlisted for the GMCA awards and attended a ceremony at the Wyboston Lakes centre in November.

After just a year in post he has been the foundation of many changes going on at the club and we are very proud of his acheivement. The Board has also been in the spotlight and appeared in the Women and Golf October issue showing the unique balance of 5 ladies and 2 men on our board and how this has affected the overall success and running of the club.

England Golf completed a case study on the club and to show how we have achieved so much.

The club has seen an upsurge in members wanting to support social events such as race nights and Christmas party night with many more planned for the future the club is buzzing.

The new course layout is an exciting new development

for us. The course has undergone a new design which has introduced two new holes both Par 3’s, tees have been repositioned and levelled as part of the extensive work plus a series of new pathways to help members and visitors move about the course easier. Drainage has been improved in some areas and bunkers riveted to help keep their shape. Our green staff led by Head greenkeeper Pete Fenton have been amazing and the course has never looked better.

Our catering partnership with Willow branch has progressed even further and in September our converted snooker room and old Ladies locker room became The Links Lounge serving non-members and members alike with great

WHITBY GOLF CLUB

offers for platters, afternoons teas and Sunday lunches. This is bringing in more people into the club.

Exciting new community participation with Ladies and Girls Golf access programme and both Junior and Senior schools competitions bringing Trigolf for the first time to the Whitby course.

Our new virtual studio has increased usage both for coaching, practice and fun rounds.

Guests and visitors have been on steady increase proving popular as always with our competitive green fees. All Opens continue to be well attended for more details see our website. www.whitbygolfclub.co.uk

PRICES FOR 2021/22 HIGH SEASON (1ST MAY - 30TH SEPT) General Visitor - £32 Junior U18 - £15 Twilight (After 2pm) - £25 Super twilight (From 5pm) -£20 SPECIAL OFFER MONDAY - £20 TUES-SUN 3 BALL - £90 TUES-SUN 4 BALL - £104 Country Card Holder - £20

MID SEASON (1ST OCT-31ST OCT & 1ST MAR-30TH APR) General Visitor - £28 Junior U18 - £15 Twilight (After 2pm) - £20 Super twilight (From 5pm) - NONE SPECIAL OFFER MONDAY - £15 TUES-SUN 3 BALL - £75 TUES-SUN 4 BALL - £88 Country Card Holder - £15

LOW SEASON (1ST NOV-28TH FEB) General Visitor - £15 Junior U18 - £10 Twilight (After 2pm) - £10 Super twilight (From 5pm) - NONE

Whitby Golf Club, Sandsend Road, Low Straggleton, Whitby YO21 3SR tel: 01947 600660 | email: o�ce@whitbygolfclub.co.uk www.whitbygolfclub.co.uk

SPECIAL OFFER MONDAY - £10 TUES-SUN 3 BALL - £36 TUES-SUN 4 BALL - £40 Country Card Holder - £10

NORTHERN GOLFER 57

TIPS

GO WITH THE FLOW

For those who feel stuck over the ball or have a tendency to jerk the club back when putting, it can be really helpful to feel that you’re in constant motion on the greens.

While practising putting technique and building a repeatable stroke is vital, when you’re out playing it’s important to remember to feel the putter in your hands and make a free-flowing stroke. Focussing on moving reduces the time for tension to build in your shoulders, arms and hands. Try practising this on the putting green and find a rhythm to your putting routine which feels comfortable. Some will move the putter blade above the ball, others like to add a little extra movement in their shoulders. The key is to never be too still over the ball before you start your stroke. I hope this helps free you up and you make some more putts this season.

58 NORTHERN GOLFER

Doug Brolls PGA Profe ssio

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READERCOMPETITIONS

win Northern Golfer competitions are also listed on our website www.northerngolfer.co.uk/ competitions Alternatively, you can post your entry to: Competitions, Northern Golfer, Unit 5b, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7AL Please include your contact details and telephone number. Closing date Thursday April 28, 2022. Usual competition rules apply – available on request. Winners will be published in our next edition.

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT MAGDALENE FIELDS GOLF CLUB Just north of Berwick, the links at Magdalene Fields have been home to golf for more than 100 years. Founded in 1903, the club is home to the most northerly course in England, just two miles from the Scottish Border. The initial nine holes were designed by Willie Park Jr, while the current layout, opened in 1974, affords stunning coastal views - northwards over Marshall Meadows Bay towards the towering cliffs at Eyemouth or south over the mouth of the River Tweed.

