Yorkshire Golfer – April by Yorkshire Golfer

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JUST CHAMPION WORDS OF WARNING Clubs told to act on ‘green’ agenda

Dylan adds Scottish Open to county and national titles

April 2022

2 ADVERTISING: Sandra Kirton 07771 885757 sandra@yorkshire-golfer.com PUBLISHER: Danny Lockwood EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: news@yorkshire-golfer.com Tel: 01904 236100

IN THIS ISSUE ... or online at www.yorkshiregolfer.net ALBATROSS JOSH The Doncaster star hasn’t add an ace yet, but this ‘bird’ will suffice! p4

pros’ bad behaviour p6 PINTS FOR PINDER Friends rally round to honour prostate cancer campaigner with Darrington event p7

GOING PLACES Hard work the secret for teenager Abigail Taylor p5 SWINGING WILD YG’s Danny Lockwood urges golf to get a grip on tour

JUST THE JOB New YUGC President Terry Collins is looking ahead to a busy year p8 IN FOCUS A coming of age for everyone at the

vibrant Malton & Norton GC p12/13 DOUBLE HONOUR Elland club recognised as HHDGU marks 75th anniversary p16 PUTT FOR DOUGH? Try putting with dough, says our Swing Maestro Tony Howarth p20 PUTTING ON THE STYLE Woodsome Hall members started their centenary year with a big day p22 @yorkshiregolfer

Dylan digs deep to conquer Scots P

restigious titles just keep coming for Huddersfield’s golfing boywonder Dylan ShawRadford. After winning the 2021 Yorkshire Boys title and going on to become England County Champion of Champions, Dylan headed north last week and returned with the Scottish Boys’ Open Championship. And it was hard earned as the competitors had to battle gruelling weather conditions, with Thursday’s play wiped out entirely at Murcar Links, just north of Aberdeen. The tournament was reduced to 54-holes, with a 36-hole final day. Dylan’s opening level par round left him 5-shots behind early leader, home favourite Connor Graham, with fellow Tyke Ben Brown from Romanby in decent shape on -1. In a bunch on +2 were Ganton pair Tommy Risker and Jack Northgraves, plus Garforth’s Jake Wallis. But it was the final morning’s -2 round of 69 which proved crucial as Dylan leapfrogged into a 3-stroke lead over English pair Seb Cave and Luke Perkins on +1, with Wallis in a group on +3.

Nobody broke par in the afternoon and Dylan battled to a closing 77 to take the title by a shot from Wales’ Joe Jones and by two from another young Englishman, Thorndon Park’s Charlie Croker. Jones looked to be heading for a play-off until bogeying the penultimate hole. Dylan’s impressive six birdies and just four dropped shots on the final morning was a mighty effort in the cold and windy conditions. The Fixby member had only one birdie in the afternoon, at the 16th, but digging deep to play the final seven holes in -1 got him home. He said afterwards: “I feel great – it was hard, especially with the wind and I made an early double-bogey so I wasn’t sure if I was in front or behind, but I managed to keep it together. “I just tried to keep it in play, low tee shots, keep it on the fairway. It means a lot to start the season off well. I put a lot of work in this winter, so it’s great to see it pay off.” Tommy Risker finished best of the other Tykes in 18th spot as the tough conditions took their toll on the field.

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April 2022

SUSTAINABLE GOLF Clubs need new priorities in order to move with the times

Act now – and tell the world Yorkshire Golfer Publisher DANNY LOCKWOOD reports from the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs annual meeting at Pannal…

