Yorkshire Golfer Jan/Feb 2022

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ACES HIGH OLD HEAD ON YOUNG SHOULDERS Garforth star Jake is ready for County captaincy

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Peter bags THREE in just four months!

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PUBLISHER: Danny Lockwood @yorkshiregolfer

IN THIS ISSUE ... or read online at www.yorkshiregolfer.net SWINGING WILD YG Publisher Danny Lockwood finds hope after going on a painful voyage of golfing discovery p6

YOU BEAUTY! Forest Park’s Peter Amphlett can leave the putter in the bag on par-3s, it seems p4 TOP DOG More England Golf honours for super-coach Steve Robinson p5

TOP 50 LIST Walker Academy coach Lysa Jones has plenty of admirers p10

WINTER ON THE ALGARVE Cotton’s Penina masterpiece has plenty of rivals 12-13 these days CAPTAIN KING Garforth’s Andy King has inherited John Grimbleby’s impressive mantle as the new captain of the Yorkshire Seniors team p8

YORKSHIRE UNION NEWS There’s lots to catch up on from the YUGC ahead of the Annual Council Meeting at Pannal Golf Club in March p19 SWING MAESTRO I & II Chris Dennis and Tony Howarth look at putting secrets and avoiding the dreaded scoop shot p16/20

ER TITLE Driffield’s Ryan Gray came from 5-down to lift the East Riding Matchplay title p14

GREAT YEAR, TOM Oaks junior Thomas Pyman was a popular winner at York Union awards dinner p22

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Jan/Feb 2022

COUNTY BOYS Garforth junior happy to combine GCSE year with captaincy role

Christmas comes early for Jake

By Danny Lockwood

I

t was a slightly early combined birthday and Christmas present that Garforth junior Jake Wallis received in mid-December, when he took a phone call from Philip Woodcock.

Woodcock is the Chairman of the Yorkshire Boys team. Some of the young golfers he’s had under his wing are now household golfing names.

Yorkshire is the largest golfing county in England with a storied history and a destiny always to fulfil, so being chosen to lead one of its teams is always an honour. It’s one that is bestowed upon very few.

So when Chairman Woodcock contacted Jake to offer him that honour – and responsibility – in midDecember, the new Captain-to-be was still only 15-years-old. The boys’ team is under-18s.

Jake turned 16 on December 23, but not even Santa Claus himself could have a dropped a more prized gift down the Wallis family chimney in Swillington, outside Leeds, for Christmas 2021.

Many would consider it a daunting prospect, indeed. In that regard however it’s interesting to consider Jake’s reply when asked who his own golfing heroes are. A Tiger, Bryson or Rahm perhaps? Local heroes like Matt Fitzpatrick and Danny Willett?

“I’d say Justin Thomas. Him and Dustin Johnson,” Jake replies.

“I like watching them, I like how

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Yorkshire Boys Captain, Garforth’s Jake Wallis they handle themselves under pressure. They are very calm and don’t let things bother them.”

Not so much starry-eyed heroworship then, as a cool and calculating head on young shoulders.

Jake admits that composure is a quality he tries to harness and it was tested last summer when he teed off not for the boys’ team, but the county’s men – aged 15, remember – against Northumberland at his home club of Garforth. Club members naturally attended in their numbers to offer support.

“There were definitely a few nerves on the first tee but as I got into playing and calmed myself down I got over that,” he said.

Jake had partnered Cookridge Hall’s Tom Broxup in the morning foursomes and recorded a 4&2 win over Austin Buchanan and Morgan Blythe as Yorkshire raced to a 4.5-1.5 lead.

He halved his afternoon match with Buchanan to complete a dream debut as Yorkshire romped home by a convincing14-4 margin.

Jake began playing under the

Bairstow tops national Order of Merit rankings Hallowes golfer Sam Bairstow was named the England Order of Merit champion for 2021 after his Brabazon Trophy win at Ganton capped a stellar year.

Lifting the Brabazon on ‘home’ turf was the biggest win yet of the Sheffield man’s burgeoning career.

On top of that win at Ganton, the lefty also enjoyed strong runs at both The R&A Amateur Championship at Nairn Image: and the English Men’s Amateur Championship at LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY Moortown and Headingley golf clubs.

His final tally of more than 119,000pts was a handsome 40,000pts more than closest challenger Zach Chegwidden.

Bairstow, who also won through qualifying to play at the 149th Open Championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club, said: “The past year has seen me achieve a lot of my amateur career goals. To end the season with an Order of Merit title is an extra bonus.

“Winning the Brabazon, responding under pressure and playing the level of golf I did that week was a highlight for me.

“Although not linked directly to the Order of

Merit, the Open experience is something that I will also treasure forever and was something I was able to put to good use in Order of Merit events that followed.”

Fulford’s Charlie Thornton was the closest Yorkshire contender in 25th place on 22,279.667pts.

Bairstow was named as one of six golfers making up the England team that was travelling to Spain (Jan 26-29) to try to retain the Costa Ballena Octangular International Challenge. Bairstow was part of the team that edged out Ireland 5-4 in a rain-soaked 2020 running. The tournament fell victim to covid lockdowns last year.

1 Sam Bairstow, Hallowes Golf Club 2 Zachary Chegwidden, Orsett GC 3 John Gough, Stoke Park Club 4 Jack Dyer, Boyce Hill Golf Club 5 Callan Barrow, Royal Lytham 6 Laird Shepherd, Rye Golf Club 7 Monty Scowsill, Woodbridge GC 8 Jack Brooks, The Mere Golf Resort 9 Olly Huggins, Frilford Heath GC 10 Jack Cope, The Players Club

119,434.917 79,094.906 62,077.167 61,808.900 58,836.917 50,125.250 45,000.000 42,906.500 42,289.600 41,967.000

watchful eye of dad Graham at Oulton Hall aged 7, he first reached a single-figure handicap at 12 and is currently +2. He has been coached for several years by Lee Morrisroe, one of Garforth’s two head professionals alongside Gareth Johnson.

The partnership has certainly yielded excellent results so far. Back in 2020, aged just 14, he beat a raft of older, more experienced White Rose juniors to lift the Yorkshire Boys Championship at Scarcroft Golf Club.

Despite being in the middle of his

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GCSE year at Garforth Academy, Jake didn’t hesitate to accept the Yorkshire captaincy. A student who prefers maths and the sciences – plus PE naturally – he intends to stay on for his A levels.

“I was shocked at first really,” he admitted. “But I felt quite honoured.”

He’s a young man with a clear vision of how he’d like the coming years to look.

“I’d hope to turn professional in the future,” he said. “First, I’d like to go play in the US [college system] and experience that.” Indeed, on his county men’s debut where Dan Bradbury made an appearance while home from the USA, Jake managed to speak briefly with the Wakefield man about his time there.

Boys chairman Philip Woodcock praised Jake’s calm demeanour and his ability to handle pressure.

“He’s a very pleasurable young man,” he said. “He takes notice of what we say, he’s a very good team player, and he takes knocks and setbacks very well indeed. Jake just gets on with it which is good to see.

You’ve got to handle pressure and Jake has shown that he can.”

In the meantime there are a lot of balls to be hit on Garforth’s driving range and putts to be rolled on his indoor mat, before the 2022 season tees off proper. Jake’s thoughts for his captaincy year?

“I just want to represent Yorkshire well in everything I play in, and hopefully as a team we can be successful. I would like to be a good role model for the younger players coming through. I just want to concentrate on what’s ahead.”

As for thoughts on the journey so far?

“I’d just like to thank all of the members at Garforth who have been fantastic since I joined the club, really supportive of me,” said Jake.

No doubt the good members of Garforth Golf Club believe the pleasure has been all theirs.

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Jan/Feb 2022

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HOLE IN ONE? The drinks are on Peter ... again and again!

