Northern Golfer magazine #71 - Dec 2018 / Jan 2019 by Offstone Publishing

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JUGGLING ACT Andy Scrimshaw on what it takes to be a professional golfer WIN A GALVIN GREEN OUTFIT WORTH Â£230 WITH ORIGINAL GREEN

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EDITOR Dean Bailey 01661 844 115 dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Alan Hedley 07570 797 566 ahedley@northerngolfer.co.uk John Harrison Matfen Hall 01661 886 146 EVENTS Dean Bailey 01661 844 115 dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk ADVERTISING MANAGER Doug Brolls 07721 031 482 doug@offstonepublishing.co.uk PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Gibson & Nicky Rogerson info@kgphotography.co.uk

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WELCOME&CONTENTS The New Year brings with it a chance to prepare for the new season and there’s a lot to look forward to in our region in 2019. In our first edition of 2019 there’s a lot to get your teeth into. We’ve got four pages of new gear to start with - including a look at each of the headlinegrabbing new drivers for this season. We’ve also put together our essential guide to the season ahead, picking out the most important events of the year in our region - from county championships to regional tournaments. You’ll also find details of this year’s Champion of Champions events hosted by Ramside Hall. Speaking of our events, Match Play Pairs is back for 2019 too. You’ll find the entry form and all the details you need on page 36. Few people are more geared up for the year ahead than this month’s cover star, Andy Scrimshaw. I’ve been friends with Andy since we played junior league golf together and though our on-course careers have headed in very different directions, I’ve closely followed the ups and downs of his journey in the professional ranks. It was fascinating to hear him tell his story and I hope you enjoy reading his open account of the determination, grit and sacrifice required to be a professional golfer. Chris Paisley’s season is already underway and in this month’s Tour Life he reflects on his first few events travelling with daughter Ella along with his wife Keri. Back at home, Graeme Storm has sadly had to delay his return to the European Tour a little longer - you’ll find an update from him on page 4. Meanwhile, Callum Tarren has got off to a great start on the Web.com Tour in the US - which you can read about on page 5. There’s more great news from our region’s juniors, seniors, greenkeepers, county unions, professionals and more in the news pages - which is fantastic to see so early in the year. This year marks the 150 anniversary of England’s fourth oldest club, Alnmouth Golf Club, and we’ve taken a look at what lies ahead at the club on page 15. The events lined up look fantastic and the club is set to celebrate this special occasion in grand style. Everyone at Northern Golfer hopes all the members of Alnmouth enjoy the next 12 months and I’m sure we will be regular visitors to the Northumberland coast this year. By the time you read my next letter, the golf season will be underway. Good luck out there, here’s to a great year!

04-08 TEEING OFF

Storm’s setback, Tarren’s flying start, Willett visits Cleveland, and a European journey

10-23 TEEING OFF

Junior Tour turns 10, EuroPro heading to Linden, and Alnmouth celebrates 150 years

25 TOUR LIFE With Chris Paisley

27 DEAN BAILEY

New rules, same issues

Dean Bailey, editor editor@northerngolfer.co.uk

36 MATCH PLAY PAIRS Entries now open!

FRONT COVER

Andy Scrimshaw’s story of grit, determination and sacrifice

39 2019 DIARY

Our guide to the new season

Pages 28-31

32 TYNESIDE COURSE PROFILE

45 FOUR PAGES OF THE LATEST GEAR

50 TIPS

A simple sequence with John Harrison

52 PROMOTIONS

Win a trip to Beamish, plus golf for four at George Washington and Prudhoe Golf Club

54 BUNKER

Golfing tales from our readers NORTHERN GOLFER 03

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Seal of approval Graeme Storm gave his seal of approval to a unique co-operation which has seen two Co Durham clubs resurrect their junior golf systems. Graeme was the guest of honour at the presentation night for juniors from Woodham and Oakleaf following their first season fielding a combined team in the junior league and at county events. The joint effort, led by Woodham junior liaison officer Chris Lawson and his Oakleaf counterpart Brian Hope, has proved hugely successful with a host of honours and trophies - including the Durham County Junior Southern League title and the Durham County PD Cowell Team trophy. The team also represented Durham in the England Golf Team Finals.

Parklands’ progress The junior team from Parklands Golf Club can look back on a great 2018. The team, along with Matfen Hall and Hexham, reached the regional finals of the Junior Team Golf England Championship, where Parklands went on to win their quarter-final by one shot. In the regional semi-finals at Abbeydale in Sheffield, they finished third - just three shots behind winners Huddersfield. Harrison Sewell, 12, posted the joint best nett score on the day with a 68. 02 NORTHERN GOLFER

Storm setback Two-time European Tour winner’s return to competitive golf delayed as he looks ahead to hosting a series of junior events this season

raeme Storm has been forced to put his European Tour comeback on hold. The two-time winner from Hartlepool has had further surgery on his wrist, ruling him out of a planned return to action in Abu Dhabi. The January event would have been the first of 15 tournaments he will be able to play on a medical exemption, which was granted following the wrist injury and operation he went through last year. The French Open and South African Open winner hasn’t played a tournament since he withdrew from the Trophee Hassan II in April 2018. Graeme had been preparing for his 2019 return before the problem returned. “It just seemed to pop and it swelled up a lot,” he said. “It went down but I knew I had to go back and see the surgeon. He had to open it up, have a look and clean it out.” That process meant putting

his hand and arm in plaster, and postponing his return to action until May or June. “It’s disappointing to say the least,” said Graeme. “I’d worked really hard on my fitness, lost some weight, put on some muscle and was feeling good. I’ve never missed the Abu Dhabi event since it started in 2006 and it’s disappointing to miss a Rolex Series event, which can pretty much guarantee your card if you play well enough.” Graeme is now hoping to return in May for the British Masters and will be looking to hit the ground running as he aims to make it into the top 110 before the end of the year in order to earn his card for 2020. He added: “I could still get my 15 events in. The worst case scenario would mean starting in June. There is also the possibility of playing five tournaments this year and keeping 10 for next year if I had to.” Now 40, Graeme is hoping he can overcome this injury and

Graeme Storm, winner of the 2017 BMW South African Open

make a successful comeback. “I still feel I have it in me to play golf at the top level. While I reckon I’ve had a successful career if I had to stop now, playing golf is what I do and I’m hoping that will continue.” Meanwhile, the extended absence has given Graeme the opportunity to focus on preparations for this year’s Graeme Storm Junior Open and the Mini-Storm Series. The Graeme Storm Junior Open, for players aged 11-18, will take place at Hartlepool Golf Club on Saturday April 27 while the Mini Storm event, for youngsters aged 7-10, is now a trophy series with tournaments in Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire. The series opens at Rudding Park on April 20 before heading to Consett Golf Club on May 18 and Wynyard on June 15. Graeme said: “The junior stuff is going well. Hopefully the Mini Storm Series will do well, it’s the first time we have tried it like this. We need to keep working on it and growing it every year.” For more information and to enter go to www.graemestorm.co.uk/ junior-golf

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Roll-up success

Flying start

allum Tarren hit the ground running in the US as he made a successful debut on the Web.com Tour. The 2018 PGA Tour Series China order of merit winner, who stepped up to the Web.com Tour this season, started his 2019 campaign at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay, where he finished in a tie for 12th place with a four-round score of 10 under-par. Next up was The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club, where Callum missed the cut. His third event – The Country Club de Bogota Championship – saw him post a four-round total of level par to finish in 62nd place. “Getting started on the Web.com Tour has been good,” said Callum.

Carus Green’s juniors and professionals

Callum Tarren “It was great to start the year in the beautiful Bahamas and since then each of the venues has been fantastic. “Starting out in the Bahamas, I played some pretty solid golf having not played competitively since the end of October. It was nice to get off to a solid start in tricky conditions. “The next week was tough but I followed it up in Columbia with some great golf and was right up there through two rounds. It was a very up and down week, including 22 birdies, so to finish the tournament at level par was fairly disappointing. I have to

Wynyard Golf Club

take the positives from it though - like making more birdies than the winner! “My game is in good shape, I just need everything to knit together. There should be some solid results on the horizon. I feel pretty comfortable and the goal is to keep playing solid and giving myself chances.” The Web.com Tour is the Path to the PGA Tour. Players can qualify for the world’s biggest professional tour by finishing in the top 25 of the season-long money list or through finishing in the top 25 in the Tour Finals series.

Carus Green Golf Club’s team of professionals have hosted their 420th junior roll-up session. Dave Turner, Lee Edwards and Andrew Pickering welcomed more than 20 competitors aged 3-11 to the event as the players were put through their paces with putting, chipping and accuracy skills challenges. The Saturday junior rollup was launched in 2009 by Andrew and has taken place every Saturday for more than eight years.

An exceptional golf experience

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Durham’s champions George Washington Golf Club’s ladies team has followed up winning the Durham North Division title with victory over Brancepeth Castle Golf Club’s ladies team in the Sivewright Shield final. The George Washington team (pictured above) included Alison Konfortion, Mary France, Jane Hinde, Anita Nesbitt and Sue Jones along with Jean Aiston (secretary), Lillian Sainsbury (captain) and Pauline Michie (vice captain).

Home on the range

anny Willett is now a proud member of Cleveland Golf Club following a recent visit to officially open the club’s driving range. The 2016 Masters champion and winner of the 2018 DP World Tour Championship gave a coaching session and short game clinic for the members before receiving honorary membership of the club at the event. There was also a meet and greet for guests, and the chance to ask the six-time European Tour winner about his career – from growing up in Sheffield

Danny Willett opening Cleveland’s driving range to donning a Green Jacket at Augusta National. “It was a pleasure to open the club’s driving range and to be given honorary membership,” said Danny. “It was a bit of a chilly day out there but the support was incredible.” Club captain Martin Fleming added: “We were delighted to welcome a golfer of Danny’s stature to the club. We’re immensely grateful to Danny

for taking time out of his busy schedule, and for the support of Callaway in making this happen. “We have a vibrant junior section and the driving range gives us greater opportunities for members to practise and improve, and enables us to take golf further into the community. It’s a great facility for young golfers in particular and we’re always on the lookout for keen golfers.”