For your chance to win answer the following question: In which year did Jack Nicklaus win his 18th major championship?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT BEDLINGTONSHIRE GOLF CLUB The sweeping fairways and large undulating greens of the Frank Penninckdesigned Bedlingtonshire Golf Club provide a high-quality layout and a stern test. At 6,813 yards from the back tees and with a par of 73, the course can be long while often breezy conditions can make this one of the hardest layouts in our region.

For your chance to win answer the following question: How many major championships has Annika Sörenstam won?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT DARLINGTON GOLF CLUB Laid out by Dr Alister MacKenzie, the course at Darlington Golf Club is a fine example of the good doctor’s design philosophy with its large, rolling greens blending naturally into their surroundings.

Tree-lined fairways demand accuracy from the tee while a unique set of short holes are a treat to play.

For your chance to win answer the following question: Who will captain the European team at the 2023 Ryder Cup? Congratulations to last month’s competition winners: Seaton Carew - Ted Dowd of Stockton-on-Tees Prudhoe - John Porteous of Morpeth • Matfen Hall - Stephanie Magill of Seaton Carew 60 NORTHERN GOLFER

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from the

bunker

Welcome to your reader feedback page. We want to hear your likes, dislikes and funny golfing stories, and if you’d like to make suggestions about Northern Golfer, let us know. We want to hear from you!

Heath Hardman and Greg Hildrith

Greenkeepers from across the UK have been selected to support The R&A during the hosting of The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews this summer.

The team of almost 50 greenkeepers from golf clubs across the United Kingdom and further afield which will be supporting the home greenkeeping team for the event includes Middlesbrough Golf Club’s Stuart Christon as well as Adam Brackley (Heworth (York)), Matthew Milligan (Rudding Park) and Harry Roe (Alwoodley).

Each year, The R&A requests the assistance of British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) members. Every full BIGGA member who has been with the association for at least two years is eligible to apply for a place on the Volunteer Open Support Team, which was setup in 1984 and supports every match with bunker raking duties during the tournament.

62 NORTHERN GOLFER

Hartlepool Golf Club captain Heath Hardman has handed over a cheque for nearly £10,000 to Alice House Hospice.

Greg Hildreth accepted the cheque for £9,707.10 on the charity’s behalf. The latest cheque adds to the more than £100,000 raised by the club and its members to date.

To mark passing that milestone, the club was presented with the Alice Bendle Shield, named after the hospice’s founder, to be played for annually.

Many of Heath’s predecessors have also supported the hospice while members of the club have been involved in various fundraising initiatives in the last 10 years.

Well done to all the members of Hartlepool for continuing their incredible fundraising.

l-r Roger Moore, Ian Sewell (retiring captain), Sylvia Eastwood (president) and Dagmar HeckerWoodhead (ladies captain) Roger Moore has been elected captain of Skipton Golf Club, while ladies captain Dagmar Hecker-Woodhead has been reelected for a further six months.

Both captains, along with reelected ladies vice-captain Lorraine Raeburn, who will take over from Dagmar this August, will support Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope with their fundraising efforts this season.

Meanwhile, Sylvia Eastwood has been re-elected club president after becoming the first woman to ever hold the office.

Congratulations to this year’s captains and best of luck for the season.

Henrik Stenson ©Getty Images

l-r Melodie Goodall, Andy Langford, Julia Grainger, Ian Wilson Romanby Golf Club started the new golfing year with its annual Captains’ Drive In. Junior captain Melodie Goodall hit the opening tee shot, followed by ladies captain Julia Grainger, seniors captain Ian Wilson, and club captain Andy Langford.

A mixed Texas scramble event followed, with all the money raised on the day going to Herriot Hospice Homecare.

The event brought the total raised so far this year to more than £1,200.

Best of luck to this year’s captains.

Henrik Stenson has been named European captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, which takes place September 25-October 1, 2023.

The 2016 Open champion has enjoyed an impressive Ryder Cup career, helping Europe to victory in three of his five appearances as a player. He was also a vice-captain for the 2020 match.

The 45-year-old becomes the first Swede to captain Europe. He made his Ryder Cup debut at The K Club in 2006, securing the winning point in a dominant 18½-9½ victory. He was also a member of the victorious teams in 2014 at Gleneagles and 2018 at Le Golf National.

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