Northern Golfer #89 February/March 2022

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

MAKING HIS MARK Northern Ball Markers founder Dan Hase on the global appeal of the unique accessories created in his North East workshop

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WELCOME&CONTENTS It’s good to be back and looking ahead to a busy year of golf across the region at every level.

EDITOR Dean Bailey 01661 844 115 dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Alan Hedley 07570 797 566 ahedley@northerngolfer.co.uk Simon Olver Chris Paisley Sean Russell 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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Published by:

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

The first edition of the year is always a particularly exciting one.

This year is no different as we bring you details of 2022’s Northern Golfer events - the Champion of Champions in partnership with Brewin Dolphin coming up in April and May at Longhirst and George Washington, and the 21st year of our match Play Pairs tournament.

We also have news of national squad selections, the return of exciting events like the Junior Masters at Close House, and the expansion of the Northern Junior Golf Tour into Cheshire. We’ve also got news from Longhirst Hall as the club begins its 25th anniversary year, and a catch up with Andrew Scrimshaw - who has returned to Prudhoe Golf Club to take up the role of director of golf. And that’s just in Teeing Off !

It’s great to have our greenkeeping columnist, Simon Olver, back this month to discuss golf course master plans on page 21. We’ve also got Chris Paisley’s thoughts on his return to the DP World Tour, and Sean Russell’s advice for starting the season like the pros in Tour Tips.

The world of niche, independent golf brands has been growing rapidly across the UK following the success of creators over in the US, and it was fascinating to spend a day with one of the men at the forefront of this developing industry for this edition. Dan Hase created Northern Ball Markers from his garage workshop in late-2018 and has amassed thousands of social media followers and built a passionate, global following in the three years since. Read his story and take a look at some of his stunning work on pages 24-27.

The links courses of Northumberland are each beautiful examples of golf by the sea and this month I got the chance to play arguably the most fun course of the lot - Bamburgh Castle Golf Club - as you can read on pages 32-33.

It’s also a been a busy month for new equipment and we’ve dedicated four pages of this edition to rounding up the biggest new releases - check them out on pages 34-37 and be sure to pay a visit to your local pro shop to try them out ahead of the new season.

Warmer weather, club competitions and long days on the golf course are just around the corner. By the time we return in April, we’ll be in full flow and we’ll have a new Masters champion. Until then...

Dean Bailey, editor editor@northerngolfer.co.uk

04-05 CHAMPIONS The Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events are back

06-15 TEEING OFF

England selections, top events return, the latest club news, and lots more

17 TOUR LIFE

With Chris Paisley

19 TOUR TIPS

With caddy Sean Russell

21 ON COURSE With Simon Olver

30 MATCH PLAY PAIRS Entries now open for 2022

FRONT COVER

Northern Ball Markers founder Dan Hase on creating stunning custom golf accessories Pages 24-27

34 GOLFER GEAR

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The latest equipment news

32 COURSE PROFILE - BAMBURGH CASTLE

38 SPECIAL FOCUS

We visit three of Teesside’s best courses

44 COMPETITIONS

Win a golf day at Prudhoe, plus golf for four at Seaton Carew and Matfen Hall

46 FROM THE BUNKER Readers’ tales from around the region

NORTHERN GOLFER 03

CHAMPIONOFCHAMPIONS

Entries open for Champion of Champions events Northern Golfer’s Champion of Champions events set to take place at Longhirst Hall and George Washington

T

he Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events, presented in partnership with Brewin Dolphin, will return to open the region’s golfing calendar in 2022 - and entries are now open at www.northerngolfer.co.uk

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 Monday May 2.

Open to club champions crowned in the 2021 calendar year, entries for the event can now be submitted online. Thanks to the support of Brewin Dolphin, one of the largest British investment management and financial planning firms, there is no charge for competitors for these 18-hole tournaments.

The Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events welcome an elite

field of amateur golfers from across the North of England. The events – for men, women and juniors – will be open to club champions crowned in 2021 from clubs in Northumberland, Co Durham and Teesside along with selected clubs in the Borders, Cumbria and Yorkshire within Northern Golfer’s circulation area.

The region’s best amateur golfers have lifted the trophies since Northern Golfer launched the junior event in 2015, following the success of that tournament with the launch of the ladies event and the relaunch of the Men’s Champion of Champions in 2017.

In 2019, the last staging of the events, Whickham’s Faye Wheatley won the ladies title as Tyneside’s James Wilson won his second Junior Champion of Champions, and Garforth’s Josh Bassitt won the men’s title.

Champions can submit their entry forms online now - simply head over to www.northerngolfer.co.uk and click on the Events tab. Tee times will be offered on a first come, first served basis so don’t delay submitting your entry.

For more information, contact Dean Bailey, dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk 04 NORTHERN GOLFER

2017 junior champion Jospeh Robson

2018 men’s champion James Glenn

CHAMPIONOFCHAMPIONS

LADIES CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2019 – Faye Wheatley (Whickham) 2018 – Jess Baker (Gosforth Park Ladies) 2017 – Rebecca Ferguson (Tynemouth) JUNIOR CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2019 – James Wilson (Tyneside) 2018 – Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay) 2017 – Joseph Robson (Hexham) 2016 – Briony Bayles (Wynyard) 2015 – James Wilson (Tyneside)

2019 champions James Wilson (junior), Faye Wheatley (ladies) and Josh Bassitt (men’s) 2017 men’s champion Stewart Fell and 2017 ladies champion Rebecca Ferguson

2018 ladies champion Jess Baker and 2018 junior champion Rosie Belsham

MEN’S CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2019 – Josh Bassitt (Garforth) 2018 – James Glenn (Bishop Auckland) 2017 – Stewart Fell (Tynemouth) 2013 – Richard Aisbitt (Brancepeth Castle)* 2012 – Ricky Lee (Tyneside)* 2011 – Phil Ridden (City of Newcastle)* 2010 – Craig Penny (Newbiggin)* 2009 – Phil Ridden (City of Newcastle)* 2008 – Simon Lee (Newcastle United)* 2007 – Sandy Twynholm (Morpeth)* 1999 – Michael Nesbit (Westerhope)* 1998 – J E Handy (South Moor)* 1997 – R Wiggins (Ponteland)* 1996 – D Clark (Rothbury)* 1994 – C D Kilgour (Ravensworth)* 1993 – J Dryden (South Shields)* 1992 – S Philipson (Prudhoe)* 1991 – S Philipson (Prudhoe)* 1990 – I Donaldson (Arcot Hall)* 1989 – G Pickup (Arcot Hall)* 1988 – C Davison (Eaglescliffe)* 1987 – S Neil (Durham City)* 1986 – A Robertson (Seaton Carew)* 1985 – D Faulder (Blyth)* 1984 – J Hayes (Gosforth)* 1983 – J Barrett (Whickham)* 1982 – N Dunn (Tyneside)* 1981 – C Davison (Eaglescliffe)* 1980 – P Deeble (Alnmouth)* 1979 – P Deeble (Alnmouth)* 1978 – J Thomas (Ravensworth)* 1977 – B H Skipper (Eaglescliffe)* 1976 – J Hayes (Gosforth)* 1975 – J Angus (Warkworth)* 1974 – J W Ord (South Moor)* 1973 – D George (Whickham)* 1972 – D M Moffat (City of Newcastle)* 1971 – G Clark (Whitley Bay)* 1970 – R Clark (South Moor)* 1969 – G Clark (Whitley Bay)* 1968 – D McClelland (South Shields)* *Event run by The Journal

NORTHERN GOLFER 05

TEEINGOFF

Chris Pascall

Pascall honoured Durham’s Chris Pascall has been honoured by England Golf for her contribution to coaching excellence.

England Golf presidentelect Chris has spent a lifetime in the game, playing for her country, captaining England teams, and encouraging future generations in Durham.

In 2023 Chris will serve as England Golf president and along with Yorkshire’s Steve Robinson, she was honoured at the England Golf 2021 Performance Awards.

Chris said: “This has come out of the blue. I have worked with England Golf for many, many years and I enjoy volunteering and I think a lot of people don’t appreciate how much you can get out of volunteering - I wish a lot more people would put themselves forward for jobs.”

Record numbers playing golf Research from The R&A and Sports Marketing Surveys (SMS) shows golf has enjoyed a significant increase in popularity worldwide since 2016 with more than 5.5 million additional golfers taking up the sport.

The number of total golfers globally has increased to 66.6 million, surpassing the previous high mark of 61.6 million set in 2012.

The measure includes club members and non-members.

06 NORTHERN GOLFER

Maggie Whitehead (right) with members of the England girls’ squad

North’s best named in England squad

N

orthumberland’s Maggie Whitehead and Rachel Gourley feature in the 10-strong England girls’ squad for 2022.

Maggie and Rachel are among the four players who have retained their places from last season’s setup.

The Northumberland duo return alongside Patience Rhodes from Somerset and Surrey’s Lottie Woad.

All four girls enjoyed outstanding

wins in 2021, including Rachel’s victory in the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship at Walton Heath and course record-breaking performance at Fulford in The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship.

Meanwhile, Maggie claimed her first national title with victory in the English Girls’ Under 16 Championship at Morecambe.

The squad also features six newcomers - Buckinghamshire’s

Rosie Bee Kim and Olivia Lee, Shropshire’s Isla McDonald O’Brien, Lincolnshire’s Ellise Rymer, Ellen Yates from Surrey, and Nottinghamshire’s Amelia Wan. Rachel made her first England appearance of the season in January as part of a four-player team at the Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship - finishing in a tie for 38th place as Lottie led the England team with a T10 finish.

EuroPro Tour to return to Slaley Hall The PGA EuroPro Tour has confirmed its 2022 schedule with 15 regular season events and the Tour Championship offering more than £1,000,000 in prize money. There will also be five Challenge Tour cards on offer to the leading players at the end of the season.

2022 will be the EuroPro’s biggest season so far with events in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - including Slaley Hall in Northumberland.

Tour CEO Dan Godding said: “I am delighted to be able to deliver such an exciting schedule for our members. Last year, we saw the standard go up several notches and we cannot wait to see what 2022 will bring.”

The tour season will begin at the end of May and visit Slaley for The QHotels Collection Championship July 27-29.