Castle Eden Golf Club 18 Hole picturesque parkland course

OPEN COMPETITIONS 2019 Gents 4BBB Stableford - Saturday 18th May - £24 per pair Gents 4 Man Team Stableford - Sunday 19th May - £48 per team Mixed Open Team Stableford - Saturday 1st June - £48 per team Seniors Open 1 - 4BBB over 55s – Thursday 6th June - £24 per pair Ladies Team American Scramble – Friday 14th June - £40 per team Seniors Open 2 - 4BBB over 55s – Thursday 18th July - £24 per pair Ladies Team of 4 Stableford – Tuesday 3rd September - £40 per team Senior Open 4 man team over 55s – Thursday 12th September £48 Entry forms available on www.castleedengolfclub.co.uk Now taking bookings for visiting parties and societies for 2019

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4 BALL DEAL - £100.00 OCTOBER-MARCH ‘19 V/P SPECIAL £25.00 PER HEAD TO INCLUDE MEAL OF THE DAY (MINIMUM OF 8)

Hayden Pragnell and Charley Hull

Masters moment

amside Hall junior Hayden Pragnell got a British Masters moment of his own when he got the chance to meet and play a round with Ladies European Tour star Charley Hull at Woburn Golf Club. Hayden, 13, won the chance to meet Charley at her home club by finishing second in the Bridgestone Tee Off Challenge in the Chase Your Dream No Matter What Pavillion at the 2018 British Masters. The group of winners got to meet Charley over breakfast at Woburn before playing 12 holes with her and receiving autographed balls and caps to take home. Following the trip Hayden,

who has a current handicap of 21, said: “It was so exciting to meet Charley as she is a great golfer and to get to meet her at Woburn was so good. I had a great day - it was loads of fun playing golf but it was freezing cold! “Charley is a great golfer and played off the white tees with me. She hit the ball miles and played really good. The main thing I learned from her is to follow my dreams and not to get frustrated. “Charley was very friendly, she told me she had just got back from Florida and she was freezing too. We talked about Ramside too - she won a competition there when she was younger.” The 2019 British Masters will be hosted by Tommy Fleetwood at Hillside Golf Club in May.

England Golf is working with new partner Factory Eleven to reach out to communities and create opportunities for more young people to play, learn and volunteer in golf. The sports business, based in North Yorkshire, is supplying GolfParc equipment to clubs in four counties, including Durham, which are involved in a project to grow participation among young people and families.

2019 OPEN DATES: GENTS 4BBB: 26TH MAY ‘19: £38.00 PER PAIR SENIORS 4BBB: 3RD JULY ‘19: £35.00 PER PAIR LADIES OPEN TEAM OF 4: 12TH JULY ‘19: £60.00 PER TEAM JUNIOR OPEN SINGLES: 26TH JULY ‘19: £5.00 MIXED OPEN 4BBB: 28TH JULY ‘19: £35.00 PER PAIR GENTS 4BBB OPEN: 29TH SEP ‘19: £38.00 PER PAIR ENTRY FORMS AVAILABLE FROM WEBSITE: WWW.MIDDLESBROUGHGOLFCLUB.CO.UK

MIDDLESBROUGH GOLF CLUB BRASS CASTLE LANE

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Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs Fixtures 2019 DATE

EVENT

VENUE

March 24

County Teams Scramble

Alnwick

Mar 30-Apr 13

Inter County Foursomes

Alnmouth Village/ Seahouses

May 4

North and South Trophy

Longhirst Hall

June 5

County Members Spring Meeting

Dunstanburgh

June 8 & 9

72-Hole Stroke Play Championship

Hexham

June 12 & 13

Seniors Championship

Tynemouth

June 22

County Championship Qualifying

Westerhope

June 29

County Championship Final

Westerhope

July 1

Open Seniors Fourball

Ponteland

July 13

1st & 2nd Division Teams Championship

Matfen Hall

July 27

Fenwick-Smith Trophy

Arcot Hall

August 3

County Salver

Whitley Bay

August 17

Forster Cup

Morpeth

August 21

County Members Autumn Meeting

Ponteland

November 30

County Dinner

Holiday Inn

Events in bold are open to members of all county clubs (Subject to each event’s age and handicap requirements). For more information, including dates for regional events and county matches as well as online entries, visit www.nugc.org.uk Northumberland Seniors Cards available for £10 (green fees £10 per visit) - for more information visit www.nugc.org.uk/secretary • England County Cards (£10) also available - for more information visit www.bbogolf.com/countycard

NORTHERN GOLFER 07

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On the mark

European success for our region’s youngsters Cameron Thorburn and Jack McCall

From left: David Elliott and Stephen Dodd receive the award from Mike Greener Tyneside Golf Club has won a national award from England Golf in recognition of its work to grow the game. The club has received the GolfMark award, an official seal of approval for clubs which successfully develop the game. Tyneside has strengthened its links with the community to spread the word about its plans and activities – and has successfully grown its membership - thanks to the development of its practice facilities in the last two years.

National first

Mags Shaw (left) and Ann Young Houghton-le-Spring Golf Club is celebrating a national first which puts it at the forefront of safeguarding. The club is the first in England to successfully renew its GolfMark Award, an official seal of approval for its work to grow the game. With it, the club has also achieved England Golf’s new SafeGolf accreditation. With GolfMark successfully renewed for another three years, the club is looking ahead and working to encourage even more people - particularly women and girls - to take up golf and become members. 06 NORTHERN GOLFER

Faye Wheatley, Libby Bell and Zara Naughton

Charlie Littlewood with Sky Sports’ David Livingstone

group of our region’s most talented youngsters finished off the 2018 season in style at the European Junior Golf Championships in Spain. The group included a trio of girls from Northumberland Zara Naughton (Matfen Hall), Faye Wheatley (Gosforth Park Ladies) and Libby Bell (Gosforth Park Ladies) along with Northumberland boys Cameron Thorburn (Westerhope), Jack McCall (Westerhope) and Jai Scott (Newbiggin), and Yorkshireman Charlie

Littlewood (Rudding Park). Having qualified at Longhirst Hall, the girls impressed in the U18 event over five rounds, which was held over two courses at Alcaidesa Golf Club, near Estapona. Heading into the final round in front of the Sky Sports cameras, Faye was lying in second position with Zara in sixth place and Libby in eighth position. Libby moved up the leaderboard with a one underpar 73 to finish third overall as Zara posted a final round of 76 and Faye posted a round of 79

to finish in a tie for fourth place, one shot behind Libby. Meanwhile, in the boys category, which featured 87 players from around Europe, Jai finished in a tie for 27th place as Cameron finished in 43rd place and Jack missed the cut. Charlie had the best finish among the boys as he finished in 14th place. The boys’ event was won by Doncaster’s Josh Berry while the girls’ event was won by Stock Brook Manor’s Holly Haslam.

Four new events have been added to the Northumberland County Seniors order of merit. Two new singles events and two Texas scramble tournaments will be held in 2019, including a Spring Medal at Whitley Bay Golf Club on May 19 and an Autumn Medal at Goswick Golf Club on October 6. For more information and to enter go to nugc.org.uk

GEORGE WASHINGTON GOLF CLUB

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FULL MEMBERSHIP ONLY £650 JOIN NOW OR BEFORE 15TH MARCH INCLUDES 3 FREE LESSONS & £15 RANGE BALLS (Payment in Full or use our NO FEE Direct Debit facility) For these and other Great Flexible Membership packages designed for the 21st century Golfer call: Bill Michie on 0191 417 8346, e-mail: gsd@georgewashington.co.uk for more details Come along and join us at one of the most improved Courses in the County.

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Great start for Jodi

Junior Tour heading to Yorkshire for the first time

T Jodi Ewart Shadoff Jodi Ewart Shadoff came close to her first win on the Ladies European Tour in Turkey. The 31-year-old from North Yorkshire has been knocking on the door for some time on the LPGA tour in the US, where she is mainly based. But in a foray on to the LET, she finished in a tie for third place in the Fatima Blint Mubarak Open at Saadiyat Beach behind winner Charley Hull.

he Northern Junior Golf Tour celebrates its 10th year in 2019, and it will be hosting events in North Yorkshire for the first time. The new leg of the tour will feature five events in North Yorkshire - at Thirsk & Northallerton, Richmond, Saltburn, Bedale and Teesside. The five qualifying events have been added to the schedule alongside five-event campaigns in Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria. The leading points scorers from these events will meet in the Regional Final at Alnmouth Golf Club on September 1. In Northumberland, the events will take place at Warkworth (April 28), Hexham (May 19), Prudhoe ( June 23), Allendale ( July 7) and Bedlingtonshire (August 17).

2018’s Northern Junior Golf Tour regional finalists In Durham, events will be held at Barnard Castle (April 13), Castle Eden (May 25), Garesfield ( June 16), Wynyard ( July 13) and Dinsdale Spa (August 24). In Cumbria, events will be held at Eden (April 28), Windermere (May 19), Ulverston ( June 30), Cockermouth ( July 7) and Brampton ( July 28).

