Yorkshire Golfer - July edition

GOLFER Yorkshire

Celebrating the best in club and county

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YORKSHIRE LADIES WIN THRILLER

SCHMIDT CAN’T STOP WINNING

DALY HAS LAST LAUGH Fun and games at Moor Allerton

CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR COURSE FROM WEAR & UNSIGHTLY AREAS

July 2019

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July 2019 Yorkshire Golfer is published by League Weekly Ltd, 31 Branch Road, Batley, W. Yorks WF17 5SB Tel 01924 470296 for subscriptions & deliveries Contents are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced wholly or in part without permission of the publishers

IN THIS ISSUE LEEDS MASTERED The Leeds Masters was taken back over the Pennines again this year, this time by David Brunton p4

LAST DAY HEROICS Yorkshire Ladies defended their Northern Counties Match Week title at Seaton Carew in a final day thriller p4 SOUTHERN STEEL A new programme at Waterfront Golf is bearing dividends as a font for encouraging major talent – Ben Schmidt being just one example p8/9

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Sandra Kirton 07771 885757 sandra@yorkshire-golfer.com mike@yorkshire-golfer.com @yorkshiregolfer

find us online: www.yorkshiregolfer.net SENIORS SERVICE Johnny Lawrence of Moor Allerton was a three-shot winner of the Yorkshire Seniors title staged at Garforth Golf Club p11

MIXING WITH LEGENDS Woodsome’s Rochelle talks life on tour 12 MIXING IT UP Casting forward to the first staging of an exciting new tournament – the East Yorkshire Mixed Golf Week, held over four courses p18

PLAN FOR SUCCESS Chris Hanson (left) muses over his best finish so far this season, while still looking for improvement p20

FOR PETE’S SAKE US Open champion Gary Woodland highlights the secret to his success – Yorkshire’s very own super-coach Pete Cowen p21 IN FOCUS: Two club and course reviews this month, as Yorkshire Golfer drops in on Malton & Norton and Forest Park golf clubs p14/15 and 24/25

Spread your club's good news... email your results, open events, photographs and news items to us on: mike@yorkshire-golfer.com and follow us on Twitter @yorkshiregolfer THE NEXT ISSUE OF YORKSHIRE GOLFER WILL BE DELIVERED TO CLUBS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6th, 2019

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July 2019

WAR OF THE ROSES Lancashire prevail again, but hospice kids are winners

Skipper Daly plays it for laughs at Moor Allerton THE team talk delivered by honorary Yorkshire skipper John Daly in the second running of the War of the Roses couldn’t stop the trophy heading back over the Pennines.

Addressing his troops from the balcony of the Moor Allerton clubhouse the two-time major winner told them in true tongue in cheek Wild Thing fashion: “Let’s get drunk, play fast and if you can cheat and not get caught, do it.

We can win this thing!”

All this while Lancashire captain Paul Scholes was nonchalantly stroking away on the putting green below.

The speech left many of his team slightly bemused including former Huddersfield Giant Eorl Crabtree, who was one of several celebrities representing the Tykes. Big Eorl said: “I’ve heard some team talks in my time but never one like that!”

Some took their captain literally, helping themselves to a large Langton’s G&T at the free gin bar as they headed for the shotgun start.

Equally flummoxed were his playing partners for the front nine as music lover Daly fired up the speaker loaded into his golf cart and played his favourite country and western songs for the rest of the round – at volume.

He had also loaded a man-sized cooler containing everything from packs of Marlboros to diet coke and pills for “everything from diabetes to arthritis”. Never a dull day with Daly.

JD played out his grip it and rip it approach to the letter, admonishing his caddie and business manager in Europe Simon Hurd when he wouldn’t let him hit driver on every hole. But he did reduce many of the par 4s to a drive and a flick including one prodigious tee shot which landed pin high on the 381 yard 16th.

He also loved the short 17th making two 2s as the amateurs took on Ladies European Tour player Sophie Walker in a ‘beat the pro’ shoot-out.

However, Daly was limping heavily due to osteo arthritis in his right knee by the end. It is likely to rule him out of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush later this month, as the R&A won’t give him a buggy.

“I might walk 9 holes and see how hard the course is on me physically but

I’m 80% sure I won’t there. My knee is just too bad but they want to wait another three years before they replace it as at 53, they say I’m too young.”

First in driving distance for years on the PGA Tour Daly attributes his trademark long backswing to starting out at 4 using a men’s set of clubs. “I had a set of MacGregor Jack Nicklaus clubs and they were so long and heavy that I almost used to hit the ground on my backswing. Dad wanted to cut them down but I wouldn’t let him.”

His first appearance in a major was aged 19-year-old in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills where he shot 88 in the second round to miss the cut. But he made the most of his next opportunity when Nick Price’s wife went into labour on the eve of the 1991 PGA Championship. Daly was 9th reserve but they couldn’t contact any of the eight in front of him. He won.

“That week was a blur. I drove all night to get to Crooked Stick for my tee time and didn’t even have a practice round. It really did not sink in until the week after.”

His next major win was his most memorable. “As a kid I dreamed of winning the Open. Nicklaus said that if you win the Open at St Andrews you have done it all and that’s the way I look at it. Very special.”

Long John is the only two- time major winner not to have played in the Ryder Cup. “They picked their buddies back then. Colin Montgomerie said he would have picked me had I been from

this side of the pond. The Europeans make it fun. I would love to captain the Europeans.”

Over 180 guests enjoyed dinner followed by a Q&A with former snooker star Willie Thorne. “I was big in the 70’s,” said Thorne upon introducing himself. “Well that’s just great because we’ve both got great futures behind us,” was Daly’s riposte.

It’s well documented that both men liked to have more than the odd flutter.

Daly’s net gambling losses from 1991-2007 totalled about $55 million. He recalled a night gambling in Vegas with Greg Norman’s pal Australian media mogul Kerry Packer.

“I was doing well and cashed out for $186,000 that night but Kerry was in the hole for $8.2 million. Holy sh*t.

Greg turned to me, winked and said “come back tomorrow night”. After an hour Kerry was winning so much, he had tipped the croupier $2.8 million dollars and when he finally went to the cage the casino owed him $52 million.

He closed them down that night.”

Long John rounded off the evening with an impromptu rendering of his own song “I Hit it Hard”. A musician of some note with a collection of over 80 guitars, he said: “I lived in Memphis for 19 years and along with winning the Open my goal in life was to meet BB King and I would go into the studio he worked in every Tuesday on the way to the airport to fly to tournaments in the hope I might catch him.” He finally did and one of BB’s

Twyman deals rare ‘ace’ in Brough Classic NOT many golfers can claim to have teed off on one hole and holed out on another, but David Twyman can.

Twyman was playing in the 40th Brough Classic Pro-Am, which also saw a legitimate ace on the par-4 second hole from Mark Woodall. Not to be outdone local professional Oliver Cross, who took over from Gordon Townhill last year, followed him in with an eagle two after making a triple bogey seven on the opening hole.

Darrington’s Gareth Murray, the professional in Twyman’s appropriately named Unique team, said: “David’s tee shot on the 9th, a par-3, clipped the trees down the left side of the hole followed by a lot of bang-

David Twyman retrieves his errant tee shot at Brough’s 8th hole ing and crashing. Gareth Davies from Abbeydale was on the green at the adjoining 8th and was amazed when David’s ball appeared on the putting surface and ran between him and his playing partners and dropped straight into the hole.”

The tournament produced a three-way tie for the professional prize on one over par for the two rounds in one of the longest running events on the

PGA in Yorkshire schedule.

Outlane’s Rob Booth fired a superb last round of 63 in testing conditions to match Brough specialist Darren Leng (Far Grange) and Matt Daley from Burstwick Park.

The event attracted 30 teams and Team Logo World (Andy Battams, Jason Pitter, Chris Leatham and professional Rob Bundy) won the team event on 21 under.

Captains Scholes and Daly wow the crowds autographed guitars has pride of place in his music room at his home in Arkansas.

The Red Rose county may have gone home with the spoils but the real winner on the day was children’s hospice Martin House.

“It’s been nice to make some sweet music today for the folks at Martin House.

God bless them,” said Daly.

European omission is a blow for Bailey LINDRICK’S Bailey Gill was a surprise omission from England Golf’s men’s team for the European Team Championship.

Left hander Gill, 22, has been one of amateur golf’s most consistent performers this year, and reached the last 16 in the Amateur Championship alongside a number of high finishes in major events this season.

Gill is ranked 46th in the Scratch Players World Amateur ranking – recognised as the most accurate ranking for amateurs – 22 places higher than fellow Yorkshireman Alex Fitzpatrick who will line up at Ljunghusen, Sweden.

Being left out will not have done Gill’s Walker Cup hopes much good but by way of scant consolation he was named as one of five players to represent England in the Chiberta Grand Prix in France (July 4-7).

Hallamshire’s Fitzpatrick, 20, is in the first year of a golf scholarship at Wake Forest in North Carolina, was third in the Jones Cup Invitational in the USA and will be joined by Harry Hall, (West Cornwall) – runner-up in the Brabazon Trophy to Ben Schmidt at Alwoodley – Ben Jones, (Northamptonshire County) Matty Lamb,(Hexham), Tom Plumb, (Yeovil) and Tom Sloman, from Taunton & Pickeridge.

Meanwhile three players from South Yorkshire will represent England in the boy’s version of the European Team Championship at Chantilly, France They are Barclay Brown, 18, (Hallamshire) who won the 2018 Carris Trophy and the Telegraph Junior Championship, Sheffield born Joe Pagdin, 17, (Lake Nona, Florida) who was fourth in the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, USA, and Rotherham whizz kid Ben Schmidt,16, youngest winner of the Brabazon Trophy and who recently took the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters.

Huddersfield’s Charlotte Heath17, was fourth in the Welsh Open Stroke Play and will fly the Yorkshire flag as part of the England Girls team who will compete at the Parador El Saler in Valencia.

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July 2019

TRIUMPHANT Ringway pro gets the better of his fellow Lancastrian Ashworth in Leeds Golf Centre battle

Brunton taps birdie well to be new master Shacklady has to pass on his Leeds Senior Masters crown to his fellow PGA North stalwart

David Brunton with the Leeds Senior Masters trophy

Picture: George Wood

FORMER European Tour player David Brunton won the Leeds Senior Masters at Leeds Golf Centre by two shots after holding off fellow Lancastrian Mark Ashworth.

Clitheroe’s Ashworth posted a clubhouse score of seven under after setting a new course record of 64, but Brunton, who plays out of Manchester’s Ringway Golf Club, added a 68 to his first-day 67 for a nineunder-par tally that was good enough to prevail by two shots Brunton has been what he describes as a “full-time player” for most of his life and like defending champion David Shacklady has been a regular winner on the PGA North region.