One very special hat-trick

By Danny Lockwood

W

hat’s that famous old saying about London buses? You wait and wait at the bus stop forever and then three of them arrive at once?

The same could be said of Forest Park Golf Club member Peter Amphlett about holes-in-one.

Most golfers wait forever and never see one. But in just a fourmonth spell of 2021 Peter bagged three aces, having never seen one drop before.

The 66-year-old York resident had been a ‘casual’ golfer, enjoying payand-play rounds across the country until he retired and joined Forest Park in 2018.

Playing off an index of 22.1, the first of Peter’s hole-outs came at Forest Park’s 181-yard 4th on April 27th.

The others followed on June 15th and August 24th and both were at the 16th, which is stroke index 7 and plays 200 yards from the whites and 172 from the yellows.

On all occasions, he used his trusty Callaway Rogue driver and on the first occasion thought he must have driven it through the back of the green.

Nope, it was in the hole.

Forest Park member and short-hole ‘ace’ Peter Amphlett

And if that was a stroke of luck, so was returning to the clubhouse to stand the traditional round of drinks – only to find that the place was virtually empty.

“It was a horrible cold day and at the time we were only allowed table service outside!”

He celebrated with a pint alongside playing partner and ‘witness’ Ray Alderson.

It was a different story when ace number two disappeared below ground however. On that occasion a generous Peter put £100 behind the bar to cover the drinks, but that time only got £7 change!

By the third hole-in-one, and now something of an old hand at the holein-one business, he bought the traditional bottle of whisky.

He laughs at the ‘expectation’ every time he tees it up now, and even when speaking to Yorkshire Golfer in October he was still getting congratulations – but then again three aces in four months is pretty special.

It’s doubtful that even Tiger, Bryson and their multi-millionaire compatriots have managed such a stellar feat.

Brigham tops York Merit The conclusion of the York Union of Golf Clubs Scratch Championship season saw a total of 63 players qualify for Order of Merit points in 2021.

Coming out on top by the finest of margins and winning the Union’s Order of Merit was Malton & Norton GC’s Marcus Brigham.

Racking up a total of 121 points across the season, Marcus beat Fulford’s George Robson into second place by just a single point.

Notable performances came in the Thompson Trophy and the Issot Trophy, where Brigham collected 25 OoM points in each event.

The pair battled out what was a very closely fought race throughout the season for the Order of Merit, including picking up the same amount of points in three of the final four events.

Other notable performances from the season include Matthew Dolling of York Golf Club finishing third on 118 points, of which an impressive 88 points came from YU competitions. Tom Pyman of the Oaks and winner of the YU Amateur Championship finished fourth on 108 points and Pike Hills’ Alistair Smith took fifth spot in the OoM with 95 points.

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Jan/Feb 2022

England women’s Euro win helps Robbo to top award S

andburn Hall professional and England Women’s coach Steve Robinson has added to his stellar array of awards after being named Coach of the Year at the England Golf Performance Awards 2021.

‘Robbo’, who was declared back-to-back England Golf Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017, landed the accolade after coaching the English women to their third European team title in six years.

His squad travelled to Northern Ireland and the Royal County Down Golf Club in July where a super-strong Sweden side were hot favourites.

England progressed through stroke play qualifying and then defeated Scotland and the Czech Republic in the knockout stages, before a final meeting with a Sweden team rated as one of the strongest assembled at elite amateur level.

After receiving his award, Robinson said: “I’m hugely honoured on behalf of our whole performance team. As coaches, we’ve gone through a really tough time in the last two years and the support we’ve had from England Golf has been first class.

“I’d like to thank Jenny Henderson who was captain at Royal County Down – we prepared better than any other team there. I knew the course and while we got there late, we walked the last four holes and knew they’d be crucial.

“We sat up one evening cutting up greens maps until 11pm and stapling them together by hand. It’s one of those marginal gains we had that other teams didn’t.

Make room in the trophy cabinet ... yet another honour for Sandburn Hall’s super-coach Steve Robinson PHOTO courtesy ENGLAND GOLF

“We were aware going to Northern Ireland that we were likely to be the only English team playing in the Europeans (due to travel restrictions to

the continent) and we wanted to put on a good performance.

“We started to believe more and more we could beat anybody and to play Sweden in the final was the match we wanted. We believed that if we got something out of the morning foursomes we could win and we managed to do that.

“Every woman had the belief they could win.

Most of all I’d like to thank the team – they battled.”

Scotland had qualified top in strokeplay, a handsome 10 shots clear of the field and England back in 5th.

Fixby’s Charlotte Heath was on form in the first matchplay round against the Czechs, landing two points with a 6&5 win pairing Annabel Fuller and a 4&3 singles win as England went through 5-2.

Things didn’t go so well against Scotland in the semi-final for the Huddersfield golfer, with defeat against top ranked Scotland pairing Hannah Darling and Louise Duncan, who also beat her 4&3 in singles. England narrowly progressed 4&3.

After halving the morning pairings in the final against Sweden, England avoided defeat in any of the afternoon singles and Heath was a 2&1 winner over Maja Stark as Robinson’s team landed the European crown 5-2.

Cowen Tour ends season at Doncaster The final event of the Pete Cowen Golf Academy’s 2021 Junior Tour was hosted at Doncaster GC at the end of October.

The strokeplay field of 34 saw Doncaster’s very own Joshua Berry (+4) card a gross 73 to claim the Best Gross title, narrowly edging out Waterfront GC’s Marco Cuartero (1) who carded a gross 74.

Third place was taken on countback by Hallowes’s Joshua Morley (+1) with a gross score of 75.

With his punitive handicap Josh Berry ended up down in the field with a nett 77 as Charlie Binns of Hillsborough GC (26) outplayed his handicap to post a score of 94 (nett 68) to claim 1st place. Rotheram GC’s George Blaydes (33) carded a score of 103 (nett 70) to lay claim to 2nd place on countback, with Chevin GC’s Matthew Edwards (5) posting a solid 75 (nett 70) to take 3rd place.

Longest drive on the 18th hole was claimed by Worksop GC’s Oliver Neal (4), with Berry winning the nearest-the-pin on the 6th hole.

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Golf – where you have to go back to go forwards G olf, golf, golf … what is it about this elusive, tantalising, frustrating, infuriating activity that keeps us so enthralled, for so many years? I call it an ‘activity’ because any golf gods looking down on me recently could hardly describe my hours and hours of angst-ridden travail as ‘sport’.

With my golf game through 2021, it was sport only in the sense that Betfred might take odds on how many laughs my playing partners would have on the next hole. Or maybe an each-way bet as to whether submission and a dejected trudge to the car park would arrive before we reach the 18th (and actually no, I would never walk off a golf course. Very rude).

The woeful golf is not entirely my fault though, as I will explain. By virtue of publishing Yorkshire Golfer, I have something of a responsibility to play the darn game.

Indeed rather than facing winter greens and cleaning mud-balls this past fortnight, I was supposed to be knocking it round Tahquitz Creek Golf Club in Palm Springs, California.

That sadly didn’t happen, but my dire golfing straits preceded both that and an early December trip to the Algarve where I shot rounds of 99, 105 and 113. For context in 25 years since joining a golf club I had only once hit the 100-mark. My handicap briefly got as low as 12. I have shot rounds in the 70s.

But before that Portugal trip, and not being happy with my stuck-in-a-rut game, I asked a

SWINGING WILD...

Danny Lockwood

The fabulous 18th hole at San Lorenzo – a course I ‘tamed’ in just 113 shots!

friend to video my ‘swing’ (the term is used very loosely). He did. I watched. My jaw dropped. I may have shed tears. Picture Quasimodo, eight pints in, tripping over his own feet while trying to throw a troll off the ramparts of Notre Dame.

I briefly considered driving out to the beach at Hunmanby Gap, throwing off all my clothes and doing a Reginald Perrin, swimming out to sea never to be seen again.