The Junior Golf Tour hosts nine-hole qualifying events for boys and girls aged 6-14 years old and is sponsored by Mizuno, Chinnydipper Junior Golf Clothing and Factory Eleven. For more information and to enter any of the events in your area go to www. northernjuniorgolftour.co.uk

Bellingham Golf Club - First Floor Flat to Let

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Refurbished in 2017 to a high standard, this two bedroom flat will make the ideal “Country Retreat” for anyone with countryside leanings and it comes with two free memberships to Bellingham Golf Club for 2019. Enjoying superb views over Bellingham golf course, the accommodation is bright and spacious, briefly comprising: entrance with staircase leading to first floor; dining kitchen with integrated appliances; two bedrooms; shower room; lounge with windows to the front and side elevations. The flat benefits from double glazing, central heating, carpeting, blinds and parking. ENTRANCE: Staircase leading to First Floor: DINING KITCHEN: 10’9(3.28m) x 9’7(2.92m) Fitted with an excellent range of base units; contrasting work surfaces; stainless steel sink unit and drainer with mixer tap; integrated electric hob with extractor hood above; electric oven; radiator; laminate flooring. SHOWER ROOM: Comprising double shower cubicle; hand basin; low level WC; radiator; walk-in storage cupboard housing central heating boiler and washing machine/ dryer; frosted glass window. BEDROOM: 15’5(4.70m) x 13’5(4.09m) Enjoying open views of the golf course; radiator. BEDROOM: 12’1(3.68m) x 7’0(2.13m) Loft access hatch; radiator; views of the golf course. LOUNGE: 15’5(4.70m) x 11’8(3.56m) This bright and spacious room has windows to the front and side elevations; attractive wall-mounted electric convector fire; radiator.

For further details please phone Rook Matthews Sayer Hexham Office on 01434 601616

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EuroPro Tour heading to Linden

he PGA EuroPro Tour has announced its tournament schedule for 2019 with five new venues bolstering the line up – including Northumberland’s Linden Hall. The tour, which offers the UK’s most talented young professionals a route to the Challenge Tour along with more than £850,000 in total prize money in 2019, will head to the Northumberland course July 3-5. The 6846-yard Jonathan Gaunt design will also host the first stage of the tour’s Qualifying School April 3-4 alongside five other venues around the UK. The Linden Hall event in July is also set to be part of the tour’s new Macdonald Series, which will take place at four Macdonald Hotels venues. The leading player in the mini series will win a seven-night stay for up to four people at a Macdonald Resort in Spain. The EuroPro Tour offers direct

Linden Hall access to the Challenge Tour through the final order of merit. The top five golfers at the end of the season will be awarded a category on the 2020 Challenge Tour. The season concludes with the

Tour’s top 60 players competing for the Tour Championship. Players qualify to play on the HotelPlanner. com PGA EuroPro Tour through the two-stage Qualifying School in the spring or thanks to their 2018 achievements.

One to watch

Winter practice at Close House has heated up since the arrival of Toptracer at the PGA Academy. The Pin It to Win It event, the first in a series of new competitions on the range, was won by James Dobson pictured above (right) receiving his Longines watch from Berry’s Jewellers’ David Nicholson (left). Follow Close House’s social media channels for details of future competitions, which include a longest drive event and a points game in February.

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Rock ‘n’ roll

ngland Golf ’s Girls Golf Rocks programme is back for 2019 across the region, and the organisers are planning to spread the recruitment programme further across the country. Durham and Northumberland are involved again this season, and five more counties will join the successful programme Cornwall, Hampshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Worcestershire. In total, 26 counties will be running Girls Golf Rocks and clubs in these counties will offer free taster sessions, starting in May, followed by coaching courses with PGA professionals. Club and county girl players will

again be trained as ambassadors to inspire the new girls coming into the game. Last year more than 1,650 girls attended Girls Golf Rocks taster sessions and 1,200 participants enjoyed it so much they went on to take coaching courses with PGA professionals. Girls Golf Rocks is a joint programme from England Golf and the Golf Foundation, supported by the women’s county golf associations. It aims to increase the number of girl players from an average of just two per club. To find out more visit www.englandgolf.org/girls-golfrocks or follow the campaign on Twitter @GirlsGolfRocks

Caitlin Whitehead

Caitlin’s GB&I call up Cumbria’s Caitlin Whitehead has been named in the Great Britain & Ireland squad for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Royal St George’s in June. It’s been 14 years since GB&I won the trophy and Elaine Ratcliffe, who will lead the team 10 NORTHERN GOLFER

for the first time as captain, said: “We have selected a talented group of players and they all now have a chance to make their case to be included in the team.” Seven golfers who played in the Curtis Cup against the US last year feature also feature in the squad.

BEAMISH HALL

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A year to remember

Climbing the ladder

Oulton Hall’s juniors

Alnmouth Golf Club

ngland’s fourth oldest club, Alnmouth Golf Club on the Northumberland coast, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year with a string of national and regional events to mark the occasion. The highlight of the year will be the Senior Home Internationals in September, while the club will also host the Northern Counties Men’s Qualifying tournament, AKA The Big Six, in August. The club’s gala dinner on June 7 is sure to be one of the highlights of the year with 350 guests packing a marquee on the 10th fairway. The club will also host an invitational tournament for representatives of all of Northumberland’s clubs, stage a hickory tournament in April, and host a triangular

match with Royal Liverpool and Stirling golf clubs, which are also celebrating their 150th anniversaries in 2019. Established in 1869 at what is now Alnmouth Village Golf Club by a group led by captain Arthur Walker, with Mungo Park as the club’s first professional and greenkeeper, the club moved to Foxton Hall in 1930. Alnmouth Village Golf Club took over the running of the nine-hole links in 1936 and the two clubs still share close ties. As well as the special events in the coming months, the club will open its new studio with GC2

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technology in the coming weeks – adding to the practice facilities already on offer. Club manager Peter Simpson said: “2019 will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our golf club with big events throughout the year. The club and all its members are looking forward to making the most of the next 12 months, and welcoming people to our club.” Alnmouth Golf Club shares fourth place on the list of England’s oldest clubs with Royal Liverpool. Only Blackheath (1608), Westward Ho (1864) and Royal Wimbledon (1865) are older in England.

Oulton Hall’s members have come together to celebrate a year of success for the club’s junior section in 2018. The Oulton Hall team won a second successive promotion in the Leeds & District Union of Golf Clubs under-18 league and will play the 2019 season in division one. The team of Isaac Smith (12), Jacob Moss (15), Josh Gill (15), Jake Wallis (12), Olly Maundrill (17), Regan Gray (16) and Cameron Owen (18) lost just once all season, while Jacob, Jake and Cameron triumphed in the Junior Team Knockout competition, with a 6-0 success over Wike Ridge. The youngsters were congratulated by parents and members at the section’s annual prizegiving, where club prizes were also handed out - including a prize for the youngest winner, Lincoln Lockwood, aged just four. The junior FUEL GOLF (Future Elite) programme at Oulton Hall has grown again during 2018 and now has almost 170 children participating in weekly classes with PGA professional Thomas Devine.

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Stewart Bailey (second from right)

Charity champion The former Newcastle University changing room facilities for the rugby and football pitches at Close House, now the site of the No 19 clubhouse

The second green on the Colt Course

The old Ice Lake - the top picture is exactly where the green now sits, with the wall, which is in front of the green, just out of sight to the right

The 8th fairway on the Colt Course

What a difference 10 years makes

olf courses change a great deal over the years. Trees that once posed little threat now tower over fairways, rough is added and removed to direct players to new lines, and many more subtle changes over the years add to the challenge. Close House recently shared a series of photographs showing the

Stewart Bailey will celebrate the 10th year of his charity golf day at Slaley Hall on June 21, having raised more than £562,000 through events in recent years. Stewart’s fundraising is in memory of his mother, father and older brother, and to-date has included two parachute jumps, football matches, sportsmans evenings, race nights, golf days, auctions, raffles and more. To-date he has supported 118 charities through events and donations. This year’s golf day, which is already set to be oversubscribed, will raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance, which relies solely on public donations.

changes to the estate in the last 10 years. The originals pre-date the construction of the Colt Course, venue for the British Masters in 2017. They also pre-date the construction of the clubhouse, and notably show the lake where the 18th green now sits. Jonathan Lupton, managing director of Close House, said: “The transformation of the estate since

owner Graham Wylie and the team began their work here in 2007 is truly remarkable. “To see the fields where the Colt Course now stands and take in what has been created by architect Scott Macpherson and our greenstaff led by Brian Clark has been a great experience for all of us. We’re really excited to see where the next 10 years will take us.”

Charity day heads to Rockliffe Bright Red, a charity which supports haematology treatment and research within the region, will host a charity golf day at Rockliffe Hall on March 28. Teams of four are still available for the event, priced at £320 including a two-course meal and prizes on the day. For more information and to enter, contact Lisa Saxton, email lsaxton@brightred.org.uk NORTHERN GOLFER 15

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Stuart’s BIGGA year

unstanburgh Castle Golf Club greenkeeper Stuart Imeson capped a great year with one of the industry’s biggest awards. General manager and head greenkeeper at Dunstanburgh, Stuart became a father for the first time in 2018 and was awarded the BIGGA Greenkeeping Project of the Year Award sponsored by Baroness. In addition to taking on parenting duties and embracing his changing role at the golf club, Stuart has continued to provide educational opportunities for fellow BIGGA members through his Bunker Camps, which were a sell-out in 2018 as greenkeepers from across Europe took part. Bunker Camps have been running for five years and were setup as a way for Stuart’s young team – he was only 23 at the time – to interact with other greenkeepers. The camps see greenkeepers head to

Kevin Harmison Stuart Imeson (left) with Adam Butler of Baroness Dunstanburgh to participate in the construction of revetted bunkers over a two-week period, with educational seminars and workshops taking place alongside the practical greenkeeping. More than 250 people have taken part so far. Stuart said: “I’m a little bit star struck by the whole thing. If you just look at the standard of people

that were up for awards, it’s an amazing achievement. If you look at my three lads, it’s absolutely out of this world to even think we could win something like this.” BIGGA chief exec Jim Croxton said: “Stuart is a fantastic example of the modern greenkeeper. He has a genuine passion for greenkeeping and to improve standards, which is highly commendable.”

