Northern Golfer #87 October/November 2021

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AMERICAN DREAM Callum Tarren on the road to becoming a member of the PGA Tour

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

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

WELCOME&CONTENTS The two months since our last edition have been nothing short of remarkable for golf in our region.

To choose a highlight and cover story for this edition was nearimpossible, but we’ve got a cracking interview for you and have packed the remaining pages with lots more.

It was great to catch up with Callum Tarren on one of his flying visits back home to the North East. What Callum has achieved, climbing the golfing ladder to reach the biggest professional tour in the world, is incredible. The first person from our region to do so, Callum has shown true dedication to the sport, travelling thousands of miles to achieve his dream - as you can read on pages 24-27.

Then there’s the national amateur success to cover, starting with the Northumberland team winning the Boys’ County Finals for the very first time (pages 4-5). Meanwhile, Ramside’s juniors won the English Junior Champion Club title (page 7), and Andrew Minnikin won the Men’s County Champion of Champions title (page 8). Each of those stories would be capable of carrying a cover and a huge credit goes to the players for achieving so much in recent weeks on the national stage.

Big stories, national team honours, professional wins, two holes-in-one in a single round, Match Play Pairs, a 100th county cap, the Faldo Series, and more make up the rest of the busiest Teeing Off section we’ve ever put together.

I’ve written a lot of this month’s editor’s note already and haven’t got to world record-holding triple jumper Jonathan Edwards yet - who I had a chat with for this month’s Round With (pages 30-31). We’ve also been back to the Northumberland coast for this month’s Course Profile at Seahouses Golf Club (pages 32-33).

On top of that we’ve got our regular columns with European Tour player Chris Paisley and tour caddy Sean Russell; special focuses on driving ranges and stay & play offers; Gear news; Tips with Doug Brolls; and your chance to win rounds of golf at Tyneside, Wynyard and Bellingham.

As I write this latest note, leading into arguably the busiest of our 87 editions to-date, I think back to the beginning of 2021 when golf courses across the UK were closed. Since then, our region’s golfers have made up for lost time with success story after success story. I can’t wait to see what they achieve next. See you in December.

Northumberland boys win national final

06-08 TEEING OFF

Champion of Champions, national titles for Andrew Minnikin and Ramside’s juniors

09-18 TEEING OFF

A double ace, Northumberland girls star for England, Match Play Pairs, the latest from the NE/NW PGA, and more

21 TOUR LIFE With Chris Paisley

22 TOUR TIPS

With caddy Sean Russell

29 19TH HOLE Rules school

Dean Bailey, editor editor@northerngolfer.co.uk

FRONT COVER

Welcome to the PGA Tour Callum Tarren

30 A ROUND WITH

Pages 24-27

34 SPECIAL FOCUS

Jonathan Edwards Driving ranges

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04-05 TEEING OFF

36 GEAR

32 COURSE PROFILE - SEAHOUSES

The latest equipment news

39 SPECIAL FOCUS Stay & play

45 COMPETITIONS

Win golf for four at Tyneside, Wynyard and Bellingham

46 FROM THE BUNKER

Readers’ tales from around the region NORTHERN GOLFER 03

Images: Leaderboard Photography

TEEINGOFF

Northumberland storm to first English Boys’ County Finals victory

N

orthumberland produced a barnstorming finish to win the English Boys’ County Finals by the narrowest of margins from Essex.

On a day when all four counties – Northumberland, Essex, Leicestershire & Rutland and Gloucestershire – entered the final series in the round robin event with a chance of victory, the northern qualifiers stepped up to win the national title for the first time.

Northumberland’s 6-3 victory over Gloucestershire on the final day was followed by Essex defeating Leicestershire & Rutland by a margin of 5-4. That left Northumberland and Essex with two wins out of three - the trophy being decided 04 NORTHERN GOLFER

on the number of game points won over the course of three matches. By that calculation, Northumberland took 14.5 game points compared to Essex’s tally of 13.5.

Northumberland were represented by Morgan Blythe, Angus Buchanan, Harrison Sewell, James Conn, Freddie McKenna, Cameron Thoburn and Junior Dobson in the event, which took place at Coxmoor, Nottinghamshire over three days with six players playing each session - three morning foursomes matches and six afternoon singles matches.

Northumberland can point to four key games of singles on the final day tipping the balance in their favour. Knowing they needed to win the top four singles games to

stand a chance - the last two singles matches heading Gloucestershire’s way by some margin - the Northumberland boys showed skill and nerve to get over the line.

All four games were won on the 18th green – and the manner of the victories for Morgan, Angus, Harrison and James, as much as the overall win itself, left team captain Phil Ridden proud as punch.

“The shots those four lads hit under the greatest pressure they’ve faced showed character,” he said. “All four hit the par five in two shots to seal their games - it’s unbelievable. You expect someone might hit a bad shot under the pressure, but they all stood up to the plate and hit the best shots of their lives. I’m over the moon for the nine

lads – seven in the team and two reserves. I’m happy for everyone in Northumberland. It’s been a great day and a great fight back.”

Northumberland started the week with a win over Essex before falling to Leicestershire & Rutland on day two.

On the final day they took the morning foursomes against Gloucestershire by a 2-1 margin Morgan and Cameron, and Freddie and Junior teaming up to win their matches - and needed a big push in the six afternoon singles to not only win but win well in case the title was decided by game points.

Morgan was first over the line in the singles having taken a 1up lead up the last and secured the win against Josh Millington thanks to a

TEEINGOFF

Freddie McKenna

Cameron Thoburn

The Northumberland men’s team Morgan Blythe birdie four. Angus followed up by winning his game with another birdie – this time Louis Ross was on the wrong end of a one-hole deficit. Northumberland were on a roll and Harrison - who knew he had to win and was all square with three holes to play - birdied the 16th and then secured the point with two straight pars.

Northumberland were by now assured of the match win, but they knew more game points were required.

That made James’ encounter with Ashley Millington vital. The game had ebbed and flowed from the start but going into the back nine, Ashley was three holes clear. By the 13th the game was tied and after four holes were shared with pars, it all came down to the par five 18th. James made the green in two and two putts for birdie was enough to secure the point that gave his team a chance of victory with the Essex and Leicestershire & Rutland match following on behind.

Although Essex won the match 5-4, it was not by a big enough margin to out score Northumberland over the three days.

After celebrating with his teammates, Morgan spoke for the Northumberland boys. He said: “Everyone is obviously buzzing. There’s been a lot of hard work behind the scenes and to do it with clutch shots is fantastic. None of us can stop smiling. We said before the singles that if we won four of the six we’d have a chance. I just tried to win my match and see what happened from there. For a county with not that many clubs and a small budget it’s a great achievement and everyone is just so happy.”

Day One: Northumberland 5.5-3.5 Essex (Foursomes win for Harrison & James.

Singles wins for Morgan, Angus, Harrison and Cameron, and a half for James) Day Two: Leicestershire & Rutland 6-3 Northumberland (Singles wins for Morgan, Harrison and James) Day Three: Gloucestershire 3-6 Northumberland (Foursomes win for Harrison & James, and halves for Morgan & Cameron and Freddie & Junior. Singles wins for Morgan, Angus, Harrison and James)

Northumberland’s men fall short in County Finals bid Northumberland’s men fell short of producing a dream double for the county as they finished third in the Men’s County Finals at Remedy Oak. Representing the north following their victory in the Big Six at Manchester Golf Club (see page 11), Northumberland - represented by Jamie Mann, Gary Donnison, Mark Wharton, Alex Dixon, James Wilson, Andrew Minnikin and Phil Ridden - won their opening match 5.5-3.5 over Warwickshire.

However, a 2.5-6.5 defeat to BB&O (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) on day two meant they had to overcome Gloucestershire by a big margin to claim the trophy. Trailing 2-1 after the morning foursomes, a 3-3 tie in the afternoon singles matches was not enough as Gloucestershire won the match and the national title with three match wins.

NORTHERN GOLFER 05

TEEINGOFF

David Chambers - Longhirst

Coralie Bretez Gosforth Park Ladies

Gabrielle Dickinson - Beamish

Charlotte Naughton and Josh White - Heworth

Janet Ross - Heworth

Claire Allison Longhirst Hall

Ben Willis - South Shields

Craig Penny Newbiggin

Region’s best club golfers book Champion of Champions places

M

ore club champions have been crowned across the region since our last edition with each one securing an invitation to the Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events in early 2022.

The events, in partnership with Brewin Dolphin, will take place at the start of the 2022 season with the Men’s event at Longhirst Hall on Saturday April 23 while the Ladies and Junior events will take place at George Washington on Monday May 2.

Players from clubs across the North East have booked places in the events so far, including rising Durham county star Ben Willis - who became the youngest winner of the South Shields club championship at the age of 16 with 06 NORTHERN GOLFER

a record-equalling performance. Ben posted an opening round 63 before following it up with a round of 71 to finish ahead of Nigel King and Martin McCririck.

Meanwhile, Craig Turnbull won the Roseberry Grange men’s title for a record 10th time, while Charlotte Naughton and Josh White won junior club championship titles at Heworth.

Coralie Bretez won the Gosforth Park Ladies Golf Club title while Ami Ewan (Ponteland), Gabrielle Dickinson (Beamish Park), Claire Allison (Longhirst Hall), Janet Ross (Heworth), Emily Garbutt (Middlesbrough), Lynne Liddle (Gosforth), Lucy Nimmo (Chester-leStreet), Julie Ribeiro (Morpeth) and Vicky Johnson (Richmond) all picked up ladies club championships.

Men’s titles have also been won

by Phil Nicholson (Seaton Carew), Tristram Douglas (Tynedale), Dion Wood (Richmond), Craig Penny (Newbiggin), Mark Wharton (Newcastle United), Cameron Thoburn (Westerhope), Tony Waller (Morpeth), David Chambers (Longhirst), Will Marshall (Heworth), Robert Lilley (Middlesbrough), Richard Walker (Wearside), David Turner (Hobson), Ryan Blemmings (Consett), Kevin Suggett (Chester-le-Street) and Dave Patterson (Seaham).

Junior club championships went to Gabriel Somerville-Smith (Beamish Park) and James Lusk (Chester-le-Street).

Open to club champions crowned in the 2021 calendar year, entries for the events will open later this year.