Players to watch this season include Tyneside Golf Clubbased James Wilson, who earned

a full card for 2022 through his T22 finish at Qualifying School.

He will be joined by Ramsideattached Jack Trewhitt, who also finished T22 at Q School.

Christian Brown and Will Nimmo will also compete on the tour in 2022 following their progression to the final stage of Q School.

Rhys Thompson, who made it to last season’s Tour Championship, and 2021 Walker Cup player Matty Lamb will also be ones to watch this term.

TEEINGOFF

Junior Tour set for biggest year yet

T

he Northern Junior Golf Tour is set to expand in 2022 with five new Rookie Tour events in Cheshire.

Setup in 2009, more than 5,000 juniors from across the north of England have taken part in the tour’s events to date.

More than 450 youngsters took part in 2021 and organisers hope more than 500 junior golfers will take part this season as the ninehole Rookie Tour - in association with PING - hosts events in six counties. Rookie Tour events are open to players up to the age of 14, and are split into various age and experience groups. The leading players in the season-long order of merits will then head to Ramside Hall for the tour’s Grand Final on Wednesday August 31.

As well as the new events in Cheshire, tournaments will take place across Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria, Yorkshire and

Lancashire throughout the season.

In 2022, the tour will host a total of 30 Rookie Tour events as well as 11 18-hole Masters Tour events with multiple age categories of boys and girls competing for order of merit points to make it to the NJGT Masters Grand Final - also on Wednesday August 31 at Ramside.

NJGT founder Jason Budd said: “We launched the tour in 2009 to provide fun and competitive opportunities for young golfers to get involved in the sport, make new friends and play different courses.

They are open to everyone - from newcomers to more experienced junior player with a low handicap.”

Events cost from £12.50, with every entrant receiving a free PING cap. For full details of each event - including the gender, age and experience level categories; dates; venues; competition formats; and tour membership information - visit www. northernjuniorgolftour.co.uk

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NORTHERN GOLFER 07

TEEINGOFF

Junior Masters returns

Eaglescliffe to host Junior Invitational Eaglescliffe Golf Club will host its first Junior Invitational on Wednesday August 24.

The event is open to all clubs in the Teesside and District Union of Golf Clubs, with each club invited to send two juniors to participate in the 18-hole strokeplay tournament. Clubs can put forward juniors or stage qualifying events to find their representatives.

Contact admin@ eaglescliffegolfclub.co.uk

T

he 2022 Junior Masters is set to be the biggest to date, with qualifying events in eight counties across the UK leading to the event’s final at Close House in October.

The Junior Masters began in 2017 as part of the British Masters.

Since then Close House, with the support of attached professional Lee Westwood and PING, has grown the event to make it as accessible and exciting as possible for junior golfers from across the UK. The 2017 event was won by Close House’s Henry Joynson while Eaglescliffe’s Solomon Canning lifted the trophy in 2018, and Delamere Forest’s Aaron Mohun won in 2019.

“I am a really proud supporter of the Junior Masters,” said Lee. “They are great events to grow the game and are played at some top courses in the UK. Providing young golfers with competitive opportunities is invaluable, and everyone involved in these events is extremely committed

Lee Westwood with junior golfers at Close House to growing the game. It is a privilege to be involved.”

Nine qualifying events will take place across the UK, with one girl and two boys from each age group (12 and under, 15 and under, and 18 and under) qualifying for the event’s final at Close House in October.

The nine qualifying events are at: Worksop GC (Nottinghamshire)

on May 30; Close House (Northumberland) on May 31; Middlesbrough (Yorkshire) on July 22; Lancaster (Lancashire) on August 4; Durham City (Durham) on August 22; Brampton (Cumbria) on August 23; Bradford (Yorkshire) on August 25; Ladybank (Fife) on September 4; and Thonock Park (Lincolnshire) on September 4.

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TEEINGOFF

New team to lead Durham

D

arlington’s David Proud has been installed as the new president of the Durham County Golf Union, while Wearside’s Howard Walton has taken on the role of county captain, and Michael Kelly has been confirmed as the union’s new secretary following the organisation’s AGM at Houghton-leSpring Golf Club.

David succeeds Chester-leStreet’s Tony Garrity, who served three years as president instead of the normal two because of the Covid pandemic. He will also continue in his role as treasurer. Former Durham County Matchplay champion Howard will lead the county’s men’s team as captain in 2022, while Michael’s appointment was also confirmed at the meeting.

On his appointment, Michael said: “It is an immense honour and a privilege to be appointed as secretary. I will endeavour to serve the executive committee, the

James Wilson (left) and James Harper

Winners’ circle David Proud (left) and Tony Garrity. Inset: Michael Kelly clubs and all golfers in Co Durham diligently and professionally.”

Meanwhile, a new trophy was also unveiled at the meeting, commemorating Edward Bunting.

The trophy will be presented to the Northern Counties Golf Union to be played for in the Men’s Qualifying Championship (AKA The Big Six).

Edward, who was a member

of Seaton Carew and Brancepeth Castle as well as The R&A, passed away in 2020 at the age of 84. He was the county’s longest serving past president. He also served as chairman of coaching, county captain and county president as well as serving his clubs, the Teesside and District Union of Golf Clubs, and the Northern Counties Golf Union.

2022

Open Competitions

1879

TYNESIDE

GOLF CLUB

Wednesday 16th March

Gents Open

Sunday 22nd May

Seniors Open

Tuesday 12th July

https://www.brsgolf.com /tyneside/opens_home.php https://www.golfempire.co.uk /golf-clubs/tyneside-golf-club.htm

For more information please contact:

Peter Smith - General Manager peter.smith@tynesidegolfclub.co.uk

0191 413 2742

Sunday 31st July Friday 5th August Wednesday 17th August Tuesday 6th September Wednesday 12th October

Seniors Team Open Gents Team Open Ladies Team Open Junior Open

Seniors Open Autumn Team Open

£80.00 per team £40.00 per pair £40.00 per pair

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Tuesday 7th June

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Sunday 24th April

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2022_TGC_OPEN COMPS_198X136mm.indd 1

James Wilson and James Harper shared top spot in the third NE/NW PGA Dunstanburgh Winter Pairs Pro Am. The Tyneside and Wynyard-based pros both shot two under-par rounds as George Cowan and Michael Pilgrim shared third place.

The fourball betterball pairs series continues at Dunstanburgh in February and March. See www.nenwpga. co.uk for more information.

4BBB Stableford

£40.00 per pair

4BBB Stableford Age 55+ Team of 4 (Best 2 Stableford scores out of 4) Age 55+

Team of 4 (Best 2 Stableford scores out of 4) Team of 4 (Best 2 Stableford scores out of 4) Single Strokeplay 4BBB Stableford Age 55+

Team of 4 Texas Scramble

£80.00 per team £80.00 per team £70.00 per team

£15.00 per junior £40.00 per pair £80.00 per team

‘Cherish our history, embrace change’ NORTHERN GOLFER 09 22/11/2021 12:59:14

TEEINGOFF

Change afoot at Whitburn Whitburn Golf Club has set out an ambitious course improvement plan put together by architect Jonathan Gaunt.

The club, which overlooks the picturesque Marsden Bay and the mouth of the River Tyne, has been working with Jonathan on an extensive proposal to modernise the Lizard Lane course.

A club spokesperson said: “The improvements are not just about lengthening the course, they are designed to improve the challenge faced for a fair test of golf.”

Among the proposals are new tees for the third, sixth and seventh holes, while a change of playing order for holes 15-18 will create a spectacular par three played from a cliff top tee.

Trial events and member consultation meetings are continuing in the coming months with more news expected later this season.

Happy birthday

L

onghirst Hall Golf Club will celebrate its 25th birthday in 2022 with a series of special events.

Now a 36-hole complex with one of the largest memberships in the north of England, Longhirst’s journey began when North Eastbased businessman Tommy Dawson purchased the former open-cast mine near Morpeth in 1994. The first golf course opened in 1997 before being expanded into two golf courses, the Lakes and the Dawson, in 2010.

Director of golf Graham Chambers, who has been part of the Longhirst story since 1995, said: “Tommy’s vision to create Longhirst back in the early 90s was ambitious, but to see how much further we’ve been able to go in 25 years is truly remarkable.

“We’ve had some incredible events - from eight years of the EuroPro Tour with the likes of Tyrrell Hatton, Aaron Rai and Marcus Armitage taking part to England cricket and Newcastle United events.

“However, we’re most proud of the successful business we’ve been able to build and our longstanding relationships with our partners and members. We’ve always pushed ourselves to do more and offer more to golfers, and that passion is as strong today as it was when we opened in 1997.”

As well as creating two respected golf courses, both hosts of multiple EuroPro Tour events, the Longhirst team has helped drive innovation in the North East and the wider industry.

“Our goal was always to create a very modern golf club,” adds

Graham. “Ideas like flexible, pay as you play memberships were very new in the early 90s. Tommy saw that opportunity and we’ve been at the forefront of offering diverse membership opportunities since.

We continue to develop and learn from best practices across the UK and overseas so we can deliver a uniquely Longhirst experience to our members and guests.

“I always hoped this would be a life-long job and I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity to deliver Tommy’s ambitious plans. We’ve not stood still in 25 years, there’s always a project on the go, and we’ve got more exciting plans in the works… watch this space!”

The club will be hosting a number of events for members in 2022 as well as a special golf day to mark its 25th birthday on July 1.

Often described as the most picturesque course in England, the stunning views and warm welcome in our clubhouse makes Bamburgh Castle Golf Club a must for the visiting golfer.

Visitors welcome Weekdays and Sundays To book a tee time contact the club by e-mail sec@bamburghcastlegolfclub.co.uk or telephone 01668 214378/214321

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club The Wynding, Bamburgh, NE69 7DE www.bamburghcastlegolfclub.co.uk

10 NORTHERN GOLFER

TEEINGOFF

Busy year ahead for NE/NW PGA

T

he region’s PGA professionals are set for a packed schedule of pro ams at home and abroad, plus an exciting mix of professional tournaments in 2022.

A total of 27 club pro ams will take place across the North East and North West this season along with two overseas pro ams, the early-season Pro Series, and five professional tournaments - The Northumberland & Durham Open at Morpeth, the new Sunderland of Scotland Masters at Westerhope, the NE/NW PGA Championship at Middlesbrough, the Tour Championship at Brancepeth, and the Matchplay Championship at Slaley Hall.