Instead I booked a couple of lessons with my club professional at Malton & Norton, Joel Preston, a young man who is an absolute credit to his profession, to our club and who is quite simply one of life’s good guys.

Joel asked me what I wanted from my lessons, watched, videoed, managed to keep a straight face – he’s really good – and ultimately came up with a two or three simple ‘starter’ fixes for me to work on.

They weren’t going to put me on an honours board any time soon but they gave me something positive to both work on and work towards. That black tunnel I was staring down every time I stood on a tee suddenly had a glimmer of light at the end of it.

And really folks, that’s not just golf, is it?

Life itself is all about having something to work on, a goal to aim towards. We shouldn’t just labour onwards with a depressing sense of inevitable decline.

Such were Joel’s ‘improvements’ to my game that Penina (99) Pinheiros Altos (105) and San Lorenzo (113 – but I had a few really lousy strokes of bad luck) were not just atrocious scores, but were ironically testament to the value of his tuition. You see, I didn’t trudge off the course with my chin on my knees. Far from

it. I could see and feel real progress.

I had to accept that radical swing changes are a big ask for a battered ex-rugby player who’d probably seen more red cards than he’d filled in score cards, before finally joining a golf club aged 38.

Broken wrist, knuckles, teeth, nose (x3) collar bone and ankle; dislocated knee (x3); torn ligaments, tendons, hamstrings, multiple concussions … not especially conducive to swinging it like Seve in late middle age.

But despite the admittedly lousy scores the ‘good’ swings/strikes were becoming gradually more regular. It wasn’t the score, it was the progress. It was more than enough to keep bringing me back to this wonderfully frustrating and ultimately unconquerable pastime.

Back home on winter greens and heavy fairways, it was a 4&3 loss last time out. But I shared good company and afterwards we sat taking in the stunning late afternoon scenery from our clubhouse. I think a chubby robin sat outside watching us may even have winked his approval at me.

I could also take consolation that Joel’s changes were close to becoming second nature, a swing re-configured. I’d knocked 22-shots off that San Lorenzo meltdown, hit every fairway but two and seem to have got my ‘old’ distance back. A smile for once, standing on the 1st tee and walking off the 18th, win or lose.

Golf. What a great sport … bring on 2022!

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Jan/Feb 2022

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YORKSHIRE UNION Tribute to John Grimbleby, who put Seniors golf on the map

King has some big boots to fill

By Danny Lockwood

T

he announcement of the Yorkshire county captains for 2022 heralded the end of an era when long-serving Seniors skipper John Grimbleby handed over the reins to another seasoned county campaigner, Andy King.

Garforth golfer King, 60, represented the Leeds & District men for around 25 years, racking up what is thought to be a record 132 appearances during that spell. He had a 10-year-stint as Captain of the Leeds & District Union with some notable successes, and was the Yorkshire Men’s captain from 2007 to 2012.

King had the honour of being Garforth’s Centenary Captain in 2013, which was when he stepped back from the County Men’s scene, to be replaced

by Darryl Berry who has been in the role ever since.

He says notching up his 55th birthday was “a nice springboard” to start again with representative golf. “It got the competitive juices flowing,” said Andy. “And the great thing about Seniors golf is that it isn’t just really competitive, but is very, very friendly.”

It’s the competitive edge however that Andy wants to be a key focus for 2022. Having won three national titles in recent years, Yorkshire only just qualified by the skin of their teeth ahead of Lancashire last summer, and finished

third as Sussex claimed the title at Grange Park in St Helens.

He paid rich tribute to the man who’s shoes he will be trying to fill, long-time Seniors captain and Leeds District honorary secretary John Grimbleby.

“You can’t stress too much how fantastic a job John has done,” he said. “He has dragged Seniors golf up from being a series of friendly matches, to getting the entire county behind it.

“Under John, Yorkshire now competes on a county and indeed a national level. He has driven that forwards almost single-handedly and it is a huge honour to be asked to follow in his footsteps.”

It’s a task sizeable enough that Andy has recruited fellow county Senior player, Alwoodley’s Gary Cuthbert, to assist

him – and neither have the Seniors seen the back of John Grimbleby.

Andy said he’d like to model the Seniors on the Men’s county team, including recognition for being called up and a new approach to preparation.

The Seniors will now also be overseen by a selection panel, consisting of ‘new’ Chairman of Selectors Grimbleby, the County secretary and Seniors stalwart Jonathan Plaxton, plus Andy and Gary.

Indeed, the biggest challenge the new skipper might have to face is convincing his fellow selectors he’s still worth a place on the team.

“I’m still keen to be involved as a player, if I’m considered good enough,” said the Scratch man who “flirted with +2 back in the day”.

He also has plans for individual

players. “We have England representatives like Richard Jones, Richard Norton and Stephen East, but I want that to be a realistic ambition for more of our Seniors” he said. Coaching sessions which focus on physical preparation for ‘older’ players is one innovation on the cards. Priority number one, however?

“Getting back to the nationals and reclaiming our title!” said the captain.

That campaign starts at Forest Park Golf Club in York on May 9th, when Northumberland are the visitors.

Photo: Yorkshire’s super Seniors, from left: Richard Jones, Richard Norton, Andy Woodhead, Ian Clarke, John Grimbleby, Stephen East, new captain Andy King, Alan Wright and Steve Mason

READER’S LETTER

BRS and the regular golf ‘fiddle’ query A point of discussion within many clubhouses is the impact of the BRS booking system.

It would be of interest to many to learn how clubs have adopted this system to accommodate well established members’ collectives, for example ladies, seniors, rabbits etc, who for decades have met at fixed times, on regular days, during the week.

Have clubs ‘blocked out’ tee times to allow tradition to continue as normal or sacrificed same on the alter of BRS. Your comments plus those of readers would be most welcome.

From: Peter Rickaby Member of Selby Golf Club Editor: Feedback would be welcome – email us your thoughts or club policy on news@ yorkshire-golfer.com

Northumberland The

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From the simple looking but often tricky first hole uniquely the course plays both inside and outside Newcastle Racecourse.

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Whether you are just finishing your round or about to go out there is always a warm welcome in the elegant clubhouse. Guests will find a traditional feel with a modern outlook on making everyone welcome.

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Jan/Feb 2022

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COACHING Olympics on Lysa’s horizon

A sight for sore eyes...

Top 50-list latest honour for Jones W

alker Golf Academy and Yorkshire Women’s coach Lysa Jones has been named to Golf Monthly’s ‘Top 50’ Great Britain golf coaches.

For the past eight years Lysa has also been the coach of England Boys, the national under-18s team.

As a senior coach at Walker’s Golf Academy, based at The Oaks, and having previously been named an England Golf Coach of the Year, Lysa is regarded by many as the top female golf coach across the UK and Ireland.

UK Sport has recently outlined a 19-strong cohort of women from different sporting disciplines with the potential to go on to coach at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with Lysa being included in this group.

Despite having previously played on the Ladies European Tour, Lysa admits that she always knew her ambition was

Selby members weren’t imagining things when their 2022 Captain Scott Murie appeared to be performing his ceremonial drive-in ... wearing a skirt.

Actually, being a proud Scotsman, Scott decided he’d go ‘formal’ for his big day, so not only did he sport his family tartan kilt, but he was serenaded onto the tee by the bagpipes of Piper Cameron Edgar.

Walker Academy coach Lysa Jones

to be an elite coach, something she’s now been doing for 25 years.

More recently she has invested in developing her own game by visiting shortgame specialist Stan Utley as well as spending time working

with Vision 54, a breakthrough golf school run by Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Providing an insight as to what she looks for in her golfers, Lysa added: “I’ll watch them play at a combination of the practice ground for the technical part and how they perform in tournaments.

I’m not just looking at their technique but how they control their emotions and deal with pressure. Do they have that bounce-back-ability?”