The World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) was launched in January featuring two of our region’s best players. The new rankings are based on players’ average performances in counting events over a rolling cycle of the previous 104 weeks. Kevin Harmison is in 13th position as we go to print and Darren Grey is in 48th place. You can view the rankings at www.wagr.com/wr4gd-ranking

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my desire to play new courses and the ideal situation would be where a club member could be a guide on the course, and a companion. So whether it’s at a guest rate or visitor rate, this can improve the whole experience on a new course, with the option of reciprocation on your home course. “We want to increase the accessibility of golf courses through members, increase the amount of play across the UK & Ireland and support golf clubs to improve membership numbers.” Free to join, Golf Even More members receive two free credits on initial sign up to access the network of golf club members and courses. Thereafter members can sign up to annual membership or purchase further credits. To find out more and register go to www.golfevenmore.com

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TEEINGOFF

Top teams T he golfing year is officially underway in Northumberland and Durham following both county AGMs. In Durham, two home-grown professionals were confirmed as part of the county executive’s plans for the future. European Tour player Graeme Storm was re-elected as a vicepresident of the county while former European and England Boys champion Simon Robinson was confirmed as Durham’s new county captain. A past winner on the EuroPro and Challenge tours, Simon is thought to be the first professional to hold a county captaincy in the country. The election of a new president, Chester-le-Street’s Tony Garrity, was the main focus of the annual meeting and he succeeds Billingham’s John Kirk in the role.

A member of the county executive since 2006, he is the third Chester-le-Street member to serve as president. He will be joined by new vice-presidents John Sanderson (Beamish Park) and Neil Burke (Ravensworth). Meanwhile in Northumberland, John Fletcher has been elected as county president. A founder member of Close House, John worked in Newcastle University’s chemistry department and has been a member of the county executive for 10 years. He also sits on the Northern Counties executive and is a former chairman and president of the Hadrian League. Michael Arkle (Rothbury), David Jackson (Dunstanburgh Castle) and John Lee (Slaley Hall) were also elected to the county executive at the annual meeting at Ponteland Golf Club.

Tony Garrity (right) receiving his badge of office from outgoing president John Kirk

New Northumberland president John Fletcher

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NORTHERN GOLFER 21

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TOURLIFE

Chris Paisley

Back on the road

We’re only one month into 2019 but there’s already a lot to talk about...

’m certainly not struggling for things to talk about in this column! From my early season form, to the new rules, slow play, the controversy surrounding Saudi Arabia and Sergio’s antics, it has been one of the more controversial periods in golf. First of all, my form. It has been an okay start to the season. I have made four out of five cuts and had three top 25s. Certainly not the fireworks of last January, but not the worst start I’ve ever had either. Since Ella arrived, it has been like learning a new part of the game. From managing my practice at home to life on the road with her and Keri, things are different now. Fortunately, my wife is incredible and she has enabled me to focus on my golf as much as I need to. Even more fortunately, Ella seems to be an extremely relaxed baby! We had a couple of rough flights (think projectile vomit) but other than that, having Ella and Keri with me has

Chis was part of the European Tour’s first event in Saudi Arabia in January

been an absolute joy. When I finished my last round poorly in Saudi Arabia, I would normally have been pretty frustrated for the whole journey home, but as soon as I saw Ella that didn’t matter anymore. We just learn, move on, and enjoy the ride together. Of all the new rules, no one expected caddy alignment to be the one to cause all the controversy. They clearly messed up the wording, which has led to some players being penalised two shots when they did absolutely nothing wrong. The rule was brought in to stop caddies lining up players, but in the cases of Denny McCarthy and Li Haotong, neither were lined up but both were penalised. Fortunately it seems the PGA Tour has forced a quick response from the USGA and R&A so the issue is now resolved… although Haotong will never get those world ranking points or €100,000 back! Finally, Saudi Arabia. This needs more than one paragraph, but I’ll keep it brief. The tour and players got hammered on

social media for taking part in the event. We were all branded greedy, selfish, and immoral. It’s fascinating how people interact on social media nowadays, especially Twitter. The normal rules of human decency go out of the window! At the end of the day, I needed to go for the sake of my career and family. I am also in the fortunate position where I can travel to these places and form my own opinions. I’m not going to say Saudi Arabia is a wonderful place (although they did put on a wonderful event, no matter what Sergio says) but I genuinely don’t think it’s anywhere near as bad as the media would have you think. Keri and I spoke to a lot of locals and expats, both male and female, and they all said the same - “Things are changing”. They are a long way behind the times, but hopefully this golf tournament was a small step for them, and for us. I don’t see how a boycott helps anyone, but maybe, just maybe, this will be a small catalyst for change.

NORTHERN GOLFER 25

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COLUMNIST

Dean Bailey

New rules, same issues The new Rules of Golf heralded a new era when they came into effect on January 1, but just one month into the year, their application is already raising questions

he new era for the Rules of Golf was supposed to clarify so much of this ancient game’s ambiguity, its need for tedious discussions on interpretation, and primarily to make the game easier to watch, play and understand. While there are hundreds of positives in the new Rules of Golf, it was disappointing to see a major rules controversy so soon. The new rules prevent a caddie from standing behind a player as they begin to take their stance (see Rule 10.2b) - a practice that became common on the LPGA Tour as caddies blatantly aided players in lining up every shot. All was well and everyone expected the change to have positive benefits for pace of play and ensure a player’s own skill was tested properly. Roll forward just three weeks and the European Tour and the game’s governing bodies, The R&A and USGA, were butting heads over the interpretation of the rule – and Li Haotong and his Newcastle-based caddie Michael Burrow were penalised two shots on the 72nd hole of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, dropping Haotong out of the top-10 and costing him €100,000. For a rules official to say that Michael was lining up his player was, frankly, ridiculous. He was in position reading the putt and moved aside, crucially, before Haotong was in position to play. Following the conclusion of the day’s play, European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley issued a statement criticising the lack of discretion available to referees. This was immediately rebuffed by R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers, who said the lack of discretion was a strength of the rule.

That this confrontation was played out so publicly was a hint at the importance the European Tour placed on getting this right. Fast forward one week and Denny McCarthy found himself in the same situation at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He too was assessed a two stroke penalty despite having gone through the process of making his practice strokes, walking back behind the ball and then taking his stance all with his caddie to the side. If the PGA Tour had not stepped in, I fear players would be asking caddies to retreat into portaloos for fear of receiving a penalty. However, sense prevailed! Following an outcry on social media, the governing bodies rescinded Denny’s penalty. In a statement they said: “After an additional review of available video, it was determined that the penalty would not apply. When the caddie was standing behind the player, the player had not yet begun taking the stance for the stroke, nor could useful guidance on aiming be given because the player was still in the process of determining how to play the stroke. The same would be true for any similar situation.” Further clarifications have followed, explaining that players will not be penalised without having addressed the ball or when a caddie is not “deliberately” standing behind the ball. That the rules have been in the spotlight so much within a month of their release is disappointing - though generally they are the breath of fresh air we all wanted. While I’m sure we all hoped for an end to rules controversy, at least the governing bodies are on the ball when it comes to improving their implementation. Keep an eye out for further clarifications in coming weeks…

NORTHERN GOLFER 27

COVERINTERVIEW

Climb every mountain It’s been seven years since Andy Scrimshaw became a professional golfer and in that time he’s learned a great deal about what it takes to reach the top levels of the sport. Dean Bailey meets him to discuss the highs and lows of his journey so far

eing a golf professional can take many forms. For a very select group, it’s a life of travelling the world playing for millions of euros or dollars every week; for others it’s spending time with golfers of all ages and abilities as the heart of a golf club. Others are full-time coaches, some move into managing golf facilities. For Andy Scrimshaw, it’s been a journey of hard work, sacrifice and determination. A trained PGA professional, in 2017 Andy chose to leave behind a stable coaching and events role at Close House along with playing on the local PGA circuit to further his ambitions to play full time on the European Tour. “It’s definitely a tough road and one which isn’t particularly secure, but it’s the right route for me,” he says. “While I enjoy coaching and it’s a great career option, I love playing and if you want it enough, you make it work. “Since giving up that stable income, my hunger to achieve my dream of playing full time has gone through the roof. I graft even harder than I have in the past because I have to make this work. The easy option would be to go back to what I was doing, but

28 NORTHERN GOLFER

I’m not going to do that when I still believe I can make it to the European Tour.” Andy, who is still attached to Close House and practises there when at home, has chosen to focus on the Alps Tour, the path successfully navigated by Chris Paisley en-route to becoming a European Tour winner. This year will be his third travelling across Europe. “I’m really happy playing on the Alps Tour. There’s a lot of travel involved, this year there are 18 events in 11 different countries, but you learn far more about what it takes to be a top player going to these tournaments.” His 2018 Alps Tour campaign included leading into the final round of the Alps de Andalucia event before finishing in a tie for seventh – his best Alps Tour result to-date. He was also a regular contender in local NE/NW PGA pro ams when back at home in Ryton. To-date he has 11 NE/NW PGA pro am wins. Having grown up at Prudhoe Golf Club surrounded by some of Northumberland’s best amateurs, Andy excelled as a junior in the county system. He was playing off scratch and received his first county cap at 16. He was among the best players in the North East by the age of 18, when he chose to leave a mechanical engineering degree