SHAKE ON IT: Treasurer of the YUGC Neil Douglas and R&A Senior Agronomist Alistair Beggs

years ago, Mr Beggs said the R&A is keen to use the knowledge it gains at elite clubs’ levels to share at grassroot club levels. The R&A’s GC2030 Research Project will see £200 million invested over the next 10 years – and he also stressed how clubs engaging in sustainability projects will find more and more funding initiatives to tap into. Just how much the issue is getting a raised profile was highlighted by GEO’s Jonathan Smith in revealing that Sky Sports had asked GEO to provide weekly environmental notes for them to use on air. He said golf needs to be “the sport that did the right thing first”. The GEO Foundation is an international non-profit that works with organisations worldwide in fostering nature, conserving resources, taking climate action and strengthening communities. Mr Smith stressed the point that young people – golf’s target market – care deeply about environmental issues. He said too many clubs are strong on theory and intent, but not enough on acting. In respect of helping well-meaning clubs tap into ideas and join the sustainability movement, Mr Smith left possibly the day’s best news for almost last. He pointed the packed room of delegates at Pannal to the getoncourse.golf website. It is a hub that has more than 1,500 examples of projects clubs and courses have brought to life. A simple signing-up process allows clubs to share their own ‘good news’ stories with the wider golf community, while also learning from other clubs far and wide.

olf courses: Should many of them be turned into muchneeded new housing estates, or returned to nature by re-wilding? Discuss. That wasn’t a cast-iron prediction by the YUGC’s guest experts at Pannal GC but they stressed that those are possibilities lurking on some people’s agendas. The clear message from both the R&A’s Senior Agronomist Alistair Beggs, plus GEO Foundation’s Jonathan Smith, was that Yorkshire’s golf clubs need to put sustainability and conservation at the very top of their agendas. ‘Sustainability in and around golf clubs and courses’ was the men’s shared theme, stressing that clubs urgently need plans to become more environmentally efficient. Just as importantly though, they need to tell the world – and especially non-golfing communities – about the good work they’re doing. The message was plain – while it’s good for golf clubs to be doing the right thing, it’s not much good if no one outside the committee room and the greenkeepers’ sheds knows about it. Mr Beggs is top of the R&A tree on agronomy, but as Captain at Royal Liverpool when Rory McIlroy won The Open there in 2014, his golf credentials are also impeccable. He outlined a number of challenges clubs face, from resources like water and sand becoming more scarce and expensive, to legislative changes like the banning of chemicals making it far more difficult to keep courses at the high standards golfers expect. He said changing climatic conditions were giving the sport new chal-

A ground-breaking partnership was agreed between the R&A and the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs at the Union’s annual meeting. Senior Agronomist Alistair Beggs and YUGC Treasurer Neil Douglas signed a contract formalising a project which will see the R&A accompanying the Union on site visits to selected clubs and venues, with eight ‘connect and share’ lunch sessions with club greenkeepers around the region. The project will culminate in an Autumn Workshop in York when greenkeepers and interested club parties will be invited to attend. Dates and venues will be announced shortly. said the Environment Agency is prelenges and that 2018 saw previously hardy grasses dying for the first time. dicting that within 25 years England won’t have With 66% of enough water golf course www.getoncourse.golf to supply water coming – an excellent resource for clubs demand. from potable wanting to get sustainable “We need to supplies, he said become selfthings “have to sufficient, because the public won’t change” – yet many clubs didn’t tolerate it,” he added. even know where their drainage sysWhile sustainability wouldn’t tems ran, making harvesting water have been on anyone’s agenda 10 for irrigation a problem. Mr Beggs

Heath’s wait for cup call Huddersfield’s Charlotte Heath will discover on April 26th if she’s made the GB&I Curtis Cup team for the June 10-12 clash at Merion Golf Club. Heath, who is at Florida State University, was part of the team that lost 12-8 last summer at Conwy in Wales, after the scheduled 2020 match was postponed. She was named in the original squad of 12 players in March. The top two British and Irish-ranked players in the World Amateur Golf Rankings on April 21st will get automatic places with the other six players named later. Currently Scotland’s Hannah Darling and England’s Caley McGinty are in 11th and 14th places, with Annabel Fuller (33), Heath (47) and Louise Duncan (48) are the others in the top 50. The host Americans have 11 players in the world top-50 including no.1 ranked Rose Zhang.