Brunton said: “Fair play to the staff here at Wike Ridge in getting the course in such great condition given the amount of rain that had fallen in the run up to the tournament.

“I hit it really well in both rounds and my birdies were mostly tap-ins. They had to be as the greens here are very tricky especially if you don’t hit

it in the right spots. I have played full-time professional golf for most of my life and it feels great to win here after finishing fifth last year at my first attempt.”

The biggest drama in his life was when he suffered a heart attack during a round at Frilford Heath in 2014.

“I collapsed on the course, broke my ribs and chest plate and was in hospital for two weeks.

“It took me six months to recover,” he recalled.

Brunton joined the paid ranks at 17 and among his mentors was Denis Durnian, who was pro at Northenden. He also spent a year on the European Tour from 1998. “That was a great experience and well worth it,” he added.

How life has also changed for Shacklady who won last year with a set of clubs he bought on eBay. The win – and more importantly the cheque for £5,000 that he banked – gave him the funds and impetus to compete on the Staysure (European

Senior) Tour and he went on to win his maiden title at the 2018 VTB Russian Open and amass 180,000 euros in prize money.

He finished on three under at Wike Ridge, describing his pitching as “pathetic”.

He said: “I felt like I could have shot six or seven under so I’m going for a lesson in the morning and it might end up all being on the short game!”

Shacklady, two-time European Tour winner Andrew Sherborne, and Texan Tim Thelen all took time out from the Staysure Tour to compete in Leeds.

Sherborne finished on one over, but was delighted with the fact that he didn’t have a shank in either round after suffering from golf’s dreaded curse the week before at the Staysure event at Trevose, where he is attached.

“I really was in two minds about coming here after having ten shanks the week before with everything from a little six iron to my wedges. But they seem to have gone now so happy days.”

Five-time European Senior Tour winner Thelen, who was on the same college golf team as Ilkley’s Colin Montgomerie at Houston Baptist, picked up a cheque after finishing on one under in his first appearance in the event.

Ladies clinch heroic triumph PHOTO: Tim Hosking

YORKSHIRE Ladies retained their Northern Counties Match Week title at Seaton Carew thanks to a remarkable last-day performance from their young, relatively inexperienced team.

Defeat to Durham had left captain Heather Muir’s side needing to beat Roses rivals Lancashire in their fifth and final match by at least 5.5-3.5.

In fact, they defeated the Red Rose 6-3 to retain their crown by virtue of a better game points tally, both finishing with four wins and a loss.

But the scoreline – they won by the same margin in four matches – does not reflect the

drama of an amazing performance by the ‘Green Army’, who had looked set to be behind by a point after the foursomes.

However, Lindrick’s Nicola Slater and Hannah Holden (Lightcliffe) won the last hole to halve their match and the session’s points were shared 1.5-1.5, handing a psychological advantage at lunch.

Then in an afternoon of changing fortunes – Woodsome Hall’s Melissa Wood battling for an epic half having trailed by four holes – Yorkshire prevailed 4.5-1.5 in the singles.

Slater won 4&3, Evie Cooke (Rudding Park) 5&4, Lily Hirst,

also Woodsome, 2&1 and Deb Henery (Hickleton) two up.

Yorkshire will represent the North in the English Women’s County Finals Week at Delamere Forest, Cheshire, from September 16-20.

The week had begun at Seaton Carew with a 6-3 win over Northumberland, the same scoreline by which they overcame Cumbria on day two.

Day three saw the 5.5-3.5 setback against Durham, but a third 6-3 win, this time against Cheshire, set them up for their stunning title climax.

Lancashire had 26 game points to Yorkshire’s 27.5.

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July 2019

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GOLF & Spa breaks are becomingly increasingly popular as couples realise they can get what thcalaey both want from a holiday, and travel experts Golf Escapes offer a number of hand- picked resorts throughout Europe The luxurious La Cala Golf Resort is beautifully positioned between the Sierra de Mijas National Park and the Med. The resort boasts three golf courses, swimming pools and a luxurious spa. Within the spa you will find hydrotherapy pools, a Turkish bath and a sauna as well as a number of different health and beauty treatments available, including massages and facials.

During the day, when not tackling one of the three brilliant La Cala courses – America, Asia and Europa – you can spend time in the hotel’s spa, relax around the pool or take the short 10-minute drive to the nearest beach. The resort is also just 35 minutes’ drive from Malaga Airport.

The Sesimbra Hotel and Spa

is a modern, beachfront hotel in the Portuguese fishing village of Sesimbra, boasting beautifully appointed rooms and facilities. The hotel was refurbished in 2015 and so all of the rooms and the spa have a stylish and modern décor.

A wide range of different health and beauty treatments including massages and hot stone massages are available.

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Within easy walking distance of the town’s restaurants and bars it is also just under 20 miles from Lisbon’s city centre where you can find an abundance of nightlife and history.

Local golf courses include Aroeira I and II and Quinta do Peru.

The four-star Il Picciolo Etna Golf Resort and Spa vaunts a beautiful location more than 2,000ft above sea level in the East of Sicily within the breathtaking Mount Etna National Park.

Monte Rei Golf and Country Club, top, and La Cala Golf Resort, above Il Picciolo Golf Club is conveniently next door and here there is a luxurious, comprehensive spa with a sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi and a large massage and treatment area.

There is also a great hotel swimming pool around which you can lay while enjoying the sun. Guest rooms are beautifully appointed with peaceful views of the vineyards and the orchards.

The hotel’s main restaurant, La Ghiandaia, serves delicious traditional Sicilian cuisine and

the clubhouse has a tempting lunch menu.

Portugal’s Quinta do Lago estate is synonymous with golf and includes the luxurious Monte Da Quinta Resort, which contains a range of one-, twoand three-bedroom suites furnished to a very high standard, fully equipped for self-catering with private balconies or terraces. The wonderful Magnolia Spa features a sauna, steam room and a Turkish bath and also provides the opportunity to take advantage of a range of

massage and beauty treatments.

A short drive down the coast will take you to the luxurious Hilton Vilamoura at Cascatas Golf Resort and Spa, which is surrounded by a selection of the Algarve’s best golf courses including Dom Pedro Pinhal and Millennium.

Six swimming pools, private tennis courts and the beach club at the nearby Falesia Beach are joined by a great spa within which you can enjoy a wide range of health and beauty treatments. The Hilton

Vilamoura simply has it all.

Sitting among beautiful foothills, in between mountains and the ocean, is the beautiful Monte Rei Golf and Country Club. This is a great, selfcatered villa-based resort, which boasts everything that you could possibly need or want from your next golf break to the Eastern Algarve.

You can enjoy rounds on Portugal’s No1 golf course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, stunning accommodation, excellent gastronomy – including at Vistas, which has been included in the Michelin guide – and first-class service within this great hotel.

Private tennis courts, a fullyequipped fitness centre and extensive spa facilities plus the ability to explore local towns make for a great golf and spa escape.

Last, but cetainly not least, is the five-star Palacio Estoril Hotel Golf and Spa in the vibrant heart of the resort of Estoril, adjacent to the Casino and just a few minutes’ walk to the sandy beach.

There is a large indoor pool and a hot tub within the Banyan Tree Spa and at the Estoril Wellness Centre you will find everything you need in order to have a luxurious and relaxing stay with golf available on the mature Golf do Estoril layout.

The hotel also swanks a great restaurant, The Grill Four Seasons, which serves up a selection of both Portuguese and international specialities in a sophisticated atmosphere.

July 2019

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July 2019

MAKING THE GRADE Houlgate’s academy is carrying on the South Yorkshire tradition of mining golfing gems

Waterfront’s star pupils are out front SOUTH Yorkshire has become a hotbed for producing top players and the latest to get in on the act is Waterfront Golf.

Major winner Danny Willett and five-time European Tour winner Matt Fitzpatrick are just two graduates from the Steel City of Sheffield and Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt is the latest kid on the block.

He is part of the Wath Academy Sixth Form Scholars’ Programme, a joint collaboration between the school and Waterfront Golf, which lies just over a mile away.

The programme started last September and provides students with Level 3 qualifications alongside the opportunity to experience a range of other progression routes into a variety of careers in golf. It also gives them at least 10 hours’ tuition per week with Waterfront owner and PGA Professional Frank Houlgate.

He is rightfully delighted with the results in the first year of the partnership spearheaded

by Schmidt, who has become one of the hottest properties in

amateur golf. He is ranked No 1 in Europe in the Under-18 category, is in the top five in the men’s division and is 24th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, qualifying him for the US Amateur at Pinehurst in August.

At 16 he became the youngest winner of the Brabazon Trophy, at Alwoodley in May, and returned to the Leeds course a few weeks later to beat some of the best players from both ranks in the North of England to lead the Open Regional Qualifying.

Schmidt has his eyes on the Silver Medal at Royal Portrush later this month and overcame the first hurdle with a best of the day 68.

He also picked up the prestigious Henry Cooper Junior Masters trophy last month and was selected to represent England in the European Junior Team Championship.

Schmidt will graduate from the Wath scholarship in September 2020 and has provisionally accepted a golf scholarship at East Tennessee

Ben Schmidt, far left, Frank Houlgate and Charlie Daughtrey watch as Frank’s son Luca hits shots University. Coincidentally this is the same school that Rory McIlroy signed up for, but never took his place, and it would be no surprise if the precocious Schmidt followed in similar footsteps as his stock continues to rise.

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He acknowledges that the scholarship programme and guidance he has received from Houlgate has played a huge part in his success, and he has also built up a successful partnership with Frank’s youngest son Luca as player and caddie. Luca, 16, is another to have benefited from the scholarship having reduced his handicap from 6 to 4 during the first year.

Charlie Daughtrey showed glimpses of brilliance during his early years and is another member of the Wath Academy team. But he had somewhat fallen out of love with the game when he arrived at Waterfront

last autumn.

Daughtrey said: “The programme has been massive for me and the help I have had has been immense. I had lost my desire to play and was ready to pack it in, but all that has changed.”

Houlgate has pulled apart his short game and Daughtrey is reaping the benefits.

“There’s still a lot to do on my chipping, but if I hit a bad shot now and miss a green I have the confidence in my short game to get up and down,” added Daughtrey.

Houlgate said: “Ben’s performance at the Brabazon was

something special and going into the last round I was confident he would win and I don’t doubt that he will make it, but Charlie’s performance was equally rewarding. He had to go through the qualifying and was lying fourth at one stage before faltering on the last few holes.

“He has a hard 18 months ahead of him, but he’s another very talented player and if we can continue to build on what we have achieved with Charlie in the last year he can also go on to achieve great things. He’s had a great year in schools golf winning one individual title and finishing second twice.”

Ben, Luca, Charlie and Frank’s eldest son Frank Jnr also helped Wath Academy finish third in the British Schools and Colleges Open Championship at Fairmont St Andrews in their first appearance.