When asked who her own best teacher has been on her journey, Lysa paid tribute to her long-standing and highly regarded boss: “I’ve worked with Graham Walker for 17 years.

“I love the way he communicates, engages and gets the player to respond. He’s been a great mentor to me.”

Pictured - 2022 Captain Scott Murie gets in the swing

Inter-District Fixtures 2022 May 15

Bradford v East Riding Harrogate v Hfx-Hud Leeds v York Teesside v Shefield

Skipton Romanby tbc Cleveland

Aug 7

Sheffield v Bradford Teesside v East Riding York v Harrogate Leeds v Hfx-Hud

Doncaster Eaglescliffe Pike Hills Horsforth

June 12

Bradford v Leeds East Riding v Sheffield Harrogate v Teesside Hfx-Hud v York

The Manor Hornsea Ilkley Saddleworth

Aug 21

Bradford v Hfx-Hud West Bradford East Riding v Harrogate Hessle Leeds v Teesside Sand Moor (tbc) Sheffield v York Hallowes

June 26

York v Bradford Leeds v East Riding Sheffield v Harrogate Teesside v Hfx-Hud

Easingwold Headingley Wortley Blackwell Grange

Sept 4

Harrogate v Bradford Hfx-Hud v East Riding Sheffield v Leeds York v Teesside

July 10

Bradford v Teesside East Riding v York Harrogate v Leeds Hfx-Hud v Sheffield

Bradford Beverley & ER Bedale Dewsbury District

Pannal Meltham Sickleholme York

ALL FIXTURES ARE WEDNESDAYS

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Jan/Feb 2022

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WINTER SUN: Sampling the delights of JJW Hotels’ Algarve golf resorts Yorkshire Golfer publisher DANNY LOCKWOOD takes a break from temporary greens

D

ecember golf in Yorkshire. Fairway mats for many, the toss-a-coin likelihood of temporary greens for most. Winter clothing, a sturdy brolly for that wind and rain either whipping off the Pennines or down from the North Sea … and a steaming hot coffee at the halfway house. Happy days!

Or, December golf in Portugal.

Or rather on the Algarve, where even at this time of year the fairThe 6th at ways are firm, still run out, and you San Lorenzo, can launch your ball at fast, true a dogleg greens that reward clean strikes from an with spin. Oh, and where it’s still elevated tee. polo shirt and shorts weather mostly, with the promise of a cold beer Below, the on the patio. risk-reward It’s also worth mentioning the closing hole variety of greens and patios availat San able for travelling golfers to choose Lorenzo from, because within an hour’s drive of Faro airport there is literally a wild abundance of 5-star courses and hotels.

Three of those courses and hotels are in the stewardship of JJW Hotels including the ‘grand old man’ of Algarve golf, the Penina Resort and Golf.

The original championship course on Portugal’s south-facing coast, the Sir Henry Cottondesigned layout has hosted multiple major championships over the years.

In early December Penina hosted the annual congress of Europe’s CPG – Confederation of Professional Golf – and team championship, featuring three-player teams of club professionals from ern end of the stunning Ria Formosa across Europe.

National Park, a 37-mile area of outAt the end of the congress standing natural beauty.

Penina’s owners JJW Hotel announced a new partnership with the SAN LORENZO world-leading brand IHG (see below) which will impact mostly on their Jo Maes is a Belgian golfer, formerly hotel operations and include a refura Portugal resident now living in bishment of the Penina resort.

Northern Ireland, and is President of For golfers heading for the milder the European Golf & Travel Media Algarve climates at any time of year, Association. He’s played virtually JJW have two newer courses in their every one of the Algarve’s 30-odd portfolio, both closer to the airport courses and every 18-hole track. hub of Faro and located at the westJo rates JJW’s San Lorenzo as

Algarve golf thriving from Penina legacy being matched only by the stunning Monte Rei, located on the far side of Faro in the eastern Algarve and within sight of the Spanish border.

“San Lorenzo has everything,” he said. “It challenges you off the tee, in finding the right position for your approach, the greens are outstanding and the location and views are the icing on the cake.”

The stretch of holes along the Ria Formosa reserve, including the stroke index 1 hole-6, played as a sharp dogleg from an elevated tee, do

indeed demand photographs to be taken.

The 8th turns inland but invites players to navigate an inland lake not once, but twice.

The course has been named by Golf World as the 15th best in Continental Europe and is renowned for its Bermuda grass fairways and a sumptuous landscape winding in and around the pine forests of the beautiful Quinta do Lago estate.

A hole most visitors remember – not necessarily fondly – is the closing

18th, which is a par-4 with a double carry over water. The bravest (and longest) hitters can attempt a carry of around 240-yards, but the landing area is only about 25-yards deep, before more water protects a narrow green.

Most players try to get a good drive away down the right, then come in over the water, but if not far enough down, it can be two shorter irons to the putting surface. The epitome of a risk/reward hole – and my playing partner Jo got out the big stick and hit the landing area (he duffed his pitch-shot second in the water).

PINHEIROS ALTOS Also on the acclaimed private Quinta do Lago estate is perhaps the lesser known of JJW Hotels’ trio of courses, but Pinheiros stands proudly on its own championship merits.

Three loops of 9-holes, the Pines, Corks and Olives, provide every bit as much of a challenge as any golfer would hope to find, winding around the groves above the Ria Formosa.

All three loops return close to the clubhouse and facilities include two driving ranges and gorgeous outlooks from the patios around the luxury clubhouse.

Pinheiros Altos is frequented largely by guests at JJW’s 5-star Dona Filipa Hotel, located close to the beach in the nearby Vale do Lobo resort.

The ‘third’ 9-hole track, Olives, was part of the original 18-hole layout designed by American golf architect Ronald Fream but the introduction of a new nine by George Santana

Jan/Feb 2022

13

The double dogleg 16th at Pinheiros rises to the green (left) and the picturesque short 5th at San Lorenzo

da Silva, which opened in 2007, has seen Pines and Corks established as the main layout.

There are many memorable holes including the 9th (Pines) which is a par-3 over a valley to a MacKenzie green.

Undoubtedly the signature hole however is the 17th (8th on the Corks), a double dogleg 580-yard par-5 which sweeps down then starkly uphill to a well-bunkered, plateau green.

The approach is simply gorgeous on the eye.

PENINA Penina’s Academy course, winding inside the Sir Henry Cotton Championship course, isn’t in use at the moment, but the adjacent 9-hole resort course is excellent either as a warm-up round or for golfers

wanting a shorter outing.

The main course is unusual in that it’s a par-35 going out, with a single par-5 at the 5th and two par-3s.

It’s a par-38 on the return though for an overall par of 73. The return-9 opens and closes with back-to-back par5s and apart from mature wooded areas, the course is inter-laced by ditches and streams which require careful navigation.

Penina was designed by Cotton and opened in 1966, setting a high standard for the golfing Mecca that the Algarve was destined to become. Its 360-acres sit in front of the 188-room classically-styled hotel and Penina has hosted no fewer than 10 runnings of the Portuguese Open.

Italy lands its first ‘Euro’ title

JJW joins IHG’s Vignette brand JJW Hotels has joined as a partner with one of the world’s largest luxury hotel groups, IHG. Vignette Collection is IHG’s newest brand and debuts in Europe with JJW’s Penina Resort and Dona Filipa Hotel on the Algarve.

JJW’s Grand Hotel Wien in Austria, will also become a Vignette franchisee.

JJW’s other Algarve property, the Formosa Park Apartments overlooking the Atlantic, will re-brand as ‘voco Algarve’, part of IHG’s voco brand.

IHG – InterContinental Hotel Group – is British-based, FTSE 100 listed and boasts over 6,000 properties in more than 100 countries, with another 1,800 hotels in development.

The Vignette Collection was IHG’s 6th brand when it launched in August.