Bairstow leads England effort Sam Bairstow was the leading British golfer in the European Nations Championship played in Sotogrande, Spain between March 30 and April 2. The Hallowes man finished on +6 and 5th place, with only Spanish pair Jaime Montojo Fernandez and Luis Masaveu managing to match par. Bairstow’s English teammates were Olly Huggins, tied in 10th on +14, John Gough (T26, +19) and Jack Bigham, (T47, +26). Although Spain shot a combined +13, they were a massive 21 shots better than runners-up Germany, with England tied in 3rd place with Denmark on +35. Wales were 9th, Ireland 10th and Scotland 13th out of a field of 18 countries.

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April 2022

2020protour Season gets underway at Headingley

Albatross Josh! A stunning albatross at Headingley Golf Club’s par-5 14th hole saw Doncaster amateur Josh Berry finish amongst the top pros as the 2020protour kicked off its third tournament season. In conditions he described as “brutal” Berry’s first career albatross saw him in a tie for 5th place on +3. He smashed a drive on the 505-yard hole leaving himself 160 yards and a straightforward 9-iron. His playing partners Liam Mitchell and Stephen McNally had the best view of the one-bounce hole-out as it pitched just 6ft from the pin. The 16-year-old said he hasn’t had his first hole-in-one yet, so was more than pleased with an albatross! The winner and only golfer to match par was Formby’s Paul Kinnear, a shot clear of Moortown’s Nick McCarthy and Liam O’Neill. Ashton Turner of Kenwick Park was alone in 4th on +2, while Berry was in a group of seven golfers tied for 5th. Amateurs George Ash of Hallowes and Fixby’s Adam Walker were in a group tied for 12th on +4. The #tourexperience stableford tournament for golfers with a handicap of 6 or better was won by Nicholas Helm of Bracken Ghyll with 29pts. After opening 2022 with a series of four Pro-Ams, the 2020protour was staging its first Major at Moortown on Monday April 11, following up with another at Rockliffe Hall on April 25.

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April 2022

Team Taylor making all the right moves By Danny Lockwood

f the road to success in any sport is a long one, it helps to have made an early start. And current Yorkshire Girls Champion Abigail Taylor certainly did that. Having joined dad Nick as a member at Headingley Golf Club aged just five – and where grandfather David was club captain the year she was born – the plus-2 handicapper has been rubbing shoulders with the professionals lately. Not bad for a young lady who only turned 16 in February. Winning the Yorkshire title last year at Garforth earned Abigail an invitation to the prestigious Justin Rose/Daily Telegraph Junior Championships at Walton Heath, where she finished a more than respectable 6th. The tournament attracts as many as 16,000 entrants before being whittled down to 12, with Major winner and Olympic champion Rose on hand to greet the young golfers. She made enough of an impression that Monday April 4th saw Abigail battling cold weather and howling winds around the links of West Lancashire GC, alongside

women professionals in the first of the 2022 Rose Ladies Series. Lauren Horsford banked the £10,000 1st prize. Abigail said she found the course long and conditions tough, but added: “I really enjoyed it. I didn’t feel my score reflected how I played, it was just a struggle in the conditions. It’s early in the season and I haven’t played many links courses.” It wasn’t her first time amongst professionals either, as she made appearances in

From windy West Lancs to a sunshine US state, Headingley’s Abigail has her own plans... the 2020protour last year and would have competed in the season opener at her home club Headingley but for the Rose Ladies Series invite. Dad Nick was full of praise for the 2020protour crew. “It was great for Abigail, playing in tournaments alongside the likes of Nick McCarthy and John Parry. Those guys were so welcoming.” The cold and the gales of West Lancs don’t figure highly on Ms Taylor’s well laid-out