Not surpisingly Houlgate’s lesson book is brimming and it is just reward for the work he has done with the scholars and the blood sweat and tears he and he wife Jo have put into Waterfront.

The next exciting phase at the superb facility, which lies on the site of the old Manvers pit, is a par-3 course that will complete the perfect pathway from lesson tee to the golf course. Houlgate and his head pro Danny Walsh, who coaches over a hundred kids a week at Waterfront, are doing their level best to unearth the next generation of talent.

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July 2019

Schmidt is a knockout all over again ROTHERHAM teenager Ben Schmidt continues to carry all before him this year and his latest success came in the Henry Cooper Junior Masters.

Schmidt opened with a 66 at Nizels Golf Club in Essex and followed up with rounds of 71, 71 and 70 for a ten under par total of 278, which handed him a five-shot win over nearest rival Max Hopkins, from Bishop Stortford.

He felt his best golf of the week had come in the rounds where he shot in the 70s, but on day one the putts dropped for him when he played “no better than solid”.

Schmidt did not arrive back at his Tankersley home until well past midnight and a few hours later was on the tee at Alwoodley, where he also won the Open Championship Regional Qualifying with a three-under 68.

Returning to the course where he became the youngest ever winner of the Brabazon Trophy in May, 16-year-old Schmidt birdied the short 14th to get to four under par. But an uncharacteristic leaked drive,

which went out of bounds on the next, meant he had to birdie the hole with his second ball to stay ahead of the pack, and he closed with three easy pars.

Hot on the heels of his win in the Henry Cooper was a call from England Golf to represent his country in the European Boys’ Team Championship at Golf de Chantilly on the outskirts of Paris later this month (July 9-13).

And this week he will bid to make it through to the Open Championship proper when he lines up at for the Final Qualifying event on July 2 at Fairmont St Andrews.

Ten spots were available at Alwoodley and Schmidt will be joined by Ross Earnshaw (Sandburn Hall), who finished a shot behind Schmidt, and amateurs Ben Hutchinson (Howley Hall) and Wakefield’s Dan Bradbury.

Hutchinson bogeyed the second and then missed a string of makeable birdie putts on the front nine, but held it together to finish with a one-under-par 70, a score matched by Bradbury who is back in the

People split over Devine’s intervention

Rotherham’s Ben Schmidt, the Brabazon Trophy holder, pictured after winning the Henry Cooper Junior Masters UK after finishing the second year of a golf scholarship at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

They went forward with another amateur Josh Morton (Huddersfield), Rockliffe Hall’s Andrew Wilson, Lindrick’s

Luke Jackson and Leeds-based Liam O’ Neil, who all carded level par rounds of 71.

A total of just 12 spots are available across the four venues, the others being Prince’s, Hollinwell (Notts) and St Annes Old Links.

A VIRAL debate on whether a Yorkshire junior golf coach should have been criticised for letting his students play in tracksuit bottoms and hoodies has split golf enthusiasts down the middle.

Around 50,000 members have the chance to vote on hot topics surrounding golf, and sometimes sport in general, in a weekly newsletter from Million Dollar Hole in One, a panEuropean golf challenge company.

Last month’s ‘Million Dollar Question’ on the newsletter was looking to settle the dress-code debate, which has been ringing round golf clubs, social media and news outlets over the last couple of weeks.

It followed a junior golf coach’s proud tweet of some of his young students practising their putting with the words “You let children play in hoodies and tracksuit bottoms? Yeah, we do! It’s the playing that’s important”.

The original post, from Thomas Devine, the director of Oulton Hall’s FUEL golf (FUture ELite) programme, received more than 400,000 views and many comments – but not all were in favour, with the image drawing criticism

from traditionalists.

The Million Dollar Question continued to divide golfers on the topic with 51.3 per cent of respondents believing the kids should be able to dress how they want, while 48.7 per cent said they should follow the dress-code and maintain the ‘tradition’ of the sport – a view Devine had described as being “stuck in the 19th century”.

MDHIO director Martin Tyrrell said: “It’s always interesting to see the results of the Million Dollar question as we have such a large database of golfers and golf fans – and they quite often give us valuable insight into people’s opinions on golf’s hottest topics.

“But this week’s result was quite extraordinary. It clearly shows the split between traditional golfers who feel that golf is a game of etiquette and history, and people that feel that youngsters should play in whatever they feel comfortable in and don’t mind what they wear, as long as they are playing and enjoying the game.”

Anyone can sign up to the newsletter, which also includes the chance to access exclusive discounts and deals on top golf gear and enter prize draws.

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July 2019

BRING A FRIEND TO GOLF Members urged to host non-players at clubs to show what they are missing out on

Yorkshire Day welcome YORKSHIRE DAY looks each year to celebrate all aspects of the White Rose county, whose inhabitants are renowned for their friendliness.

This year the Yorkshire Golf Development Group is encouraging clubs to extend that spirit on August 1 to friends who are non-golfers by hosting them at their course.

It is hoped this ‘Open House’ initiative, backed by the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs, the Yorkshire Ladies County Golf Association, the PGA in Yorkshire and the Golf Foundation, will enable those who do not play the game to ‘come and see for themselves what they’re missing!’.

YUGC Honorary Secretary Jonathan Plaxton commented: “We want club members to be encouraged to bring a nongolfer to their club and also for clubs to use local promotion to attract people in the vicinity of their club.

“It is down to each club to make its own decision as to whether or not they participate

and how they go about delivering the initiative should they ‘buy in’.

“An open door and offering a ‘cuppa’ or glass of Prosecco is the suggested format.

“It could be that Yorkshire Day becomes Yorkshire Week (August 1-8) as this will take in a weekend.”

England Golf has expressed its

willingness to assist clubs with promotion of the ‘Open House’ initiative on social media.

Anyone wanting further information or help with suggestions for taking part can email Jonathan Plaxton at secretary@yugc.co.uk or Sue Dennis (YLCGA & YGDG Chair) at sue.dennis@btinternet.com..

Jonathan Plaxton, the Honorary Secretary of YUGC

Yorkshire ease way to Roses victory

Heath shares Nations Glory HUDDERSFIELD’S Charlotte Heath helped England win the Nations Cup trophy at the German Girls’ Open at St Leon-Rot. Heath was England’s joint top scorer at seven under par after rounds of 74, 70 and 69 as she, along with Rosie Belsham (Whitley Bay), Lily May Humphreys (Stoke by Nayland ) and Burnham & Berrow’s Mimi Rhodes, combined to beat host country Germany by one stroke.

Pictured, l-r, are Rhodes, Humphreys, Heath and Belsham.

YORKSHIRE breezed to an away way in the Northern Counties League against the old enemy Lancashire at Fairhaven.

Led off by Brabazon winner Ben Schmidt and his partner James Swash from Middlesbrough, Yorkshire were unbeaten in the morning foursomes and took a healthy 5-1 lead into the singles.

Schmidt followed up with a 2&1win over Rossendale’s Luke Bartram in the top match and victories soon continued from Swash, Tom Broxup (Cookridge Hall), Skipton’s Max Berrisford and Wakefield’s George Heath, who was back from his US University.

Northern Counties champions Yorkshire pictured at Fairhaven where they beat Lancashire The Tykes were particularly strong in the tail, winning all of the last four games through Tim Brind (Abbeydale), Lewis Hollingsworth, one of three Rotherham players in the team, Josh Morton (Huddersfield ) and Berrisford.

In fact, they only lost one game in the afternoon giving them a convincing 14-4 win.

The sixth hole at Grange

Park Golf Club in Rotherham has emerged as one of the hardest 18 holes in the country by golfers who use the Golfshake score tracker each week to record their scores and rounds.

Taking stats from rounds tracked by mid-handicap golfers, the par-5 sixth hole – which measures 493 yards – had an average score to par of +2.198 within the Golfshake

database.

Golfshake added : “There is obviously no exact way to determine the challenge of a hole – and many didn’t make the list due to a relative lack of rounds tracked to meet the criteria – but it’s clear that these holes pose a significant level of toughness to the average player, revealing the average score relative to par.”

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July 2019

11

GARFORTH GLORY Moor Allerton maestro marks landmark year in game with county title

Lawrence is Seniors champion MOOR ALLERTON’S Johnny Lawrence marked a half century of playing golf by claiming the Yorkshire Seniors title at Garforth by three shots with rounds of 74 71.

The 58-year-old former Yorkshire Mid Amateur champion, who has been playing golf since he was eight, surrendered only two shots to par in his final round.

Having reached the turn in one-over 36 with eight pars on his card he came home in level par, the effects of a dropped shot at the 378-yard par-4 14th cancelled out by a birdie at the previous hole, a 509-yard par-5.

Ian Backhouse, of Knaresborough, took runner-up spot by complementing his first-round 75 with 73, pushing Fulford’s Kevin Miller (76 73) into third place.

Lawrence had been joint overnight leader after round one

alongside Andrew King, playing on his home course, Lindrick’s Ian Clarke, John Macnamara (Rudding Park) and Andrew Clarke, of Baildon.

But the Yorkshire Seniors team stalwart, who plays off scratch, pulled clear to win the championship after a couple of unsuccessful attempts.

“The first round I was just hanging on in there, it was just survival. The course was playing long, it was playing tough,” he said.

“The greenkeeper and his staff did a remarkable job to get the course in such shape to be able to play the tournament given all the rain we’d had. It’s been unbelievable.

“In the second round I tried to play stress-free golf, but that can sometimes be very difficult to do. You’re still nervous, and you’ve still got to pick the shot.

Wheeldon excels at St Enodoc

New Yorkshire Seniors champion Johnny Lawrence, right, of Moor Allerton, with Veterans champion Stephen Mason (Wakefield), left, and YUGC President Kevin E Tucker “But I was pretty steady for the two days, had a lot of pars.”

Lawrence, who has been a member at Moor Allerton since 1971, added: “I’ve been down to plus two, in my youth, and I played for the county a couple

of times in my early days. I won the Yorkshire Mid Amateur a couple of times, but I genuinely haven’t got a clue when that was.

“I play for Yorkshire Seniors now, which I love - I absolutely

love. They are a great set of guys that I play with.”

Wakefield’s Stephen Mason won the Yorkshire Veterans’ championship, run in conjunction with the Seniors, carding 78 76 to triumph by a shot.

WAKEFIELD’S Julie Wheeldon finished third in the English Senior Women’s Stroke Play Championship at St Enodoc in Cornwall.

Wheeldon battled strong winds in the final round to record a joint best of the day 76, a score matched only by the winner Aileen Greenfield, from Pyecombe in Sussex.

Previous rounds of 78 and 81 gave Wheeldon a 16 over par total of 235, leaving her six shots behind winner Greenfield.

Wheeldon is pictured above, right, with England Golf President Jenny Clink.