Thanks to the support of Brewin Dolphin, one of the largest British investment management and financial planning firms, there is no charge for competitors for these 18-hole tournaments.

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

Invites will be emailed to clubs later this year, when champions will be asked to register online for tee times.

TEEINGOFF

Ramside Hall’s top trio

R

amside Hall’s juniors won the 2021 England Golf Junior Champion Club tournament with a tworound stableford total of 148 points.

The Durham team – comprising Thomas Southwell, Hayden Pragnell and Jamie Jopling – edged out Somerset’s Mendip Golf Club and Lees Hall from Yorkshire, who came third on countback, over two rounds at the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa. A total of 25 clubs from all over England took part in the championship having progressed through regional qualifying tournaments, with the best two nett scores from each team counting towards their total each day.

At the end of day one, Ramside were in a tie for fifth place with 68 points before an excellent second round score of 80 points saw them climb up the leaderboard into top spot.

Speaking on behalf of his

Junior masters

Thomas Southwell, Hayden Pragnell and Jamie Jopling teammates after winning the event, Thomas said: “It’s very special. It’s a really good course and everyone enjoyed it. The team are

really pleased. It’s a massive score between us and it’s the biggest event we’ve ever won, so everyone is really happy.”

Two of the region’s most promising youngsters have been crowned inaugural series champions following the Northern Junior Golf Tour Masters Grand Final at Ramside Hall.

Consett & District-based Luke Bonser (pictured above, left) and Ponteland’s Antonia Emmerson (pictured above, right) became the first champions of the event after leading the fields of eight boys and eight girls respectively.

Luke won the boys gross event with a score of 76, narrowly beating Kieran Hall as Antonia won the girls gross event by six shots.

Castle Eden Golf Club 18 Hole picturesque parkland course

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TEEINGOFF

Shannon O’Dwyer

James Brash with Linda Redman (South Moor ladies captain)

Northern champion Surrey-based James Brash overcame challenging conditions at South Moor Golf Club to win the North of England Under 14 Championship.

James, a two-handicapper, won this year’s event with scores of 72, 74 and 72 for a total of 218 - six shots better than runner-up Jack Swift from North Foreland.

Sophie Clafton, from Wallasey, took the girls’ title with rounds of 79, 79 and 80 for a total of 238.

Andrew Minnikin (© Leaderboard Photography)

Minnikin makes his mark in national final

A

ndrew Minnikin continued Northumberland’s success in national events with victory in the English Men’s County Champion of Champions at Woodhall Spa. City of Newcastle-based Andrew shot rounds of 70 and 69 for a seven under-par total to claim his first national individual title.

Andrew is no stranger to lifting silverware at county level and has won team titles with City of Newcastle, but national success had eluded him in his decorated career. Earlier this year he finished second to clubmate Phil Ridden in the Logan Trophy (English Mid Amateur), his second runner-up finish in the event. This time he

got his hands on the trophy with a superb closing nine which included birdies at 17 and 18.

“It feels fantastic,” said Andrew after picking up the trophy. “I’ve played in a number of national events as an individual over the years and had a little bit of success, a couple of second places, but never quite got it over the line - so this feels amazing.

“I’m not a leaderboard watcher, but every now and then I asked my caddie Ian ‘what do I need to do?’ I felt in control of my game and I was stroking the ball well on the greens so I knew that if I needed to find a couple of birdies I had the potential.

“It was nice to get the job done.

It’s strange because I didn’t have things going this morning. I holed

EuroPro final moved to Slaley

Hall closes on north title

The 2021 Matchroom Tour Championship has been moved to Slaley Hall to safeguard the tournament.

Dates will remain the same with the tour’s season-ending tournament taking place October 20-22 on the Hunting Course at Slaley Hall.

Durham’s Jess Hall topped the leaderboard in the North Region Close Championship at Brancepeth Castle.

Jess – who attends California State University, Fresno in the US – led the field with a five underpar round of 70 and a 10 underpar round of 65 at Brancepeth

08 NORTHERN GOLFER

– breaking her own course record by two shots in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Northumberland’s Charlotte Naughton won the under 14 category at the event, while Durham won the gross and nett team titles.

a couple of putts to get a bit of momentum and then a good finish to the round allowed me to find something. This afternoon I played well and didn’t quite get everything out the round, but a couple of solid birdies on the last two holes helped seal it.”

Andrew continued Northumberland’s recent success - which you can read about throughout Teeing Off - and he added: “At the moment we have a crop of young juniors and a good six or seven in the men’s squad are peaking. The team spirit is fantastic and we all want success.”

Meanwhile, Northumberland’s Morgan Blythe added to his own stellar season with a T5 finish in the Boys event at Woodhall Spa.

This year’s winners including Jess Hall (right)

TEEINGOFF

James’ pocket aces

B

arnard Castle’s James Watson earned himself a very exclusive place in the golfing record books by making two holes-in-one in a single round at his home club.

James, 15, recorded the aces at the third and eighth holes in a club stableford competition played from the white tees - a feat with odds of 167 million to one.

Playing partners Anthony and Tony Barker, and David Moses witnessed the incredible achievement.

James, who has reduced his handicap from 18 to 11 this year, said: “I’m over the moon. I couldn’t believe it when the first one went in, never mind the second.

“I’ve been playing three times a week but will have to cut back now I’m back at school. I love the game and would really like to make a career out of it.”

James used a seven iron for his first ace at the 160-yard third hole,

1879

The Brancepeth team

Brancepeth’s men win Clark Cup

James Watson then hit a four iron at the 175-yard eighth hole.

“They weren’t flukes,” he added.

“They didn’t take any funny bounces or anything, they just ran straight into the hole.”

There was one downside to James’ remarkable achievement, perhaps

distracted by the feat carrying him to 22 points on the front nine, he finished the round with 31 points.

Online records suggest the feat has been achieved fewer than 10 times in the UK, with the last recorded instance at Bolton Old Links earlier this year.

Brancepeth Castle Golf Club outlasted the best men’s teams in Durham to win the season-long race for the Clark Cup. The Brancepeth team beat South Shields 4-1 in the event’s final at Hartlepool having beaten Blackwell Grange 4-1 in their semi-final match.

Meanwhile, Ramside’s team won the Junior Clark Cup at Hartlepool with victory over Beamish Park’s juniors in the final.

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‘Cherish our history, embrace change’ NORTHERN GOLFER 09 13/09/2021 11:41:29

TEEINGOFF

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England’s winning Home Internationals teams

Northumberland girls star for England

N

orthumberland’s Rosie Belsham, Maggie Whitehead and Rachel Gourley helped England enjoy triple success in the Home Internationals at Woodhall Spa. England made home advantage count to make a clean sweep of the R&A Women’s, Boys’ and Girls’, and Senior Men’s and Women’s events.

In the 106th Women’s Home Internationals, England overcame Ireland on the final day to retain the trophy they won in 2020.

In the Boys’ and Girls’ Home Internationals – a new format for 2021 – teams of six girls and eight boys from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competed against each other as one team. Matches consisted of seven foursomes and 14 singles, and England topped the

table going into the final day with wins over Ireland and Wales teeing up a showdown with Scotland.

After the morning singles, England led 7.5-6.5 with seven foursomes matches scheduled for the afternoon.

The double act of Lottie Woad and Olivia Lee grabbed the first point of the afternoon session and set the tone. Josh Hill and Jack Bigham brought home a big point as did the duo of Harley Smith and Josh Berry. The half gained by Davina Xanh and Patience Rhodes was also crucial to the 11-10 win which helped England over the line in the first joint junior event.

Meanwhile, the English Senior Men and Women also topped the points table to finish off England’s treble.

Morpeth Ladies mark centenary A year later than planned, Morpeth Golf Club’s Ladies Section has celebrated its centenary and won two titles.

While Morpeth Golf Club was formed in 1906 and ladies were allowed to play, it wasn’t until 1920 when the Ladies Section was formed. The centenary was marked in August 2021 due to Covid, with golf played in

Edwardian clothes using hickory clubs. Meanwhile, the club added to the delayed celebrations with victory in the Northumberland Ladies’ TR Percy and Norah Percy knockout competitions.

The five-player team won the TR Percy trophy (handicaps 20.528.4) for a third consecutive year before the club also won the Norah Percy (handicaps 28.5-54).

TEEINGOFF

Maggie Whitehead at the AIG Women’s Open Pro-Am

Maggie’s major moment Northumberland’s winning team

Northumberland’s Big Six hat-trick

N

orthumberland’s men won the Northern Counties Men’s Qualifying Championship – AKA The Big Six – at Manchester Golf Club for the third time in four tournament years (2020’s Big Six was cancelled due to Covid).

The victory followed the team’s success in 2019 at Alnmouth and 2017 at Seascale.

With six players contributing to the team score, Northumberland overcame a 17-shot deficit after round one, capitalising on

Lancashire’s collapse to finish the event eight shots clear of the other six counties on four under-par.

City of Newcastle’s Alex Dixon led the individual scoring with a nine under-par total for two rounds, including the low round of the day (65) in the afternoon.

Hexham’s Joseph Robson and Close House’s James Wilson finished in fifth place in the individual scoring with three under-par totals of 141. City of Newcastle’s Andrew Minnikin posted a one over-par total as Gosforth’s Gary Donnison finished on two over-par and City of

Newcastle’s Phil Ridden finished on eight over-par.

Northumberland county captain David Gilroy said: “To win The Big Six for a third time in four attempts is a fantastic achievement.”

“Our preparation was good, the guys were in a good place, and we produced a phenomenal afternoon performance to chase down and pass Lancashire.”

Cheshire finished in second with a four over-par total as Yorkshire were third. Lancashire finished fourth, Cumbria were fifth, Durham sixth, and Isle of Man were seventh.

Close House and Ramside member Maggie Whitehead enjoyed a dream opportunity at the AIG Women’s Open Pro-Am at Carnoustie before being selected to represent GB&I in the Junior Vagliano Trophy Match.

Maggie, 15, was invited

by Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, to compete in the Pro-Am alongside world No. 14 Jessica Korda and broadcaster Eilidh Barbour.

In October, she will be part of the six-strong GB&I team to take on the Continent of Europe in the Junior Vagliano Trophy at Hilversumsche in the Netherlands (October 8-9).