plans however. She’s in her GCSE year at Prince Henry’s School in Otley and wants to do A levels in Psychology, Law and PE before heading for the sunnier climes of the USA. She has already signed up with the PeakUSA Golf Scholarship company. And her preferred destination? “Florida State” – current home to Charlotte Heath and Dan Bradbury – “or Arizona” said Abigail, who has known PeakUSA founder Gemma Webster since her earliest involvements with representative girls squads. For now, it’s feet firmly on the ground, working with her long-time coach Mark Pinkett at Cookridge Hall and making sure the school work doesn’t get neglected. Dad Nick, who plays off a 2-handicap – “…and yes, she does beat me …” praised his daughter’s work ethic first and foremost. “It’s very tough, finding the balance, and yes, I give her a bit of grief. It’s hard work but I have to admit she’s very self-motivated. She does her revision through the school holidays and until 1011pm if needed. Her school grades are excellent. “But she’s like that on the

Abigail Taylor and coach Mark Pinkett

course. A couple of times last year, like in the Yorkshire Ladies at Ilkley, she had poor starts but the biggest change

was her ability to bounce back. In one round she was four or five over in the first six holes, but birdied eight of the

last nine.” For now dad and daughter agree the focus has to be reducing her scoring average year on year. “If we look after that the handicap will look after itself,” said Nick. Abigail’s coach Mark Pinkett paid tribute to his student. “Youngsters have to enjoy the game first and foremost, then be passionate for all the hard work involved, and Abigail is. We have a long way to go, but she’s a great student, a great friend and a pleasure to teach.” Pinkett admits to being somewhat jealous of the US’s virtual monopoly on college talent, but remains pragmatic. “Abigail’s education has to come first,” he said. “Then she just has to make the right choice. I’d like her to be where the best players are, so it’s about finding the right college. But once she sets her mind on something she’s pretty good.” And for now? “I focussed a lot on making cuts last year, but I have to aim for more top5 finishes,” said Abigail – on her way to see coach Pinkett. You wouldn’t bet against there being a few of those.

April 2022

Gosh darn it, where’s the game heading?

SWINGING WILD...

remember watching Jordan Spieth back when he was being touted as Tiger’s heir apparent, much as Scottie Scheffler is today. Spieth hit a woeful and unexpected shot by his standards. His displeasure was apparent for spectators and microphones to see/hear. “Gosh, darn!” exclaimed the young man. I smiled, thinking ‘I’ll bet those weren’t the first two words that came to mind’, although being a Texan graduate of Jesuit College Preparatory School, maybe I do him a disservice. If you saw much of Tiger’s remarkable return at The Masters, you may have heard his ‘colourful’ two-word epithet after a badly hit shot. But rather than tv station switchboards being bombarded by the mortally offended, apparently social media was alive with goodhumoured support. I’m certain any and every golfer has experienced the same angst and a swear word or three has probably passed most lips. What I’d like to ask though, is where we draw the line? Rory McIlroy petulantly snapped a wedge at Bay Hill a few weeks back. He has form, too. I saw someone’s putter go sailing into the water the same week and at the Dell World Matchplay My golf was ‘impressed’ when Jason Kokrak lashed a partner for ball into a lake with a tennis-style forehand volthe day, ley. Impressed by the accuracy, not the act. Miguel Angel That same day Thomas Pieters tried someJimenez thing similar in frustration, but he couldn’t even manage to kick his ball into the water. He threw publicity/attention, but at what cost? his putter at the green instead. Interestingly I always thought golf a wonderful social Pieters won that match. He was never behind. education as well as a sporting one for young We’ve probably all witnessed something people. So surely the top professionals should similar, although such public displays simply set an example? Be disappointed, frustrated, would not be tolerated at most respectable remonstrate with yourself if you must. That’s clubs. Nor should they be. part of the passion of competitive sport. It’s clear from the USPGA’s multi-million But throwing things in the water? social media fund that they’re desperate for