Steve Harrison, secretary of the NE/NW PGA, said: “We’ve got a busy year ahead and we’re looking forward to getting started.

“Our pro ams are the backbone of the association. We’re a not-forprofit organisation and we rely on

2021 Matchplay and Tour Championship winner Mark Ridley

2021 Northumberland & Durham Open winner David Clark

2021 PGA Championship winner James Maw (right) with 2021 NE/NW PGA captain Stewart Pilgrim

hosting a lot of events and having the amazing support of our amateur players, the clubs which host us, and our incredible sponsors. We’re indebted to all those who continue to support us year after year.”

As well as the regular events, the new 36-hole Sunderland of Scotland Masters tournament will take place

at Westerhope Golf Club on June 27.

“Launching a new event with the support of Sunderland of Scotland will be a big highlight of the year,” added Steve. “Our prize funds are set to increase by 35% in 2022, which is a fantastic opportunity for the professionals in our region. The talent in our fields was remarkable

in 2021, with a diverse mix of winners. We’ve got some exciting players joining our ranks and I’m looking forward to seeing who comes out on top this season.”

To keep up to date with the NE/NW PGA, visit nenwpga. co.uk and follow @nenwpga on Facebook and Instagram.

Open dates 2022:

• Seniors Team – Tuesday 21st June • Pro-Am (sponsored by SG Petch) – Friday 22nd July • Ladies Team – Thursday 25th August • Seniors Pairs – Tuesday 6th September

www.blackwellgrangegolf.com

Tel : 01325 464458

Booking opens 1st March 2022 : www.blackwellgrangegolf.com/opendates NORTHERN GOLFER 11

GEORGE WASHINGTON

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TEEINGOFF

Andrew Scrimshaw

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ndrew Scrimshaw has been appointed director of golf at Prudhoe Golf Club.

PGA professional Andrew started his golfing journey at the Northumberland club as a junior before turning pro. Having returned in late-2021, he is looking to develop the club’s offering to members while inspiring more to visit Prudhoe and take up the game.

“My heart has always been at Prudhoe and coming back to take up this role was a fantastic opportunity,” he says. “I know the club and its members well. We’ve got a great team of staff and committee members, and I’m excited to support the club’s future development.”

As well as focusing on increasing a variety of revenue streams and running the club, Andrew will also continue to offer tuition to both members and non-members across all ability levels and ages.

“I initially returned to Prudhoe as a coach and that’s gone really well so far,” he adds. “I want to continue to develop the junior academy and relaunch the junior competitions every Saturday as the club re-enters the junior league in 2022. We’ll also be working with local schools to bring in more junior golfers and we’ve got ambitious plans to grow our female membership in the months ahead too.”

Andrew - who will combine the role with competing locally and nationally in 2022 - has set ambitious targets to improve on and off course facilities, offer more to members, and welcome more people to the club.

“Our short-term plans include increasing the size of our greenkeeping team and delivering more for our near-capacity membership through some new events. We have a popular club with a local membership and we want to deliver more for our members while growing our offering to guests including now welcoming societies on weekends.

“We’re also starting to explore long-term plans for the club, particularly in the clubhouse and I’m looking forward to using some of my experience from playing at a high level around the world to drive the club’s development across the board in the months ahead.”

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Burgham Park Golf Club, Near Felton, Morpeth, Northumberland. NE659QP 01670-787898 email: burghamparkgolfclub@gmail.com www.burghamparkgolfclub.co.uk NORTHERN GOLFER 13

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VISIT LINKTR.EE/NEGOLFER 14 NORTHERN GOLFER

Simon Robinson

McClaren academy to expand in 2022

T

he Steve McClaren Golf Academy is set to grow in 2022 following a successful first two years for its players.

The academy - launched in 2020 by the former England, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United manager - will be hosting a selection day for new players at Close House on February 24 from 10am.

The day is aimed at juniors under the age of 11, who will join a new cohort of players. Juniors aged 11-15 can also try out to join the current academy.

The academy is run by PGA professional Simon Robinson, a former tour player turned elite-level coach to DP World Tour players; strength and conditioning coach Stuart Parnaby, who works with top golfers including PGA Tour member Callum Tarren; and sports psychologist Josh McClaren, who has worked with a number of leading sportspeople including Women’s Super League players.

Simon said: “Being involved in this programme has been amazing. The commitment and energy of the kids is inspiring, and I can’t thank Steve enough for having the vision to create the programme.”

The current squad includes Toby Mitford, Tom Hartshorne, Millie Hixon, Ben Mawson and Callum Brown. Their list of achievements to date include a Durham junior championship, an 11-year-old reaching a two handicap, and a growing list of national and international honours.

As well as delivering sessions for the older group of players in 2022, the team is looking to identify the next generation of academy players.

“The aim of the programme is to launch the careers of elite golfers and the professionals of the future though specially tailored fortnightly sessions with our team,” added Simon. “Being part of the academy is a big commitment, but our aim is to identify and fully support a few selected players with everything they need to make it to the very top of the game.”

For more information and to take part in the selection day at Close House on February 24, email simon.robinson@closehouse.co.uk

On the move Whitley Bay Golf Club has appointed Martin Woods as course manager.

Martin joins the club from Bedlingtonshire, and brings 27 years’ experience in the sports turf industry to the team.

He said: “I’m very proud to be joining a great team at one of the region’s premier golf clubs and I’m excited to deliver further developments to an already

impressive course.”

Stuart Lynn, club chair, added: “On behalf of our members, I’m delighted to welcome Martin to our club. Martin is a well-respected golf course manager and his experience and reputation further strengthens the team at Whitley Bay.”

TEEINGOFF

Growing the game

S

ocial enterprise Golf in Society has teamed up with venues across the North East to help people living with chronic illnesses such as dementia and Parkinson’s Disease enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of golf.

Setup six years ago, Golf in Society delivers sessions using short courses and practice facilities for people suffering from a range of health conditions.

This year, sessions will take place across the UK, including in the North East at Wearside Golf Club, Matfen Hall, Morpeth Family Golf Centre, and Cocken Lodge.

The social enterprise’s work in the region is being co-ordinated by Anthony Etchells, who was inspired to get involved by his dad, Eddy.

Anthony said: “Golf in Society has been growing across the country but it has never made it to the North East until now. My dad suffered

Alex Wrigley

Wrigley third in UAE from both dementia and Parkinson’s, and he always wanted to play golf but there was nothing in the region that could accommodate him. He is my inspiration for wanting to get involved in the project and bring it to the North East.

“The sessions aim to help people in a number of ways, including the physical side of golf and the mental and social wellbeing benefits of being out in a green space socialising with others - something which can really help people with dementia.”

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As well as providing a safe and enjoyable session for those taking part, Anthony also hopes to offer a respite for carers during the twohour sessions, which are delivered by Anthony and trained volunteers.

For information on how to take part in the sessions in the North East and how to apply to be a volunteer, contact Anthony by email on anthonye. golfinsociety@gmail.com or tel 07984 374 441 www.golfinsociety.com

Hartlepool’s Alex Wrigley finished tied-third as Chris Gane continued his success at Al Ain Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates - a closing 61 earning him a fourth AESGC International Pro Am title a row.

Chris led the field with his course record-equalling final round as overnight leader Johanna Gustavsson shot 67 to finish second.

Alex, a former winner of the event, finished in a tie with Sweden’s Jesper Karlsson as South Moor’s Mark Ridley finished in sixth place.

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Please Telephone Andrew Scrimshaw on 01661 832446 (option 2) or email: andy.scrimshaw@prudhoegolfclub.co.uk www.prudhoegolfclub.co.uk

NORTHERN GOLFER 15

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TOURLIFE

Chris Paisley

A fresh start Chris Paisley on his off-season work and getting back out on the DP World Tour

H

appy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful festive season, I spent mine in Orlando with my family.

All in all, I had a two-month break from competitive golf. There were some events scheduled in South Africa in December, but a travel ban from South Africa to the UK put an end to those very quickly. There were some pretty rough stories from guys trying to make it home with quarantines, cancelled flights, five stop trips, and thousands of pounds spent. I’m glad I wasn’t caught up in the mess!

As for my break, it was fantastic.

I’m appreciating family time more and more as I get older. To be able to spend such a long stretch with my wife Keri and daughter Ella was a joy. Ella is three now and it is such a fun age. She made Christmas so special, and it still blows my mind that she is our daughter. Spending a day with her also gives me an even greater appreciation for what Keri does, looking after Ella when I’m away for long stretches must be exhausting. I’m done in after a morning with her!

As for golf, it was a busy off-season.

My form in the second half of last season was dreadful. I lost a lot of confidence in my long game and felt that I needed some hard work over the winter to begin repairing that. I had gotten into some

bad habits which slowly chipped away at my confidence as the ball just wasn’t doing what I thought it should be doing.

Identifying the issue was fairly straight forward and even fixing it is simple, on the driving range at least. The hard part is being able to make the new move in a tournament, under pressure, and have total trust in it. You can swing it perfect, but if the belief and trust are not there, I may as well be hitting it left-handed.

I made the cut in my first tournament of 2022, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. There were some poor shots, but a lot of good ones. The run of holes I played at the end of my second round to make the cut were a shot of confidence. I hit every shot where I wanted while I was on the cut mark - not an easy thing to do. I had a poor weekend, mainly a result of a bad week on the greens, which is unusual for me.

I am always extremely hard on myself, which has made this run of form tough.

I’m in a position where I need to take as many positives as possible and look at the negatives objectively, which is something I have never done as well as I’d like. I am doing my best though. I’m on a plateau working as hard as I can, not seeing the results, but I know the scales will tip sooner or later and we’ll see some much better performances.

NORTHERN GOLFER 17

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TOURTIPS

Sean Russell

Back to work Tour caddy Sean Russell shares his advice for making the best possible start to the season

T

he Christmas break is generally the longest holiday for caddies and gives us a chance to settle down at home - though we inevitably have to switch carrying golf bags for carrying shopping bags, decorations and anything else we’ve missed out on in the last few months.

Our first event back in January is traditionally in the Middle East on the DP World Tour.