Team Italy, represented by Captain Andrea Perrino, Nicola Maestroni and Gregory Molteni, clinched the PGA of Italy’s first victory in the Confederation of Professional Golf’s International Team Championship in resounding fashion.

With the team’s best two 18-hole scores to count in each round, Team Italy’s round-by-round totals of 134,

141 and 141 at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort saw them set an almost unassailable target of 416 (22-under-par) for the rest of the field to try and reach.

In the end, their 13-shot victory over Team Germany in second and Team Austria in third was illustrative of their impeccable and consistent performances throughout.

Clubs are ‘missing out’ on disabled golf market The growing role of disabled athletes in golf – and a significant marketplace that golf clubs are missing out on – was a highlight of the European CPG’s 2021 congress in Penina.

Founded in 2000 as the European Disabled Golfers Association, but now going by the ‘EDGA’ nomenclature, the volunteer-driven not-forprofit organisation has a membership of 34 federations from around the world.

EDGA President Tony Bennett told congress guests and journalists that national associations are missing out massively by not catering sufficiently for the disabled golf market.

“Looking at the big picture, some 15% of the world’s population can be categorised

EDGA’s Tony Bennett talks to reporters at CPG 2021

as disabled,” he said. “Here in Portugal that figure is 17%.

With a 10 million population and 16,000 registered golfers, Portugal should have around

1,500 disabled golfers. They have three.”

In its official tournaments EDGA recognises 11 different categories of disability and

Bennett acknowledged that categorising brings a range of problems. That’s especially so if disabled golf is to qualify for future Paralympics.

“It’s an issue,” he added.

“Playing with a wheelchair user is difficult but there’s a visible difference. Someone diagnosed with PTSD however? It’s an ongoing challenge.”

He acknowledged that many golfers who would qualify as disabled are already active members not seeking to go down that path, but highlighted the potential for clubs.

“A disabled child determines which sport the parent will play, as opposed to vice

versa,” he said. “This isn’t just about making the sport bigger or attracting funds, it’s about increasing the ability of those people to participate.”

But there is a financial bottom line for clubs too. “A casual golfer spends approximately 811-euros a year, a club member around 1,900,” said Bennett. By expanding their appeal, clubs have a largely untapped market of potential golfers.

In a wider sense EDGA sees its role as spreading the gospel of equality, of making federations aware of both their responsibilities and the support available, and of providing “upskilling” training for golf coaches.

EDGA has ambassadors in the professional ranks in players like Andy Sullivan and

Paul Waring, Carly Booth and Alice Hewson, plus commentators Nick Dougherty and Tony Johnson, while Bennett said Yorkshire golfers Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick have been very supportive.

Meanwhile in the 2021 Brabazon Tropy at Ganton, won by Hallowes’ Sam Bairstow, a young man by the name of Kipp Popert finished on joint 22nd at +3. Kipp, a +3 golfer who has been ranked #2 in the world in disabled golf, has cerebral palsy.

He won the 2021 England Open for golfers with a disability, a tournament in which Crosland Heath’s Sam MacDonald finished 3rd.

For more about EDGA, and to see its inspiring ‘Mulligan’ video, visit www.edga.com

Jan/Feb 2022

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Gray prevails in ER’s Ganton shoot-out Driffield’s Ryan Gray landed the East Riding Union’s Matchplay Championship Final at Ganton, seeing off Scarborough South Cliff and Ganton member Tommy Risker.

The eventual champion struggled to stay with the 17year-old county boys player in the first round of the day, finding himself five holes down at the end of the 12th.

The tide turned for Gray on the par-5 13th as he hit backto-back 2-irons on the 535yard hole, then holed the 60foot putt for eagle. The 13th would prove to be crucial in both rounds.

Lost balls for Risker on 14, 15 and 16, then a bogey four on the par-3 17th brought the match back to all square which it stayed after the 18th.

Risker regained the lead on the 2nd hole of the afternoon but conceded the next after finding two bunkers. Matters remained all square as both players registered birdies on the 4th and pars on the 5th.

News round-up YORK UNION WINTER LEAGUE – CROSS TROPHY

It was nip and tuck with the pair exchanging holes before Gray went ahead for the first time with a birdie from 20 feet on the 10th.

The 11th and 12th were halved but the crucial moment came on the 13th. Both players found the fairway and Gray was first to play but hit his 3wood wayward into the thick gorse on the right, whereas Risker found the fairway with 100 yards left to the green.

Gray then produced a stellar recovery shot, leaving himself a putt from 25 feet which he duly sunk for birdie. When Risker couldn’t reply with a birdie of his own Gray took a two-hole lead.

Another bunkered tee shot on the long 15th from Risker left him dormy with three to play and when the pair halved the 16th Gray had emerged victorious 3&2.

East Riding Union President John Chambers is pictured with the champion and the Matchplay Salver

STOCKSBRIDGE & DISTRICT GOLF CLUB

Results: Cross Trophy 1: Kirkbymoorside GC (Oct 3) 1st: Fulford, Jon Ward (9) & Carl Tyrer (2) – 63 2nd: Malton & Norton, Barry Miller (7) & George Magrath (8) – 63 3rd: Pike Hills, David Steel (20) & Graeme Butcher (9) – 64 Cross Trophy 2: Easingwold Golf Club (Oct 3) 1st: Heworth, James Batt (4) & Andy Wright (9) – 59 2nd: York, Keith Thornton (5) & Steve Peacock (12) – 64 3rd: Heworth,Jim Batt Jr. (3) & Michael Horton (9) – 65 Cross Trophy 3: Heworth GC (October 17) 1st: Pike Hills, Mark Moore (10) & Arran Reid (12) – 60 2nd: Heworth, Ian Dodsworth (14) & Mike Blades (4) – 61 3rd: Malton & Norton, Dennis Lang & George Magrath – 61 Cross Trophy 4: Pike Hills GC (Oct 17) 1st: Pike Hills, Martin Greaves (13) & John Phillips (16) – 58 2nd: Scarthingwell, Mark Mattison (9) & Joshua Bristow (4) – 61 3rd: Heworth, Rob Binns (14) & Richard White (12) – 61 Upcoming Fixtures: Cross Trophy 5: Fulford Golf Club, Sunday 30th January Cross Trophy 6: York Golf Club, Sunday 13th February Cross Trophy 7: Sandburn Hall Golf Club, Sunday 27th February

Bradford & District Union of Golf Clubs Upcoming Alliance competitions Branshaw Alliance, Wednesday 16th February; Baildon Alliance, Wednesday 23rd February; Northcliffe Alliance, Wednesday 2nd March; Bracken Ghyll Alliance, Wednesday 9th March; West Bradford Alliance, Wednesday 16th March; Woodhall Hills Alliance, Wednesday 23rd March; Skipton Alliance, Wednesday 30th March; Bradford Alliance, Wednesday 6th April; Keighley Alliance, Wednesday 13th April; Bingley St Ives Alliance, Wednesday 20th April.