COVERINTERVIEW

NORTHERN GOLFER 29

COVERINTERVIEW

at Northumbria University to take a job as an assistant pro at Close House – an unplanned career move that turned into the first step on his path to the European Tour. In 2017, having qualified as a PGA professional and gone on to split his time between playing, teaching and working on events, he chose to concentrate on his playing career. “When I turned pro, I was a decent county player, but looking back now, I was nowhere near good enough to be a professional,” he admits. “I’ve learned so much about the game at this level and my understanding is now so much higher than it was even two years ago.” While still supported by a handful of loyal sponsors, his parents and his partner Hayley, playing on the Alps Tour comes at a cost. “Hayley and I make sacrifices for me to be able to play in events all over Europe and it would be so much tougher if she wasn’t at home supporting me. My parents have always been there for me too, from playing in national events as a junior to travelling as a pro.” Not one to shy away from the challenge – despite many people questioning him over the last seven years – in 2018 Andy set up Albatross Events with fellow PGA professional Martyn Jobling to help fund his playing career. The company hosts amateur pairs competitions across the region and will host a pro am at Le Golf National later this year. “Playing expenses can get up towards £30,000 30 NORTHERN GOLFER

Andy Scrimshaw

and while sponsorship is really important and I can’t thank all my sponsors enough, I needed to create another income stream between playing seasons. “Hosting tuition weeks adds another stream and then prize money is added in. It’s a lot of different things to juggle but it gives the flexibility I need,” he explains. Andy’s 2019 season begins this month with a European PGA event, which he’ll fly to immediately after an Albatross event at Newbiggin. While he is fully aware of how tough the year ahead is going to be, his game is in great shape after hours of he calls “coldweather training” at home. “When I turned pro, I was very naïve and I thought I was better than I actually was. “The most important thing you need is grit. It’s not easy to be a pro, it’s tough financially, it’s tough when you see your friends buying flash cars and bigger houses, but this is when you see who really wants it.” Andy has spent a great deal of time with his long-time coach Andy Paisley and mentor Steve Black in the last two years to find a new level of his game. “When I was working at Close House, I was still practising hard at the end of the day or on my day off, but I wasn’t practising smart. I’ve always been capable of beating balls but I was searching for what to do. It took nearly six years as a pro to work it out.

“Since then I’ve found far more consistency and learned about the highs and lows of my own game. I’ve learned how to take out those bad days, make them average days and keep having the really good days. “I’ve gone through that period of searching and I understand where I’m heading thanks to all the work we’ve done.” Having found his feet as a professional, and with his game in the best place it’s ever been in, Andy is full of confidence heading into 2019. “The average age to make it onto the European Tour is right around 30,” he says. “I’m four years from that and I feel like I’m in position to get there. The road hasn’t been easy, but my determination is as strong as it ever has been. “Winning the lottery or getting a big sponsorship would be lovely, but I’ve got my cards in front of me and I’m going to do my absolute best with them. The only thing I can control is how hard I work. “If the time comes to give it all up, I’ll know the day I don’t set my alarm to go to the gym at 6am or I don’t head to the range when there’s snow on the ground. Until then I’ll just keep working hard.” With such great support behind him and an unyielding determination to reach the highest levels of the game, we certainly won’t be betting against him.

THE ULTIMATE GOLF CLUB MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE With the golf season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to become a member of Close House

COUNTRY MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE FROM £60PCM

• Country membership from £60pcm • Individual membership £175pcm • Intermediate membership (18-25) £70pcm • Junior membership (13-17) £20pcm • Academy premium membership £60pcm • Academy membership £15pcm • Corporate & Associate membership from £625pcm Contact craig.wright@closehouse.co.uk for further details

*Available to those who reside full-time at least 40 miles from the club

*Joining fees and waiting lists now applicable for some categories

CHAMPIONSHIP COLT COURSE

LEE WESTWOOD FILLY COURSE

STUNNING NO.19 CLUBHOUSE

THE NORTH EAST’S ONLY PGA ACADEMY

TOPTRACER DRIVING RANGE

CLOSE HOUSE, HEDDON ON THE WALL, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE15 0HT TELEPHONE: 01661 85 22 55 • EMAIL: craig.wright@closehouse.co.uk • WWW.CLOSEHOUSE.COM

COURSEPROFILE

One of Colt’s finest Dean Bailey heads into the Tyne Valley to visit Tyneside Golf Club – a club rich in history which is embracing the modern golfing landscape

ur region’s golf courses are linked to many of the game’s greatest champions and golf course architects, from Dr Alister MacKenzie to Old Tom Morris to more modern work by Dave Thomas and developments by the likes of Donald Steel. Harry S Colt has played a huge role in shaping the region’s golfing landscape and one of his finest works is Tyneside Golf Club. Set high above the River Tyne in the stunning Tyne Valley landscape, Colt’s 1911 design weaves through ancient trees and makes great use of the sloping terrain to challenge players to play with accuracy, not power. While Colt’s influences are strong on the golf course, the club itself continues to progress on all fronts. The creation of a six-hole par three course and enviable practice facilities in 2017/18 have boosted membership by more than 100 while offering a pathway for players of all ages to pick up the game and continue to play as

32 NORTHERN GOLFER

long as possible. On the golf course, investment, particularly to modernise drainage, has secured year-round playability. At a little more than 6,000 yards, Tyneside is far from a bombers’ paradise with its trees and penal bunkering, most of which has been maintained and restored in recent years by Frank Pont of Infinite Variety Golf Design along with the Tyneside greenstaff to ensure it lasts another century. The opening uphill par four of 351 yards requires a straight drive over a single fairway bunker. Longer hitters should stay left here as the fairway slopes down to the right side. The best approach is from the left, avoiding two bunkers in the front right corner of a large green. A far tougher prospect, the 468-yard par four second hole requires two great shots to reach the green in regulation. Out of bounds lurks left and players should aim to get as close to the pond in the fairway as possible. From here, play downhill to

a green with three deep bunkers below the putting surface on the right side. Three par fours of less than 400 yards follow and the blind 389-yard fourth is the trickiest of the bunch, featuring a cross bunker some 40 yards from the front of the green along with two more bunkers flanking the left and right sides. The four par threes at Tyneside point directly north, south, east and west, and each is completely different in nature and length. The first, and toughest, of the short holes is the 195-yard sixth. With out of bounds left and the prevailing wind in your face, finding this tiered green can be incredibly tough. The longest hole on the course follows at the seventh. This 521-yard par five heads down into the valley and can yield a birdie opportunity. Beware the swale short of the green and avoid the deep bunker to the front right corner. The tee shot is key at the 343-yard eighth hole with trees waiting left and right of the fairway, which

COURSEPROFILE

FACT FILE slopes down to the right. From the fairway, the small green is an inviting target, while those coming in from an angle will have to deal with a large bunker on the right and two more left. Heading towards the turn, the 152-yard ninth should pose few problems – though ensure you take enough club to reach the green with the three bunkers short of the putting surface. From the 10th tee you get a great look at what lies ahead - a 490-yard par five with stunning views of the valley beyond. Most will carry the stream in the fairway to leave an uphill approach, which must navigate two fairway bunkers en-route to a subtly sloped green. The 11th is a straightforward par four of 355 yards – though the ravine to the right can catch out those who are too bold with their approach to a green surrounded by trees. Climb up to the 12th tee and take a moment to enjoy the view before playing back down the hill to a narrow green ringed by five bunkers. Club selection is key here – make sure you carry the ravine in front of the green. The signature hole – The Coffin – follows (see fact file). The final stretch begins with two great birdie chances. At the 305-yard 14th, a blind tee shot is played to a generous fairway to leave a wedge to a long green surrounded by bunkers cut below the putting surface on its right side. At the 281-yard 15th, the small green at the back of the clubhouse is an inviting prospect – though five treacherous bunkers defend its entrance. The final par three is the shortest of the set at just 120 yards, though Colt’s bunkering and green contouring is at its absolute best here with five bunkers creating a ring around the raised, subtly sloped green with out of bounds just beyond. Two testing par fours bring your round back to the clubhouse. The subtle dogleg right at the 17th must be navigated accurately to leave a good view of the large green before turning to head back to the clubhouse with the 387-yard 18th, which is guarded by three bunkers and some tricky tight lies around the green.

CONTACT Tyneside Golf Club Westfield Lane, Ryton, Tyne & Wear NE40 3QE Tel 0191 413 2742 www.tynesidegolfclub.co.uk Facebook @TynesideGolfClub Twitter @TynesideGC GREEN FEES See website for the latest winter and summer rates, including current offers and 2019 open details. Offers and further details also available on Facebook and Twitter. TOTAL DISTANCE 6,103 yards (white tees) 5,851 yards (yellow tees) 5.504 yards (red tees) FEATURES Long and short game practice area (see website for times and prices for visitors) Putting green Pro shop Clubhouse bar and catering

Tyneside Golf Club has a long and storied history. The initial Ryton Willows nine-hole course was designed by Mungo Park (Open champion in 1874 and club pro at Alnmouth) at a cost of £27. Willie Park Junior was appointed as the club’s first professional and play began in the spring of 1880. The club moved to its present site in 1903 and Colt’s layout opened for play in 1911. That history has not stopped the club from improving though with new practice facilities, for long game and short game training including a six-hole par three course, among the best in the region. Recent drainage work has further improved the course, ensuring it maintains its place among our region’s finest layouts. In 2019 the club is hosting England Golf’s Senior Series and Golf Captains events on July 9-10, as well as the return of the TGC Pro Am on July 19.

CADDY’S TIP Good scores at Tyneside are built around the greens. A solid wedge game is essential here. SIGNATURE HOLE Few holes in our region fill players with dread the way The Coffin does. This 410-yard par four is all about the second shot, which is flanked by ancient trees and must find the narrow, coffin-shaped green which gives the hole its name. Anything left here will end up well below the putting surface, either in the bunker at the front of the green or down below the green toward the path.