With so long away from tournament golf, up to a couple of months for some players, this is a great time to get their equipment checked over. A few players will dabble in changing a grip or adjusting a lie angle, but the vast majority leave this to the specialist club fitters from their manufacturers, who travel the world with the tour. They can build any club to a player’s specification and then the players will work on the range to check, recheck and adjust as required. For us caddies, these sessions normally start off quite busy as the players don’t tend to keep their clubs very clean without us around.

After that, we’ll just be there to watch and

take it in - these can be long days in the sun if something isn’t working properly.

While we’re definitely not coaches or expected to be, we’re pretty observant and see immediately when something has moved or needs attention from a coach after a break. For many players, this will be their first in-person catch up with their coach for a couple of months. Primarily, this is a time for a check in and tune up.

They work on the same basics we all should - alignment, posture, ball positions etc - ensuring they start the season as well as possible.

The first week back is also a busy time for the technicians from each of the manufacturers on tour. January is a busy time in equipment with new launches to try, and the brands are always keen to get players to put their latest stuff straight into play. This is all tested with launch monitors and while a few guys will put a lot of emphasis on feel, the vast majority will base a decision to change equipment purely on the TrackMan data. They really don’t leave anything to chance in these sessions, spending hours testing different

setups if necessary, and will only make a switch when they know it’s worth it.

So, what can the amateur golfer learn from all this? Firstly, keep your clubs clean (I know I say this a lot, but it is so important!).

This is also the time of year to check everything is in good order - check your lofts and lies haven’t moved after a year of playing and practising, and check in with your coach to work on your fundamentals.

It’s also a great time to test new equipment, not least because it’s exciting to try the latest kit in the pro shop. When testing, try to emulate what the pros do test things out with an expert club fitter and use data to ensure new equipment works correctly for you. Picking a club off the shelf or mixing and matching driver heads and shafts sold in the locker room isn’t how the pros do it - and neither should you.

Take some time ahead of the new season to work on your fundamentals and equipment the way the pros do, I have no doubt it will improve your scores come April.

NORTHERN GOLFER 19

ONCOURSE

Simon Olver

Planning for success Golf course master planning with Simon Olver, course manager at Ganton Golf Club

Y

ou may have read about projects being delivered as part of your club’s master plan - but what does this document cover, who puts it together, and why is it necessary?

Master planning is an important process in the management of every golf course - from small courses with limited budgets to large clubs hosting national tournaments. At Ganton, we’re in the latter group but, while our planning must factor in big events and high expectations, the way in which the plan is created, developed and delivered is much the same in every golf club.

A golf course master plan is an overview - a wide-ranging document which details the history of the club, the work of the golf course’s architect, and plans for development. At Ganton, the aim of our five-year master plan is to return elements of the original architecture while adding a modern twist. The course has been shaped by some of golf ’s greatest architects and it’s incredibly important to cherish that history while ensuring

we continue to deliver a high-level tournament golf course.

Our plan has been created in consultation with our attached architect, Martin Ebert from Mackenzie & Ebert.

The 200-page document includes a hole-by-hole analysis of each hole and its development over time using aerial photographs, and details on how each will be adjusted to deliver our aims.

Using these detailed drawings, a list of priorities is drawn up by the club with an annual plan to deliver major works each winter. At Ganton, this work has included creating new championship tees on the fourth and 10th holes; adding a new general play tee on the 17th to shorten the hole for club golfers; and tightening bunkering on our par fives.

From here, it’s the greenkeeping team’s task, working with contractors where necessary, to deliver the changes. We’ll prioritise work based on several factors including budgets, conditions, man hours required, and the position of the work within the overall scheme. For example,

we look to host our biggest tournaments on a two-year rotation, so we minimise disruptive work in the preceding winter months and deliver large projects in the winter following a big event.

Master plans cover large periods of time, up to 10 or 20 years, and these plans should be reviewed and updated regularly.

The master plan, while incredibly detailed, does not cover the delivery of playing conditions. A separate golf course policy plan and set of standard operating procedures covers all our internal needs and serves as the go-to document for dayto-day greenkeeping.

When creating master plans and delivering on-course improvements, communication is key. Boards and committees must be able to effectively communicate to members while also facilitating communication between the greenkeeping team, consultants, and external contractors.

While the greatest plans can be written down, their delivery hinges on working together to deliver a better golf course.

NORTHERN GOLFER 21

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19THHOLE

Dean Bailey

New year’s resolutions Dean Bailey sets out his on-course resolutions for 2022 - goals every club golfer can aspire to

T

he new year brings with it a chance to look ahead and set new, positive ambitions.

On the golf course, I have a few personal ones, but I also have a few which are applicable to every club golfer and will make us all better club members in 2022.

Most club members can’t commit the time to taking on tasks with specific time commitments, but we can all play a part in keeping our courses in top condition.

Some of you will do all these things already; others - like me - will do most of them most of the time; and some will never have thought about any of them. As we head into the season and conditions improve, we’ll begin to expect more from our courses. To help our greenkeepers and ensure our courses are in their best condition, let’s all play our part.

Repairing pitchmarks is the easiest thing we can all do to improve greens. A mark repaired within 10 minutes will fully recover within three days while an unrepaired one will take over a week to heal. Carry a tool or use a tee to repair your own pitchmark and keep an eye out for others while you’re there - it only takes a few seconds! Be sure to repair the mark correctly as a poorly repaired mark takes just as long to heal as an unrepaired one - take your tool (or a tee) and insert the prongs into the turf at the rim of the depression.

Using a gentle, twisting motion, push the edge of the mark towards the centre then flatten by gently tapping with the sole of your putter. If we can all repair two marks on every green, we’ll see a vast improvement in no time.

Divots also need repairing promptly in order to heal properly. Pop these back in and press down with your foot to save the angst of finding one in the centre of the fairway on your next hole (while we can’t promise you won’t find a divot, every bit of good karma helps). When your club hosts a divot party, try to make the time to take part as many hands make this task a lot easier and you’ll often get a bite to eat or a pint for your walk around the course.

In my experience in the last few months, bunker raking has become a rare phenomenon. While rakes have returned to courses after Covid restrictions, I still regularly see bunkers in poor condition with players either not bothering to rake them at all or making a half-hearted attempt to drag their feet through the sand as they leave. Let’s get back into repairing bunkers to the standard we expect to find them in.

Grab the rake, smooth your own marks, and get any others that have been left. Again, the good karma won’t do you any harm! My own resolution is to take the time when the course is quieter to tidy up any bunkers I walk past, even if I haven’t visited them. If just a few members do this every day we’ll have far fewer poor lies in the sand in 2022.

For many of you reading this column, these will be completely obvious things you do all the time. But think about whether you do these every time you play, just some of the time, or rarely. If we all take a step forward on each of these fronts, our course conditions will improve a great deal and our greenkeepers will be able to focus their time on using their skills rather than tidying up after us.

NORTHERN GOLFER 23

24 NORTHERN GOLFER

COVERINTERVIEW

Making his mark Northern Ball Markers founder Dan Hase on the growing community seeking out unique golf accessories, and how he created a business with international reach from his North Tyneside workshop

G

olfers spend hours playing the game, working on their swings and immersing themselves in golf. Their passion often extends further too - some follow tours and top pros or delve into the intricacies of instruction while others explore the history of the sport, travel to courses around the globe or seek out unique, independent brands to indulge their passion.

The number of independent golf brands in the UK is growing following the success of brands in the US. Small producers are turning out exquisite metalwork, customising alignment sticks, using exotic materials to craft custom putters and wedges, creating one-off headcovers, and so much more.

For Dan Hase, this passion led to the creation of Northern Ball Markers.

“I’d played golf since my early 20s and I’d been a collector of golf accessories for a while,” he explains. “Seeing what brands were creating out in the US inspired me to explore if there was a market in the UK. “I started out making ball markers as a hobby in late-2018, doing a few for friends and myself before the business gained some traction and things really got going in early 2019.”

Having started out with a simple set of metal stamps at home, Dan quickly progressed to using a laser to create his designs - removing all restrictions on his creativity.

“It’s been a three-year journey and I’ve still got a lot to learn,” says Dan. “I’ve taught myself how to use the design software, run the laser, and how to work with various materials. Each metal is very different, they age and tarnish differently and react to the laser and finishes in unique ways. The various processes, down to how you prepare the metal or finish the markers, help to create what I hope is a beautifully finished product that people are proud to show off to their playing partners.”

Carrying out the work himself, much of the finishing still done by hand, Dan is meticulous with everything he creates.

“I like to see them finished exactly how I imagined and then packaged with a few extras and maybe a hand-written note to add to the experience when they arrive in the post,” he adds. “I’ve developed my techniques and processes to produce high quality products and I’m always looking to refine what I do and push myself to produce more creative and unique items. I take a lot of pride in receiving feedback from those golfers that have been supportive of the business.”

Based in North Shields, 35-yearold Dan produces custom one-off ball markers as well as small batches of limited-edition designs. His limitededition releases have included designs inspired by hallowe’en, Remembrance Sunday, lateral flow tests, TV shows Tiger King and Squid Game, and major

NORTHERN GOLFER 25

COVERINTERVIEW championships including sandwichshaped markers ahead of 2021’s Open Championship at Royal St George’s, Sandwich, Kent.

“When it comes to custom designs, I’ve seen a lot. Some people choose important dates or their children’s names, while I’ve done markers for sportspeople with nods to their record-breaking achievements,” adds Dan. “The inspiration for the limitededition releases comes from lots of different places. The major championship-themed releases have been popular and I’m always on the lookout for a new spark - whether it’s a TV show or something happening in the world. I’ve got some very passionate collectors and keeping them engaged in what I’m doing is an important part of the business.

“While some will spend their money on a green fee or a night out, others will buy a ball marker they’ll cherish for years to come. There’s a growing market of golfers who are passionate about this aspect of the game and want to support independent creators, and I work hard to reflect that same passion in everything I do.”

Northern Ball Markers has grown rapidly since late-2018 with Dan amassing thousands of social media followers and building a catalogue of work which is in the hands of golfers in every corner of the planet.

Having built the brand slowly as a side business, he went full-time in January 2020.

