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Yorkshire Golfer publisher DANNY LOCKWOOD recounts his visit to one of Yorkshire’s oldest clubs

FOR A club that prides itself on a long and distinguished history, and its status as a traditional golf establishment, there is a hint of change in the air at Brough Golf Club.

The club doesn’t go back quite as far as Brough itself, located on the north bank of the Humber estuary, 12 miles west of Hull. In Roman times it was the base of Celtic tribe the Parisi, although it wasn’t given the name ‘Brough’ and made a town by the Brough is an Archbishop of York until 1239. easy-walking

And it was some centuries later par 68 park– in 1891 – that founder member land course Mr Maxwell Jackson reported how and is one Leonard West “returned from bisected by a Scotland with a cleek and a golf stream that ball”. features on

Having convinced a Dr R.A. many holes Mossman to try hitting the ball from Mrs West’s garden onto what is now the second fairway, the future club’s fates were decided when the good doctor succeeded. Following a meeting of fellow enthusiasts at the Ferry Inn, the original 9-hole layout was created the same year, making Brough one Brough is moving of Yorkshire’s early adopters of the sport – Beverley and East Riding, up the A164, began two years earlier – although it would be 1893 before the Royal & Ancient formally recognised the new club. Like many clubs, the passing decades brought land and building swiftly with times acquisitions, although Brough has remained very much true to its original footprint while expanding to 18 Gordon was an active playing pro Brough’s members with his enthusiasbased membership system. at Brough couldn’t have a course in holes in 1905, buying its huge, imposincluding regular appearances on the tic development of young talent. How successful? “In the space of a better hands than Irishman Rob Clare, ing, clubhouse in 1925, and further European Senior Tour, but his replaceSNAG – Starting New At Golf – is a year it’s attracted 85 new golfers to the who joined the club from Skipton 10 growing and improving in both 1933 ment, Oliver Cross, very much has his programme being rolled out in schools club,” said Richard. “It’s a whole new years ago. and 1955. eyes on the future of the club’s memacross the region, while Junior dynamic for traditional clubs, because Last May Rob became only the

Very much the end of an era came bership. Academy sessions take place in sumthese new members have an average 77th British and International Golf at the club towards the end of 2018 Oliver qualified as a professional in mer holidays. Oliver is a member of age of 47, as opposed to about 60.” Greenkeepers’ Association member to when veteran professional Gordon 2013, got his AA status in 2016 and is the Snainton Golf group. Brough is an easy-walking course, be honoured with the accolade of Townhill called time on his 40-year currently studying towards his Level 3 Another relatively new face at with a par of 68 owing to just one parMaster Greenkeeper. Despite one of tenure as Brough’s resident PGA pro. status while balancing his services to Brough GC is General Manager 5 hole, the 10th, but it has hosted the wettest winters in most golf clubs’ Richard Jagger, who joined the club 18 many championship and representative recent memories, Rob is confident of months ago from the Malton & Norton matches and the two-day Brough having Brough at its attractive best club in North Yorkshire. One of the Classic Pro Am has been a major date well before the Classic rolls around on initiatives Richard has overseen is the in the PGA calendar since 1978. The June 1 and 2. club’s membership of PMG, the Forte PGA Seniors Championship was The club has a range of offers for PlayMore Golf organisation, which hosted in 1990, while The Players guests and visiting societies, which are gives time-pressured golfers the Tour came to Brough in 1999 and the welcome on Mondays, Tuesday, chance to join one of more than 170 British Girls’ Championship in 2001. Thursday, Fridays and Sundays, with clubs across the country on a pointsDespite being housed on light, hospitality provided by stewards and The layout of Brough Golf Club, its imposing clubhouse and one well-drained land, the club has made a six-figure investment in a state-of-thecaterers Westley and Judith Botha. With easy access from the nearby of the greens under the care of art irrigation system and a five-year A63 just after it meets the M62, Master Greenkeeper Rob Clare course development plan in recent Brough makes for an ideal golf destiyears. In that respect, anyone golfing nation.

Brough Golf Club – Yellow Tees

1 – 354yds, par 4

An inviting opening drive, which narrows towards a dip and slight dogleg left into a back-to-front sloping green with front left and right bunkers. Just try not to get blocked out by the trees.

2 – 255yds, par 4

A driveable short par 4, but watch for the diagonal stream that runs from short right to front left. The more you bite off, the higher the danger. The large, flattish green has a front right trap and falls away slightly to the left.

3 – 193 yards, par 3

Longest of the five par 3s and tricky if into the breeze. There’s a bunker short right, then front left and right, plus mounding. Par’s a good score.

4 – 414yds, par 4

All straight on as you see it, but there’s a mounded fairway bunker up the left that’s all of 35 yards long. The fairway narrows towards the green and don’t spray your approach right towards the stream. The big, kidney-shaped green has sand all down its left.

5 – 372yds, par 4

Not straightforward on the eye. Slightly uphill from the tee to a ridge and bunker before the fairway drops away. You’re coming in uphill again, but to a very tricky green with all kinds of undulations and run-offs.

6 – 139yds, par 3

Only a duffed tee shot will bring the pond into play on this short par 3, a long, quite narrow green with plenty of protection from traps and mounding.

7 – 450yds, par 4

Index 1, driving over the 6th green. Favour the left, otherwise your long second could be blocked out by trees encroaching from the right. There’s a fairway bunker 50 yards short, plus traps protecting a very large green.

8 – 430yds, par 4

Straight on, tree-lined, with a fairway trap on the right, before coming into another large, sloping green, protected by a bunker front left, with mounding on the right.

9 – 178yds, par 3

A very nice looking hole, with a small green sitting down in a hollow. The mounds on three sides should throw any ball slightly off line onto the putting surface – if the greenkeeping staff keep the grass short enough, that is.

10 – 526yds, par 5

The only par 5, with an early dogleg left defined by the stream. Big hitters could bite too much off and flirt with OB left, so right side is safe, even if meaning it’s a full three-shotter. There’s a fairway bunker threatening your second, then a well protected green that’s at 45 degrees to your approach, sloping slightly back to front.

11 – 383yds, par 4

Pay attention, because this hole is very distinctive, a steep uphill, 90-degree dogleg left. Avoid the big trees on the elbow at all costs. Uphill all the way, over an access road, to a well-bunkered green that will throw anything short back towards you. 12 – 367yds, par 4

A sweeping, downhill right-to-lefter –favour the right side – before a downhill approach over the stream to a green sloping slightly back right to front left, and bunkered on the right, with three more from front to back left.

13 – 162yds, par 3

Slightly downhill, with a bunker 20 yards short, plus others left and right of a gently undulating green.

14 – 287yds, par 4

Index 18, over a pond and the stream to a large-ish landing area. Your short approach is to a tricky, ‘upturned’ green that slopes off on three sides. Don’t take par for granted.

15 – 371yds, par 4

A blind, uphill tee shot, favouring the left side or you’ll be blocked out by the trees as there’s a slight dogleg right. It’s a narrow green entrance too, thanks to steepfaced front traps.

16 – 460yds, par 4

You’d happily walk away from this with a 5 on most days. Trouble if you spray wide either side. The second half falls away to the left, and there’s sand all up the left side of a green that slopes slightly away to the right.

17 - 173yds, par 3

You can barely focus on the target because the stream that weaves from tee to green, which will influence many cards –especially as the green slopes away from you and anything missing it will bring the stream into play on your second.

18 – 373yds, par 4

A closing dogleg left with a tight driving area, a bunker on the corner and trees both sides being the threat. Your approach to a back-to-front sloping green needs to be short rather than long.