Region’s best up to scratch

Top job for Harrison

Four of the region’s leading male golfers have picked up scratch titles across Northumberland and Durham.

In the Northumberland County Golf Union’s Fenwick Smith Trophy at Ponteland, Blyth’s Ian Henderson led the field with a five under-par round of 67 as Andrew Minnikin (City of Newcastle) and James Wilson (Close House) shared second place with rounds of 68.

Meanwhile, Jamie Birkbeck won the Bishop Auckland Bowl at his home club with a seven

Phil Harrison has been appointed chief executive officer of the Legends Tour.

Phil (pictured) - whose brothers John and Steve are also PGA professionals in the region - has enjoyed a 40-year career in golf including more than 200 appearances on the European Tour and 25 years in senior golf management specialising in course design and management, developing Eden Golf Club in Cumbria, Wynyard and the David Leadbetter Academy.

under-par total of 137 in the 36-hole event. Heworth’s Will Marshall and Bishop Auckland’s James Glenn finished in a tie for second place one shot back.

In the North Durham Union of Golf Clubs’ Alan Curtis Scratch at Ravensworth, Crook’s John Howarth finished in top spot with a round 70 as Anthony Black from George Washington won the nett trophy with a round of 71 playing off scratch.

Richard Aisbitt returned to the winner’s circle with victory in the Leonard Crawley Medal

l-r Ian Henderson, Richard Aisbitt and John Howarth at Brancepeth. A closing 67 gave Richard a 36-hole total of 138 and a two-shot victory over Brancepeth clubmates Alastair Baird and John Heppell – to take his tally of wins in the event into double figures.

NORTHERN GOLFER 11

TEEINGOFF

Shannon O’Dwyer l-r Emily and Ian Baxter, Stuart Ord and Stacie Morton

Hobson duo win first foursomes title Hobson Golf Club won the Durham County Mixed Foursomes Championship for the first time as Stuart Ord and Stacie Morton overcame Houghton-leSpring’s father and daughter team Ian and Emily Baxter 2&1 in the final at Boldon.

Both clubs were looking for their first win in the final - Hobson were runners-up in 2016 and Houghton just missed out in consecutive finals in 1983 and 1984.

Kim Steward (left) receiving the trophy

No match for Kim Hexham’s Kim Steward picked up the Northumberland County Seniors Matchplay title with victory over Northumberland’s Jimmy Johnson on the first playoff hole at City of Newcastle.

The event, which brought together the top eight players from the Strokeplay Championship earlier this season, saw Kim beat Alnmouth’s David Archibald at the 20th hole in the semi-final as Jimmy booked his place in the final with a 3&2 win over Morpeth’s Michael Brown.

12 NORTHERN GOLFER

2021 finals venue Close House

Match Play Pairs final set for Close House

T

he final of this year’s Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs tournament will take place over Close House’s Colt Course in October.

The 20th final will see Newbiggin’s Lee and Mark Small take on Brancepeth Castle’s Vaughan Raine and Shaun Elliott to earn a place in the region’s golfing history books.

The winners will also receive a £600 prize, with the runners-up receiving a £100 prize.

Lee and Mark booked their

place in the final with victory over Woodham’s Doug Cairns and Mel Surtees on the Filly Course at Close House. In a close match, Lee and Mark were 1down with three holes to play before Lee won the 16th with a nett birdie. He then hit a superb approach at 17 to setup a birdie two, which Doug followed with a two of his own. The Newbiggin pair closed out the match by winning the 18th as Doug and Mel couldn’t match Mark’s closing par.

In the second semi-final, Vaughan

and Shaun led throughout with a 1up lead at the turn increasing to two at the 14th hole as Shaun made a nett eagle. From there, the Brancepeth pair held their nerve before Vaughan closed out a 3&1 victory with par at the 17th.

We’ll have a full report from the final in the next edition of Northern Golfer, and Match Play Pairs will return in 2022. For more information on the event go to www.northerngolfer.co.uk/ match-play-pairs-2021

Rudding Park greenkeeper wins national award A greenkeeper from Rudding Park Golf Club was celebrating for the second Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year competition in a row as Matthew Milligan secured the award at Celtic Manor.

Myerscough College student Matthew, 26, is first assistant

at Rudding Park - the same venue that Jason Norwood was employed at when he won the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2019.

Joining Matthew in celebrating at the event was Rhian Barton, 22, of The Wisley Golf Club, who became the first woman

l-r Rhian Barton and Matthew Milligan to win the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Award since its inception in 2016.

TEEINGOFF

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FOR THE LATEST GOLF NEWS, SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY EMAIL - SENT EVERY FRIDAY l-r Shannon O’Dwyer and Faye Wheatley (© Leaderboard Photography)

Durham duo finish second in national finals

D

urham’s girls’ champion Faye Wheatley and the county’s ladies’ champion Shannon O’Dwyer picked up second place finishes in their respective County Champion of Champions events at Woodhall Spa. In the girls’ event, Faye - from Whickham Golf Club - finished five shots behind Essex’s Amy Knotts

with a two-round total of 151 (76-75) over the Bracken Course.

In the women’s event, Shannon - from Wynyard - finished three shots behind Derbyshire’s Hannah Morrison with rounds of 74 and 75 for a 36-hole total of 149.

Over the same weekend, Hertfordshire’s Jackie Foster won the Senior Women’s Champion of Champions at Woodhall.

NORTHERN

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TEEINGOFF

John Kennedy’s Durham milestone

C

onsett’s John Kennedy rounded off his season by earning his 100th Durham cap when the county’s men’s team faced off against Lancashire at Tyneside.

John, who started his county career in 1985 and is now second on the all-time appearance list for Durham behind Tony McLure (101 caps), also picked up the County Player of the Year award, which is based on his performances in county matches and the two Durham county championships.

John said: “It’s a tremendous honour to reach my 100th cap for Durham. The occasion at Tyneside was fantastic and the county put a lot of effort into celebrating it with video messages from people like Richie Walker - who was one of my first doubles partners - the president of England Golf, Graeme Storm and Simon Robinson. What they did was lovely and really made the event special.

“100 appearances is a great

Martin McCririck, John Kennedy and Gavin Nesbit milestone, and winning the Player of the Year at the same time made it extra special. My golf is in great shape, I’ve played consistently well this season and I’ve really enjoyed playing in everything. I still can’t wait to get to the golf course every week.

“As long as my golf holds up and I’m good enough, I’ll be representing Durham for a while yet. At Tyneside

Wynyard Golf Club

we showed the full range of golfers with 16-year-old Ben Willis in the team alongside 55-year-old Stuart Brown, and I want to continue being part of that for as long as I can.”

Meanwhile, South Shields’ Martin McCririck won the Durham County Order of Merit title. Martin won the Keith Shivers Bowl at Heworth and reached the semi-finals of this year’s County Matchplay Championship.

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14 NORTHERN GOLFER

He also finished fourth in the County Strokeplay Championship at Durham City, fifth at the TSU NYSD Championship at Middlesbrough, and fifth in the Leonard Crawley Medal at Brancepeth to top the order of merit ahead of John and Will Marshall.

Martin also earned his 50th county cap at Tyneisde, as did Boldon’s Gavin Nesbit.

TEEINGOFF

Record-breaking win for Blythe

M

organ Blythe celebrated from day one of the Faldo Series England North Championship, following a course record 65 with rounds of 70 and 74 to claim the overall title.

Over the three days, 62 elite juniors competed at Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course for an invite to the Faldo Series Europe Grand Final in October.

Morgan’s opening five under-par 65 placed the Northumberland junior at the top of leaderboard and he remained there for the rest of the tournament with two more solid rounds securing the overall title by six shots as well as the Boys U18 category.

He said, “I am glad today is over, it was a bit stressful at times, but I am happy the final putt went in and I can enjoy myself now.”

Meanwhile, Whickham’s Faye Wheatley claimed victory in the Girls U21s category as she capitalised on a punishing back

l-r Vaughan Raine and Adam Stanley

Durham’s division champions

Morgan Blythe (© Steve Jackson) nine for leader Ellie Farwell to finish with a well fought win and secure a Europe Grand Final invite.

Meanwhile, Alexei Glass and Luke

Metcalf successfully chased down three-shot leads in the U21s and U16s boys categories respectively to claim their titles.

Brancepeth six-handicapper Vaughan Raine battled well in the breezy conditions at Eaglescliffe to win the Durham Second Division Championship with a round of 77, while Ramside’s Adam Stanley picked up the Third Division Championship trophy at Castle Eden.

Vaughan finished a shot ahead of Heworth’s Ian Gutteridge and club colleague Jason Budd at Eaglescliffe while Adam posted a round of 79 (nett 61) to win his title.

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TEEINGOFF

City top of the pile in Dixon Cup

C

ity of Newcastle finished off a winning season with victory in the Dixon Cup at Newbiggin.

Competing against the four other North East men’s league winners, City produced a strong team performance to win by 19 shots as Teesside champions Bishop Auckland finished in second place.

City of Newcastle’s James Walmsley picked up the President’s Trophy for the best individual score with his round of 70.

City of Newcastle earned their place in the Dixon Cup by topping the Newcastle & District Golf League for a sixth consecutive time, finishing 10 points clear of Newcastle United.

Meanwhile, Bishop Auckland topped the Teesside and District Union of Golf Clubs League, finishing 25 points clear of Eaglescliffe to win the club’s third consecutive division one title. Wynyard topped division two, while Barnard Castle topped division three.

Hadrian League winners Stocksfield

Dixon Cup and Newcastle & District winners City of Newcastle In the North Durham league, Durham City led the way in division one, beating Heworth by 20 points.

Ramside won promotion by topping division two, while Whickham topped division three. Durham City club captain Dave Liddell said: “A fantastic achievement in a very competitive league. With some new players breaking into the team for

the first, it was a team effort all the way. With a larger than normal pool of team players, and players already showing promise in the junior team, the future looks bright”. The club’s juniors also won the North West Durham league title this year.

Goswick claimed top spot in the North Northumberland league, finishing 23 points clear

Teesside champions Bishop Auckland of Bamburgh Castle as Seahouses claimed top spot in division two.

Finally, Stocksfield retained the Hadrian League trophy on the final night of the season, picking up a 12-0 win over Westerhope to deny Close House and Hexham a chance to catch them at the top of the table Close House beating Hexham 12-0 to finish just one point behind.