12

July 2019

SHAPING UP Woodsome Hall star stays on track despite knocks – and nose bleed

Morris is adapting to her life on tour

Josh Berry after victory at Sherwood Forest LIFE on the road is never dull for a professional golfer as Woodsome Hall’s Rochelle Morris is quickly finding out.

Spain, France and Switzerland are just three of the countries she has visited in recent weeks before spending a week at home to celebrate her 24th birthday.

Annika Sorenstam won 93 professional events during a spectacular career and was the host for the La Reserva de Sotogrande Invitational in Spain on the Ladies European Tour.

Morris said: “La Reserva was an absolute dream to play as the course was in fantastic condition and the set-up of the event was second to none.

Annika was hosting the event, which was super exciting for all of us competing and made the Rochelle Morris with golfing legend tournament extra special.”

Annika Sorenstam A solid opening round of to the final rounds in her first LET one over par put Morris in the top event in Morocco.

30, but a pushed drive that led to a A two-over third round did not triple bogey on a very windy second do justice to the quality of her play, day saw her finish on five over. but her last round was marred by a It was good enough to make the nose bleed that she could not stem. cut after failing to make it through

“My warm-up went really well and I was definitely geared up for a good score after the wind died a little, which allowed for someone to shoot a low one,” she said. “Around 15 minutes before I am due on the tee I always go to the bathroom to sort myself out and then all of a sudden there was blood everywhere due to a huge nose bleed.

“I had to rush to the tee to avoid getting a penalty shot for being late. I had nothing prepared, my nose was still bleeding uncontrollably and next thing I know I have paramedics surrounding me. Not exactly what you want before your final round.

“They couldn’t stop the bleeding and I had a cloth up my nose for all of the 18 holes as they said I had to play with it just in case it started again. Unfortunately there are no pictures which would have given everybody a good laugh.”

Unsurprisingly Morris started bogey, double bogey, bogey with more than a few tears involved, but she hung in there in gritty fashion to shoot five over for the round.

The Huddersfield golfer then flew to Geneva to meet her uncle who lives in France, and they made

for the Evian Resort for the Jabra Open where she was first reserve.

One player was reportedly struggling, but she took her place before pulling out before the second round, which made for a frustrating week for Morris.

“These are the things that happen in professional golf so I decided to make the best of it and take advantage of the fantastic facilities and get in a good week of practice with Steve Selbie, who was due to be on the bag,” she said.

Next up was Lavaux Golf Club in Switzerland, a tight and tricky layout for the next LET Access Tour event. A first round of two under saw Morris lead in the clubhouse for a while. However, a steady start to round two came unravelled with a four-putt double bogey on the 9th and three bogeys on the back side.

In the third and final round the 9th hole again proved her nemesis with another double and led to a two-over-par finish and 43rd spot.

She added: “My game is in good shape, I made both cuts in the events I played, but I’m competitive and I want more of the same – and better.”

Triumphant Berry standing tall again SUPERB back to back rounds of 68 saw Doncaster’s Josh Berry lift the boys’ title in the English Schools’ National Championships at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

Berry, who only turned 14 in May, handled the tough par-70 layout that stretches 6,800 yards with an exceptional display of shot-making to win by five shots.

He represented England Under-16s against Spain earlier in the year, but had not built on a phenomenal 2018 campaign until he went to the national championships.

Growth spurts this year may have had something to do with his form, but he looks back on track to challenge for a number of high-profile boys’ events in the coming weeks, which include the Carris and Reid Trophies.

The Campsmount Academy student barely put a foot wrong at Sherwood Forest and will now go on to captain England Schools in fixtures against Scotland and Wales in August and September.

July 2019

13

ADVERTORIAL Notts PGA Pro-Am competitors are among first to enjoy benefits of course’s £1million redesign

Oakmere’s future even brighter PROFESSIONALS and their amateur partners had an early look at Oakmere’s redesigned course when the club hosted the Notts PGA Pro-Am. Top international golf architects Mackenzie & Ebert, who have worked on Trump Turnberry, Troon, Royal Lytham, Carnoustie and this year’s Open venue Royal Portrush to name but a few, recently completed work on both the Commanders and Admirals courses.

From the outside Oakmere seemed to have it all. A splendid countryside location with a heathland landscape and sandy base delivering year-round golf.

Originally designed by Frank Pennink in 1974 with 27 holes and 36 tees of golf, 800 members enjoyed a driving range, excellent practice facilities and FootGolf too, all complemented by a modern style and extensive 19th hole full of charm.

This clearly wasn’t enough and the staff, owners and members alike had aspirations to raise the bar much higher. After investing a cool £1million they have done just that and opened the doors of the finished project on June 25 when they hosted the Notts PGA Pro-Am. The Commanders course has had three new greens built and

the layout changed creating a slightly shorter 9-hole course of 5,304 yds with wider fairways and kinder greens.

The championship Admirals course has undergone a full renovation over the last five years.

All bunkers have been moved or rebuilt, all 18 greens’ surrounds have been scraped away and relandscaped and four brand new holes have been created – the 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th.

The final green to be constructed was the 14th under the ever-watchful eye of Tom Mackenzie, was in play for the first time on June 25, when the new15th par-3 that completed the revised layout was also showcased.

During this construction process Oakmere also employed top agronomist David Stansfield, who works with 60 of the top 100 courses in the UK, and invested a further £330,000 on a new Toro irrigation system that includes a weather station.

Under David’s new maintenance programme the staff spent the winter preparing the course where the two main objectives were to improve the greens and fairways. The brief included thickening the grass on the fairways to create a lush sward to help the ball sit up better.

The sixth hole at Oakmere highlights the wonderful scenery at the Nottinghamshire course The master plan for the greens included producing faster and more consistent surfaces all year round that are at least comparable to the best greens in county during the summer months.

In his initial report Tom Mackenzie pointed out that Oakmere was well established in the Nottinghamshire golf market with a solid membership

base, but recognized it had the potential to be among the top courses in the county and compete against the likes of Notts (Hollinwell), Sherwood Forest and Coxmoor He highlighted the sandy base as a huge asset, as freedraining was such an important characteristic for the business and a feature it shares with the big three clubs with which they

aspire to compete . The challenge was to make the most of this sandy character. The presence of heather, albeit quite limited, was also really important to the club’s ambitions to compete with the best in Nottinghamshire.

A number of greens had been reduced in size, resulting in the shelves for pin positions becoming really small.

Sandy soil as enjoyed by Oakmere, is the perfect foundation for outstanding surfaces, but the correct tools need to be in place to produce them with irrigation being the main one.

His aim was to create green complexes that are ‘works of art’ and which offer a huge variety of recovery shots, including some areas where the ball can slide off the green down into a closely mown hollow from which any club from a putter to a rescue club can be used.

Mackenzie and Ebert also felt The Commanders course should be made significantly easier to play, becoming the intermediate course and a friendlier examination for the greater good of Oakmere Park.

The extra space created by the changes will be used for the starter course, a brand new par3 layout, sitting in close proximity to the clubhouse.

This will allow Oakmere to provide a complete pathway into the game, from range and putting green to the Par-3, to the development of a full game on The Commanders and then on to The Admirals.

The club’s total commitment to encourage the local population to get into golf will secure it a bright, long-term future.

July 2019

14

FOCUS ON: Malton & Norton GC

A ‘hidden gem’ keen to put a smile on your face “A

HIDDEN gem,” wrote the legendary Peter Alliss, of Malton & Norton Golf Club, the glorious 27-hole parkland course just south of the North Yorkshire market town, the A64 and meandering river Derwent.

The BBC’s voice of golf was referring to the delights in store for golfers – and non-golfers actually – awaiting anyone wandering down the driveway off Welham Road and into the spacious and welcoming grounds.

“That’s our biggest challenge!” laughed new Club Manager and England Golf’s Senior Regional Development Manager of 20 years, Richard Brown. “You can’t see us from the main road and so many locals are barely aware of our existence. We need to show them just what awaits down the driveway!”

The answer to that is ‘a whole lot’ – from some of the best practice facilities you’ll find in the north of England, to a recently refurbished spacious clubhouse and, most importantly, three top quality 9-hole loops that are a massive tick in Malton & Norton’s box when it comes to accommodating all forms of golfing requirements.

The club’s website proudly states that it’s a club run by the members, for the members. But in the businessworld of modern golf, attracting visitors and societies is a huge part of being successful.

Whatever event is on, those highlyvalued members know they can almost always roll up and play one of the loops. And as Richard points out: “Time pressure has never been a bigger issue in golf than right now. It’s a real attraction that golfers can come and play 9-holes and be finished in an hour and a half or so.”

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Richard Brown, a scratch golfer who has been a club member since the age of 12, and who is married to legendary Yorkshire Ladies star Emma (nee Duggleby), who is now working further up the A64 at Ganton Golf Club.

Emma is an honoray Malton member where she still plays off +2.

Richard says he brings with him a lot of transferable skills from his long time heading up northern development for England Golf – and key amongst them is attracting more people into the game, at whatever level.

“We need to show people that

down that driveway is a place where they will be greeted warmly and welcomed, no matter what their experience in golf. We want them to have a go and find the fun in golf.”

And find so much more too, because the refurbished clubhouse can accommodate parties of up to 125.

“Too many Malton and Norton

people don’t know what superb facilities we have,” added Richard. The club is actively promoting its Sunday lunches and already gearing up a marketing drive for Christmas parties.

“Obviously the main thing is golf, and the message that it’s a sport for all is key to what we need to do. We have a strong membership with a good ladies section, but we’re also aware that attracting more people requires a variety of approaches.”

That includes new flexible pointsbased schemes to enable time-pressured people a gateway, hopefully to full membership. Meanwhile club professional Joel Preston is a home-grown product and is keenly working both with young golfers and the Get into Golf programme, which has been really well received.

The course itself was founded in 1910 as a 9-hole in nearby Huttons Ambo, before moving to its current base – still 9-hole – before expanding to 18 and later adding the Derwent Water lies tight to the front of the 8th hole on the Welham and the 21st hole on the Derwent (above)

Views over the nearby town, and beyond to the stunning North Yorkshire Moors, from the 4th hole at Malton & Norton Golf Club

loop in the mid-90s. All three 9s have distinct characteristics, from the changing elevations on the Welham, the flatter middle 9 of the Park, and finally the testing Derwent, with its challenges both for accuracy and occasionally your nerve too.

Richard Brown is clearly proud of the club’s qualities, citing a recent society back for its 20th consecutive year, and another group of visitors who enjoy their North Yorkshire tours, while always insisting Malton & Norton is on the list.

“It’s nice to hear things like that,” he said, “we must be doing something right. And I think it’s important that we put out that message to everyone who comes to see us, whether golfing or not.