Danny Lockwood

Destroying valauble equipment? What sort of example is that? Novak Djokovic was disqualified from the US Open when he hit a tennis ball and it struck a line judge. I’m sure he learned his lesson – and a golf ball is a tad more dangerous. As such I think it’s time golf got a grip. A Titleist ProV1 is nothing to a tour pro, but he might think twice about petulantly littering a wildlife habitat if he got hit with a 2-stroke penalty or a $10,000 fine. Rory might be happy playing a different wedge from a bunker, but might think twice if he faced disqualification. We teach our children to respect the course, the game and other players. Some sports – football for instance – can tacitly reward dishonesty and even foul play. But this is golf. We have to be better than that. And it’s implicit upon the top players to set that bar high.

n a not too dissimilar theme, if I challenged you to name a golfer who always looks like he plays for the fun of it, I reckon more than a few would venture ‘Miguel Angel Jimenez’. The sublime Spaniard ended February by winning the Cologuard Classic at Tucson for his second Champions Tour win in three 2022 starts. After an uncharacteristic mistake coming down the stretch, the spectre of the ubiquitous Bernhard Langer briefly loomed. Cue that trademark flat Jimenez swing, high draw, and

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his second hole-in-one of the tournament. I love Miguel Angel’s celebrations as he enjoys his middling years. Shoulders square, at attention, the putter (or 7-iron in this case), sheathed in the imaginary style of a matador’s sword. These days he also accompanies it with a bit of a shimmying backwards dance across the green (I trust he’s wearing soft spikes!) I was delighted to play 9-holes with him at Hacienda del Alamo some years back. He pulled up in his Ferrari and rubbed his goatee as he mused over which pair of hand-made Italian leather golf shoes to wear. Later he gave us a bunker lesson, executing fabulous flop shots with a four iron. That evening after dinner he held court, dressed immaculately, the long curls loose and perfectly waxed, a large rioja in one hand, a Cuban cigar in the other. He was everything you would both hope and imagine. Marvelous company. There’s no Major on his record of nearly 50 wins on various tours, a US Open 2nd, Open Championship 3rd and Masters 4th being the closest he’s come. Do you think that gives him sleepless nights? I doubt he gives it a second thought. Miguel Angel Jimenez is too busy enjoying everything life and the golf gods throw at him, with little more than a phlegmatic shrug to greet adversity. That’s the kind of example I would like to see being set for young people.

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April 2022

PINTS FOR PINDER Darrington to stage charity day in name of golfer who was ‘everybody’s friend’

Lloyd’s prostate cancer legacy lives on employers Club Insure donating £5,000 to get the ball rolling. What’s more the Stoneacre motor group, owners of Darrington Golf Club, are putting up a new car as a hole-in-one prize. There’s a dedicated website for anyone interested in helping out, whether by entering themselves, a team, sponsoring a hole, or contributing in some other way. Go to www.pintsforpinder.com to learn more about Lloyd’s story and read tributes from his friend Jeff Stelling. Just don’t be surprised by the ‘Pink’ theme – Lloyd’s nickname – or by the fact the Nike logo on his golf club is back-to-front. Lloyd sported just one such tattoo. The wrong way round. For information, prostate cancer in the UK kills one man every hour.

By Danny Lockwood

hen Lloyd Pinder won the inaugural outing of South Milford’s Thacker’s Hackers in 2019, it was a typical society gathering of both club members and occasional golfers. That first outing was staged at Knaresborough, with plans to visit several courses a year for the collection of regular and occasional golfers. Lloyd was a Rudding Park member but by no means typical of his fellow Hackers. He had been diagnosed with stage-4 prostate cancer three years earlier. He was 46. He died the following September aged just 49. Lloyd left his wife Tina and two young daughters, Lola and Gracie, but he also left a magnificent legacy that will flourish again on May 20th at Darrington Golf Club, when his many friends and admirers gather to celebrate ‘Pints For Pinder’ and raise thousands for Prostate Cancer UK. Lloyd’s long-time friend Matthew Roe explained the background. “Lloyd was

Above - Lloyd greets Jeff Stelling at the end of his marathon fund-raiser. Right, with wife Tina and their daughters everybody’s friend,” he said. “Just a great guy, who gave his all to everything he did. He loved his sport and when he got his diagnosis, he put everything into fighting it, and to helping the fight against prostate cancer.”