“The first steps were pretty slow and steady as I learned about what I was doing and grew the brand. I was also working full-time when I started, which allowed me to let things grow organically.

“One of the best things has been getting to know some of my customers and to still have them onboard today, buying products and supporting everything I do, is amazing. I’ve built relationships with guys out in South Africa and the US as well as across the UK. I’ve also sent markers to Mexico, most of Europe and even South Korea, which blows my mind.

“It’s had its challenges though.

The first six months of 2020 were tough, but I found my feet and have really enjoyed developing my own skillset alongside the business.

It’s a lot of fun seeing ideas come to fruition, being able to deliver 26 NORTHERN GOLFER

COVERINTERVIEW

exciting projects, and working on new areas of the business.”

While Dan has continued to produce custom markers along with his limited-edition releases and orders from several golf clubs, he has also branched out into other areas - creating clothing and headwear, towels, headcovers and tees to service his growing number of dedicated followers and allow them to show their appreciation for the brand.

“There are always projects and ideas on the go,” he says. “I never wanted to have a business that sat on stock and didn’t launch anything new for six months, I want to keep things fresh and exciting. Being my own boss allows me to come up with ideas and launch them quickly, but there’s also a lot of satisfaction in developing an idea over a long time. A few ideas have been in my sketchbook for a couple of years and they are just waiting for the right time to be created and released.

“Getting products into people’s hands and hearing their feedback

has been great. I still get a big kick from seeing one of my tees on a tee box or someone wearing a Northern Ball Markers hat - I don’t think that buzz is ever going to go away.”

As well as offering him a chance to work on something he’s passionate about, launching his own business has also given Dan the chance to work flexibly and spend more time with his young sons. He’s also had the support of his wife, friends, and extended family over the last three years. “Working around family life is great,” he adds.

“I’m around a lot more to experience the boys growing up, which is something I feel grateful for. I’ll do the nursery run, spend a few hours in the workshop, then spend the afternoon with the family before putting the boys to bed and catching up on some more work.

“The support I’ve had from all my family has been amazing too. My wife and mother-in law help me with packing up orders in busy periods.

My mum supports me with admin tasks and my dad, who isn’t a golfer,

is a big fan of the business, collecting most of my products. He is always asking me for pictures of future releases and wanting to find out what I’m working on. All the family have lent a hand at some point in the last three years, which is a huge help when running a small business.”

As well as his sketchbook full of ideas, Dan has exciting plans for the development of the business in 2022, including hosting his first golf day at Woolley Park in Wakefield.

“The community of golfers who are supporting independent brands and collecting unique accessories is incredibly passionate. I’ve also built good relationships with some of the guys running other UK-based brands and we support each other quite a bit. We’re all facing the same challenges and sharing our experiences is really important.

“The golf day will be a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to meeting some of my customers and people I’ve built friendships with from across the industry.

“As for development, I’ve got

some exciting plans for my own products and some very special limited- edition markers coming up as I push the limits of what I can do with the laser and the materials.

I’ve also been working on some collaborations and getting those off the ground will be exciting.

“Golf ’s culture is changing all the time - just look at how many people are wearing hoodies on the course and how many brands are catering for the demand. I’m incredibly passionate about creating things which spark conversation on the golf course and on social media. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the game and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”

It’s been a whirlwind three years for Dan and having heard just some of his ideas for the future, we can’t wait to see what he creates in the months and years ahead.

To see some of Dan’s work, follow @northernballmarkers on Instagram and Facebook, and visit www.northernballmarkers.co.uk NORTHERN GOLFER 27

2022DIARY

Save the date The 2022 season is just around the corner, which means it’s time to plan for the key events coming up this year locally, nationally, and internationally MARCH Mar 30-Apr 2 Mar 30-Apr 2 Mar 31-Apr 3

JUNE Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National European Nations Championship at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Chevron Championship at Mission Hills

APRIL Apr 7-10 Apr 22-24 Apr 23 Apr 29-May 1

May 5-8 May 9-13 May 9-13 May 10 May 14-22 May 19-22 May 19-22 May 25-26 May 27-29 May 28-29 May 29 May 29 May 30 May 31

28 NORTHERN GOLFER

Jun 16-19 Jun 18 Jun 18

The Masters Tournament at Augusta National R&A Girls U16 Amateur at Enville Northern Golfer Men’s Champion of Champions at Longhirst Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes

MAY May 2

Jun 2-5 Jun 10-12 Jun 13-18

Northern Golfer Ladies and Junior Champion of Champions at George Washington British Masters at The Belfry English Senior Women’s Amateur at High Post English Senior Men’s Amateur at The Leicestershire Brabazon Trophy North Qualifier at Pannal Durham County Matchplay Championship at Beamish PGA Championship at Southern Hills Brabazon Trophy at Saunton The Lagonda at Gog Magog Durham Ladies County Championship at Seaton Carew Northumberland Strokeplay Championship at Dunstanburgh Northumberland Ladies County Championship at Blyth Northumberland Ladies Junior Championship at Blyth Northumberland & Durham Open at Morpeth Yorkshire Boys Championship at Woodsome Hall

Jun 18-25 Jun 20 Jun 20-25 Jun 21-22 Jun 23-26 Jun 24-26 Jun 27-29 Jun 28 Jun 29

US Women’s Open at Pine Needles Curtis Cup at Merion 127th Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes US Open at The Country Club Durham County Boys Championships at Bishop Auckland Durham Ladies Junior Championship at Bishop Auckland Northumberland County Championship at Bedlingtonshire The Open Regional Qualifying The Women’s Amateur Championship at Hunstanton English Disability Open at Carden Park KPMG Women’s PGA at Congressional English U18 Amateur Championship at Woodhall Spa Ladies County Match Week at Heswall The Open Final Qualifying Northern Counties Boys Qualifying (AKA The Little Six) at Kendal

JULY Jul 1-3 Jul 5-9 Jul 6-7 Jul 8-10 Jul 13-14 Jul 14-17 Jul 18 Jul 19-20 Jul 19-21 Jul 19-22 Jul 21-24 Jul 21-24 Jul 26-28

Logan Trophy at Liphook European Men’s Team Championship at Royal St George’s Northumberland County Seniors Championship at Gosforth Durham County Strokeplay Championship at Castle Eden Durham County Seniors Championship at Hobson The 150th Open at St Andrews NE/NW PGA Championship at Middlesbrough Northern Counties Seniors Championship at Ponteland English Girls’ Championship at The Wilmslow Carris Trophy at Silloth on Solway Evian Championship at Evian The Senior Open at Gleneagles English Girls’ U16/U14s at Formby Ladies

2022DIARY

Jul 27-29 Jul 27-29

North of England U14 Junior Open Stroke Play at South Moor EuroPro Tour Q Hotels Collection Championship at Slaley Hall

Aug 2 Aug 2-5 Aug 3 Aug 4-7 Aug 8-12 Aug 8-14 Aug 8-14 Aug 16-18 Aug 23-25 Aug 31

Sept TBC Sept 3-4 Sept 6

AUGUST Aug 1

SEPTEMBER

Ladies North Region Close Championship at Wilpshire Junior Jamboree at Heysham R&A Home Internationals at Downfield and Ballyliffin Northern Counties Men’s Qualifying (AKA The Big Six) at Hallamshire AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield England Golf Week R&A Girls Amateur Championship at Carnoustie R&A Boys Amateur Championship at Carnoustie, Panmure and Monifieth Yorkshire Amateur Championship at Fulford Boys’ County Finals at Furness Northern Junior Golf Tour Grand Final at Ramside Hall

Sept 8-11 Sept 10-11 Sept 16-18 Sept 17-18 Sept 19 Sept 23-25 Sept 27 Sept 27-29

Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs final County Champ of Champs (Women) at Woodhall Spa Northern Counties Men’s Qualifying at Pleasington BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth County Champ of Champs (Men) at Woodhall Spa Women’s County Finals at Stoneham English Champion Club at Lilley Brook NE/NW PGA Tour Championship at Brancepeth Castle Men’s County Finals at Royal Norwich NE/NW PGA Matchplay Championship final at Slaley Hall North of England Men’s Open Amateur at Seaton Carew

OCTOBER Oct 1 Oct 4-6 Oct 27

Northumberland & Durham Inter County Foursomes Final at Tynemouth Senior County Finals at Rothley Park Junior Masters Final at Close House NORTHERN GOLFER 29

MATCHPLAYPAIRS

On your marks

Northern Golfer’s Match Play Pairs tournament is back for its 21st year - enter online now

N

orthern Golfer’s Match Play Pairs tournament is back for 2022 and entries are now open online.

The 21st year of the event will once again see pairs of golfers from across the region compete in fourball betterball knockout matches at some of the North East and North Yorkshire’s best venues.

The entry fee for 2022 is £30 per pair. The final, at a neutral venue to be confirmed in our next edition, 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 region’s golfing history books.

The 2021 tournament saw 64 pairs set out to reach the event’s final at Close House.

In the final, played in September on the Colt Course at the Northumberland club, Brancepeth Castle’s Vaughan Raine and Shaun Elliott were victorious over Newbigginbased 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.”

2021 winners Vaughan Raine and Shaun Elliott 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 in each round 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 actionpacked year of matches across the region in 2022. The Match Play Pairs tournament is a long-standing 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 a pair 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 30 NORTHERN GOLFER

COURSEPROFILE

A coastal classic Dean Bailey visits Bamburgh Castle Golf Club and finds a links course with plenty of scoring opportunities

E

ach of Northumberland’s links courses is a stunning example of golf by the sea.

These rugged links have been shaped by centuries of waves and wind, and have been the battlegrounds of ancient kingdoms.

Today, the battles fought here are far less bloody as golfers take on the elements and par seeking rich rewards of their own.

At Bamburgh Castle Golf Club - which sits in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle with views north to Lindisfarne, west to the Cheviot Hills and east to the sea - the golf course has been shaped and refined since 1904 to provide one of the county’s most rewarding days out. The layout is defined by its half-par holes - short par fours which offer plentiful birdie opportunities and long par threes which offer up more bogeys than birdies, even when using modern equipment.

A relatively short course at just 5,604 yards, Bamburgh is defended by its par of 68 - six par threes and just two par fives ensuring the course is no pushover.