“For me, building relationships and greeting people with a smile on your face is a lot of what it’s about, be that the greenkeeping staff out on the course, our members ... all of us. It’s about treating people with respect and enjoying what we do.”

At least locals now know what to expect down that long driveway off Welham Road...

July 2019

15 A glorious parkland setting – late afternoon on the Park course, looking back from the 15th green

WELHAM COURSE Yellow Tees 1 – 548 yds, par 5 At 548 yards with out of bounds up the left, the first hole is an excellent three shot Par 5. A tee shot into the heart of the sharp dogleg left would give you the best chance of reaching the green in three shots.

Try not to be past the hole on the green as it slopes quite sharply from back to front.

2 – 140yds, par 3 Favour left of centre of the green on this tricky par 3 will kick to the right. Too long and you will find yourself in the leylandii trees behind the green.

3 – 358yds, par 4 An accurate tee shot is required on this dogleg par 4. The approach needs to be played up the left of the hole if the steep bunker on the right of the green is to be avoided.

4 – 162yds, par 3 The elevated tee provides views of the town and further beyond the North Yorkshire Moors. A large target that slopes from right to left.

8 – 350yds, par 4 Avoid the right-side traps and stay out of the trees on the left, for a nervechallenging second over water, tight up to the green.

15 – 351yds, par 4 Straight is vital, because trees can and will block out anything astray. It’s a narrow, undulating green with long bunkers to both sides.

5 – 504yds, par 5 Again from a raised tee, a sweeping left-to-right shaped hole, with the fair way falling away similarly.

Three right hand bunkers catch a lot of approach shots into a slightly elevated green.

9 – 399yds, par 4 Index 1, a longer par 4 with out of bounds on or over the road to the left.

Miss the bunkers and you’re going into a flat, long green protected by sand on both sides.

16 – 384yds, par 4 The aim is to carry the large oak tree, for a shot into an angle lying at 45 degrees to the fairway, with some tricky pin positions and plenty of sand protection.

PARK COURSE

6 – 340yds, par 4 Trees on the right and fairway traps on the left need avoiding before a tricky shot into a distinctly two-tiered MacKenzie green.

10 – 474yds, par 5 Open your shoulders on this shorter par 5, but if tempted to go for the green in two, beware the stream 40 yards short.

17 – 170yds, par 3 A longer par 3 where all the trouble is at the front of you, so take plenty of club to carry the traps.

7 – 315yds, par 4 Short, but tricky, with OB left and mounding on the right.

Your second shot is into a narrow green with a steep run-off to the left.

11 – 334yds, par 4 Position is all important so you don’t need the driver on this tight dogleg right, with a green protected by a cross front bunker, plus one mid-left.

MALTON & NORTON GOLF CLUB Welham Park, Welham Rd, Malton YO17 9QE Tel: 01653 697912 www.maltonandnortongolfclub.co.uk

18 – 500yds, par 5 It’s a tight driving hole with OB left and sand down the right, but get a good shot away, then favour the right side to avoid the sentinel oak tree guarding the left side of a large green.

DERWENT COURSE

12 – 308yds, par 4 Another shorter hole, this time doglegging left, but with OB all down the left. Good position takes you into a raised green with run-offs all around.

19 – 383yds, par 4 A good driving hole, which narrows towards the green with trees encroaching from the left and OB right, towards a mounded green.

13 – 149yds, par 3 Avoiding the sand that’s front, left and right is key to a par on this medium par 3.

20 – 154yds, par 3 A helpful green which gathers balls in, once the front left and right bunkers are avoided.

14 – 316yds, par 4 Erring to the right is safest, as a large pond and mature trees on the angle of the dogleg left are a real threat.

Approach to another back-to-front sloping MacKenzie green.

21 – 339yds, par 4 A really tricky hole, with water down the right, before dog-legging right to a smallish, raised green also with water in front.

Position is all important.

22 – 435yds, par 5 A shorter par 5, but with plenty of challenges. It’s tight OB down the left, but with water,trees and sand down the right if you spray one. A narrow approach to a green with traps front left and right.

23 – 147yds, par 3 An elevated tee shot, to a green cut into the banking. If you miss either side, it will require a good chip shot.

24 – 337yds, par 4 Be conservative and find the fairway near the elbow of this sharp left-torighter. You’ll approach downhill, probably over trees, to a green sitting below you, but raised too – with water on the left.

25 – 304yds, par 4 A blind tee shot, but clear the ridge (favouring the right) for a short shot into an undulating green.

26 – 349yds, par 4 Bombers will carry the 90-degree dogleg. For the rest of us, find the corner but not the sand that awaits anything long, for an approach over a front bunker to the green.

27 – 475yds, par 5 Parallel to the 18th, which you may play your second shot from if trying too hard to avoid being blocked by the trees down the right.

You’re coming into a deep green, with sand front left and mid right.

The clubhouse overlooking the 9th, 18th and 27th greens

16

July 2019

EAST YORKS MIXED GOLF WEEK Hessle, Brough, Hull and Cottingham Parks will take centre stage next year

Get ready for a new challenge EXCITEMENT is building around the first East Yorkshire Mixed Golf Week, which will be played over four of the finest courses in the area next May. Four mixed betterball stableford events with 90% handicap allowance will take place from Monday, May 18 through to Friday, May 22, 2020 with the Wednesday of that week as a rest day.

The first event will be at Hessle Golf Club on May 18 followed by Brough, Hull and Cottingham Parks. Tee times will start at 9am and the last day will operate a shotgun start at 9am.

Men will play from the yellow tees and ladies will compete from the red tees at all of the venues.

East Yorkshire has a tremendous variety of courses and competitors will be able to enjoy a real mix of challenges over the four days.

Hessle started out as a sixhole course in 1898, originally named the Hessle Tennis and Golf Club. In 1912 nine holes were deftly constructed in limited acreage on the undulating parkland to the south of the HullFerriby road, the second chapter in its challenging history.

A further nine holes were added in 1935 before these were lost to the growing of cereal crops during WWII, but by 1948 the land had been returned to its former use and Hessle members

again enjoyed an 18-hole course, assessed as par 67, with seven par-3s and only one par-5.

How times have changed; now Hessle has a worthy reputation as one of the best courses in the area. The course has USGA standard greens, which means that members and visitors alike can enjoy the course in any weather all year round.

While Hessle is quite a long course at 6,608 yards, it is fairly easy walking due to reasonably flat terrain. Developments over the years include a new lake between the fifth and sixth holes.

A second lake has also been formed at the par-3 16th that requires both length and accuracy to make the green in one.

The clubhouse was totally destroyed in 1959 by fire and one of its single-storey replacement’s most attractive features – a long, covered veranda – has remained a popular spot on a summer’s evening offering a view across the course to the Humber and Lincolnshire.

Brough’s attractive yet challenging inland parkland layout has staged many championship and representative matches. The twoday Brough Classic Pro-Am has been a major date in the PGA calendar since 1978 and the club hosted the 1990 Forte PGA Seniors Championship. The Players’ Tour debuted at Brough in 1999 fol-

A view of Cottingham Parks’ clubhouse

Brough is an attractive, challenging inland parkland layout lowed by the British Girls’ Championship two years later.

To cope with heavier year round traffic, Brough initiated a six-figure investment in a stateof-the-art irrigation system, a five-year course development plan, new equipment and augmented green staff.

Brough Golf Club was officially recognised by the R & A in 1893. Further land was acquired in 1905, when an 18-hole course was created. The present imposing clubhouse was purchased, together with three acres of grounds, in 1925 for £3,750.

Following additional acquisitions of land the course was extended and improved in 1933 and 1955.

A post war brochure speaks of the “good golfing qualities of the course... of its superb clubhouse... and of being greeted with the friendliness, courtesy and first class service of the staff”. This is still true today, with much of the character of its early days retained. The clubhouse with its three reception rooms, lounge, snug and conservatory, twin counter bar, gracious dining room and its summer terrace takes the visitor back to the earlier era.

The legendary James Braid created a challenging and memorable masterpiece at Hull Golf Club, regarded as one of the region’s premier courses with over 100 years of history.

When you leave the characterful clubhouse or have prised yourself out of Aaron Pheasant’s superb pro shop, the opening four holes offer variety in terms of distance, undulation and par, giving a hint of what lies ahead.

The tricky and bunker-laden 8th is the precursor to the No 1 stroke hole named West Ella.

With OB on the right, players must keep their ball left down the sloping fairway, which sweeps downhill in a gentle dogleg around a large copse of trees, before facing a long uphill second to a two-tiered green.

Hull’s feature hole is the 10th where anything from a one to a 15 has been recorded over the years

on the downhill driveable par-4. A picturesque pond eats into the front and right of the green – the ultimate risk and reward hole.

The back nine carries more twists and turns with classic doglegs on the 12th and 14th featuring interesting changes of elevation before the sting in the tail where pars on the final two holes are much sought after.

Cottingham Parks, which lies close to the historic town of Beverley, is celebrating its 25th anniversary having slowly developed their site by re-investing profits at every opportunity.

Built on land once farmed by owner John Wiles, this family-run business was opened on August 1, 1994 with a family audience very much in mind. Starting with just a container for the clubhouse and shop, Cottingham Parks now boasts all the amenities on offer at other clubs plus so much more.

The tournament will be played on the Parks course, which sits alongside the second course Skidby Lakes.

Besides the two 18-hole golf courses there is a health club with gym, studio classes, swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms, all backed up by first-class catering within the spacious clubhouse. To complete the facilities there is a driving range where robots collect the balls, a putting green, two short-game areas – one artificial to allow for all-yearround practice – and 21 holiday lodges all on the one site.

Further information on the East Yorkshire Mixed Golf Week is available from Andy Woodhead by e mailing him at adwoodhead1964@outlook.com or calling 07791 360664.

18

July 2019

ADVERTORIAL Club’s changes lead to improvements both on the course and off it with high-level recruitment

Howley welcomes new faces WINSTON CHURCHILL said that to improve is to change and there’s a transformation underway at Howley Hall Golf Club.

Changing faces at the club include new Managing Secretary Stuart Carnie, Paul Burns – who has joined awardwinning head professional Ryan Rastall’s team – and Master Greenkeeper Greg Evans as consultant agronomist.

After attending Myerscough College, Carnie’s journey through the ranks has seen him hold senior positions at Marriott Worsley Park, Carden Park, where he was head of golf, Linden Hall and most recently at Hollins Hall.

Burns played golf with Justin Rose as a junior in his native Hampshire, getting the better of the major winner during the morning round of one event before the 10-time PGA

Tour victor hit back with a vengeance in the second round.

His father’s job took Burns north and after studying at university he worked at Oulton Hall, Leeds, for 13 years during which time he first met Rastall, who picked up the Pro Shop of the Year award in 2018 from golf retail buying group TGI. Under the direction of new chairman of greens Miles Foster there have been significant and positive changes to the condition of the golf course following the re-appointment of Evans, who works with a number of high profile clubs.