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TEEINGOFF

Mark Ridley

No match for Ridley South Moor’s Mark Ridley produced three days of superb golf to win the North East & North West PGA Tour Championship at Brancepeth Castle and the circuit’s Matchplay Championship at Slaley Hall.

Mark led the field of 44 professionals with a five under-par round of 65 in the Tour Championship, finishing two shots clear of John Harrison. Tim Dykes and Will Robson finished in a tie for third place a shot further back.

With the win, Mark moved into the top 16 in the seasonlong Mizuno Order of Merit and booked his place in the Matchplay Championship, which had a new format this year starting with the top 16 heading to Slaley Hall’s Hunting Course for two rounds of matches to find the semi-finalists.

Mark then progressed to the final with victory over Andrew Scrimshaw 3&2, while Ken Ferrie overcame Will Robson 6&5 to reach the final. In a close match in wet and windy condition, Mark outlasted Ken to win at the first playoff hole.

With the conclusion of the Matchplay Championship, David Clark was confirmed as winner of the NE/NW PGA Mizuno Order of Merit, holding off Ken to claim the season-long title following his performances in this year’s professional tournaments and Pro Series events.

18 NORTHERN GOLFER

Andrew Scrimshaw (right)

Chris Paisley

David Clark (right)

Kyle Marklew

Tim Dykes

James Maw

Paisley wins at Hexham as Scrimshaw hits form

C

hris Paisley made a flying visit to the North East and took part in the North East & North West PGA’s Hexham Pro Am - topping the leaderboard alongside Andrew Scrimshaw, who hit a rich vein of form at the end of the season.

At Hexham, Chris and Andrew shared top spot with four underpar rounds of 66. Andrew also collected the winner’s cheque at the Brancepeth Castle Pro Am with a four under-par round of 66.

He also tied for the top spot in the Brampton Pro Am alongside Vince Guest, Simon Kerr and Phil Waugh with a round of 70 before going on to pick up the trophy in the Hadrian Healthcare Whickham Pro Am with

a four under-par round of 67, beating Simon Robinson and Ryan Pittiglio on a card countback.

Meanwhile, Kyle Marklew picked up his maiden professional win with a two under-par round of 68 in the Crook Pro Am. At the Tyneside Pro Am, Simon Robinson’s round of 64 gave him a two-shot margin of victory over Simon Kerr.

David Clark added another title to his haul this season with top spot in the two-day M and R Developments Coastal Classic Pro Am over Bamburgh Castle and Goswick.

David led the way with a six underpar total of 78 stableford points as James Maw finished second one point behind and Stephen Kyle was

third with 75 points.

At the Barnard Castle Pro Am, Tim Dykes picked up another win with a superb round of 65, finishing three shots clear of Simon Robinson and Craig Smith.

At Middlesbrough Golf Club, Darren Pearce and James Maw shared the spoils with three under-par rounds of 67 as home pro Gordon Cattrell led his team to victory. James went on to claim another solo win in the Specsavers Alnwick Castle Golf Club Pro Am with a superb five under-par round of 65.

At the Bedlingtonshire Pro Am, Darren Crowle returned to the top of the leaderboard with a five underpar round of 68.

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TOURLIFE

Chris Paisley

Rolling with the punches Chris Paisley on managing your own expectations, dips in form, and remembering to enjoy the ride

I

t has been a tough few months on the golf course. Other than a T10 at the Hero Open and a T33 at the Irish Open, I’ve barely made a cut although I did finish in a tie for first in the Hexham Pro Am recently!

I have been in slumps like this before and I know I will start shooting better scores soon, but it doesn’t get any easier.

I love my job - you could offer me any other job in the world and I wouldn’t take it. That said, if you have seen me on the course recently, you probably wouldn’t believe it. Golf has a way of making you feel six inches tall when it’s not going well (No short jokes, please).

I take poor form too hard. It really eats at me and can affect my mood away from the golf course. My wife lets me know this, which is annoying at the time, but I am grateful for her input... eventually!

My incredible team and family have the

unenviable job of keeping me on an even keel during trying times. I am certainly too hard on myself, but it’s also the reason I always bounce back. If missing four cuts in a row doesn’t bother me, then it’s time to retire.

You need to take emotion out of a situation to see things rationally and the ability to perceive your situation as if you are giving someone else advice is a wonderful skill - things become a lot clearer you can see your way back.

Missing a few cuts is not a big deal, and I am living my dream. My card is secure for next year, so what do I really have to worry about? Nothing.

I don’t expect anyone to sympathise with my little dip in form, I’m just relaying what I go through when things aren’t going well on the course. The top performers are all bothered by bad shots, bad rounds and missed cuts. What they do so well is not letting it affect their confidence or mindset.

They adjust the process if needed and keep on pushing.

In golf, you are never as bad as you think - or as good as you think. After I had a great start to 2018, people started asking me about the Ryder Cup and if I had a chance of making the team. Imagine that! Four or five good events and all of a sudden people are talking about a Ryder Cup! I brushed it off at the time, but I was playing so well I felt as though I was going to play like that forever. Of course, I didn’t make the team, but I did prove to myself that I can play golf of that quality. All I need to figure out is how to do it for longer periods.

I couldn’t feel farther away from playing a Ryder Cup right now, but I also know I am a better golfer than I was in 2018. That’s golf, isn’t it? Purely nonsensical!

The lesson is to not get too carried away whether you feel on top of the world or in the gutter. Things will get better, or worse… who knows? You just have to stay in the moment, do your best, enjoy the ride, and see where the game takes you.

NORTHERN GOLFER 21

TOURTIPS

Sean Russell

Playing loose

P

European Tour caddy Sean Russell on the power of stretching like the pros

rofessional golfers these days are top athletes - they work hard in the gym and prepare their bodies better than past generations ever did. Professionals at every level spend a huge amount of time working in the gym and they all pay particular attention to their flexibility and the range of motion they are able to achieve.

When I caddied for Chris Paisley on the European Tour, he would begin his pre-round preparation up to three hours before teeing off - even when we were

© Isogood_patrick / Shutterstock.com 22 NORTHERN GOLFER

out first! His routine started with an hour of dynamic stretching in his hotel room, following a routine he developed to achieve a full range of motion each day and arrive at the course physically ready to hit golf shots.

Conditioning our bodies to such a high level isn’t an achievable goal for most amateurs, nor is spending three hours preparing for the Saturday sweep.

However, taking a few minutes - as few as five or 10 - to loosen up and prepare our bodies for a round is something we can all do.

When I play, I focus on loosening my shoulders and back - years of carrying a tour bag will do that to you!

There are loads of videos on dynamic stretching on YouTube and you should try to concentrate on areas you feel any tightness or discomfort during or after playing while being sure to go at your own pace to avoid injuries.

Getting your body moving before touching a golf club is a way you can emulate the best players in the world and I’m sure it will improve those first few swings of the day.

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24 NORTHERN GOLFER

CALLUMTARREN

The American dream Climbing to the very top of the golf ladder with PGA Tour member Callum Tarren

C

allum Tarren is officially a member of the PGA Tour. Take a moment to let that sink in, it takes a little while. For the man who has spent five years chasing his dream thousands of miles from his home in Darlington, it still hasn’t fully hit home.

“To tee it up as a member of the PGA Tour for the first time was amazing. Every day I drive to the golf course and say in my head, ‘you’re a member of the PGA Tour’. I still can’t quite believe it,” says Callum when we catch up at Rockliffe Hall during one of his brief visits home to the North East.

Callum realised his dream at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship - the second event of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, which award PGA Tour cards for the following season to the top 25 players over three events. To earn a card through the Finals is a monumental achievement on its own as the events bring together the top 75 players from that season’s Korn Ferry order of merit and the 126-200 ranked players from the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup. To do so after returning to the US the day of the first Finals event having flown home for the birth of his daughter is the stuff of dreams.

“To be there for the birth of my daughter and then get my hands on the little card they give you as a graduate of the Korn Ferry Tour was a very special couple of weeks,” says Callum.

“To get my card in Ohio was amazing.

Once everything was confirmed, I was over the moon and could phone home to tell my

family and the people closest to me. Even then it didn’t seem real, it was only when I teed it up in Napa, my first PGA Tour event, that it hit home I was playing the tour I’d always dreamed of being on.”

For Callum, getting his hands on a PGA Tour card has been an international journey. It began in 2016 on the PGA Tour China, the third rung of the PGA Tour ladder. In his third season in China (2018), Callum topped the order of merit to earn his place on the Korn Ferry Tour in the US. “I had a lot of success in China and remember my three seasons out there really fondly. They moulded me as a golfer.

Going to the qualifying school in 2016 was a risk, but I learned from every event and got better every season.

“Going to China was essential to where I am today. It was a big risk and it cost money, but I don’t think I’d be where I am without that experience. It helped me mature as a person and offered me fourround tournaments on demanding golf courses. Combine that with the travel and managing tough playing conditions, and I toughened up out there.”

Having made it to the US, Callum’s stock continued to rise. In 2019 he qualified for the US Open at Pebble Beach and narrowly missed out on the top 75 in the Korn Ferry regular season ranking, which meant a trip to Q School to secure his full playing rights for the 2020 season.

“The end of the first round at Q school was the most upset I’d been as a professional,” he admits. “I’d started well

NORTHERN GOLFER 25

CALLUMTARREN and gave seven shots back at the end to drop through the field. I spoke to my coach after the round and he simplified things down and told me to go out and shoot three six under-par rounds to bring myself back up. I just about did that - shooting six, five and six under par to get my card for 2020.

“I’ve continued learning and stepping up on the Korn Ferry Tour as well,” he adds. “Coming from China, where the golf courses are incredibly narrow, I had to do some work to bring my ball flight back up and hit the driver a bit longer again to suit the courses. Once I got that, I was ready to push on.”

With the 2020 and 2021 Korn Ferry calendars combined into a single super season due to Covid - meaning there were 46 regular season events and three Finals events - earning one of the first batch of PGA Tour cards given to the top 25 players on the order of merit and the end of the regular season - was always going to be tough.

Callum finished in 42nd spot in the regular season rankings for 2020/21, guaranteeing his full card on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2022 and setting him up for his maiden trip to the Finals.