For any enquiries regarding the above events, please contact David Peat - davidpeat.golf@btinternet.com

2020Protour events schedule Monday 7th February: Fulford PRO/AM – 4 player teams Monday 21st February: Worksop PRO/AM – 4 player teams Monday 7th March: Cleveland PRO/AM – 4 player teams Monday 21st March: Huddersfield PRO/AM – 4 player teams Monday 4th April: Headingley PRO/AM – 2 player teams Monday 11th April: Moortown Major Monday 25th April: Rockliffe Major For entry details visit www.2020protour.co.uk

Send your news and photos to YG at news@yorkshire-golfer.com

Special Offers for 2022 Introductory New Members Offer GENTS £680 – LADIES £600 Includes £30 bar credit – full membership and associated benefits until February 2023

30 Royd Lane, Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RZ

Visiting Societies Competitive deals for visiting parties, tailored to your requirements for golf and food

Visitor Day Rates Weekdays £20 (£15 winter) Weekends £26 (£20 winter)

Social/golf membership taster £110 for six rounds (6x18 or 12x9 holes) and house membership to February 2023 A friendly club situated 11 miles north of Sheffield and just 5 miles from Jnc 35a & 36 of the M1. Enjoying stunning views of the Peak District to the west and the Lincolnshire Wolds to the east. Boasting a well-stocked pro shop run by our PGA professional Roger Broad, with a comfortable clubhouse – Stocksbridge & District Golf Club is well worth a visit

Call Treasurer/Secretary John on 0114 288 2003 or email: stocksbridgegolf@hotmail.co.uk

‘As profiled in Yorkshire Golfer, October 2021’ Call the Pro Shop on 0114 288 2779 to book a tee time or for more information www.stocksbridgegolfclub.co.uk Facebook @stocksbridgeanddistrictgolfclub

Clubhouse/Office 0114 288 2003 stocksbridgegolf@hotmail.co.uk

Open Events 2022 £25 per person including Bacon Roll & Hot Drink

Summer Society Bookings

Friday 28th January -

Gents Pairs £50 per pair

Friday 25th February -

Gents Pairs £50 per pair

Friday 25th March -

Team AmAm (any gender) £100 a team

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

SPECIAL RATES Book 17 and 39 from £35 plus food

(Includes light lunch) Index limit 5.4 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)

SPECIAL OFFER

Sunday 7th August -

Mixed Open AmAm £80 a team

Groups above 40

Friday 26th August -

Men’s Team AmAm £100 a team

FREE fourball on the day worth £140 Cannot be used against bookings already made

(includes a light meal after) Thursday 6th Sept -

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

Jan/Feb 2022

16

I CHRIS DENNIS PGA Teaching Professional at Waterfront Golf

What do we need to become a good putter?

People often say putting is a game within a game but how many of you have had a putting lesson in the last year? Here are the seven areas of putting, yes SEVEN areas you need to address to be a consistent putter..

6) Targeting?

Where are you aiming your putter on both straight and breaking putts? Do you pick something just in front of the ball, the apex of the putt or maybe something at the hole?

1) Do you have the correct putter?

7) Speed Control?

How many of you have been for putter fitting lately or ever?

Some 90% of golfers go off a feel of picking up a putter and hitting a few putts or take advice from a playing partner. And when you think the putter is the most used club in the bag this seems quite ridiculous.

How do you work on your speed – or are you the player who throws down three balls and hits towards random holes on the putting green and then heads to the 1st tee? You may be surprised but tour pros also struggle to tell you how they work on speed so you’re not the only ones.

2) Stroke tendencies?

Is your stroke the reason why you are missing your putts?

This could be down to a number of different reasons but by capturing both data (with Capto and TrackMan) and slow motion video we can find out what is the cause and give you the correct drills to help improve this.

picked before addressing the ball.

Are you one of those?

4) How does the ball roll?

Just like your full swing shots you add spin to the ball on the putting green but do you know what you do? And do you know what a tour professional would expect to see?

5) Do you read greens well?

3) Do you know your Aim Bias?

Do you struggle to aim where you have picked? A high percentage of amateur golfers aim nowhere near the point they have

Do you picture a curve or do you treat every putt as straight, this is often something players are unsure of and this leads into the next area....

The above areas have probably opened your eyes into thinking a lot more about your putting.

Here at Waterfront we will collect all this information and turn it into a simple plan of drills and structured practice that you can follow and start to lower those scores by having less putts per round.

For more insight, if you search Chris Dennis Golf on YouTube I have over 200 videos to help you improve your short game (free to subscribe).

Trackman and the Capto putting analysis system at Waterfront Golf

How good? Bluntly brilliant PRODUCT REVIEW Blunt Sport Umbrella We all know one of those golfers – however high or low their handicap – as each new year and much-hyped product comes along, from a driver to a putter to a golf cart, at whatever the cost, they have to have it.

No matter whether it suits their swing, their game, they have to have it...

New to the golf market is a high-end accessory which might not make an ounce of difference to their golf, but is pretty much guaranteed to wow their playing partners – and keep them dry

during a typically wet British winter.

How good is the Blunt Sport umbrella? It’s £125-worth of good, which is top dollar for a simple ‘brolly’. And the Blunt Sport is very simple. No buttons to flip or click to open and close, just a rock-solid extendand-retract mechanism that has nothing about it to go wrong.

Those umbrellas that catch a heavy gust and flip inside out, to be rapidly despatched to the brolly graveyard in the sky?

Not this one. I’m not saying you could do a ‘Mary Poppins’ and float serenly to ground with it open, but if anything could

ever give you that sense of confidence, it’s the Blunt Sport.

It’s been wind-tunnel tested up to Category-1 hurricane conditions – 71mph. And you’re not likely to be out on a golf course in that sort of weather anyway.

So confident are the specialist manufacturers that they issue a two year-global warranty, and if there is a problem, they repair rather than replace.

Blunt make a wide-range of models, the Sport being the very top of the range and it comes with a handy carry case for non-golfing use.

Mine is in the bag for good. www.bluntumbrellas.co.uk

17

Jan/Feb 2022

GOLFING AT WATERFRONT

2022 AT WATERFRONT GOLF

Waterfront Golf has gone through some huge changes in recent years, and our membership numbers continues to rise to the point that we have very limited spaces for 7 day members but still have spaces available for 5 day members. Annual subscriptions of £500 for 5 day and £580 for 7 day offer fantastic value for our 12 month full tees and greens course. We do not have any temporary tees or greens .... ever!

Our nine hole course has eighteen different tees and our members have the option of 9 or 18 hole comps throughout the season. Our comps are open to all members gents and ladies alike. We have a thriving senior and mixed section at the club who play every week socially and in competitions.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES PLEASE CALL FRANK ON: 01709 877616 Our floodlit driving range has had a brand new makeover and our new putting and indoor studio which features a Capto putting lab and our Trackman driving range is now open and ready for use.

Frank, Danny, Andy and Chris are very busy so call to book lessons, all are available over 7-days of the week in one of our three private studios. All lessons use Trackman, video and Capto for the most comprehensive of lessons.

Our Trackman driving range has gone from strength to strength since the installation in March and this March sees the addition of 27-inch screens in every bay to make the experience even better!

The brand new Trackman 4 golf simulator is available to rent and is amazing when the weather is bad!

Our fitting centre has Callaway, Ping, Taylor Made and Cobra available to try and we will match any genuine quote.

WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ON PRICE!

SPECIAL OFFERS - LESSON PACKAGES Danny Walsh – 4-hours £160, 10-hours £350 Andrew Stocks – 4-hours £160, 10-hours £350 Chris Dennis – £85 1-hour lesson, £300 performance package = 2x1-hr lessons and 9-hole playing lesson Call: 01709 877616 or visit www.waterfrontgolf.co.uk FOR INFO ON ANY OFFERS OR MEMBERSHIP. AND REMEMBER YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO USE ANY OF OUR FACILITIES – OUR CLUBHOUSE IS A MODERN, RELAXED PLACE WITH NO DRESS CODE SO COME ALONG AND ENJOY A VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE!

STATION ROAD, WATH-ON-DEARNE, ROTHERHAM S63 7BU

Food available daily

Jan/Feb 2022

18

East Coast Golf Passport FLAMBOROUGH HEAD Lighthouse Road, Flamborough t: 01262 850333 www.flamboroughheadgolfclub.co.uk

BRIDLINGTON GOLF CLUB

Belvedere Road, Bridlington t: 01262 606367 www.bridlingtongolfclub.co.uk

HORNSEA GOLF CLUB Rolston Road, Hornsea t: 01964 534989 www.hornseagolfclub.co.uk

FILEY GOLF CLUB West Avenue, Filey t: 01723 513293 www.fileygolfclub.com

THE BRIDLINGTON LINKS Flamborough Road, Bridlington t: 01262 401584 www.bridlington-links.co.uk

SCARBOROUGH SOUTH CLIFF Deepdale Avenue, Scarborough t: 01723 360522 www.southcliffgolfclub.com

Bridlington and the surrounding coastline proudly boasts six of Yorkshire’s finest golf courses all located within a short distance of each other, offering golfers of all abilities an excellent test of golf on six very different and contrasting courses Working together the six participating golf clubs continue to offer the hugely popular East Coast Golf Passport scheme which offers visitors to the area the opportunity to play at the courses and enjoy savings on the normal Green Fees of up to 50%.