An opening par three of 179 yards introduces the primary defences - the sand dunes, beach and North Sea lying to the right side of the green while gorse bushes lurk on the left side in anticipation of a shot played away from the course’s boundary.

Two deep bunkers with steep faces guard the entrance to the putting surface.

32 NORTHERN GOLFER

The wind is predominantly against the players on the opening holes, making the second, a 210yar par three, one of the most challenging on the course and a perfect introduction to the half-par nature of so many holes here.

One of Bamburgh’s many quirks, the opening pair of par threes is followed by a pair of par fives. The first measures 531 yards from the back tee and features an uphill drive before the second shot is played blind to a generous fairway bordered by thick rough and gorse to the left and the dunes and sea to the right. Two bunkers guard the right side of a wide green. At the fourth you will find spectacular views of Cheviot and Budle Bay as well as a good chance to make birdie with no bunkers in play - stay left to hold the sloping fairway and left again to avoid the gully on the right side of a green set in one of the most spectacular positions of any on our coastline.

A further birdie opportunity awaits at the short, uphill fifth should you navigate between or play over the two fairway bunkers 120 and 80 yards from the green. A birdie at five will come in handy as you play the steeply uphill, 224-yard par three sixth hole. This devilishly tricky par three is made tougher still by its three bunkers - two to the left and one larger trap to the right.

At the 303-yard seventh, play left to avoid the trouble and leave the best angle to approach the

green, which features a single deep bunker on its front right corner. The spectacular par three signature hole follows (see fact file).

Having traversed the route up hill, the ninth tee offers great views of the challenge ahead - be sure to make note of the pin position on number 10 while you’re here. This 360-yard par four requires an accurate tee shot with heavy rough to the left, and two fairway bunkers and out of bounds to the right. Laying back from the tee can we wise here as the green is generous and has no bunkers.

The par three-and-a-half 10th is played blind to an enormous green beyond a single bunker on the left side. This green is difficult to find with its many run-off areas and even more difficult to escape from with a two-putt.

If you know it well, the par four 11th is a simple enough dogleg left par four of 343 yards, but it can be tricky to choose a line from the tee. The cautious play is out to the right, though this lengthens the approach to a thin slither of green measuring 38 yards from front to back.

Another tricky tee shot follows at the long, downhill par four 12th hole. Play to the right half of the fairway to make the most of the slope and avoid having to play over the large bunker on the front left of the green. Be wary of the thick rough long and left here.

The journey back towards the clubhouse

COURSEPROFILE

FACT FILE

begins with another par four of more than 400 yards. Played uphill, a good tee shot is vital as the fairway is pinched by rough and rocks on the left, and gorse on the right some 250 yards from the back tee. From here, a blind approach up the hill must be played through a wide entrance to the green - anything left or right risks being snatched up by two long and narrow bunkers.

The 168-yard par three 14th is played on top of the hill at the centre of the course, with an elevated tee shot across a valley to the green, which is wide but narrow at its centre.

The closing stretch of four par fours may not sound much on paper, but they present a fascinating mix of fun birdie opportunities and are fraught with danger. The downhill 15th plays much shorter than its 418 yards thanks to a steeply downhill tee shot - the views of the bay and castle from this tee are some of the best. A valley cuts across the fairway some 90 yards from the green, which is flanked by a pair of bunkers.

A blind tee shot follows at the uphill 16th.

The bravest can drive down the funnel-shaped fairway to find the long narrow green, though many have lost balls to the gorse on both sides here. The steeply downhill 17th is reachable for almost all at 257 yards - though the two fairway bunkers on the left side, which are hidden by the hillside, and gorse beyond the green have wreaked havoc with many players’ plans for a flying finish.

At 319 yards, the 18th can be another great birdie opportunity - though beware the out of bounds which looms incredibly close to the right side of the fairway. The green is ringed by three bunkers and sits beside the clubhouse at this spectacular downhill closing hole played in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle with the North Sea stretching to the horizon.

CONTACT Bamburgh Castle Golf Club 40 The Wynding, Bamburgh NE69 7DE, tel 01668 214 321 www.bamburghcastlegolfclub.co.uk GREEN FEES From £35 – see www. bamburghcastlegolfclub.co.uk for the full range of options, and contact the secretary for group bookings TOTAL DISTANCE White tees: 5,604 yards (par 68) Yellow tees: 5,271 yards (par 68) Red tees: 5,106 yards (par 70)

Renovated in 2014, the clubhouse at Bamburgh is a welcoming spot for visiting golfers and members - and tells the story of the club from its founding in 1904

by Lord Armstrong of Bamburgh and Cragside to the more recent achievements of golfers including DP World Tour player Garrick Porteous

FEATURES Clubhouse with excellent catering Practice ground with nets, short game area, and putting green Club merchandise on sale in the clubhouse Buggy and trolley hire CADDY’S TIP The golf course plays firm and fast throughout the year and controlling the ball when pitching and chipping is very important if you wish to unlock the scoring opportunities on the shorter holes SIGNATURE HOLE The eighth at Bamburgh is one of Northumberland’s most photographed golf holes. Played from an elevated tee to a raised green guarded by exposed rocks to the right side and a tiny, fiendish bunker on the front left corner, there is simply no good place to miss this green. Take in the views of Budle Bay and Lindisfarne, then steel yourself for one of the most challenging approaches of the day

OUR VERDICT

A wonderful combination of challenge and fun, a regular pilgrimage to Bamburgh is highly recommended NORTHERN GOLFER 33

GOLFERGEAR

New year, new gear

WELCOME TO THE CARBONWOOD ERA

TaylorMade Stealth drivers RRP: £499.99 www.taylormadegolf.co.uk

TaylorMade is looking to build on its history of innovation with the introduction of the Stealth Plus, Stealth and Stealth HD carbonwood drivers.

Titanium has been the cornerstone of driver technology for the last 20 years, but even at the beginning of the titanium driver era, TaylorMade engineers knew that every material had its limit. They have now heralded the future of driver performance with the 60X Carbon Twist Face - comprised of 60 carbon sheets arranged to optimise energy transfer.

“In the mid-2000s, our research team developed an understanding that the weight of the face can affect impact efficiency - more specifically, the lighter the face, the more efficient the impact and the better the ball speed. We realised titanium faces could only take us so far and carbon would be the face material of the future.

This is a new era of drivers, a new threshold of performance and a new platform for more innovation,” says Brian Bazzel, vice president product creation for TaylorMade.

The 60 layers of carbon fibre in Stealth help provide more speed

34 NORTHERN GOLFER

The start of each calendar year offers the chance to see the latest technology in the hands of the world’s best players, and we’ve been spoilt for choice this year. From innovative drivers including TaylorMade’s Stealth carbonwood and Callaway’s Rogue to cutting-edge technology in new irons and wedges from brands like Mizuno and Titleist, the industry’s best designers and engineers have again whet our appetite for the season ahead.

Take a look at just some of this year’s launches and be sure to pay a visit to your local pro shop to try out the new equipment and get fitted ahead of the start of the season.

with the red carbon face delivering a higher COR and more precise face geometry through a lighter, larger face. TaylorMade engineers took advantage of the lightweight carbon material by creating a 26g face, which is 40% lighter than a titanium face of equivalent size. This allowed them to increase the face size of Stealth by 11% compared to the SIM2 and SIM2 Max drivers.

The new drivers also feature a nanotexture cover that sits on top of the 60 layers of carbon. The cover is made from a thin polyurethane that creates a strong and flexible striking surface which serves to optimise distance based on improving launch conditions in both dry and wet weather.

The combination of the nanotexture cover, Twist Face and TaylorMade’s ultra-flexible Thru-Slot Speed Pocket has been engineered to produce forgiveness on strikes across the face. With more weight available to position around the clubhead, additional weight has been placed at the rear of the club to encourage higher moment of inertia, high launch, and improved forgiveness.

Four options are available - Stealth, Stealth Plus, Stealth HD and Stealth Women. Stealth Plus features a 10g sliding weight for adjustability and is the lowest spinning driver in the family while Stealth HD is designed with a high draw bias. Meanwhile, the Stealth Women’s driver combines the technology of Stealth HD in a slightly lighter head weight and a unique colourway.

GOLFERGEAR

VOKEY OFFERS ULTIMATE OPTIONALITY Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges RRP: £169 www.titleist.co.uk

Titleist has unveiled its latest Vokey wedge, the SM9, described by master craftsman Bob Vokey as the “ultimate in optionality”.

According to Bob, the three keys to great wedge play are shot versatility, distance and trajectory control, and maximum spin - a set of characteristics used as the basis for designing the latest version of the PGA Tour’s most popular wedge since 2004.

“It sounds simple but having the correct wedge and knowing when to use it has a direct impact on scoring performance,” says

Bob. “The most important thing for golfers at every level is to know when and where to use the variety of wedges in their bag. That can be achieved by being properly fit based on swing and style of play, and understanding the roles for each wedge.”

The SM9 wedges are available in six grind options and a total of 23 different models ranging in lofts from 46° to 62°. The wedges are available in three finishes - Tour Chrome, Brushed Steel and Jet Black - with a Raw finish available as a custom option. The wedges also feature improvements on the groundbreaking Progressive Centre of Gravity design introduced with the Vokey SM8 as well as progressive hosel lengths to help raise the centre of gravity in the higher lofts. A range of customisation options are also available through WedgeWorks.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Mizuno Pro Series irons RRP: Pro 221 £165 per iron, Pro 223 £180 per iron, Pro 225 £200 per iron, Pro Fli-Hi £250 per iron mizunogolf.com

FLAT STICKS

Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K, Eleven, and Toulon putters RRP: Tri-Hot 5K £379, Eleven £329, Toulon £379 eu.callawaygolf.com

Odyssey has announced its new Tri-Hot 5K, Eleven, and Toulon putters along with new versions of the White Hot OG line-up.

Odyssey developed Tri-Hot 5K to introduce a new blade construction that outperforms a mallet. The centre of gravity has been positioned forward and new materials have been introduced to reinvent what a blade can accomplish.

Meanwhile, Odyssey Eleven combines the legendary White Hot insert with the major-winning Stroke Lab shaft to improve consistency in a unique head shape.

Finally, the new Odyssey Toulon Design putters combine beauty, attention to detail, precision milling, and tour-proven performance.