“Knowing I had my card for 2022 lifted everything off my shoulders and I saw the Finals as a free hit to go for my PGA Tour card. I arranged my season around being ready for the Finals and while those plans changed with my daughter being born in August, I knew it was still a huge opportunity.”

Having arrived back in the US at 2am on the first day of the Albertsons Boise Open, Callum had little time to prepare.

“I was teeing off at lunchtime, so I got some sleep, got up at 7am and headed straight to the range. I got it round in one under-par on Thursday and settled in. I was just inside the top-10 going into Sunday and didn’t manage to get it done, shooting one over-par on a tough day to fall back to T26.

“That stung a bit, I knew how big that opportunity was.”

Callum didn’t spend too long ruing the missed opportunity. In the second Finals event, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship in Ohio, he opened with rounds of 66 and 68 before shooting 70 on Saturday.

“Going into Ohio, I was lying 18th in the Finals standings as the guys who already have cards don’t count towards the 25, so a good week 26 NORTHERN GOLFER

would get me a PGA Tour card. I put some pressure on myself on Saturday, but instead of shooting over par and falling back like the previous week, I got it round in one underpar. I settled down that night and went into Sunday with the mindset of being back at Rockliffe or Wynyard with my mates and trying to enjoy it.

“I started well before a storm came in and we went off the course for a couple of hours.

Just as we were heading back out, the tour tagged me in a tweet which said I needed a T10 finish to secure my PGA Tour card.

“I managed myself really well from there, turned in three under-par, birdied two of the hardest holes on the back nine, and held my position to finish T4.

“I’ll admit it now - my mind was racing all over the place on Sunday. Every time that happened, I brought myself back to earth and focussed on hitting one shot at a time.

All that skill comes from everything I did in China and all the times I finished second out there. I’ve been close in my career and missed out. Over time I’ve learned how to be a better professional, how to manage my game and emotions to keep performing as the pressure builds.”

Card secured, Callum got to share the news with his family and closest supporters.

“I spoke to my fiancée, my mum and dad, James Maw at Rockliffe, my coach Lee, and my trainer Stuart. Those are the people who have been with me all the way through, my biggest fans and believers, and they mean the most to me.

“There are a number of things that have been really important in my journey.

Growing up at Dinsdale, I was very close to Martyn Stubbings and he taught me so much in the earliest part of my golfing career. Stuart [Parnaby], my strength and conditioning coach, has also been a huge part of my professional career and helped me progress. My coach - Lee McCavanagh from Wynyard, who I met playing county golf for Durham - understands my golf swing and we work incredibly well together. My family have given me the opportunity to go out and live my dream, and my fiancée is brilliant and independent - to have her support to travel for long periods of time is so important.”

Before he made a brief trip home to spend some time with his fiancée and daughter, Callum teed it up in his first event

CALLUMTARREN

as a member of the PGA Tour - the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, California - where he missed the cut after shooting level par for the first two rounds.

“Things aren’t too different from a playing point of view, but there’s certainly a lot more people around and a lot more going on inside and outside the ropes,” he says of his first PGA Tour experience. “It’s all part of playing at this level and you get used to it as you come through the ranks. You also get some nice things as a member of the tour - like courtesy cars and access to the TPC courses and practice facilities - which is a nice option to have when you’ve spent years trying to practise in the North East in December and January.

“Progressing through the levels of the PGA Tour has been a big help to managing being out there. I don’t look at teeing it up in my first event as this big moment of experience - that just gives me an excuse for missing the cut. It was another little piece added to all the other pieces I’ve picked up in China and on the Korn Ferry Tour. Those were the hard yards that got me here.

“My two seasons on the Korn Ferry Tour were incredible.

Added to my time in China, I’ve learned so much about the discipline required in professional golf. I’ve always been capable of having nine birdies and shooting two under-par, but going to China and playing in the US has taught me how to balance out those rounds. Sometimes out here, hitting it to 30ft is a good shot and you need to be disciplined in order to play four rounds.

“I’m still prone to putting three out of four rounds together, but I know when I have those weeks where four rounds come

together, I’ll have a chance to win.”

Although Callum has a full card for the 2021/22 PGA Tour season, his priority is performing well in the run up to Christmas in order to move up the priority rankings and make it into the biggest events in 2022.

“Having a PGA Tour card is really the first step to having a career out here,” he says. “I need to play well and improve my category. Right now, I’m 28th among the 50 guys who came up from the Korn Ferry Tour so I should get five or six starts before the first reshuffle.”

While the reshuffle is his first priority, Callum has also reassessed his long-term goals.

“My career has been on an upward curve for five years and I want it keep moving forward. I’ve not had a period where I’ve questioned what I’m doing, so my goal is simply to keep climbing the ladder and getting better.

“Now I’ve got my PGA Tour card, my next objective is to keep it. To finish in the top 125 in the FedEx Cup would be huge as it would allow me to have a lot more control over my schedule and plan more than I can in my current category.

“After that, I want to win. It may sound insane coming from Callum from Darlington, but every time I tee it up I have that opportunity. I’m as hungry as I ever have been, I’m ready to work hard and I’ll be staying at it for a long time.”

If the last five years of Callum’s career are anything to go by, the next five are sure to be an exciting journey and we’ll enjoy following him every step of the way.

Callum in action during Korn Ferry Tour Finals (© PGA Tour)

NORTHERN GOLFER 27

HARTLEPOOL GOLF CLUB

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HARTLEPOOL GOLF CLUB, Hart Warren, Hartlepool, TS24 9QF 01429 274398 (option 2) hartlepoolgolf@btconnect.com

www.hartlepoolgolfclub.co.uk

19THHOLE

Dean Bailey

Rules school Could we all at least try to play by the Rules?

I

n my time as a club golfer I’ve learned the Rules of Golf are far too complicated for anyone to learn in full, but sadly too many golfers don’t even try to learn the basics.

I know many golfers, at every level, who understand everything they need to know to play the sport. They understand how long they have to search for a ball; what to do when playing a provisional; what they can and can’t move before playing a stroke; and that they can’t go wading through a bush like a bear searching for honey in order to create enough room to play a shot.

On the other hand, there are those who couldn’t care less about the Rules and prefer to make it up as they go along - even when playing in a club championship.

I’m not suggesting everyone should learn the rulebook page by page, but

everyone should understand the fundamentals and know how to use the rulebook.

I learned the fundamentals from my playing partners as a junior - some of them very good players and some not very good. The R&A also has brilliant resources - at www.randa.org under the Rules tab - for golfers to learn the Rules and test themselves. If you can, download the Rules of Golf app - it’s a lot easier to navigate through than the physical book.

The app is a fantastic tool. Once you’ve done a bit of general reading, you quickly pick up the terms used throughout and the search function is brilliant when you’re on the course. It’s also a good tool to refresh your memory before doing something - such as checking what is and isn’t an immovable obstruction; what to do when you inadvertently step on your ball while searching for it; or what is and

isn’t a loose impediment on the fringe before sweeping it out of the way.

Another great way to learn the Rules is to watch golf on TV. Every week you’ll see players following the full process for taking relief including marking the area to drop, and understanding the difference between the nearest point of relief and the most convenient point of relief.

For those who do not know the Rules, ignorance is not a defence.

Educate yourselves a little bit, it’s not difficult to learn the basic and it often helps to know things such as when you get free relief, how to measure the full area you’re able to take a drop in, and all your options when your ball finds a penalty area. A lit bit of knowledge can be a powerful tool for golfers at every level and can save you shots on the course - you don’t even need to pick up a club and practise!

NORTHERN GOLFER 29

ROUNDWITH A ROUND WITH...

Jonathan Edwards The world record-holding triple jumper on his love of links golf, his favourite golfing memories, and who makes it into his dream fourball

O

n August 7 1995, Jonathan Edwards set the world record for the triple jump at 18.16m in the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. He broke that record some 15 minutes later - jumping 18.29m to set a record which has stood for more than 26 years. Born in London, today he lives in the North East and plays much of his golf at The Northumberland Golf Club while maintaining a connection with athletics through broadcasting. We caught up to learn more about his passion for the game, where he likes to play, and more…

1 How much golf do you get to play?

Now I’m semi-retired, I cycle a lot and play golf up to four times per week in the summer. I play off a handicap of three and I’m a member of The Northumberland, Silloth, and Crail in Scotland.

2 How did you get into golf?

I played a bit when I was younger but really started properly after my athletics career came to an end. When I retired in 2003 there were two things I wanted to do - join a golf club for the first time and learn to ski. I’ve loved doing both since.

though I have shot a one under-par round of 69 on the winter course.

6 Which is your favourite golfing memory?

Making it to the final day of the Alfred Dunhill Links alongside Ken Ferrie in 2005 was incredible. We played in the final group, Ken unfortunately lost out to Colin Montgomerie, but getting to be part of that event is unquestionably the golfing highlight of my life.

7 What about embarrassing moments on the course?

I recently played The Old Course at St Andrews with Peter Dawson [former secretary of The R&A] and topped it off the first tee. In my defence, the weather was awful, but it was still embarrassing.

8 Do you have any golfing superstitions?

No superstitions, though maybe some would help me reduce my handicap.

9 What are your strengths on the course?

My chipping and putting are good - they tend to get me out of trouble.

3 Which is your favourite course in the North East?

I love playing links golf and the North East is blessed with phenomenal golf courses by the sea. I’d find it hard to pick one but if you twist my arm, I’ll say Goswick.

10 And your weaknesses?

I miss a lot of greens with my irons, which is why I rely on a good short game. I’m also embarrassed to admit my bunker play isn’t great - which is rather ironic given the amount of time I used to spend in the sand.

4 And further afield?

I love travelling across to Silloth in Cumbria - the club is fantastic and the views are incredible. If I only played one course for the rest of my life and it was Silloth, I’d have no complaints.

11 Which is your favourite club in the bag?

I have a passion for buying exotic putters on eBay, so it should probably be a putter. I’ve got a very simple Odyssey in the bag at the moment, which I’m enjoying using.

5 What’s your best score?

My lowest competition round from the white tees is a 75 at Northumberland, 30 NORTHERN GOLFER

12 Who is your best golfing friend?

Golf is a fantastic way to meet people

and build friendships. Being a member of three clubs, I’m very lucky to have a big group of friends who I play golf with regularly so I couldn’t pick out just one person.