OUR VERDICT A regular pilgrimage to Tyneside is essential. The course remains one of the finest parkland tests in the North East of England. NORTHERN GOLFER 33

ADVERTORIAL

THE COMPLETE PACKAGE - THE STUDIO AT COCKEN LODGE IS NOW OPEN When it comes to all-round practice facilities, Cocken Lodge in Co Durham now ticks every box. Opened in January after three months of work by owners the Holmes family and Wise Line Interiors, The Studio at Cocken Lodge is home to industryleading Foresight Sports GC Quad technology – allowing golfers to play, practice and hone their equipment in a perfect environment every day of the year, with an unprecedented level of feedback on every shot. Attached PGA professionals Doug Brolls and Phil Maitland are looking forward to adding to what they can offer golfers of all abilities with the opening of the studio. Phil said: “There are a lot more simulators out there in the last few years and it was really important to have access to a facility like

this. What the Holmes family have created is truly leading in this area – from the quality of the space to the industry-leading technology. I can’t wait to get to grips with it and help players improve in a fantastic space with the best kit.” Doug added: “The Studio is a real feather in the cap for Cocken Lodge, which seems to continually raise the bar in our region for the quality of practice facilities. As a PGA professional with more than 30 years’ experience, I couldn’t ask for more than what we have on offer here.” Available to hire daily, the facility can be used to play in groups of up to four, as well as for coaching with Doug and Phil, and for custom fitting with a range of equipment available from the new pro shop, which has been created along with the studio. There are also weekly

challenges and events with prizes for the leading players. Cocken Lodge is also home to a nine-hole course laid out around the floodlit driving range, which is truly special with USGA specification greens surrounded by stadium course mounding to create a fantastic course of 1,486 yards with two par fours and seven par threes. The driving range was fully refurbished in 2018, complete with top quality range mats and Premium Range Balls. Putting and chipping greens are available too. Away from the course, the recently refurbished clubhouse/ café is very welcoming with hot drinks, sandwiches and draught beers. Northern Golfer editor Dean Bailey recently visited The Studio at Cocken Lodge and he said: “The

Northern Golfer team has always been impressed by the quality of what’s on offer at Cocken Lodge and this new studio expands on the great facilities already on offer. “A substantial investment has been made to create a top of the range facility, complete with a great atmosphere created by the Holmes family and the professionals here. I’m looking forward to seeing this facility help golfers of all levels play more and improve.” Things don’t stand still for long at Cocken Lodge – there are plans to build a new short game practice area in the coming months. When it comes to sharpening your game, there’s nowhere like Cocken Lodge. Cocken Lodge, Cocken Road, Leamside Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 6QP. Tel 0191 5841 053, www.cockenlodge.co.uk

ng hi ry n ac ve oo co l e -n or hi am ni P 11 Ju ith y w rda tu Sa

The Studio at Cocken Lodge

with Foresight Sports GC Quad technology Practice & Play Courses, Including Top PGA Tour & Open Venues Get Fitted For The Best Clubs • Groups Welcome • Private Room & Seating Area

GOLF STUDIO PRICE LIST GAMEPLAY & PRACTICE

CLUB FITTING & TESTING

- 1 Hour Simulate Golf Using GCQuad (Max 4 People) £40

- Iron Fitting (50 Mins) £30.00 - Driver Fitting (50 Mins) £30.00 - Full Bag Fitting Excluding Putter (90 Mins) £60.00 - Wedge Fitting (50 Mins) £30.00 - Ball Fitting Incl Sleeve of fitted balls (40 Mins) £30 - Gap Testing (50 Mins) £35.00

- 30 Mins Simulated Golf Using GCQuad (Max 4 people) £25 - Corporate Group Entertainment And Coaching POA

To book your visit please call 0191 584 1053 Full club fitting service now available including gripping, repairs, and loft and lie checks. Well-stocked pro shop now open with all the latest equipment from brands including PING, Callaway, Orka and TaylorMade. Lessons available with PGA professionals Doug Brolls and Phil Maitland using industry-leading GC Quad technology, along with the golf course and floodlit driving range. Please contact us to book your lessons.

For further information contact

0191 584 1053

Cocken Lodge Golf Course, Leamside, County Durham, DH4 6QP

MATCHPLAYPAIRS2019 MATCH PLAY PAIRS APPLICATION FORM For your chance to win, enter online at www.northerngolfer.co.uk or fill in this application form and send it to: Dean Bailey, Northern Golfer, Offstone Publishing, Unit One, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7AL DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: TUESDAY APRIL 23, 2019

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Match Play Pairs is back for 2019! he Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs tournament is back for 2019 with a new venue for the finals and a new prize for our champions. The 2019 winners of the event will each receive a cash prize of £300 (£600 for the pair) along with a place in the region’s golfing history books. Played throughout the season at venues across the North East and Yorkshire, Match Play Pairs offers the chance to compete against teams from across our region to progress to the semi-finals and final to be held at Wynyard Golf Club in October.

Entries are now open, via post using the form here or online at www.northerngolfer.co.uk/matchplay-pairs/enter-2019. Entries close Tuesday April 23, 2019. Played throughout the season, teams are drawn against one another in the knockout format, played with 90% handicap allowance. You can read the full rules for the event online at www.northerngolfer.co.uk/matchplay-rules For more information contact Dean Bailey, dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk, tel 01661 844 115.

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36 NORTHERN GOLFER

2018 champions Gary Atkinson & Stephen Carter

CHESTER-LE-STREET GOLF CLUB

MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR 2019 Join a club which is investing in its future.

2019 OPENS DATE

EVENT

DATE

EVENT

Wed 17th April Wed 29th May Tue 9th July Wed 21st August

Seniors Open 4BBB Ladies Open Waltz Seniors Open 4BBB Ladies Open Team of 4

Sat 4th May Mon 10th June Sat 17th August Sat 28th September

Mixed Open 4BBB Seniors Open 4BBB Four Person Team Open Gent’s Open 4BBB

CLUBHOUSE AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christenings, etc. Call 01913883218, option 3 to arrange your event.

Contact: Secretary 0191 388 3218 or email: clsgcoﬃce@tiscali.co.uk | PGA Professional 0191 388 2333 Chester le Street Golf Club, Lumley Park, County Durham, DH3 4NS

www.clsgolfclub.co.uk

CELEBRATING

ARE YOU AGED 6-14 YEARS OLD?

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

DO YOU WANT TO PLAY IN A SERIES OF 9-HOLE COMPETITIONS? JUNIOR GOLF TOURS ARE TAKING PLACE IN COUNTY DURHAM, CUMBRIA, NORTHUMBERLAND & NORTH YORKSHIRE IN 2019 WITH FIVE QUALIFYING EVENTS WITHIN EACH COUNTY CULMINATING IN A REGIONAL FINAL ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1 AT ALNMOUTH GOLF CLUB. TO BOOK YOUR PLACE GO TO WWW.NORTHERNJUNIORGOLFTOUR.CO.UK TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS.

WWW.NORTHERNJUNIORGOLFTOUR.CO.UK

NORTHERN JUNIOR GOLF TOUR

NORTHERNJUNIORGOLFTOUR

NJUNIORGOLFTOUR

GOLFERDIARY Ramside Hall will host the Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events in September

Save the date With the 2019 season just around the corner, here’s our guide to the key international, national and local events coming up this year

MENS Spring Open Wednesday 6th March 2019 Texas Scramble (4 person team) GENTS OPEN – 4BBB Stableford

Saturday 27th April 2019

£50 per team £25 per pair

MIXED OPEN 1- 4BBB Stableford Sunday 2nd June 2019

£25 per pair

SENIOR MENS OPEN 1 4BBB Stableford - Age 55+

Tuesday 11th June 2019

£25 per pair

SENIOR MENS OPEN 2 Team of 4 Age 55+

Tuesday 16th July 2019

£50 per team

Pro Am

Friday 19th July

£225 per team

Enter online @ www.tynesidegolfclub.co.uk www.golfempire.co.uk

‘Cherish our history, embrace change’

0191 413 2742

peter.smith@tynesidegolfclub.co.uk NORTHERN GOLFER 39

GOLFERDIARY APRIL Weds 3-4 Thurs 11-14 Sat 13 Sat 27

EuroPro Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 at Linden Hall (+ five more venues) The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Northumberland/Durham Inter-County Foursomes Final at South Shields Graeme Storm Junior Open at Hartlepool

MAY Fri 3-5 Durham Ladies County Championship at Whitburn Thurs 9-12 The British Masters at Hillside Thurs 16-19 US PGA Championship at Bethpage Sat 18-19 Durham County Matchplay Champ. Qualifying at Chester-le-Street Sat 25 Durham County Matchplay Champ. Final at Chester-le-Street Sun 26 Northumberland Ladies County Championship at Gosforth Tues 28 Yorkshire Boys Championship at Selby Tue 30 - Jun 2 Brabazon Trophy at Alwoodley

JUNE Sat 8-9 Mon 10 Tues 11-15 Thurs 13-16 Mon 17-22 Sat 22 Sat 22 Sat 22-23 Sun 23 Mon 24 Mon 24-28 Sat 29

Northumberland Strokeplay Championship at Hexham Northum. & Durham Open at Brancepeth Women’s Amateur Championship at Royal County Down US Open at Pebble Beach The Amateur Championship at Portmarnock and The Island Northumberland County Championship Qualifying at Westerhope Durham County Boys Champ. at Boldon Cumbria County Strokeplay Championship at Silloth on Solway Northumberland U21/18/16/14 Girls Strokeplay at Longhirst Hall Open Championship Regional Qual. at Goswick & Alwoodley (+ 11 more) Ladies County Match Week at Seaton Carew Northumberland County Championship Final at Westerhope

2018 champion Sam Broadhurst is expected to return to Middlesbrough Golf Club August 13-15 to defend the North of England Youths title The Masters Tournament takes place at Augusta National April 11-14 (© Charles B-Knight / Shutterstock.com)