Mizuno has announced the latest generation of its Pro Series of irons - the Pro 221, 223, 225, and Pro Fli-Hi. Mizuno Pro has always been the brand’s most forward-thinking iron series - cutting-edge engineering concealed within precise playing profiles that are preferred by the game’s elite players.

The Mizuno Pro 221 muscleback design is inspired by iconic Mizuno blades of the past, while Pro 223 is described as a new concept for an elite players cavity iron, and Pro 225 is billed as a hot metal blade design.

NORTHERN GOLFER 35

GOLFERGEAR

LIGHT AS A FEATHER Big Max Dri Lite Feather bag RRP: £169.99 www.bigmaxgolf.com

Big Max has launched its lightest ever full-size stand bag - the Dri Lite Feather.

Weighing just 1.5kg, the Dri Lite Feather eliminates excess weight while retaining a host of features including a full-size top, hybrid trolley compatible base, and bags of storage space.

Based on Big Max’s Dri Lite water-resistant technology, the Feather features waterproof fabric and zips, and a 100% waterproof valuables pocket. On the storage front, it has seven spacious pockets including a cooler section and a full-size seven-way top. It also features a flat footless base and leg lock system to ensure it fits perfectly square on a trolley. The bag is available in five colour options - black, grey/black, lime/black/ charcoal, navy/red/white and red/black/white.

GONE ROGUE

Callaway Rogue ST woods RRP: Various eu.callawaygolf.com

Callaway’s new Rogue ST line-up promises the company’s fastest, most stable drivers; longest fairway woods; and fastest hybrids ever.

The new range is led by the Rogue ST drivers (RRP £479) featuring innovations that create a breakthrough in performance.

An all-new Tungsten Speed Cartridge places weight (up to 26g) low and deep in the head for increased speed, stability and high moment of inertia. The construction, shaping and positioning of the Jailbreak Speed Frame promotes even more speed and stability, while spin has been lowered and forgiveness increased using artificial intelligence and Callaway’s face optimization formula.

Callaway expects the Rogue ST Max driver to suit most players while the Max D is the dedicated draw bias model, Max LS offers a stronger trajectory and less spin, and Triple Diamond LS offers a more compact low-spin option.

Meanwhile, the new fairway wood line-up is Callaway’s fastest yet with three head options, and the hybrids feature a new Jailbreak System.

36 NORTHERN GOLFER

NEW BALLS, PLEASE

Srixon Q Star Tour ball RRP: £34.99 www.srixon.co.uk

Srixon has introduced the fourth generation of its Q-Star Tour golf ball - available in Pure White or Tour Yellow.

The new ball is Srixon’s softest, with tour-level performance for players with moderate swing speeds looking for a combination of distance and spin control.

For short shots, the Q-Star Tour features Srixon’s Spin Skin with Slide Ring Material (SeRM) coating which increases friction to produce more spin and control.

Meanwhile, the FastLayer Core with its graduated transition from soft inner to firm outer edge provides distance and a softer feel without compromise.

GOLFERGEAR

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

SkyCaddie SX550 GPS rangefinder RRP: £379.95 www.skycaddie.co.uk SkyCaddie has launched its latest GPS rangefinder - the SX550.

The new unit is the most powerful, accurate and featurepacked GPS device ever produced by SkyCaddie. Like its predecessors, the SX550 makes use of the exclusive groundmapped data which experts gather on foot by walking every golf course and includes hundreds of updates each year in the UK alone.

New features include a 5.5ins full-colour HD screen, a slimmer and lighter design, and a new micro USB-C fast charger.

The SX550 also offers comprehensive green visuals through IntelliGreen Pro, the opportunity to input or download the day’s pin sheet for your course, IntelliPath carry and run-out distances, Dynamic HoleVue graphics, Dynamic RangeVue yardage overlays, and shot tracking capability.

NEED FOR SPEED

Mizuno ST Series metal woods RRP: Various mizunogolf.com Mizuno has launched the latest additions to its ST Series of metal woods, including the ST-X and ST-Z drivers.

Designed to deliver greater consistency, the new ST-Z 220 and ST-X 220 are engineered to produce the most efficient drives and highest ball speeds more often. The increased stability and consistency from off-centre strikes is facilitated by a 40% expansion of the carbon-sole area and thinning out the titanium portion of the clubhead alongside a doubling of the stabilising back weight compared to Mizuno’s previous model.

The new line also includes fairway woods (RRP £279) and hybrids (RRP £249) following the same design philosophy.

TOUR STYLE

ECCO BIOM H4 shoes RRP: £170 gb.ecco.com

ECCO GOLF ambassadors Henrik Stenson and Erik van Rooyen have each designed custom versions of the ECCO BIOM H4 shoe for the brand’s SS22 collection - with the PGA Tour stars choosing striking and unique designs.

Paying homage to his Iceman nickname, Henrik helped with the design of an ultra-cool shoe in an ice-cold blue and white colourway.

Meanwhile, Erik designed a snazzy, eye-catching colourway with a black insole, white leather outer and a brilliant, patterned finish on the midsole. Hidden on the sole of the shoe is a blue and orange colour scheme. The design also pays homage to his love of guitar, with a nod to guitar strings on the uppers of the shoe.

ULTIMATE VERSATILITY Callaway Apex UW RRP: £299 eu.callawaygolf.com

Callaway has announced details of its new Apex UW - a high performance utility wood already embraced by tour players.

The design combines the best features of higher lofted fairway woods and hybrids to create a more neutral ball flight for shots from the tee, fairway or rough.

Ball speed is delivered by the AI-designed Flash Face SS21, Jailbreak AI Velocity Blades, and the forged C300 Face Cup. Apex performance is delivered through MIM’D Tungsten Weighting (18g per club on average) which is used to precisely position the centre of gravity to promote higher launch and steeper landing angles for better stopping power along with optimised spin rates, all while reducing unwanted draw bias.

NORTHERN GOLFER 37

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 true 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

TEESSIDEFOCUS

Teesside travels Between Durham and North Yorkshire lies some of the region’s most spectacular golf courses, join us on our journey to three of Teesside’s best Seaton Carew Golf Club Site of England’s 10th oldest golf course, the links at Seaton Carew have been shaped by centuries of North Sea waves and the expertise of some of golf’s greatest architects, including Dr Alister MacKenzie.

Much of MacKenzie’s redesign of Seaton Carew is still in play today as the Old Course, although many holes have been lengthened since his work here in the mid-1920s. The only major changes were made within a few years of his re-construction – removing MacKenzie’s eighth and replacing it with what is now the 12th; and the extension and rerouting of his 11th hole to become a new 13th. In the early 1970s, with the prospect of losing some of its land, the club added four Frank Pennink-designed holes, and today offers a set of routings using a mixture of its 22 holes. Further enhancements are ongoing under the guidance of course manager Tom Coulson, with an extensive programme of works planned to return the landscape to the one MacKenzie first saw in the 1920s.

Host of numerous England Golf events in its history, the club will host the English Amateur Championships in 2024 in partnership with Hartlepool Golf Club, as part of its 150th birthday celebrations.

A true links golf test, the fairways here are generous, but they are lined with punishing sand dunes, whins and rough. Meanwhile, if the wind blows, this is a fearsome test. Bunkers lie close to greens and gather in any balls which venture nearby. Scoring is dictated by accuracy here - particularly on the challenging set of par three holes with their penal bunkering. Seaton Carew Golf Cub, Tees Road, Seaton Carew, TS25 1DE, tel 01429 266 249 www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk

NORTHERN GOLFER 39

TEESSIDEFOCUS

Wynyard Golf Club Wynyard’s Wellington Course is a fine example of modern golf course design which challenges driving distance and accuracy as well as the putting of even the most accomplished players.

Host venue for the 2005 Seve Trophy as well as European and Seniors tour qualifying schools, the course’s mature trees and vast bunkers ensure accuracy from the tee is richly rewarded. Meanwhile, large green complexes featuring mounding, run-off areas and more fiendish bunkers will challenge those looking to attack flags.

Designed by Martin Hawtree, the course opened in 1996 and has matured into a widely respected layout which remains a regular host of top professional and amateur events. While it can be stretched to more than 7,000 yards, a wide variety of tee boxes ensure everyone can play a course which suites their game.

Highlights of every round include the par four second hole with its elevated tee shot and the par three third played over water, while the snaking par five 16th has ruined many rounds as it weaves between water and sand.

Wynyard Golf Club, Wellington Drive, Wynyard, TS22 5QJ, tel 01740 644 399, www.wynyardgolfclub.co.uk

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12 MONTH JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP FROM £15 (DEPENDING ON AGE) SUPERVISED PRACTISE SESSIONS + COACHING AVAILABLE

LIFE STYLE MEMBERSHIP FROM £270 TO JOIN, £11 PER ROUND W/DAY £16 PER ROUND W/END

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

40 NORTHERN GOLFER

WINTER OFFER FEB/MARCH JULIE LAPPING – SECRETARY Billingham Golf Club, Sandy Lane, Billingham, TS22 5NA Email: billinghamgc@btconnect.com Tel: 01642 533816 – Option 1 MIKE URE - PROFESSIONAL Billingham Golf Club, Sandy Lane, Billingham, TS22 5NA Email: uregolfman@aol.com Tel: 01642 557060

£50 PER 4 BALL INCUDING ONE FREE PINT OR GLASS OF WINE PER PLAYER QUOTE REF. BGC/2220 FOR OFFER

SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE FOR HIRE - CALL FOR DETAILS

TEESSIDEFOCUS

Billingham Golf Club

The golf course at Billingham Golf Club occupies a superb landscape for golf. Rolling hills, valleys, water and many trees create a fascinating layout with a mix of demanding tee shots and birdie opportunities for those who keep their ball in play. Water features sparingly and enhances the challenge of just a few holes, including this relatively short course’s main defence - holes 11-13.

The highlight of the Billa’s Wrath stretch is the signature par four 11th. This 400-yard par four is the stuff of nightmares for players who shape the ball left to right. The narrow fairway is flanked by tall trees while water runs down the left side. The hole then turns to the left, crossing the water and a large pond before rising to the green, which is guarded by a bunker on the right side. Driver is required to shorten the second shot and give a good view of the green – miss the fairway and big numbers are in play here.