13 If you hadn’t become a professional athlete, what would you have done?

I have absolutely no idea! I wish I could have been a golfer and not had to retire from professional sport so early in my life.

14 Who is your favourite tour player?

I’m a big fan of Jordan Spieth - I really enjoy his passion for the game.

15 Which golf events do you enjoy most?

I always enjoy watching The Masters, there’s something very special about seeing Augusta National on the TV every April.

16 Who do you admire?

I had a great time as part of the organising committee for the Olympic Games in London in 2012 and got to work with some incredibly talented people. My career was all about perfecting one skill, but to see what the people in charge of organising the games could manage and be in control of across such a broad range of areas was truly inspiring.

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

I’d have to pick three top golfers, so I’ll go for Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

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

I don’t believe in regretting a decision or moment in my life after the fact, so I wouldn’t take a mulligan.

ROUNDWITH

NORTHERN GOLFER 31

COURSEPROFILE

Seaside charm at Seahouses Dean Bailey visits the clifftop layout of Seahouses Golf Club and plays one of the UK’s best par threes

T

he Northumberland coast is blessed with stunning landscapes for golf. While the tournament-ready layouts along this stretch of coastline are tremendous tests of ability capable of beating golfers into submission with rough-strewn dunes and cavernous bunkers, there is also great diversity along the coastline - including the short and always fun layout at Seahouses Golf Club.

With a par of 67 and measuring just 5,608 yards from the back tees, Seahouses is never going to be capable of beating you up for 18 consecutive holes.

What it does instead is leave you with a smile on your face after every visit.

Its quirks are charming, the criss-crossed fairways a novelty which engenders discussion with members and holidaymakers as you accompany one another down the fairway, while its clifftop holes match the spectacle of any others on our coast.

A simple opening hole, the first is just 155 yards from the back tee. Played from an elevated position offering a fantastic view of the course with the North Sea beyond, avoid the two front bunkers cut into the slope to open with a simple par.

The only par five, the second is reachable for

32 NORTHERN GOLFER

many at just 458 yards. From the fairway, the approach to the green (to the right - the green on the left is the 17th) is unobstructed, though beware the out of bounds beyond and left of the putting surface.

For those who bail out to the safer right side, a tricky pitch over a knoll at the front of the green awaits.

Crossing the road for the inland section of the course, the 186-yard third is guarded by a bunker cut well short of the green on the left side, while those who play out to the right for safety will again be faced with a pitch over a mound.

The fourth hole shares a fairway with the seventh - be sure to play to the green to the left. The tee shot at this 389-yard par four presents risk and reward with water flanking the shorter route to the left side.

Those who play away from the water and out to the right must play their approach over trees with water waiting to the left side of the green.

One of the toughest tee shots on the course follows at the fifth. A par four of more than 400 yards, players must steer clear of the water and out of bounds to the right while also avoiding water and thick rough to the left of a generous fairway. A large green with no bunkers is designed to welcome a mid or long iron shot.

The 166-yard sixth follows with water wrapping

around a large, undulating green from its front left corner to the back right before you head back to the shared fairway - this time playing to the green on the right. Favour the right side here for the best angle into this narrow green guarded by a steep-faced bunker on the front right corner.

Strategy from the tee is key at the 328-yard eighth as the fairway narrows between trees on the right and two fairway bunkers on the left. A short approach is a big advantage here as the green sits above the fairway with a large bunker cut some 10 yards short along with two more deep bunkers guarding the front corners of this long, narrow green.

Crossing back on to the clifftop section, the 391yard ninth shares a fairway with the 18th (play to the green on the right side). Two fairway bunkers on the right side lie some 130 yards from the green while another on the left is 10 yards closer to the putting surface. Two greenside bunkers guard the approach to this raised green, which features some of the biggest undulations on the course.

One of the iconic par threes in Northumberland, the 10th is played downhill over water to a narrow slither of green. Those who are cautious and take plenty of club can use the slope beyond the green as a backstop - though they risk getting stuck high

COURSEPROFILE

FACT FILE above the green chipping downhill back towards the water.

The views of the beach and sea from the 11th tee are spectacular and this 361-yard par four requires a good drive up the hill to leave a simple approach between two front bunkers to a green sloping from front to back.

Played back down the hill from a tee box high above the waves, the 12th is a long par four of more than 400 yards and requires a solid drive over the brow of the hill to catch the downslope and leave a mid to short iron over two deep bunkers lurking well short of a generous green.

A tight, short par four of less than 300 yards, the 13th demands accuracy from the tee with rough to the right side and out of bounds to the left. The fairway is pinched to fewer than 10 paces wide by bunkers some 50 yards short of the green before the holes rises to a tiny green guarded by two deep, vertical-faced bunkers.

Three of the most beautifully set holes in the North East follow. The long par three 14th is played along the clifftop to a large green before you reach the magnificent 15th hole (see fact file).

Played uphill, the tee shot at the 16th must be aimed at the totem to leave a blind, steeply downhill approach to a narrow green which can be incredibly tough to find in regulation, particularly when landing short of the green.

The 457-yard 17th is played around the bay with the beach and out of bounds to your left.

Hug the left side for the best angle into this challenging green, which is flanked by out of bounds to the left and back edges.

Playing the same fairway as the ninth, the 373-yard 18th again requires a confident drive between the fairway bunkers before playing uphill over a short but steep slope to the green on the left, which is protected by bunkers some 50 and 20 yards short along with two more deep bunkers at the front left and front right corners.

CONTACT Seahouses Golf Club, Beadnell Road Seahouses, NE68 7XT, tel 01665 720 794, www.seahousesgolf.co.uk GREEN FEES Summer from £30, winter from £20 - see www.seahousesgolf.co.uk/ green-fees for the full range of options including group packages TOTAL DISTANCE White tees: 5,608 yards Yellow tees: 5,271 yards Red tees: 5,041 yards

The clubhouse at Seahouses provides the perfect spot for a quick breakfast or lunch before your game, and a drink on the decking outside as the sun sets.

There are stunning views of the course and North Sea from the clubhouse and deck, and excellent catering available throughout the day

FEATURES Clubhouse with excellent catering Buggy and trolley hire Putting green and practice net CADDY’S TIP Think about the angle you want to approach the green from, laying back in favour of a good look at the green can be a wise choice on this short but tricky golf course SIGNATURE HOLE The 15th at Seahouses is one of the region’s most-photographed golf holes. Set high above the waves, the tee box is completely exposed to the wind while the green, perched across the cove, can appear much further away than the 124 yards on the tee marker. The difficulty at 15 is not the shot in isolation, little more than a wedge most of the time, but the demands of the setting. For all the golf on the coastline in our part of the world, no shot is played like this with the waves crashing below and the cliff face staring back at you. A stunning par three

OUR VERDICT

Tremendous fun with unique quirks and challenges, Seahouses is set in a stunning location and is always a delight to play

NORTHERN GOLFER 33

DRIVINGRANGES

Home on the range The time has come to spend your evenings perfecting your golf swing at the driving range. Our region is home to some fantastic practice facilities to help keep your swing in shape, improve your game and learn from some of our best coaches. Looking to sharpen your game this winter? Try these…

THE MOST ADVANCED DRIVING RANGE IN NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Morpeth Family Golf Centre

Track every shot on a touchscreen or your mobile phone & review all your shot data & graphs in the Inrange App.

Choose from a selection of fun games to play with friends or play a round on virtual championship golf courses.

Book at morpethgolfcentre.com 34 NORTHERN GOLFER

DRIVINGRANGES also known as Parklands Golf Club

NEW

DRIVING RANGE

FROM TUESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

LATE NIGHT OPENING TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS UNTIL 10PM (last balls dispensed at 9pm) High Gosforth Park Golf Club High Gosforth Park Golf Club, previously known as Parklands, is home to a popular driving range with 28 bays and advance online or smartphone app booking.

Stocked with high quality range balls and mats, the range is the perfect place to work on your game late into the evening under the lights.

Sessions are available to book in advance online or using a smartphone app, and you can also use the system to book tee times.

Available now through the club’s website or through the EliteLive app on your smartphone, sessions are available daily. Range vouchers are also available for regular visitors, while a team of PGA professionals is on-hand to help you improve your game.

For more information and to book a range session, go to www.parklandsgolf.co.uk or download the EliteLive app from your smartphone’s app store.

BOOK YOUR BAY ONLINE VISIT WWW.PARKLANDSGOLF.CO.UK OR DOWNLOAD THE ELITELIVE APP DOWNLOAD THE APP FROM THE APP STORE OR GOOGLEPLAY

0191 236 3322 High Gosforth Park Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 5HQ

info@parklandsgolf.co.uk WWW.PARKLANDSGOLF.CO.UK

THE LATEST GOLF NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Weekly - every Friday morning

Morpeth Family Golf Centre N1Golf’s Morpeth Family Golf Centre has all the tools you need to improve your game this winter thanks to the introduction of Inrange ball-tracking technology.

The state-of-the-art Inrange technology - which uses in-bay monitors and a smartphone app to support practising with balltracking as well as longest drive competitions and target games - is available in all 23 bays on the range.

Players can get together and compete in interactive games and on virtual golf courses from around the world, while the app is also able to record statistics such as average carry distance and proximity to targets in order to help you improve.

The Golf Centre is home to the floodlit driving range as well as a nine-hole par three course, an 18-hole floodlit adventure golf course, and footgolf.

For more information and to book a range bay or another activity, visit www.morpethgolfcentre.com. To learn more about Inrange products visit inrangegolf.com

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

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

NORTHERN GOLFER 35

GEARNEWS

Hot picks As we head into the autumn, it’s a great time to add some new equipment to your bag, pick up a new bit of kit or update your wardrobe. To help, we’ve got new irons, wedges and clothing from PING; trolleys from PowaKaddy and Golfstream; bags, drivers and wedges from Mizuno; and more…

PUSHING FORWARD

PowaKaddy 2021 push cart range RRP: Various www.powakaddy.com PowaKaddy has launched an updated range of push carts.

The PowaKaddy CUBE is a lightweight, compact trolley with stylish colourways and a simple folding mechanism. The threewheel design and wide wheelbase make pushing the CUBE effortless, providing reliable stability even on the most uneven ground. The CUBE also boasts a mobile phone storage area and an ergonomic soft touch handle which is easily adjustable.