How to apply for this great deal?

Simple, just contact the office at Bridlington Golf Club, tel. 01262 606367 seven days a week or e-mail enquiries@bridlingtongolfclub.co.uk and let us take care of the arrangements for you.**

The Special reduced cost of your passport is:

£66* for 3 rounds of golf! £84* for 4 rounds of golf! £100* for 5 rounds of golf!

ENJOY EXCELLENT SAVINGS! Passport prices includes weekends & bank holidays

www.golfcoastpassport.co.uk *Terms and conditions apply **Dates subject to availability ***Offer is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

The Belvedere Hotel In conjunction with the East Coast Golf Passport

Three Day Golf Break £175 Inc. 3 rounds of golf & 2 nights b&b

Four Day Golf Break £234 Inc. 4 rounds of golf & 3 nights b&b

Five Day Golf Break £300 Inc. 5 rounds of golf & 4 nights b&b Please contact us on 01262 606367 e: info@belvederehotelandgolf.co.uk

www.belvederehotelandgolf.co.uk

19

Jan/Feb 2022

The Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs

The grass is greener...

Key presentations at Pannal ACM P

sustainability action and to strengthen annal Golf Club will and promote golf’s social and environhost the YUGC’s 2022 mental action”.

Annual Council YUGC Secretary Jonathan Plaxton Meeting and this year’s event touched on a number of issues that should be of particular interclubs will face in the near future. est to club greenkeepers and “GEO will focus on lots of opporgreens chairmen. tunities for clubs improving their susThe ACM returns in its tainability, from charging points (for traditional ‘live’ format on electric vehicles), to reductions in Wednesday March 18 at plastic usage, sourcing sand – which is 9.30am, after being held viran increasing problem – and how we tually last year. recycle water,” said Mr Plaxton.

With an increasing focus Alistair Beggs of the R&A “It will not be long before water on golf courses adopting sussupplies are going to cost clubs a lot more tainable strategies, the YUGC has lined up two money. GEO have a lot of traction in the sport key presentations for the morning session, and lots of unions are having dialogues with which is open to all interested parties. them.”

The R&A’s Head of Sustainable Agronomy Members of affiliated clubs can register Alistair Beggs will look at the key issues affectthrough their secretary or manager to attend the ing clubs and courses, and there will be a presmorning sessions. Buffet lunch is provided for entation from the GEO Foundation for delegates staying on for the formal afternoon Sustainable Golf. business session when officers present their GEO is an international not-for-profit body reports. that has been operating for 15 years, working Matters requiring a vote from delegates will with a wide range of groups and organisations. be considered, with clubs having either one or The organisation states its mission as being two votes, depending on their membership. “to help inspire, support and reward credible

Get the best from County Card – and not just in Yorkshire The 2022 County Card will soon be available for all members of the golf clubs affiliated to the YUGC who want to enjoy the benefits of discounted green fees all across the country.

Despite being called a ‘County Card’ it’s important to stress that it gives access to clubs and courses nationwide. Of 35 golfing counties, only Norfolk and Suffolk are not signed up to the scheme.

It means that for just a few pounds County Card holders can use it at more than 1,350 clubs including large numbers of championship courses, like Yorkshire’s own Ganton, Fulford and Lindrick.

Clubs typically charge County Card holders a green fee equivalent to a guest playing with a home member, but individual clubs have discretion to apply their own rates. It is always worth checking at the time of booking.

2022 County Captains selected Yorkshire Men’s Captain Darryl Berry goes into his 11th year leading the county with his eyes only on one prize – a national title to hopefully hand on to a potential successor.

“I keep saying it could be my last year because I’m coming into my 11th campaign,” the Baildon member laughed, “but it’s a question of finding the right person to take over.”

Since inheriting the captaincy from his pal, new Seniors skipper Andy King, Berry has led Yorkshire to a succession of Northern Region titles with two national prizes in the bag too.

He may well have been Yorkshire’s youngest ever captain at 31, having returned to the amateur game after having played in the professional ranks.

He’d mentioned to top coach Graham Walker that he fancied such a role one day, but never expected that day to arrive so soon. However having made nearly 50 Yorkshire appearances, he was very much steeped in what the job entailed.

Darryl Berry

He is also very clear about both the challenges and benefits of taking care of England’s largest golfing county. Such has been the success of coaching and development in Yorkshire, many of its premier amateurs are often busy either on international duty, playing in tournaments with World Amateur Golf Ranking points, or busy like Alex Fitzpatrick and Dan Bradbury playing the US collegiate game.

“It’s a fact that playing for the county might not be considered the priority it once

was. Back when I was playing, it was the pinnacle, that and going on to play for England. I remember my county days far more than my professional ones.”

Not that captain Berry is complaining about being deprived of quality golfers.

“We have 183 affiliated clubs in Yorkshire and that’s a lot of talent to choose from, we’re not really scraping the barrel,” he added.

Under his tenure, Yorkshire have pretty much owned the Northern Region having lost only a handful of matches in that spell.

“I’m confident that we have talent in depth,” he said. “If we do okay in the morning foursomes, I know that by the time we come to the 12 singles matches the opposition will struggle to live with us.

We found ourselves 4-2 down at Durham last season, but the guys brought it home 9-3 in the afternoon.”

But there is more to the Berry ethos than just the ability at his disposal – he speaks proudly of the team ethos that surrounds everyone who steps onto a tee box for

Yorkshire.

“I want the players to have fun, to enjoy themselves, to know that everyone in the camp is behind them. Golfers come here on their first callup, nervous, and by the end of a couple of days they feel like they’ve been part of the set-up for two years.

“That means as much as anything to me.”

The 2021 campaign saw Yorkshire come up short in the England Golf Northern Group qualifying at Manchester Golf Club. The six-man strokeplay format somewhat negates their strength in depth and Yorkshire ended up finishing third behind Cheshire and winners Northumberland.

If captain Berry has anything to do with it, the White Rose men will be putting that to rights at the beginning of August at Hallamshire Golf Club.

Garforth golfers ANDY KING and JAKE WALLIS are the new Yorkshire Seniors and Boys captains. See full interviews on pages 3 and 8 COUNTY FIXTURES - p22

The only restrictions on card usage is a limit of one visit per club per season, and in groups limited to four players.

Over the curtailed seasons of 2020 and 2021, the YUGC has been promoting the system by giving clubs 50 free cards to use as incentives, gifts or as fund-raisers.

Typically the card costs £10 per year and can be obtained through club secretaries or managers. However to further promote the card in 2022, individual cards can be purchased for £5, but there is also the opportunity for clubs to ‘bulk buy’ for their members at an even greater discount.

Clubs that choose to provide cards for their entire playing membership – all ladies and gents over the age of 18 – the cards are just £1 each.

Clubs with larger memberships who order more than 400 can get them at £1.50, and for clubs ordering between 200 and 399 cards the price is just £2 per card.

A list of all participating counties and clubs is on the YUGC website under the County Card tab, with links to the individual clubs.

Calling all rivals to team champions Entries are now open to clubs wanting to try to wrest the titles of Yorkshire Inter-Club Foursomes champions from Moortown, plus the Team Championship victors, Hornsea Golf Club.

The men from the east coast club were 5shot winners ahead of Hallowes and Middlesbrough, in the Team Championship climax at Ganton.