Lloyd ended up befriending Prostate Cancer UK campaigner Jeff Stelling of Sky Sports and raised thousands through both his own efforts and helping others’ fundraisers. When Lloyd died, the tv presenter paid tribute to him

on air. Although funerals in 2020 had limited numbers, Jeff Stelling attended and the streets of South Milford were lined by friends paying tribute. Matthew added: “We thought we had to carry on Lloyd’s work, so last year we

thought we’d stage a golf day to try to maybe raise £1,000. We made £9,000.” Darrington promises to be every bit as successful – and more – with Lloyd’s former

April 2022

New academy promises something for everyone An exciting new addition to the golf scene in the York area opens its doors to the public later this month – and according to it’s Director of Golf, Craig Smith, “it promises to have something for everyone.” The Play2Par Golf Academy should appeal to both golfers and nongolfers, providing entertainment for young people looking for some fun, while

catering to beginners and serious golfers wanting to get the very best out of their game and the equipment they use. Play2Par has separate areas for non-members to play exciting/entertaining virtual games or more challenging championship courses using the latest Flight scope Mevo+ technology. There is also a teaching studio and mem-

bers’ area, incorporating the advanced Flight scope x3 technology enabling the more dedicated golfers to

develop and progress their game further. There’s also a state of the arts indoor putting green utilising PuttView and Sam PuttLab laser technology to help golfers assess their putting skills and needs. In addition Play2Par offers expert club and ball fitting services and repairs. “You won’t find range balls at Play2Par,” commented Craig Smith.

Instead, golfers can practice with their preferred choice of golf balls thereby replicating the same strike and feel of shot, experienced in a real world/round of golf. Play2Par have already partnered with Desirable Golf, offering a comprehensive range of top branded equipment and clothing run. “We aim to provide a

one-stop shop for education, entertainment, practice and online shopping,” Craig added. Play2Par are offering five days of free taster sessions ahead of the official opening on Friday April 29, with a day dedicated to juniors and families on Saturday April 23. Visit playtopar.com for more details or see the advert below left.

2022 PRESIDENT Terry looking forward to ‘lots of mileage’

If the coat fits, wear it T

here’s another new blazer in the wardrobe of Calverley Golf Club member and 2022 Yorkshire Union President Terry Collins. And with a busy year ahead Terry’s wife Jane knows the score – she’s booked a holiday with her sister, leaving Mr President to it! “There will be a lot of mileage involved,” Terry laughed, “but I’m really looking forward to it. Hopefully we will have a full year of events after everything we’ve had during the last two years.” Asked for permission to use the photo alongside, Mr President had to ask “is it a red one, or an ordinary one? I lose track!” The two-time Calverley captain, and former captain at The Manor club in Drighlington, said that being offered the YUGC Presidency came “as a bolt out of the blue”. “I was dumbfounded to be asked, I never saw that coming,” said the retired long-time department head at Leeds Beckett University, whose speciality was graphic arts and design. Terry has been a loyal Calverley member since first joining in 1984 and although he did get down to single figures, now plays off 16. One highlight of his golfing career must have been reaching the final of The Maulesbank Trophy at Carnoustie Golf Links in 1999. If anyone ever wants to know how long ‘sudden death’ can last in golf, Mr President is just the man to ask. On that occasion the matchplay final went a full 15 extra holes, before Terry was defeated. He readily admits to enjoying being involved in the administration of golf and was President of the Bradford and District 8-15s Association in 2005 before being elected President of the Bradford & District Union in 2015. He