Meanwhile, the DLX-Lite FF, weighing only 5.8kg, has been designed with storage in mind. Thanks to a flat fold design, and at only 20cm deep, it can be squeezed into the tightest of spaces. Completing the range, the Twinline 5 is a stylish and lightweight trolley that is incredibly simple to set up, and folds quickly and compactly.

NEW TECH

PING i59 irons and Glide Forged Pro wedge series RRP: Irons £239 per club with stock steel shaft Wedges £199 per club with stock steel shaft ping.com Employing a new technology known as AlumiCore, PING has introduced the i59 iron – a forged blade that delivers the look, feel and trajectory control preferred by better players with forgiveness unprecedented in blade-style designs.

An aerospace-grade aluminium insert allows approximately 30 grams of material from the centre of the club to be redistributed to the perimeter, some in the form of toe and shaft tip weights, elevating the MOI to match that of the larger PING i210 iron. Each iron in the set requires a different size aluminium core, adding to the complexity of the manufacturing process to deliver a forgiving, forged iron with a crisp, solid feel that delivers lower launch and trajectory control with the precision expected from a blade design.

The multi-material construction also features a precisionmachined face with new MicroMax grooves for tighter spacing and a geometry that results in an average of four extra grooves on each club to reduce fliers in the short irons and preserve spin in the long irons.

The irons are available in 3-PW in 10 colour codes (lie angles) with a range of stock and optional shafts.

Meanwhile, the new Glide Forged Pro wedge series has been engineered for golfers in search of versatility and improved shot making inside the scoring zone. The tour-inspired, high-spinning design is offered in two grind profiles and multiple loft options to fit players who rely on precision and control.

36 NORTHERN GOLFER

BAGS OF FEATURES

Mizuno 2021 bag range RRP: Various mizunogolf.com

Mizuno’s new range of golf bags is able to suit every golfer. The new BR-D Series delivers design and innovation with a range of options from lightweight carry bags to robust cart bags.

The BR-D2 Carry Bag (RRP £135) is a great option for quick practice rounds or weekends away and features the new detachable Mod Pouch, which gives a little more storage when needed and allows a further drop in weight when it’s not.

The BR-D3 Stand Bag (RRP £180) is designed for those who enjoy walking and weighs in at just 2kg, while the BRDX Hybrid Stand Bag (RRP £235) offers versatility with 14 pockets and a quick release detachable dual shoulder strap for walking days.

The BR-D4 Cart Bag (RRP £235) completes the new line-up with its 20 pockets and compartments.

GEARNEWS

DRIVE AND CHIP

Mizuno ST-G 220 driver and T22 wedges RRP: Various mizunogolf.com

Mizuno’s latest ST Series driver, the ST-G 220, boasts a new SAT2041 Beta Ti face and complex carbon construction to deliver fast ball speeds and great feel along with unparalleled adjustability.

The combination of three tracks and two moveable weights mean the ST-G (RRP £449) can be set for ultra-low spinning drives or playable mid-spinning options, with fade or draw bias in both.

Meanwhile, Mizuno has also revealed the newest iteration of its teardrop wedges - the T22. The Grain Flow forged wedges (RRP £155) are available in four different sole grinds for varying techniques and conditions with a microlayer of copper beneath the nickel chrome finish delivering an extra split-second of control at impact.

COLOUR CO-ORDINATED

ZOOM Weather line RRP: £15.99 www.zoomgolf.net

Golf glove brand ZOOM is bringing an extra dose of style to the course this autumn with a new line up of colour options in its one size Zoom Weather Style line.

The new options are based around ZOOM’s FLEXX-FIT technology, which uses a mix of lycra flex zones to fit the contours of a golfer’s hand and feel like a second skin whatever the player’s glove size. Offering a honeycomb nylon pattern on the palm for enhanced grip, the ZOOM Weather Style is available in men’s (white, grey, lime, navy, orange, red, royal and stone) ladies (white/fuchsia, white/light blue and white/navy) and juniors options (white/black/red).

BAGS OF FEATURES

BIG MAX 2021 bag range RRP: Various bigmaxgolf.com

BIG MAX has brought a splash of colour to the fairways with the release of two new bags.

The Dri Lite Hybrid Tour (SRP £179.99) is the water-resistant next generation of BIG MAX’s successful Hybrid line. With its spacious interior and modern styling the Hybrid Tour is an allround solution for the golfer who likes to push and carry.

The Aqua Sport 3 (SRP £239.99) is the latest 100% waterproof addition to BIG MAX’s Sport series, adding new styling and enhanced features to this best-selling cart bag with 14 full length dividers, a carry weight of just 2.4 kg, dedicated putter well, dual umbrella holder, glove holder and a host of neat practical features.

HERITAGE AND INNOVATION

MacGregor V Foil Speed fairway and Hybrid, and V Foil Wedge RRP: Various www.macgregor-golf.co.uk MacGregor Golf has added the V Foil Speed Fairway, Speed Hybrid and V Foil Wedge to its range.

Combining the heritage of innovative design that has seen it in the winner’s bag at 59 majors with its more recent eye for affordability, the new fairway (SRP £89.99) and hybrid (SRP £89.99) options offer a solution for golfers with slower to average swing speeds who want to get the best from their game without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, the V Foil Wedge (RRP £49.99) is manufactured from the finest steel and designed to provide a soft feel, enhanced feedback and improved control.

NORTHERN GOLFER 37

GEARNEWS LOOKING GOOD

PING AW21 apparel collections RRP: Various ping.com PING has unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2021 apparel collections for men and women, which build on the success of the AW20 range and represent the most technical collection ever released by the brand, providing unrivalled protection in all conditions, come wind, rain or shine.

Engineered to work with the ever-changing climates, the AW21 range features PING’s innovative technology platforms and premium fabrics designed to allow golfers to play through the seasons, without compromising comfort or performance.

Working in tandem with the brand’s trusted Sensor platform technology, the collection sees PING expand its partnership with market-leading insulation brand PrimaLoft to include PrimaLoft ThermoPlume insulation technology in the new men’s Norse S3 jacket. Complementing this, the SensorDry Series has been expanded to provide golfers with a comprehensive range of wet weather protection that enables them to continue playing throughout the winter months. As well as SensorDry Series suits, the new men’s range also features half-zip wind tops, stylish mid-layer options with geometric camouflage prints, and winter accessories.

The women’s collection combines premium performance fabrics and manufacturing techniques with the latest seasonal print and colour trends. The collection is centred around elegant, timeless and classic paisley prints in options including the insulated Colette vest, Marlena Jacket and Evangeline long-sleeve top.

WALKING TALL

ECCO BIOM H4 BOA option RRP: Various gb.ecco.com

PUSHING IN

Golfstream Express push trolley RRP: £179 www.golfstream.co.uk

Golfstream has launched the Express push trolley to complement its Vision electric trolley. Based on the Vision frame, the Express features Golfstream’s one click open and close mechanism along with lightweight aluminium - weighing it at 3.9kg. The trolley has a folded height of just 280mm with the wheels on, easy off wheels, accessory station and foot-operated brake too.

38 NORTHERN GOLFER

ECCO GOLF has taken another step forward in hybrid performance with the introduction of a BOA option in the ECCO BIOM H4 collection.

The latest development in the successful series allows golfers to walk more comfortably from tee to green, as well as experiencing advanced motion control throughout the swing.

A breakthrough in ECCO’s technology, BIOM H4 features the new BIOM 2.0, which offers a modern, updated look and feel combined with BIOM NATURAL MOTION Technology that enables the foot to move naturally, close to the ground, and forms like a second skin around the foot.

The new BOA option (RRP from £170) comes in black or white colourways for men, while the women’s shoes (RRP from £160) is available in black or white/silver grey.

STAY&PLAY

Hit the road

Whether you’re planning an end of season get away or looking ahead to your 2022 golf break, we have a destination for you…

Close House If you spend a full day on the golf course you need a relaxing stay in luxurious surrounding – and the Courtyard, Pavilion and Lodge accommodation at Close House ticks all the boxes. The Pavilion, next to the Yearling par three course, is a private two-bedroom residence for up to four people with space to relax in the evening sunshine while enjoying views of the golf course. Meanwhile, the Lodge sits at the top of the Close House estate and can accommodate up to four guests in complete luxury. The Courtyard suites are just a short walk from No.19 and provide a high standard of accommodation with 16 rooms accommodating up to 34 guests. As well as having access to the two Lee Westwood golf courses and excellent facilities at Close House, guests have the beautiful Northumberland countryside on their doorstep while Newcastle is just minutes away. www.closehouse.com

Golf in the Scottish Borders Traditional Country Inn ideally situated for playing MINTO, HAWICK, THE HIRSEL AND ROXBURGH plus many more.

12 en-suite bedrooms with tv, wi-fi, tea/coffee making facililties.

Restaurant and bar serving cask ales

FOR THE LATEST GOLF NEWS AND VIEWS FROM ACROSS THE NORTH EAST AND YORKSHIRE

STAY & PLAY - £85 pppn

Auld Cross Keys Inn

Restaurant • Public bar • Lounge • Patio ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence

(based on two people sharing) or single occupancy £95.00 per night. This will include Bed and Breakfast two course evening meal and a round of golf

Tel: 01450 870305

bookings@crosskeysdenholm.co.uk www.crosskeysenholm.co.uk

The Green, Denholm, Scottish Borders, TD9 8NU

VISIT WWW.NORTHERNGOLFER.CO.UK NORTHERN GOLFER 39

STAY&PLAY

Bellingham Golf Club Bellingham Golf Club sits in the heart of the Northumberland National Park and offers some of the best golfing views in Northumberland.

Situated between Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish border, the layout offers spectacular views extending up the Tyne Valley towards the Border Forest Park and Kielder reservoir.

One of the oldest courses in England, Bellingham was founded in 1893 as a nine-hole layout. Today, the 18-hole course is a mature track and is always a fun challenge. The par of 70 ensures it remains no pushover, and the signature par four 12th is one of the best short par fours in the region. www.bellinghamgolfclub.com

Riverdale Hall Country House Hotel Bellingham Golf Club has a great link with the Riverdale Hall Country House Hotel, which means societies get a great deal on stay and play golf. For those travelling to Northumberland, or playing along the Tyne Valley, a stay at the Riverdale Hall Hotel is highly recommended. The relaxed feel and hearty breakfast are perfect for those returning from a day on the course, or raring to get out there. www.riverdalehallhotel.co.uk

GOLFING ADVENTURES With golf now very much now on the sporting agenda why not consider a Golf Break in beautiful Dumfries & Galloway which is a golfer’s paradise with fantastic golf passes (visitsouthwestscotland.com/golf) itineraries and hotel golf break packages.