Gosforth will host the Northumberland Ladies County Champ. on May 26

Golf Societies from £18 (Mondays) Weekend tee times available

Book your tee time online via our website

www.boldo ngolfclub.c o.uk

Opens 24th April – Spring Seniors Open 4BBB • 29th May – Seniors Open 1 4BBB 29th June – Peter Metcalfe Memorial (Singles) Contact details Steve Watkin on T: 0191 5365360 E: info@boldongolfclub.co.uk Boldon Golf Club, Dipe Lane, Boldon NE36 0PQ 40 NORTHERN GOLFER

GOLFERDIARY JULY

Seaton Carew will host Ladies County Match Week June 24-28

Linden Hall will host the EuroPro Tour July 3-5 Alnmouth will host The Northern Counties Championship (AKA The Big Six) on August 7

Tues 2 Weds 3 Weds 3-5 Tues 9-10 Thurs 11-14 Fri 12-14 Weds 17-18 Thurs 18-21 Mon 22 Sun 28 Mon 29 Wed 31-Aug 2 Wed 31-Aug 2

Open Championship Final Qualifying at four venues Northern Counties Boys Qualifying Championship at Rockliffe Hall EuroPro Tour event at Linden Hall PGA North East Masters at Rockliffe Hall The Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club Durham County Strokeplay Championship at Bishop Auckland Durham County Seniors Championship at Seaton Carew 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush Northumberland Ladies Junior Championship at Whitley Bay Northumberland Junior Matchplay Championship at Matfen Hall NENW PGA Championship at Morpeth The Seniors Amateur Championship at North Berwick North of England U14 Junior Open Stroke Play Championship at South Moor

AUGUST Thurs 1-4 Weds 7 Tues 13-15 Tues 13-17 Tues 13-18 Thurs 15 Tues 20-22

Women’s British Open at Woburn Northern Counties Championship (AKA The Big Six) at Alnmouth North of England Youths Championship at Middlesbrough British Girls’ Championship at Montrose The Boys’ Amateur Championship at Saunton Ladies North Region Close Championship at Silloth on Solway Yorkshire Amateur Championship at Pannal

The Northumberland & Durham Open takes place at Brancepeth on June 10

OPENS 2019

Seniors Open – 15th May | Pairs Open – 22nd June | Team of 4 – 29th June Ladies Open – 6th July | Pairs Open – 21st July Book online at www.seahamgolfclub.co.uk

VISITING PARTIES WELCOME

Bookings are now being taken for 2019 • Packages tailored to suit your needs

MEMBERSHIP AVAILABLE FOR 2019 See our website for details

FOR MORE INFORMATION RING 0191 5811268 FOR MEMBERSHIP / 0191 5130837 FOR VISITING PARTIES OR EMAIL SEAHAMGOLFCLUB@BTCONNECT.COM SHREWSBURY STREET, SEAHAM, CO. DURHAM SR7 7RD SEAHAMGOLFCLUB.CO.UK NORTHERN GOLFER 41

GOLFERDIARY SEPTEMBER Sun 1 Tues 3 Sat 7 Sat 7-8 Sun 8 Fri 13-15 Sat 14 Sat 14 Sun 15 Thurs 19-22 Fri 20-22 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Sat 28

Northern Junior Golf Tour Regional Final at Alnmouth Northern Counties Seniors Qualifying Championship at Garforth English Girls’ County Champions of Champions at Woodhall Spa The Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool English Women’s County Champions of Champions at Woodhall Spa The Solheim Cup at Gleneagles Durham Junior Order of Merit Final at Wynyard English Boys’ County Champion of Champions at Frilford Heath English Men’s County Champion of Champions at Frilford Heath BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Yorkshire Match Play Championship at Woodsome Hall Northern Golfer Ladies & Junior Champion of Champions at Ramside Hall Northern Masters at Rockliffe Hall NENW PGA Tour Championship at Rockliffe Hall Northern Golfer Men’s Champion of Champions at Ramside Hall

OCTOBER Tues 1-3 Sat 14 Sat 28 TBC

North of England Open Amateur Championship at Alwoodley British Masters Anniversary Pro Am at Close House Lookers Junior Masters at Close House Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs Final at Wynyard

Wynyard will host the 2019 Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs final in October Gleneagles will host The Solheim Cup September 13-15 (© cornfield / Shutterstock.com)

Close House will host the Lookers Junior Masters on October 28

OPENS

All opens bookable via Golf Empire / Club website Garesfield Challenge first Wednesday in April, May ,June ,July, Aug & final in September Ladies Open Scramble Mon 15th April Open Team Scramble Sat 20th April Mixed Open Mon 22nd April Gents Open Sat 15th June

Seniors open 4 BBB Tues 23rd July Open 2 man Scramble Sat 27th July Seniors Open 4BBB Thurs 22nd Aug

GARESFIELD GOLF

CLUB

All enquiries contact the secretary on 01207561309 or email garesfieldgc@btconnect.com 42 NORTHERN GOLFER

2019 EVENTS PLAY THE UK’S BEST COURSES, WIN TOP PRIZES, EXPERIENCE A REAL TOURNAMENT ATMOSPHERE

THURSDAY 18/04 BERKSHIRE OPEN Sunningdale GC, Ascot. £399 Per player (36 hole event) SATURDAY 27/04 NORTHERN PAIRS OPEN Linden Hall GC, Morpeth. £39 per player (£78 per pair) FRIDAY 31/05 NORTH WEST OPEN Southport & Ainsdale GC, Southport. £125 per player FRIDAY 26/07 EAST LOTHIAN OPEN Craigielaw GC, Aberlady, Scotland. £89 per player WEDNESDAY 31/07 MIDLANDS OPEN Little Aston GC, Sutton Coldfield. £109 per player SUNDAY 04/08 NORTH YORKSHIRE OPEN Ganton GC, York. £125 per player

The Scoring Club’s events bring together tournament atmosphere, the UK’s best courses and amateur golfers for an ultimate golf day. Each event has a large prize fund for the winners, including Galvin Green apparel, Stewart Golf Trolleys, PuttOUT training aids, Glenmuir luggage and more. There is also the chance to win £20,000 in our regular hole-in-one challenges. All entry fees include food before and after your round, the tournament experience includes live scoring and leaderboards delivered by our Scoring App, club demos on the day and more. Visit www.thescoringclub.uk for more information and to book – and check out our golf tours in UK and Europe, course reviews, product reviews, online store and corporate event organisation offers.

GOLFERGEAR

Time to change The New Year brought us major releases from all of golf’s biggest names, from headline-grabbing driver technology to innovative putters and stylish new apparel for the 2019 season. We’ve got four pages of the highlights for you this month, from the likes of PING, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Galvin Green, Puma, Srixon and more…

WE ARE FAMILY

PING G410 driver, fairways, hybrids, crossover and irons RRP: various ping.com

PING’s new G410 lineup introduces innovation and advances through the bag, headlined by the G410 Plus driver, which features three moveable weights to customise your centre of gravity location and influence shot direction by up to 20 yards. The driver also features Internal Dragonfly Technology, which allows engineers to move weight around the head to boost MOI; a forged face for improved feel and 8-lobe trajectory tuning to alter loft and lie. The new range also features the SFT driver with a heel-biased weight setup to combat the right-hander’s slice, three new fairway woods, an upgraded hybrid design, a new crossover featuring a thin steel face with a 30g tungsten toe weight to increase MOI, and the game-improvement G410 irons with perimeter weighting advancements to produce faster ball speeds and boost forgiveness.

FLASH A-AH

Callaway Epic Flash driver RRP: £499 uk.callawaygolf.com

Callaway claimed many of the headlines among the early 2019 releases, as well as victories for Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele, with the release of the Epic Flash Driver featuring Flash Face technology. Developed using artificial intelligence and machine learning, a field of computer science that uses statistical techniques to give computer systems the ability to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. A $8m supercomputer worked through 15,000 face designs to produce a driver face with subtle ripples flowing from heel to toe that, despite looking like a random pattern, work together to elevate COR in the face’s centre, increasing ball speeds for more distance. The new Callaway lineup also includes Epic Flash Woods and 2019 Apex irons, Odyssey Stroke Lab putters, and ERC golf balls.

NORTHERN GOLFER 45

GOLFERGEAR

M PEOPLE

TaylorMade M5 & M6 drivers RRP: £499.99 (M5) & £449 (M6) www.taylormadegolf.eu TaylorMade has launched the next generation of its M driver range – the M5 and M6. Building on last year’s Twist Face Technology, which improved ball flights for shots from the toe and heel, the M5 and M6 aim to boost ball speeds to unprecedented levels with their Speed Injected Twist Faces. To do this, TaylorMade initially creates a driver face beyond the legal limits of flexibility before injecting resin into two tuning ports on the drivers’ faces to tune each club individually to meet the legal limit. This makes the M5 and M6 drivers faster on off-centre hits for increased forgiveness. The new face design is up to 20% thinner in places, resulting in a 66% larger sweetspot in the M5 drivers over the M3 and more than 100% larger than the original M1 in 2015. The M5 and M5 Tour variants also feature moveable weight technology in a T-track configuration.

CUTTING EDGE

Galvin Green EDGE and CARBON collections RRP: various www.galvingreen.com Galvin Green has launched two extensions to its clothing lineups for 2019 – the military-inspired EDGE line and the eight-piece CARBON Series. The military theme runs through the EDGE collection of jackets, jumpers, shirts, caps and belts with green, grey and blue colour variations, many featuring a camouflage pattern. Following the 2018 EDGE line, the range is aimed at younger players with a strong focus on off-course appeal. Meanwhile the CARBON range is more muted, featuring black, grey and silver block colours across waterproof and windproof jackets, a warm layer and two breathable shirts as well as accessories including a snood, belt and cap.