Foster said: “Greg was last involved with Howley Hall a couple of years ago when we had a reputation for having some of the best greens in the county. It’s fair to say that we didn’t maintain those high standards so we brought Greg back in as a consultant and saw an

Howley Hall newcomers Stuart Carnie, above, and Paul Burns, below

immediate improvement and we are now back to having superb surfaces and a very good looking golf course for our members and visitors alike to enjoy.”

As well as making regular

visits from his home in Buckinghamshire, Evans continues to oversee the maintenance programme he has put in place, but crucially brings first- hand experience to the table of working with a clay-based course.

Foster added: “Greg is also the course manager at Ealing Golf Club, which like Howley is clay-based so he has great experience in the challenges that brings.” Like two-handicapper Carnie, Evans is also a

very good player and brings a knowledgeable vision to how a golf course should look.

“He’s an extra pair of eyes for our head greenkeeper Steve McAdam and his team and we are delighted with the impact he has had in short space of time.”

Burns will support Rastall’s burgeoning coaching programme at a club that has produced some of the best players in Yorkshire. The superb practice ground has been the playground of European Tour players Paul Carrigill, Danny Denison, Iain Pyman, Marcus Armitage and Dan Gavins over the years as well as England international Ben Hutchinson, who finished fourth in the St Andrews Links Trophy last month.

Howley Hall is now the permanent home of the Yorkshire Open and some of the best professionals and amateurs in the area will compete again this week (July 3) for the prestigious trophy with the best amateur collecting the Howley Hall Scratch Trophy.

In recognition of the event there is a special offer running throughout July and August where two can play for £40 and a fourball for £70, which includes a free pint at the end of the round, available Monday to Sunday subject to availability.

The offer includes a 10% discount voucher for the golf shop to be redeemed on the day of play, and tailor-made packages are available for groups of 12 or more by calling Stuart Carnie on 01924 350100.

19

July 2019

ADVERTORIAL Continuing Yorkshire Golfer’s look at the excellent nine-hole options that abound in the county

East Bierley shines bright

much tougher course, which is appreciated by the membership and visitors alike – but this is no bomber’s paradise, just a good test of golf.

There are a couple of small hills, but the course is mostly easy walking and the parkland layout protects itself with fairly tight fairways and a variety of hazards. And when you get there, high quality, testing greens await.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings members can enjoy breakfast halfway through the club competitions, from a slice of toast to a full breakfast.

AST Bierley opened East Bierley has its doors in 1906 and Bradford Union teams moved across the road in the scratch, 8-15, rabto its current location in bits and junior leagues 1929. It has changed much and last year, for the since then, but one constant first time in many years, has been the community feel the Bradford Union’s of which the members are President hailed from rightfully proud.

East Bierley.

Its single-storey clubSocieties are well house, which opened in catered for with 18-, 271990, acts as a social club or 36-hole options and for the south Bradford vilexcellent catering to lage, which is home to suit parties. many members.

The clubhouse Like many nine-hole enjoys pleasant views courses, East Bierley has from its elevated posihad to move with the times tion overlooking the and a few years ago the club course and stewardess purchased adjacent land to East Bierley offers a membership scheme for people ‘new to golf’ June and chef Tony prolengthen the course. With iniFour new holes were created vide a warm welcome and an excellent choice of tial help from the Sports Turf including the ninth, which was hot and cold fare. Private functions for any occaResearch Institute at Bingley, and lengthened by 100 yards moving it sion can be hosted in the clubhouse and Tony has two years in the development, most to a genuine par-5. The result is a a well-earned reputation for excellent, generous of the work was done in-house. meals.

This summer the club has introduced a popular scheme to attract members who are “new to golf” and golfers can call on professional Jeff Whittam, who has built a coaching reputation over the past 20 years at all levels, but particularly groups, beginners and juniors.

There are a large range of membership options available and the added incentive of free reciprocal golf at Elland and Rawdon. Tee times there are understandably subject to course availability, but generally the agreement works well.

Open days are a great way to try out a new course for the first time or to return to a favourite venue and East Bierley will host a number of events in the coming months.

These include a Ladies Am-Am on August 8, a Seniors Open (+55) on August 15 and a Rabbits Open on August 31. The calendar is

E

rounded off by a Ladies Festive Fayre on October 2.

East Bierley Golf Club is fiercely proud of its links with the local area.

It has provided a community

defibrillator that is available to local residents as well as for club members and visitors.

East Bierley really is a hidden gem in more ways than one.

20

CHRIS HANSON

July 2019

THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR BLOG

I love it when a plan comes together T

WO WEEKS in Czech Republic culminated in my best Challenge Tour finish so far this year with a tie for 15th in D+D Real Challenge at Kaskado Golf Resort.

But I left with mixed feelings. Yes, it was my best result in a while, and may even have sneaked me a few world ranking points back after plummeting down to 1,000 in the world from a career high this time last year of 258.

I also feel I have made some progress with some of the changes I’ve made, but I know I have more in the tank so I’m excited about what the rest of the season has in store.

After what felt like the quickest 24 hours at home ever, it was straight back on the road and a 3am alarm call before heading off to Leeds/Bradford airport for a flight to Malaga for the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Matchplay 9.

The only blessing was that I’d played the venue Valle Romano a few times in Mike Wilby’s pro-am in February, so I wasn’t under pressure to have to rush round Tuesday afternoon as no play was going to be allowed on Wednesday.

It was so hot. The main focus, therefore, for two days was to get set with the least amount of practice possi-

Putting practice for Chris Hanson at Los Naranjos away from the crowds ble, stay fresh, but still do the essentials.

I decided that playing the back nine was a must. In the tournament we ended up playing in the opposite wind, but I felt it was still very important to hit the tee shot down the 12th, and get set on my plan off the 10th tee.

In Mike’s pro-am I made a real mess of the 10th both days and never

really decided on the best way to tackle the 12th. I didn’t want to make the same mistakes again and now I had a plan.

On Wednesday we called up to Valle Romano in the morning and I got some putting done before the sun came up, but as soon as the heat kicked in and all the players showed up we vanished. The facilities are not great there

and it was so overcrowded.

We headed back to Los Naranjos, where I spent most of my time when we lived in Marbella. Such a relaxed golf course away from it all to do some quiet and constructive practice.

I’m so glad I went – the place is great and I got to say hi to everyone who always looked after me so well when we were based in Spain.

In round one we were in for a treat as, wow, did it blow! The last time I played in a wind that strong must have been in St Andrews. It was like walking round in an oven, too, and despite the wind taking a little bit of edge off the heat it made the course a real test.

I played solidly and a 69 (-2) left me in around 10th position. On day two the wind was just as brutal; I actually played pretty similar, but scored four shots worse, but it didn’t really matter and the top 64 made the match play stages and it was then a fresh start.

Six nine–hole matches stood in the way of me and a trophy. My game was trending the right way and I was starting to get some confidence going.

I’ve recently started to work with a new ‘performance coach’ based in the South and it’s made an instant impact.

The conversations have really hit home

with me and I have been able to relate to everything so well.

I beat Daniel Im in the first round.

He eagled the first, but I managed to take the win on the last.

Next up was the in-form Adrian Meronk, a guy who hits it miles – he should, he’s 6ft 5ins – but he can sure play and he’s 12th in the rankings.

After five holes I went two down. I had my back against the wall with four holes to play, but I stepped up to the plate. My mindset was so positive and I took the match on the third extra hole and was now into the last 16.

I had one more match that day and played the eight holes in two under to beat Tommy Linard 2&1, hitting one on my finest 4 irons into the par-5 8th, closing the match with a birdie.

Unfortunately the quarter-finals was as far as I went. A hot start of eagle, par, birdie had me one up, but in the end Ugo Coussaud made five birdies in eight holes to beat me 2&1.

However, it was another week over and I was very pleased to post a sixth-place finish to move up the rankings. There are not many better feelings in professional sport than having a plan and making progress, especially when people say you are doing the wrong things.

21

July 2019

Major praise heaped on Cowen NEW US Open champion Gary Woodland revealed how a message on the eve of his final round from his coach, Yorkshireman Pete Cowen, helped him to win his first major championship.

Woodland, who held off Brooks Koepka to win by three shots at Pebble Beach, said: “He sent me an unbelievable text this morning that had nothing to do with my golf swing or technique. He said, ‘Every man dies, but not every man lives, and you live for this moment.

“So that – I thought about that a lot today. He’s been amazing for me.”

Woodland’s win will have come as no surprise to Cowen or members of his Rotherham academy. Last December during the annual Q&A he delivers free to his members, Cowen told the assembled audience that Woodland had all the attributes to become one of the top 10 players in the world.

“Gary is like Brooks in that he is a big athlete who can hit the ball a mile. In fact, I think he could be the biggest hitter out there, but he only goes at 80 per cent. If he can harness all that power, which he is learning to, and improve his short game, which again is coming, then it will be one hell of a package,” said Cowen.

In his first 27 majors he did not have a single top 10, but since moving to Cowen with

his long game last December he has had three in his last five.

“He is 35, but there is so much more to come,” added Cowen.

Cowen knows what he is talking about when comparing Woodland to Koepka. He has been overseeing Koepka’s short game since he was on the European Tour in 2013 and has also become something of a motivational coach to the world No 1.

When Koepka was “feeling sorry for himself” at the start of 2017, Cowen also revealed at the Q&A that he had scolded him for his attitude and the transformation was immediate.

Woodland is a different character and would not be as receptive to what Cowen calls “an old-fashioned Yorkshire rollicking”, but he has still used tough love with the man from Topeka, Kansas, making him accountable for his own game.

Koepka added: “ I was with Pete the week before the [US] PGA and he told me, ‘Here’s the deal – you, Butch [Harmon, his former coach] have done great work, your golf swing is great, but you need to learn what you’re doing, you need to understand your golf swing’. It was almost like going back to school. We spent two days, teaching me why I do things, what to do when things get awry. It’s more difficult when Pete’s across the pond than getting on the plane and seeing

Wilkes is a dual winner HEADINGLEY’S Danny Wilkes had a good day at the 39th annual Dewsbury District Pro-Am, winning the individual title by two shots and leading his amateurs to a five-stroke win in the team event.

Wilkes, a regular on the 1836 Tour, fired a fourunder-par 67, which helped his amateur team of Phil Wilbraham, Alan Young and Dave Gibson – representing Edison & Wanless 1 – to a total of 122. The Dunkleys Return team led by home head professional Nigel Hirst placed second.

The winning amateurs, all members at Dewsbury, used their local knowledge to good effect.

Hirst retires at the end of this year after 44 years Butch. But Pete told me he doesn’t want me to text him all the time. So, I have to learn so I don’t have to make that phone call.”

Woodland believes his short game is the crucial difference.