Hallowes’ Sam Bairstow, back on the scene of his Brabazon Trophy win was the only player under par on -2, but Hornsea’s Nick Raybould was second on +3, with brother Matthew in 10th and Jack Maxey in 15th recording back-to-back totals of 223.

Moortown meanwhile emerged from 64 clubs who lined up for the knockout Foursomes and prevailed over Fulford in the final, played at Harrogate.

The Team Championship tees off at Howley Hall on Wednesday April 6 with the 7th Division Preliminary round, the qualifiers heading to Dore & Totley.

Clubs not already established in one on the divisions can register for the preliminary round by contacting the YUGC secretary while the Foursomes tournament is now open for entries via the form on the YTUGC website.

Already 12 clubs who have not previously competed have registered for 2022.

Keep up with what’s happening on the county scene by visiting www.yugc.co.uk

Jan/Feb 2022

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YORKSHIRE GOLFER READERS OFFER

II

Book a 1-hour Flightscope and video analysis session with Tony Howarth for just £30 To book, contact Tony on 07588 355588 or email tonyhowarthpga@gmail.com

TONY HOWARTH, Academy Director at Scarthingwell Golf Academy

Visit www.tonyhowarthgolf.com for more information on the sessions offered

1

2

This ‘scoop’ just isn’t good news H

itting down on the golf ball with an iron is crucial in creating a solid strike.

Done correctly, this will promote good ball striking and will enable you to strike the ball first before the clubhead continues onto striking the ground, producing a divot. However, if your swing creates a scooping motion, thin shots can be the result. Even a clean hit of the ball will be left powerless.

This occurs because the bottom of the swing arc will likely be found behind the ball and so the ball will be struck by the leading edge of the club as it moves up from the lowest level.

Similarly, if the club-head is ahead of the hands at impact, a heavy shot can also be produced. In this instance and in contrast to the thin shots, the bottom of the swing arc does go through the ground but the clubhead penetrates the ground before it hits the ball. This results in a poor shot that doesn’t go very far.

upward contact with the ball and a scooping action.

When the hips work correctly on the downswing, they enable the weight to move across to your front foot, bringing the arms with them.

This motion brings the hands ahead of the ball at impact, (image 4) leading to a much-improved strike by compressing the ball with the clubface.

As you can see from the illustration, the hips are finishing ahead of the centreline, promoting the downward strike on the ball (image 5).

3

4

5

How to keep your hands ahead of the ball at impact The most successful way to keep yourself from scooping the club is to keep your hands ahead of the clubhead at impact.

This is often preceded by your address position being incorrect. Your hands should always be slightly ahead of the ball at address (image 1) When scooping the ball, you will see your hands over the clubhead at impact, or even behind (image 2) However, when hitting down on the ball, will see your hands ahead of the clubhead at impact, leading to a much-improved strike.

This is achieved by the correct movement of the hips during the downswing.

When scooping the ball, the hips remain behind the ball throughout both the backswing and the downswing (image 3).

This restricts the body from shifting the weight onto your front foot and leads to the scooping motion. As you can see from the illustration, the hips are finishing behind the centreline, promoting an TONY HOWARTH, 2004 Sinclair Award Winner, Academy Director and Golf and Marketing Manager at Scarthingwell Golf Course, has over 25 years PGA experience and has taught all levels of golfers. This experience ranges from European Tour, Ladies European Tour and County players through to club golfers and complete beginners.

Tony has appeared as guest speaker at many events including the Junior Golf Partnership seminar held at the Belfry, as Key Note Speaker at the inaugural Golf Careers Convention at the University of Northumbria, guest speaker at the UK Golf Show, the Turkish Golf

Federation 1st Annual Coaching Conference and most recently at the GolfEurope Show in Augsburg, Germany.

In his role as SNAG Master Trainer, Tony works with International Golf Development implementing first touch coaching and development programmes across the world including Europe, Africa and Asia. Tony’s simplistic style of coaching has been his road to success and he has become known as an expert not just on the golf swing but especially on the short game and putting.

Scarthingwell Golf Course

GREEN FEE OFFER £20 PER PERSON Monday-Friday

£25 PER PERSON

Saturday-Sunday To book telephone reception

01937 557878

For details on our 2022 MEMBERSHIP OFFERS contact TONY HOWARTH

01937 557878

Scarthingwell Lane, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, LS24 9PF T: 01937 557878 tony.howarth@scarthingwellgolfcourse.co.uk www.scarthingwellgolfcourse.co.uk @GolfPick

ScarthingwellGolfCourse

One of Yorkshire's Friendliest Golfing Venues

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY...

“I was excited about playing a course with a reputation for a friendly atmosphere. It did not disappoint – I was met with a very professional and cheerful welcome.”

“York is blessed with some really good courses and you can put this one right up near the top!”

“Thanks again for another great day’s golfing, yet again the course was in immaculate condition.”

Jan/Feb 2022

22

Pyman is the pride of York The Oaks Golf Club’s rising star Thomas Pyman was met with the cheer of the night when he was presented with the York Union’s Hardman Trophy.

The Hardman is the Union’s one discretionary award and was the highlight of the annual York Union dinner and presentation night at Fulford.

On hand to host the evening were YUGC President Mike Ward, Secretary Tina Readman and Competition Secretary Andy Robson.

The Hardman Trophy is awarded to the junior boy or girl who has produced outstanding achieve-

York Union President Mike Ward with Thomas Pyman

ments across the year and young Pyman was a stand-out candidate.

Earlier in 2021 Thomas registered back-to-back wins by coming

out on top at the YU Boys Championship at Scarthingwell and picking up the York Union’s Amateur Championship at Heworth GC the following week.

In the process of that win he made a birdie on the 18th to card a Heworth course-record-equalling 66. Thomas followed these two impressive wins with yet another strong display at the Yorkshire Union Boys Championship held at Braford GC the following week, placing 3rd out of a 70+ strong field.

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Yorkshire Union 2022 Fixtures March 26

County v Lincolnshire

Cleethorpes

Apr 6

7th Div Team Prelim

Howley Hall

Apr 20

7th Div Team Champ

Dore & Totley

May 4

6th Div team Champ

Filey

May 8

County v Cheshire

Wallasey

May 9

Seniors v Northumberland Forest Park

May 18

5th Div Team Champ

Harrogate

May 31

Yorkshire Boys Champ

Woodsome Hall

June 2

Northern Fed u16 Boys

Knaresborough

June 8

4th Div Team Champ

Normanton

June 11

County v Northumberland City of Newcastle

June 13/14 Yorkshire Seniors Champ

Selby

June 20

Seniors v Durham

Blackwell Grange

June 22

3rd Div Team Champ

Malton & Norton

June 27-29 EG Northern Boys Qual

Kendal

July 2

County v Durham

Hallowes

July 3

Northern Federation

Durham (tbc)

July 6

2nd Div Team Champ

Cleveland

July 14

Seniors v Lancashire

Hesketh

July 18

U16 Boys v Lancashire

Crosland Heath

July 19/20

EG Northern Seniors

Ponteland

July 20

Yorkshire Team Cham

Hallamshire

July 25

U16 Boys v Cheshire

tbc

Aug 1

Seniors v Cumbria

tbc

Aug 1/3

EG Northern Group Qual

Hallamshire

Aug 9

U16 & U14 Boys Champ

Easingwold

Aug 13

County v Lancashire

Huddersfield

Aug 15

County Boys v Cheshire

Eaton

Aug 15

Seniors v Cheshire

Selby

Aug 16/18

Yorkshire Amateur

Fulford

Aug 30/31

EG Northern Seniors Qual Pleasington

County Boys v Lancashire Bolton

Sept 3

County v Cumbria

Seascale

Sept 17/18

Yorkshire Matchplay

Bradford

Oct 2

9-hole GC Team Champ

Hanging Heaton