46 NORTHERN GOLFER

PUTT FOR DOUGH

Odyssey Stroke Lab putters RRP: from £239 www.odysseygolf.com Odyssey’s new Stroke Lab line of putters incorporates a unique method of weight distribution designed to improve the physical dynamics of the stroke. The Stroke Lab shaft is a full 40g lighter than a standard Odyssey steel putter shaft, made possible by a multi-material shaft design that combines a graphite body with a steel tip, which the brand says promotes improvements in the consistency of backswing time, face-angle at impact, ball speed and ball direction. This boosts your feel for the putterhead to make your stroke more acute, helping you repeat the same stroke time after time. The new shaft setup is available in 18 head shapes.

GOLFERGEAR

HOT STUFF

Mizuno ST190 metal woods RRP: from £279 golf.mizunoeurope.com Mizuno has announced the release of its ST190 metal woods following their debut on tour last year. The ST190 drivers offer Mizuno’s lowest spin rates and years of development have been brought together to enhance ball speed and driving distance. The Forged SP700 Ti face now boasts a lighter structure to deliver consistently higher ball speeds, with a large carbon composite crown plus the Amplified Wave soleplate, introduced in last year’s ST180 drivers, helping to convert each additional mph into extra yards. Meanwhile, the new ST190 fairway woods also feature a carbon composite crown and amplified Wave soleplate, this time allied to a deeper, high-energy steel face which flexes more like a driver to help maximise ball speed.

LOOK GOOD…

Puma 2019 apparel RRP: various www.cobragolf.co.uk/pumagolf

Puma Golf has introduced its Spring Summer 2019 apparel along with a Play Loose Collection as worn by PGA Tour player Rickie Fowler. The main line for summer 2019 aims to blend technical benefits on the course with off-course fashion in a range of innovative fabrics and bold colours. The range includes polos, layering options and bottoms with four-way stretch fabrics, moisture wicking technology and more. Meanwhile, the Play Loose Collection is a head-to-toe assortment of apparel, accessories and footwear designed to fit in with the relaxed vibes of surf culture, bringing an element of fun to the golf course. Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Lexi Thompson will wear the men’s and ladies ranges on tour.

HOT WHEELS

FootJoy Fury shoes RRP: £150 www.footjoy.co.uk

FootJoy has unveiled its latest golf shoe - FJ Fury - designed from the inside out to provide maximum comfort, stability and performance. The latest addition to FJ’s performance lineup, the shoes’ features include an internal fit system that focusses on fit, comfort and support with foot-molding foam and low-profile cleats. The new shoes are available in white/red, navy/white and black/ red and come with a one-year waterproof warranty.

NORTHERN GOLFER 47

GOLFERGEAR

IN THE BAG

with Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Shane Lowry

NEW BALLS, PLEASE

As part of its January announcements, Callaway unveiled three new balls for 2019. The range is headed by the ERC Soft – described as a distance ball with soft feel and an exceptionally high level of performance made possible by a groundbreaking new hybrid cover. The range also features the new Supersoft, which combines Callaway’s lowest compression ball with a new softer cover and optimised aerodynamics for lower drag. Finally the Supersoft Magna, an oversized ball (which still conforms to the Rules of Golf) that has all the characteristics of Supersoft while being larger and therefore easier to hit.

Callaway ERC Soft, Supersoft and Supersoft Magna balls RRP: £34.99 (ERC Soft) & £22.99 (Supersoft & Magna) uk.callawaygolf.com

Shane Lowry returned to the winners’ circle on the European Tour with his one-shot victory over Richard Sterne at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Shane posted an 18 under-par total over four rounds for his first win since the 2015 WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone CC. A Cleveland-Srixon staffer, his bag features clubs from a number of brands, including Callaway’s new Epic Flash Sub Zero driver. Here’s what was in his bag in Abu Dhabi… Driver: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero Fairways: TaylorMade M4 Irons: Srixon Z585 (4-5) & Srixon Z785 (6-9) Wedges: Cleveland RTX-4 (46˚, 50˚, 54˚ & 58˚) Putter: Odyssey O-Works Red 2Ball Ball: Srixon 2019 Z-Star XV

EVN MORE

Four new Evnroll putters RRP: from £309 www.evnroll.com Evnroll has unveiled four new models for 2019 along with a TourStroke Trainer to hone the perfect stroke path and a new Gravity Grip which promotes a square face impact. Evnroll Putters came to the golfing world’s attention in 2016 with a range of 100% milled putters featuring designer Guerin Rife’s Sweet Face Technology, promising unprecedented accuracy and zero dispersion. The new ER1TS model is a CNC-milled version of the TourStroke Trainer, a heel-toe weighted blade putter with a new hosel designed to move the shaft one inch in front of the face to create a super stable putter – perfect for those with a one-piece shoulder-based putting stroke. Three more designs, the ER2.2 MidBlade, the all-black ER5B Hatchback mallet, and the ER8.3 Players MidMallet complete the new range. 48 NORTHERN GOLFER

STYLING 2019

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A SIMPLE SEQUENCE The golf swing often becomes too long or too short because players fail to match the sequence of the body’s rotation and the hinging of the wrists – either the body turns too fast and the club hinges very late, creating a long swing; or the club hinges early and the body fails to turn properly, creating a short swing. A great drill to improve your swing sequence involves placing your right hand (for the right-handed player) onto the shaft. From this position, make some practice swings and you’ll get a great feel for the position of your body and the club through the swing. Return to your normal grip and you should feel a better connection between the movements of your body and the club.

50 NORTHERN GOLFER

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NORTHERN GOLFER 51

GOLFERPROMOTIONS

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 One, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7AL Please include your contact details and telephone number. Closing date Thursday March 28, 2019. Usual competition rules apply – available on request. Winners will be published in our next edition.

WIN AN OVERNIGHT STAY AND GOLF AT BEAMISH Beamish Hall Hotel and Beamish Park Golf Club have teamed up to offer Northern Golfer readers the chance to win an overnight stay for two at the stunning country house hotel including breakfast, plus a round of golf for two players. The prize is subject to availability and dates are to be arranged with Beamish Hall Hotel. For your chance to win simply answer the following question: Who will host the 2019 British Masters at Hillside?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT GEORGE WASHINGTON GOLF CLUB

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT PRUDHOE GOLF CLUB

George Washington is everything you want in a golf resort. A top-notch championship course is complemented by a 16-bay driving range with teaching suites. There’s also a five-hole academy course and the 103-bedroom hotel offers great stay and play rates with dining throughout the day.

Play Prudhoe in the height of summer and you’ll understand why the club has produced some of the region’s finest golfers. Short for many modern players at just 5,839 yards, the key to good scoring is patience and playing into scoring positions while respecting the toughest holes and having a sharp short game.

For your chance to win simply answer the following question: Where did Tiger Woods win the US Open in 2008?

For your chance to win simply answer the following question: Which course will host the 2019 Walker Cup?

Congratulations to last month’s competition winners: Hartlepool - Laurence Beckett of York Romanby - Stephen Renaut-Evans of Crook • Tyneside - Lyn Murphy of Wallsend

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from the

bunker

Welcome to your reader feedback page. We want to hear your likes, dislikes and funny golfing stories, and if you’d like to make suggestions about Northern Golfer, let us know. We want to hear from you! We’re always happy to hear our readers’ thoughts, particularly reactions to our editor’s monthly column. This month, Gary Elliott, a past captain of Consett Golf Club who appeared on the cover of our 50th edition when the team won the Daily Mail Team Championship, wrote in to share the success of his club’s winter competitions: “We run a winter league which has gone from strength to strength in the past four years, among male and female players. Our current entry is more than 75 players. In the past there was barely a soul on the course but this year it has been difficult to find a parking slot, never mind a playing slot! The related benefits for the club have been fantastic. As I type, I’m looking out on a covering of frost but I’m really looking forward to meeting up with the guys to do battle with the elements and golf course. Here’s to happy winter golfing!” Thanks for your email Gary, it sounds like the club is a fine example of committing to winter golfing. Got something to share? Email editor@northerngolfer.co.uk

Congratulations to Peter Ross on his first hole-in-one – recorded on the 11th hole at Prudhoe Golf Club on December 22, 2018 in the club’s Bird and Bottle competition.

While all golfing birds are worthy of praise, scoring the rarest - an albatross - is a tremendous achievement. Congratulations to Niall Bennison who recorded a three under-par score on the par five third hole at Bishop Auckland Golf Club on January 6, 2019 using a driver and a five iron. Niall scored six points on the hole en-route to a 51 point total (a gross score of 11 under-par) alongside partner Paul King. 54 NORTHERN GOLFER

The Durham Junior Girls entered into the festive spirit when they met up at Wynyard Golf Club. County junior organiser Bobby Griffiths sent in this picture of the girls and said: “Twenty of the Durham Junior Girls met up at Wynyard for a Christmas Fun Competition and meal on December 27. The girls, aged 7-21, played in mixed-age teams in an American scramble. It was a fantastic day with lots of prizes, lots of chocolates and lots of laughs - not to mention some great golf! It was a lovely end to the season. We can’t wait for 2019. The future looks very bright!” Thanks for the message Bobby. Good luck to all the girls this season.

After 34 years as course manager at Durham City Golf Club, Stan Shotton has decided it’s time to retire. The club’s course chairman Dave McColl wrote to say: “Thank you Stan for dedicating the majority of your working life to making our course one of the best in the area. When Stan started in 1984, the club had recently moved to a new course, an ugly duckling with clay-based fairways bordered by newly planted saplings. Under Stan’s management, and thanks to Chris Stanton’s vision and skill as an architect, it has become a beautiful swan. Stan can now put his feet up and reflect on a job very well done. “The job has taken its toll, particularly on Stan’s hair. Present day Stan (above right) and Stan in 1984 (above left, discussing plans with the architect) - Stan has the curly hair!” Thanks for the message Dave and we wish you a very happy retirement Stan.

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