Cowen has ripped up his chipping and bunker technique and Phil Kenyon, the Southport put-

at the club. The popular long-serving professional has been the driving force behind what has become the PGA in Yorkshire’s longest running pro-am.

Paul Bentley picked up the prizes for nearest the pin in two shots on the 15th and closest to the hole on the par-3 last .

Kevin McLeod hit the

straightest drive and Bingley St Ives professional Mike Hillas claimed £500 after winning the Moto Novo Finance professional shootout.

The winning team is pictured with secretary of the PGA in Yorkshire Aran Wainwright, Hirst and Dewsbury captain Iain Pearson.

ting guru, has gone to work with him on the greens.

“I’ve always been a pretty good ball striker, I’ve relied on my ball-striking my whole career – athletic ability,” Woodland, a former college basketball player, said. “But the short game and putting has kind of held me back.”

Arguably the shot of the week was his par-saving chip on the 17th. Woodland said: “Pete and I were working on trying to hit spinners off that early this week. That’s what I was thinking about when I was standing over it and it came out perfectly.”

He added: “I worked with

Mike Edwards aced the 12th hole at his home course of Bedale while competing in the Animals competition.

Playing from the white tees, Mike struck a lovely 5 wood shot that gave him his first hole-in-one on grass, his first coming on an oiled sand surface at a golf course in Cyprus.

Chris and Mike Lindop made a successful trip up to Robin Hood country to capture the Heathland Classic. The father and son team from West Wilts Golf Club scored 117 points in the betterball format over three rounds at Sherwood Forest, Lindrick and Notts Golf Club, They triumphed by one over Nick Ghizlansonia (Breadsall) and Steve Aitken (Chesterfield), who took second place on countback over Howley Hall’s Scott Hartley and Low Laithes’ Matt Wright.

Butch for a long time. Butch is the one that recommended me to go to Pete a year and a half ago for the short game.

“When Butch decided to retire it was an easy transition for me to go full swing, everything, with Pete. Like Butch, he knows what to say and when to say it.”

22

July 2019

A CUT ABOVE Herridge and Murray providing bespoke golf trips for growing clientele

Golf VIP is living up to its name in style GOLFERS with a thirst for adventure could soon be heading to Vietnam or rubbing shoulders with the best players in Europe with a recently-established, Yorkshire-based specialist golf travel company.

PGA professional Andy Herridge set up Golf VIP last year to organise bespoke golf trips, corporate events, society days and organise and run overseas pro-am competitions.

Herridge and fellow professional Gareth Murray, who is Golf VIP’s operations manager, have over 30 years’ combined experience in golf and the company was recently approved as a member of the Travel Trust Network, giving clients 100% security on golf trip bookings.

As the name suggests they aim to offer golfers something a cut above the norm when it comes to golf trips

Laguna Lang Co GC is a Nick Faldo-designed course that is firmly on Golf VIP’s radar overseas and already run the Pro-Am to Dubai in conjunction with the PGA in Yorkshire. It is already sold out for this year when the trip includes attending the final day of the DP World Championship, with clubhouse passes.

Golf VIP’s guests will then follow in the footsteps of some of the best players in the world by playing the Jumeirah Earth Course just two days after the tournament ends.

Last year Golf VIP clients helped Yorkshire’s Danny Willett celebrate his win and then broke new ground by becoming the first party to play the

new Dubai Hills course. They will return in 2019 and compete on the Montgomerie as part of the pro-am event.

Experiences like this are true to Golf VIP’s ethos and due to the added interest they are looking to expand the event in 2020.

With divine beaches, towering mountains and vibrant cities, Vietnam is fast becoming a must-visit destination and now boasts over 40 courses with many more under construction putting it very much on Golf VIP’s radar as a future destination for a pro-am.

Ba Na Hills GC is Luke Donald’s

first foray into golf course design and the links-style Nick Faldo-designed Laguna Lang Co GC are two courses targeted by Golf VIP, so watch this space.

Murray, who grew up playing golf at Barnsley Golf Club, had spells at Alwoodley, Bradford and Queensbury before spending five years working in golf in Perth.

He is also keen to look at taking advantage of the new direct flight from London and his contacts over there to make Western Australia another exciting destination for golfers.

Rabbits beware – eagle has landed at Knaresborough A STARTLING new sight awaits golfers approaching the second green at Knaresborough Golf Club in the form of a swooping eagle closing on a fleeing rabbit.

This king of the birds of prey is made from wood, as is the fleeing rabbit, carved from a condemned tree to the right of the second fairway and 100 yards from the green.

The dramatic tableau was created by Jonathan Sherwood, a Harrogate chainsaw sculptor responsible for many wildlife figures in the region.

Jonathon was commissioned by the club’s rabbits’ section to make eye-catching use of the decaying tree.

Rabbits’ captain Martin Harrison said: “Each year our section makes a donation of some kind to the club.

“I call it, ‘Rabbits Beware!’ – but everyone seems delighted with it and reaction from visitors has been favourable too.”

He said the rabbits section is exploring with the club the feasibility of commissioning a few more sculptures around the course in the next few years.

23

July 2019

THREE’S ALLOWED Champion defends his crown in Lincs and completes recent treble

Attoe keeps his attackers at bay to retain title

DEFENDING champion Ian Attoe pulled off an impressive wire-to-wire victory when he won the English Senior Men’s Open by eight shots at Holme Hall Golf Club, Lincolnshire.

He was nine-under par for the 54 holes and his win gave him his third championship title since 2015. The runner-up was Yorkshireman Richard Norton from Beverley & East Riding.

Rotherham’s Richard Jones, who was beaten in a play-off last year, and Stephen East from Wike Ridge in Leeds tied for fourth place on three over par.

Attoe, from Worplesdon in Surrey, commented: “The wins are all equally good, but this is the most satisfying at the moment because I kept going forward in the competition and I was really pleased with the quality of golf throughout the three days.”

He started with a six-under 65 at Holme Hall, added oneover 72 at the companion club Elsham, and finished off at Holme Hall with four-under 67.

When he set off in the last round he led by three from playing companions Norton and another Yorkshireman Ian Clarke (Lindrick), who eventually fell away with a last round of 78.

Almost immediately the lead was cut to one when Attoe parred the first hole while Clarke chipped in for an eagle two – and Norton birdied it.

“It was a bit of a wake-up call,” said Attoe. “I thought I had played the hole well, but I lost ground to both of them. But my putter worked very well and I holed long putts for birdie on the next three holes.”

He could not relax, though, because Norton was also notching up the birdies. However, Attoe had a two-shot cushion after the fifth when he got away with a bogey to his rival’s double.

The seventh set him firmly on the path to victory when he played a difficult shot from the back of a fairway bunker – and then sank the 60ft putt for

Worplesdon’s Ian Attoe with the English Senior Men’s Open trophy birdie. His other shot of the day was the six iron into the 16th that finished 10ft away and set up another birdie, his seventh of the day.

Robert Taylor, chairman of Elsham, said: “I am delighted to say that the championship and the arrangements the club put in hand all proved a massive success.

“The comments and feedback received were all without exception absolutely fantastic.”

Aldwark changes hands A FAMILY-RUN Leedsbased property investment company has acquired the four-star Aldwark Manor golf and spa hotel, near York, for an undisclosed sum.

Depho Estates purchased the hotel from London-based real estate investment company

Aprirose and will invest a multi-million pound sum post-acquisition to enhance further and upgrade Aldwark Manor’s rooms and facilities.

Aldwark Manor is set in 120 acres of countryside and can accommodate more than 100 residential guests.

Don’t let grass grow, book now BINGLEY-BASED STRI Group has announced that its annual research open days this year will take place on September 25 and 26.

The event offers an opportunity for golf club managers, owners, groundstaff and greenkeepers to learn about and discuss the development of the latest products and technology for the sportsturf industry.

Dr Christian Spring, research operations manager, said: “STRI Research Days are an excellent way to gain insight into the latest developments and thinking on tackling current and future turf management issues.

“They offer turf managers a unique opportunity to network with not only fellow turf managers, but to view and discuss the latest developments in turf maintenance with turfgrass scientists and industry professionals. This is reflected in feedback from previous events, where those attending have valued learning about what is new and upcoming in our industry and to have an opportunity to discuss these ideas.”

Places are filling up quickly so to book a place for 2019 please email enquiries@strigroup.com, call +44 (0) 1274 565131 or tweet @striturf, indicating on which day you would like to attend.

24

S

ANDWICHED between my two recent visits to Forest Park Golf Club, the Yorkshire PGA Players Tour had descended on the York course, Snainton Golf’s in-form Alex Belt showing the field a clean pair of heels with a -5 winning score.

Home professional Mark Winterburn was joint 2nd on -1, with only two other Yorkshire pros beating par. Whatever the plus-round golfers’ excuses, the conditions absolutely could not have been cited – because I can’t think of a course I’ve seen in more immaculate order in recent years.

Indeed, head pro Winterburn was still beaming with pride at the praise lavished on the club’s Old Foss course by his guests.

“Here we are, half-way between Leeds and Scarborough, just off the A64, and it’s amazing how many said they simply weren’t aware of us,” said Mark, who has been resident at Forest Park for 16 years, having trained as a PGA pro up the road at Malton and

July 2019

YG publisher DANNY LOCKWOOD discovers a thriving club, just minutes from the busy A64

York’s best kept secret

Norton, before working for four years in Austria.

“It’s nice to hear them being so complimentary about what we have here. I guess we just need to spread the word a bit further afield.”

However, there’s no secret whatsoever to exactly why the course, now in its 29th year of operation, is in such

immaculate trim.

Quite apart from the fact that owner David Crossley can often be seen bobbing about the parkland 27hole layout in his little white van, attending to this or that, he also struck gold when designing the original 18holes – he poached renowned greenkeeper Philip Stirk from nearby

Fulford. Stirk oversaw operations at Fulford during its Benson & Hedges glory days, when its greens were reputed to be amongst the best in Europe. He has clearly lost none of his touch.

I’m not sure what was happening with Yorkshire farming during the 1990s and early 2000s, but a lot of farmers for some reason turned their acreage into golf courses and clubs, with the Vale of York in particular benefitting. Few however would have taken on the task that keen York Golf Club member David Crossley did – to design the lot himself.

What is now the stand-alone 9-hole West Course was part of the original 18 David mapped out, opening in 1991. Three years later he revisited his plans, creating an entirely new 18-hole Old Foss course, his clever architecture getting the very best out of the Old Foss beck, which plays a significant part in many holes.

The abundance of courses in and around York notwithstanding, and despite Forest Park residing in a small village – Stockton on the Forest – the club has a burgeoning membership of around 600, a third of them taking advantage of the very affordable rates for the 9-hole West Course – £375 a year.