STOP, STAY AND PLAY FOR ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW GO TO

www.southofscotlandgolf.com 40 NORTHERN GOLFER

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GOLFING THIS SUMMER?

Book your stay at the Riverdale Hall Hotel!

The ideal location to stay and play some of the most beautiful courses across the region including Bellingham, Hexham plus many more!!

The Manor House Inn The Manor House Inn sits in stunning countryside close to Derwent Reservoir with fantastic access to many of Northumberland and Durham’s finest golf courses. A traditional coaching inn, here you’ll find good food, real ales and comfortable en-suite rooms. There’s space for up to eight golfers with on-site parking, wi-fi, on-site shop and panoramic views. For golf, the finest courses in the Tyne Valley are a stone’s throw away, including Hexham Golf Club, while heading south on the A68 you’ll find fine examples of Durham’s parkland golf set in equally beautiful scenery. www.themanorhouseinn.com

Luxury hotel or self catering accommodation available that can be tailored to your needs.

Les Routiers Gold Plate Award Winning Restaurant using locally sourced food alongside a well stocked bar serving a selection of real ales, wines and spirits.

1 night B&B plus a round of golf at Bellingham and full use of the swimming pool and sauna from £79 per person.

For further information or to book telephone 01434 220254 or email: reservations@riverdalehallhotel.co.uk Bellingham, Northumberland, NE48 2JT

BOOK ONLINE UPTO 8 DAYS IN ADVANCE

VISITORS

18 HOLES MIDWEEK £20 | 18 HOLES WEEKEND £25 PARTIES WELCOME • BUGGIES FOR HIRE

Hexham Golf Club Designed by Open champion Harry Vardon, the classic English parkland layout of Hexham Golf Club remains one of Northumberland’s finest golfing challenges. The course, laid out in 1907-8, has stood the test of time, with a reputation for producing elite amateur and professional golfers and hosting many successful county and national events.

It’s no surprise Hexham has produced so many good players, it’s tall trees requiring straight tee shots while tough bunkering and large, undulating greens place emphasis on accuracy and good putting. www.hexhamgolf.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME FULL - INTRODUCTORY RATE - £290 COUNTRY (25MILES+) & SECOND CLUB £220 NO MORE TO PAY UNTIL 31.10.22

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

www.bellinghamgolfclub.com VISITORS WELCOME 7 DAYS A WEEK

BOOK NOW ON 01434 220530

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EAT - DRINK - SLEEP GOLF - EXPLORE IN NORTHUMBERLAND & COUNTY DURHAM Stay at the Manor House Inn & Play Hexham Golf Course in 2022 and PAY 2021 prices!!

Ring David or Natasha for details!!

01207 255268

Traditional Country Inn serving freshly prepared homecooked food using local produce complemented with a selection of Real Ales, wines and spirits.

The Auld Cross Keys Inn The Auld Cross Keys Country Inn, Denholm has been at the heart of life in the town for more than 200 years. A popular choice with golfers visiting the Scottish Borders, the former bakehouse offers 12 bedrooms and can accommodate up to 26 people. Within a short drive of some of the best courses in the Scottish Borders, including Eyemouth, Torwoodlee, Minto, Jedburgh, Kelso and the Hirsel, the Auld Cross Keys serves as a perfect base for visiting golfers. www.crosskeysdenholm.co.uk

THE MANOR HOUSE INN, CARTERWAY HEADS, DH8 9LX

TEL: 01207 255268 • EMAIL: THEMANORHOUSEINN@AOL.COM WEB: WWW.THEMANORHOUSEINN.COM

Newton Stewart

SOCIETY BOOKINGS FOR 2022 WELCOME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKINGS: EMAIL:

TEL: 01434 603072 (opt 2) manager@hexhamgolf.co.uk | www.hexhamgolf.co.uk

Hosts to the Northern Counties Seniors Championship 2016 Spital Park, Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 3RZ 42 NORTHERN GOLFER

The Dumfries & Galloway Golf Partnership The Dumfries & Galloway Golf Partnership was established by the South of Scotland Golfers Association - one of the 16 area associations within Scottish Golf - to promote golf in Dumfries & Galloway to visiting golfers in cooperation with its member clubs, local hotels and the regional council with support from VisitScotland South West.

The partnership has established a golf pass scheme with assistance from the local authority for use at clubs in the Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire counties of Dumfries & Galloway. A number of hotels in the region also offer excellent golf packages, with access to more than 20 golf courses in the region - ranging from high quality championship links courses and James Braid-designed layouts to excellent parkland and heathland courses, and nine-hole courses.

Details of golf courses, accommodation, and golf passes can be found at www.southofscotlandgolf.com

Official venue of the 2017 & 2020 British Masters

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BOOK DIRECT FOR THE BEST RATES AVAILABLE Call 01661 85 22 55 or email enquiries@closehouse.co.uk

CLOSE HOUSE, HEDDON ON THE WALL, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE15 0HT • TEL 01661 85 22 55 • WWW.CLOSEHOUSE.COM

TIPS

SWING THROUGH, NOT TO, THE BALL Slower swinging players tend to be slowing down through impact, which causes a lot of issues including a lack of distance. A good tempo increases in speed as we get back to the ball and continues to speed up past the golf ball. A great drill to find this feeling is to take some practice swings with the headcover on your driver. The additional weight and resistance will force you to swing through past impact into a full finish, helping increase speed and hit the ball further.

Doug Brolls PGA Profe ssio

nal

Anne van Dam (© Andre61/Shutterstock.com) 44 NORTHERN GOLFER

COMPETITIONS

win Northern Golfer competitions are also listed on our website www.northerngolfer.co.uk/ competitions Alternatively, you can post your entry to: Competitions, Northern Golfer, Unit 5b, Bearl Farm, Stocksfield, Northumberland, NE43 7AL

Please include your contact details and telephone number. Closing date Tuesday November 30, 2021. Usual competition rules apply – available on request. Winners will be published in our next edition.

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT WYNYARD Set in more than 200 acres of mature parkland on the exclusive Wynyard Estate near Teesside, The Wellington Course at Wynyard Golf Club stretches to 7,000 yards and is a true championship golf course.

For your chance to win answer the following question: What was the score in the 2021 Solheim Cup?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT TYNESIDE GOLF CLUB Established in 1879 and still widely regarded as among the finest parkland courses in the region, this Harry Colt layout is a challenging though enjoyable test with superb greens. On the ‘Falls’ of old Ryton village, the course also offers magnificent views over the River Tyne and Tyne Valley.

For your chance to win answer the following question: Which course hosts the 2021 Ryder Cup?

WIN GOLF FOR FOUR AT BELLINGHAM GOLF CLUB In the heart of the Northumberland National Park, between Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish border, Bellingham offers fine views while the course is a favourite of many of the region’s top players.

For your chance to win answer the following question: Which three courses host the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship?

Congratulations to the competition winners from our August/September edition: Bedlingtonshire - Glenn Blaney of Morpeth South Shields - John Vallely of Gateshead • Westerhope - Kenneth Fearn of Sunderland NORTHERN GOLFER 45

from the

bunker

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

Darren Bland

Gary Critchley

While Barnard Castle’s James Watson set the target for hole-inone stories with his pair of aces in one round (see page 9), there are many more aces to celebrate.

Ravensworth’s Lisa Conboy-Bryson, 13, emailed in to share the story of her two holes-in-one in 2021.

Having picked up the game at the age of 10, Lisa progressed to playing the red tees last year and started her 2021 season with an ace at Ravensworth’s 14th hole on April 10 - using a three wood.

Lisa wrote: “I was sooooo happy and excited, I could not sleep that night due to the excitement.” She then followed up the achievement with her second ace on June 17 at Ravensworth’s second hole - using a nine iron in a junior team match. She added: “I was ecstatic, it felt so good to be able to get another hole-in-one especially in the same year as my first one.” Well done Lisa.

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Steve Watkin

Boldon Golf Club saw a hattrick of aces at its 164-yard fourth hole in just eight days.

Chris Royal and club manager Steve Watkin made holes-inone on the same Saturday, Chris playing a casual round while Steve was taking part in a charity competition. Darren Bland followed the success the following Sunday with an ace while playing in the club’s August medal. The hat-trick on the fourth hole was then added to by Gary Critchley, who made a hole-in-one at the 142-yard 12th hole. Congratulations to all, it seems we need to return to Boldon to play the fourth hole in our quest to make an ace!

Thanks to Ainsley Rae from Hobson Golf Club for emailing in to share this heartwarming story from the club…

On the eve of this year’s Captain’s Day, Hobson hosted an extra competition with a golfer playing from tee to green, then a nongolfer putting to complete the hole.

At the presentation that evening, captain Michael Callagan announced a new trophy had been provided for this event - The Lilly Hartley Trophy.

Lilly, the daughter of professional David Hartley, is 12 years old and suffers from an inoperable brain tumour, but is always smiling and did a magnificent job presenting her trophy to the winners. The event was a great success and we look forward to playing for the trophy for many years to come.

Castle Eden’s Thomas Harbord has had a year to remember, as club secretary Mick Clucas wrote in to share with us…

A two-time junior club champion at Castle Eden, Thomas won the men’s title at his home club this year before adding a second club championship to his collection at Wynyard. He has also set a new course record at his home club with a superb round of 60, qualified for The Brabazon Trophy, and represented Durham against Yorkshire - winning his foursomes match and narrowly losing his singles match on the 18th.

Thanks Mick and well done Thomas - we look forward to welcoming you to our Champion of Champions events next year.

One of the junior members of the Northern Golfer team picked up his first open win this summer.

Dylan Brolls, whose dad Doug is a Northern Golfer account manager and a PGA professional, led the field in the Heworth Junior Open winning the nett title by seven shots with a score of 64 while also picking up the nearest the pin prize at the third hole.

Well done Dylan, a great step forward in your golfing career.

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