While the club was founded in 1967, the golf course – overseen by designer Frank Pennink – officially opened for play in 1969. Today, many will be surprised to learn it is little more than 50 years old given the maturity of the trees and the strategic roles they play. While trees form the primary defence, bunkering here is penal too and positioned to provide challenges for better players and obvious routes around for the higher handicapper. The green complexes have a modern feel, using mounding and slopes to support the challenge presented by the bunkering. Plot your way around if you have any doubt of finding the fairways – the trees are tall and quite dense which means most trips off line will lead to at least one dropped shot. From the fairways, Billingham presents a tremendously fun day out.

Billingham Golf Club, Sandy Lane, Billingham, TS22 5NA, tel 01642 533 816, www.billinghamgolfclub.com

Wynyard Golf Club

An exceptional golf experience

SUMMER SOCIETY & GREEN FEE PACKAGES 1ST MAY 22 – 31ST OCTOBER 22 SOCIETY PACKAGE - £55 PER HEAD

Includes Coffee & Bacon Rolls on arrival, 18 Holes of Golf on The Championship Wellington Course, Followed by a 1 Course Meal. (Minimum of 12 golfers required).

GOLF ONLY SOCIETY PACKAGE - £45 PER HEAD

18 Holes of Golf on The Championship Wellington Course. (Minimum of 12 golfers required).

WYNYARD 4 BALL - £195 PER 4 BALL (£48.75 EACH)

Includes Coffee & Bacon Rolls on arrival followed by 18 Holes of Golf on The Championship Wellington Course.

WYNYARD 2 BALL - £110 PER 2 BALL (£55.00 EACH)

Includes Coffee & Bacon Rolls on arrival followed by 18 Holes of Golf on The Championship Wellington Course.

Please contact The Professional Shop on 01740 644399 option 1 or email enquiries@wynyardgolfclub.co.uk to make your booking.

NORTHERN GOLFER 41

GOLFERTIPS

NUMBERS GAME

Justin Rose © Marco Iacobucci Epp Shutterstock.com

GEORGE WASHINGTON GOLF CLUB

Keep your Golf red hot this Winter - Visit our State of the Art Driving Range at GWGC Experience our : • 16 HEATED Floodlit Bays • 6 Power Tees • Indoor HEATED teaching Bay with our PGA Professional, Ryan Ingram, providing 1 to 1, group and academy coaching and FREE Custom Fitting service using Flightscope.

• Range Open 9am till 7pm every day • Discounted Loyalty Cards and Range tickets available in the Golf Shop 9am till 7pm For more details contact the Golf Shop on 0191 417 8346 or e-mail gsd@georgewashington.co.uk

42 NORTHERN GOLFER

The best players in the world, and their caddies, understand how far they hit each club incredibly accurately.

Once you have a reasonably good technique and hit the ball consistently, it’s important to know how far you hit each of your clubs - and your wedges make the perfect starting point as these are the clubs that really make the difference to scoring at every level.

With each of your wedges, hit shots with a short, medium and full swing and measure the outcomes of each. Write these numbers down and memorise them.

Once you have these set, use them on the golf course - just be sure to regularly check them and adjust the numbers if the outcomes are different to your base numbers out on the course.

Take a small amount of time to calibrate your yardages at the start of the season and it’ll make your short game so much better out on the course.

Castle Eden Golf Club 18 Hole picturesque parkland course

CENTENARY OPEN COMPETITIONS 2022 • Gents 4BBB Stableford – Saturday 14th May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOLD OUT • Gents 4 Man Team Stableford – Sunday 15th May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SOLD OUT • Mixed Open Team Stableford – Saturday 28th May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £60 per team • Ladies Team American Scramble – Friday 17th June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £40 per team • Seniors Open 1 - 4BBB over 55s – Thursday 23rd June . . . . . . . . . . . . . £30 per pair • Seniors Open 2 - 4BBB over 55s – Thursday 21st July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £30 per pair • Ladies Team of 4 Stableford – Tuesday 30th August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £40 per team • Senior Open 4-man team over 55s – Thursday 15th September . . . . . £60 per team Application forms at www.castleedengolfclub.co.uk and at Golf Empire.

WINTER PACKAGES

(MUST BE BOOKED)

• Coffee & Bacon sandwich - 18 holes of golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £24 per player • Coffee & Bacon sandwich - 18 holes of golf, soup and a roll. . . . £29 per player

Castle Eden Golf Club, Castle Eden, TS27 4SS - www.castleedengolfclub.co.uk

GOLFERCOMPETITIONS

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 March 24, 2022. Usual competition rules apply – available on request. Winners will be published in our next edition.

WIN A GOLF DAY FOR UP TO 12 PEOPLE AT PRUDHOE GOLF CLUB Prudhoe Golf Club is offering Northern Golfer readers the chance to win a golf day for up to 12 people, including tea/coffee and bacon rolls on arrival. The prize is to be used Monday-Friday before October 31, 2022 and the date is to be arranged directly with Prudhoe Golf Club. Though it measures less than 6,000 yards, Prudhoe is no pushover with its tight fairways and tricky greens set among tall trees and across rolling hills - it’s no surprise some of Northumberland’s best golfers have honed their skills here for decades.

For your chance to win, head over to www.northerngolfer.co.uk and answer the following question: Which country will host the 2023 Ryder Cup?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT SEATON CAREW Few courses can boast as interesting a history as Seaton Carew. Most of the 22 holes were designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, while some of England’s biggest events have been staged over these links.

For your chance to win, head over to www.northerngolfer. co.uk and answer the following question: Who won the 2021 AIG Women’s British Open?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT MATFEN HALL Set in the shadow of the magnificent Matfen Hall, the 27 holes here are set out on a stunning parkland landscape with many unique obstacles and challenges along the way.

For your chance to win, head over to www.northerngolfer. co.uk and answer the following question: In which year did Tony Jacklin win the US Open?

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners: Brancepth Castle - Margaret Bell of Newton Aycliffe Linden Hall - Peter Brown of Cramlington • Arcot Hall - George Harrison of North Shields 44 NORTHERN GOLFER

A YORKSHIRE

TOP 25 VENUE

Summer Fourballs

Winter 4-Ball Special

£110

From

£140

Until March 31st

Summer Society Bookings

Open Events 2022 £25 per person includes Food and Drink if Listed Friday 28th January - Gents Pairs £50 per pair (includes Bacon roll and Hot Drink) Friday 25th February - Gents Pairs £50 per pair (includes Bacon roll and Hot Drink) Friday 25th March -

Team AmAm (any gender) £100 a team (includes Bacon roll and Hot Drink)

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

SPECIAL RATES

Book 17 to 39 from £35 plus food

SPECIAL OFFER

Thursday 14th July -

Over 55’s Mixed AmAm £80 a team

Friday 29th July -

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

Sunday 7th August -

Mixed Open AmAm £80 a team

Groups above 40 FREE fourball on the day worth £140

Friday 26th August -

Men’s Team AmAm £100 a team

Cannot be used against bookings

Thursday 6th Sept -

already made

(includes a light meal after) 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 NORTHERN GOLFER 45

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!

Jen Anderson has become the first female club captain in Newcastle United Golf Club’s 131-year history.

Jen said: “I’m incredibly proud to captain the club I’ve been a member of for 40 years and I can’t thank the past captains enough for voting for me. I’ve done a lot in my time here - serving as lady captain three times, chairing the committee, and volunteering on the golf course - but to be the first female club captain is a tremendous honour. The support from the whole club has been amazing and I’m looking forward to a very exciting year for our club teams. I owe so much to the people who have supported me already, particularly my husband Keith.

I’ve also has a lot of support from my vice captain John Simmons and our immediate past captain Paul Ainsley. I’m really excited to the get the season underway.”

Congratulations, Jen.

Brancepeth Castle’s ladies A team is hoping to add to their record success in 2022 after winning the Durham County Ladies Golf Association’s Anderson Shield Trophy for the 10th consecutive year with an undefeated season last term.

The DCLGA runs five scratch team leagues with the winning team in division one receiving the Anderson Shield each season.

Before beginning their run of consecutive titles, the Brancepeth team had won the shield eight times - starting with the team’s first victory in 1935.

46 NORTHERN GOLFER

Selby’s new club captain, Scott Murie, drove into office in style on New Year’s Day accompanied by piper Cameron Edgar. Best of luck for the season, Scott.

Dave Turner has described his great pride in becoming Seaton Carew Golf Club’s 115th captain.

The Hartlepool-born 56-year-old has been a member at the 10th oldest golf course in the country since 1992. He said: “At last - having been vice captain for two years due to Covid, it is a great honour to take over. Having looked at the photographs of the previous 114 captains displayed in our new Captains Corner in the Bunting Lounge, I am confident I will have the highest playing handicap of them all at 26!”

The club’s AGM also saw Irene Allcroft named the new lady captain and Louis Westmoreland named junior captain. Eddie I’Anson also became vice captain of the club.

It was also confirmed that outgoing professional Clifford Jackson has been nominated for an honorary life membership following 14 years of service to the club.

Best of luck to all Seaton’s new captains.

SHAUN COWELL DISCOUNT GOLF STORES Hobson Golf Club & Driving Range, Burnopfield, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE16 6BZ Tel:01207 271605 (OPT 2) South Moor Golf Club, Craghead, Stanley, DH9 6AG Tel: 01207 283 525

1/2 PRICE OR BETTER ALL 2021 PREMIUM GOLF SHIRTS ALL MUST GO TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW STOCK, MANY SHIRTS AT ONLY £15

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MANY GREAT OFFERS ON EX DISPLAY SETS OF WOODS, IRONS AND WEDGES

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UNBEATABLE OFFERS ON POWAKADDY / MOTOCADDY TROLLEYS THIS MONTH (GREAT CHOICE IN STORE)

HUGE SAVINGS OVER 150 PAIRS ALL £40.00 EACH STUBURT, PUMA, ADIDAS, MIZUNO

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AS ALWAYS WE GUARANTEE TO BETTER ANY COMPETITIORS PART EXCHANGE DEAL ON IRONS/WOODS SEEN A PRICE OR DEAL, CALL IN AND SPEAK TO US YOU WON’T BE DISSAPOINTED

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