They have 7-day playing rights, a couple of competitions a month, and can roll up early or late and be round in an hour and a half. In these timepressured days, it’s clearly an option that has appeal.

In addition, the club has a covered The 11th is stroke index 1 and 456 yards long, with a feature bunker, dogleg and the Old Foss Beck to contend with before a typically large green

driving range and outside practice area, Mark Winterburn’s teaching studio and a pristine putting green in front of the imposing clubhouse that overlooks both 1st tees and both closing holes.

Typical of local clubs Forest Park is, as its name suggests, an easy-walking parkland track, but the maintenance and diversity of its ‘forest’ sets it apart from many other higher profile clubs.

I couldn’t believe the range of trees, bushes and shrubs, and I even paused at the stroke index 1, 11th (456 yard par 4 – off yellows!) to photograph the manicured backdrop.

Despite the club’s relative youth, both courses have a very mature feel and because the tree-lined holes are so well thought out, there’s no need to punish golfers with thick rough.

Get out of position and you’re paying enough of a price without having to scavenge for your ball – but beware the Old Foss, because you have to thread quite narrow gaps between the its foliage-lined banks a few times.

The greens are not just immaculate – many of them are huge, so finding the putting surface is no guarantee of getting down in regulation.

Forest Park welcomes non-golfers, whether to sample its bar and kitchen fares – it is open from 8.30am daily with free wifi in the clubhouse – and its separate dining room can accommodate 80 people for private functions.

Mark Winterburn says the club now has a growing junior membership (under 12s free) and a very healthy ladies section.

“We’re doing very well, but I suppose it would be nice for more people to know what a great club we have,” he said.

“Our facilities are perfect for visiting societies and we like to think we offer a really warm welcome.”

July 2019

25

Pretty as a picture – the par 3 7th hole

The Old Foss Beck, which features throughout your round FOREST PARK: OLD FOSS Yellow tees 1– 423yds, par 4 A long, 45-degree dogleg left to right. There’s plenty of room to bale out left and make it a three-shotter, or you can take the corner on at about 200 yards. Shallow traps protect front left and right of a flat, circular green.

2– 398yds, par 4 There’s trouble both sides on index 2, with OB all the way down the right, and a parade of fairway and greenside bunkers down the left.

3– 338yds, par 4 Straight on, a shorter par 4, with two right-sided fairway bunkers at around 200 yards, but then all you can

see is sand, with a forbidding lateral trap about 40 yards short to deter the really big hitters, flanked by others left and right.

4– 170yds, par 3 Depending where the pin is on this medium-length par 3, your tee shot could have a three club difference, the green is so long. It’s quite narrow too, making the front left and mid right bunkers more of a threat.

5– 399yds, par 4 A tight driving hole, narrowing towards an absolutely huge green which has a ditch 30 yards short. No sand traps but run offs to the left, right and rear.

6– 394yds, par 4

FOREST PARK GOLF CLUB The Village, Stockton on the Forest, Yorks YO32 9UF Tel: 01904 400425 www.forestparkgolfclub.co.uk

You need to favour the left side and knock it pretty long in order to get a view of a green tucked away on the right thanks to a dogleg at 300 yards.

Your approach is over a ditch to a slightly sloping green with front left and right bunkers.

7– 130yds, par 3 A very pretty par 3 tucked away in the corner of the course, from a slightly elevated tee and over a pond which shouldn’t come into play on this typically large green, unless the pin is mischievously placed at the front. No sand but run offs from front left all around to back right.

8– 480yds, par 5 Out of bounds if you’re wild right (and fairway traps plus the ubiquitous trees down the left) but you do want to favour that right side as the green is slightly tucked away to the left.

9– 420yds, par 4 A longer par 4, straight on with fairway traps to both sides

awaiting both longer and shorter drivers. The green has a mounded bunker front right, and run offs beyond that.

10– 551yds, par 5 The tee you’re playing off will determine whether the Old Foss beck comes into play on your drive (for big hitters) or second shot (normal humans) as you play through a tightish gap through the foliage then onto a massive green, mounded with a front left bunker.

11– 456yds, par 4 That’s right, 456 yards par 4.

Stroke index 1, not surprisingly. Throw a dogleg right and a stream into the bargain and you have a real test of golf. There’s a novel left-sided fairway bunker with a grass island creating a doughnut effect. The green is enclosed by an array of sculpted trees and bushes, if you’re in any position to take in the scenery. A cracking hole.

12– 352yds, par 4 Straight on, the main challenge being threading the trees that crowd in on your drive. There’s a 45-degree fairway bunker well short of a narrowfronted lightbulb-shaped green. A good-looking hole from the tee.

13– 313yds, par 4 A short par 4, with fairway bunkers

only 15 or 20 yards apart, so either be straight or long. A lateral trap protects the green from the bombers, plus sculpted front left and right bunkers.

ond or third. After that the fairway swings round to the right as you approach your last huge green, sitting proudly in front of the clubhouse patio.

14– 119yds, par 3 Only short, but the green lies at an angled 45-degrees and has ample sand protecting it. Big greens? You could play 5-a-side soccer on this.

WEST COURSE Summary – Yellow Tees 6168 yards, par 70, Part of the original layout, the West Course features some beguiling holes.

The two par 3s apart, every hole has a degree of curve or dogleg to it, requiring either a shaped draw/fade, or accurate length off the tee, to afford the best approach. The mature trees also mean you’ll often be challenged to find the correct side of the fairway.

The greens are ‘typical’ Forest Park – huge, with some 40 yards long – and immaculately kept, and the thoughtful fairway and greenside bunkering keeps you on your toes throughout.

The Old Foss Beck comes into play on the 1st and 9th (10th, 18th), the pars 3s feature a long one (the 2nd, 216 yards off yellow) and a real challenge (the 6th), only 152 yards but with a huge oak tree to navigate around/over.

The shorter par 4s are particularly well bunkered, and there’s a testing 430-yard par 4 (the 8th) before the wide and handsome par 5 back to the clubhouse.

15– 346yds, par 4 A medium length par 4, but favour the right side because the main protection are mature trees, the left-sided one being the more severe obstacle for your approach.

16– 172yds, par 4 Just don’t hook it left into the beck, much better to leak right and pay the Captain’s 50p charity fine on a hole with a more undulating green.

17– 314yds, par 4 A shorter hole, but again with strategic traps to keep you honest from the tee, and a kidney shaped green, angled to the fairway and more undulating than some.

18– 566yds, par 5 Not much trouble (unless you’re blocked out by trees – an ever-present threat) and depending how well away you are will determine whether you’re going over the Old Foss with your sec-

Tree-lined avenues – the West Course at Forest Park

26

July 2019

LOOKING NORTH This course’s holes will linger in the memory as is to be expected from a Colt/Braid layout

Head for heathland classic to savour its delights N

ORTHUMBERLAND Golf Club is not one of those forgettable courses where you struggle to distinguish one hole from another.

Nor is it an unrelenting slog – tactical golf is required, typical of the designers, H.S. Colt and James Braid and worthy of its position as a Regional Open Qualifying course from 2013.

Firm and fast greens and well-placed bunkers are the hallmarks of this heathland classic.

try for the green, over the trees, but the conservative way is to hit an iron to the bottom of the hill leaving about a hundred yards to the green, guarded by a steep bunker to the right and the racecourse to the left.

1st – 306 yds, par 4 A fine opening risk and reward hole that plays both inside and outside Newcastle racecourse. The long hitter can

3rd – 484yds, par 5 The longer hitter needs to avoid the far cross bunkers while the big bunker on the left catches out the rest.

Northumberland GC – Yellow tees

2nd – 433yds, par 4 Places a premium on a long straight drive and an accurate second shot to a well-guarded green with a narrow entrance.

The long hitter can reach the bunker in the middle of the fairway and the one on the right is in range for most.

B a

A view of the clubhouse at Northumberland Golf Club, home to a course with firm and fast greens and well-placed bunkers Do not go long when playing to the green.

4th – 449yds, par 4 Two bunkers come into play for most although the left-hand one can be cleared by the longer hitter unless the wind is against.

Decision time for the second shot; lay up to the far middle bunker or go over it to a big dip in front of the green.

Avoid missing the green to the left.

5th – 174yds, par 3 A straightforward par 3 that can play quite long into a westerly.

Aim for the middle of the green to take bunkers out of play, and avoid being long.

6th – 392yds, par 4 Drive too far to the right and you must go over a stand of tall trees – too far to the left and the ball kicks left on the sloping fairway into the rough leaving a long second.

Once in the middle of the fairway it is a relatively simple second to a wellbunkered green.

9th – 504yds, par 5 Time to open the shoulders.

A fairway bunker on the right short of the green needs to be avoided with your second if you want your birdie.

Bear in mind it is a huge green.

10th – 148yds, par 3 Another par 3 with a wellbunkered green. If you miss the green and the bunkers to the right or the left you are left with a tricky chip.

ly sloping green, but don’t go through as it’s thick.

bunker and bank to the left and a copse of trees to the right.

12th – 365yds, par 4 Bunkers to the right and left can catch your drive unless there is a strong wind behind, and the green is protected by seven bunkers and the road and racecourse behind.

Take enough club to get over the middle greenside bunker.

14th – 139yds, par 3 The tee shot requires courage, particularly in a west wind, as out of bounds runs up the right-hand side only a few yards from the green.

Bunkers and heather can catch the shot that isn’t quite out the middle of the club. It is further than you think – check the wind.

13th – 449yds, par 5 A challenging tee shot to a

Northumberland’s second green, above, and its 10th, below

16th – 424yds, par 4 A straight drive is required as the bunker on the left is in range for the longer hitter and the racecourse guards the right.

A tricky second to a wellbunkered green with a narrow entrance.

17th – 355yds, par 4 If the wind is behind, an iron off the tee is safest to avoid the bunker on the left and the trees on the right.

A straightforward second to the green, but don’t go long.

7th – 161yds, par 3 A straightforward par three to a well-bunkered green that slopes steeply from right to left.

Don’t miss to the right.

Better to be long than short.

8th – 307yds, par 4 A row of bunkers up the right catches the fading shot while the longer hitter must avoid the far bunker on the left.

A fairly simple second but don’t miss left as you could end up on the racecourse ten feet below the green.

15th – 478yds, par 5 This hole requires an accurate drive down the right missing the bunkers on the left and then a lay-up between, or short of, the two fairway bunkers if you cannot reach the green.

11th – 374yds, par 4 Either lay up short of the bunker on the left or try to drive through the narrow gap leaving just a wedge to a fierce-

narrow fairway Get into the rough and the green can be out of range.

Presents a difficult second to a green guarded by an unseen

18th – 380yds, par 4 The drive needs to be long, aimed at the left side of the clubhouse to a generous fairway.

The second is all uphill to a very large green and usually requires at least one or two more clubs than you might think.

A magnificent finishing hole that will imprint itself on your memory.