also chaired the Yorkshire Inter District Union (YIDU) during his Presidency of Bradford and in 2016 was appointed Chairman of the Bradford & District Past Presidents. On a county level, he joined the Yorkshire Executive Committee in 2010 and was re-elected in 2015 before accepting the nomination that sees him don the President’s jacket this year. Of the year ahead, he said he’s looking forward to getting out to all of the championships

and engaging in Union activities like rules sessions with clubs. “I might need to brush up on some though,” he said. “It hasn’t been my strongest point!” And for golfers and club members wondering where they might have seen that chap before, it might be worth asking about his roles as an ‘extra’ in television productions such as The Syndicate and Scott & Bailey. The Union’s new president is obviously a man of many parts…

Hickleton top 7th Division qualifying Hickleton led the way in the YUGC Team Championship’s 7th Division preliminary round staged at Howley Hall. In cold and blustery conditions they managed a +2 gross score of 233, five shots clear of Sickleholme and Dore & Totley, who host the 7th Division Championship next Wednesday (April 20). Twenty-five clubs started the day, but the other nine qualifying for Dore & Totley were, from 4th to 12th, Woolley Park,

Kirkbymoorside, Scarborough South Cliff, Leeds, Sandburn Hall, Brough, Tankersley Park, The Manor and Wetherby. Ryan Diuga of Kirkbymoorside was low individual on the day with an excellent level-par, ahead of Brough’s Kye Steventon on +2 and Matthew Evans of Woolley Park on +3. Qualifiers from the 7th Division will head to Filey on Wednesday May 4 for the Sixth Division Championship.

April 2022

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April 2022

Schools Championships The Yorkshire Schools Championships were staged across the county in the last week of March, ahead of the Schools Teams Championship at Low Laithes Golf Club. In the WEST YORKSHIRE event at Howley Hall, Joe Ellis of Notre Dame Catholic College brought home 36pts, 3pts ahead of Max Heath from Queen Elizabeth Grammar. Notre Dame won the team title. Zara Ali of Horsforth won on a countback over Aaliyah Hryniewiecka-Irwin of Honley High. Josh Stevens of Leeds Grammar won the Boys title in the NORTH AND EAST YORKSHIRE Schools Championship with 34pts, three clear of Scarborough College’s Tommy Risker. Adam Watkin of Nunthorpe

Tom’s hand full of aces

West Yorkshire singles winners were Joe Ellis and Zara Ali

Academy took the under 16 prize with 30pts at Malton & Norton on March 25. In the Girls’, Amy Staveley of Norton College had 35pts, seven clear of Huntington

It took a three-way countback to establish South Hunsley B as winners at the YORKSHIRE SCHOOLS’ TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS. Played in tough conditions at Low Laithes on Monday April 4, a pair of 34pt tallies from Jack Eastham and Sam Loughton in the best two-from-three format earned South Hunsley the title. Edged out in second were Ermysted’s via Jake Blacka’s impressive 37pts and Bobby Dixon with 31pts.

School’s Alexandra Bonfield. The Norton team of Amanda and Ben Staveley, plus Matthew Delaney, took the team title. The NORTH YORKSHIRE

Wath Grammar School only sent a team of two players but Aidan Silman and Brandon Swords both notched 34pts. The individual boys’ was lifted by Kye Boutell, a 12-handicap member of Teesside GC who scored an impressive 39pts, ahead of Keighley’s Jake Blacka (19) on 37pts and Max Shaw (18) from Waterfront. The girls’ individual was won by Olivia Brodie (28) of Cookridge Hall on 27pts, ahead of Ganton’s Amy Staveley (-3) and Bedale’s Shona Lawson (25) on 21pts.

Championship was staged at Ripon City on March 22 and the winners were Charlie Hayfield (Ashfield College) with 33pts, and Evie Cooke of St Aidan’s CofE High School on 29pts. Runners-up were Thirsk School’s Blake Stout and Ripon Grammar’s Izabella Knowles. The under 16 champions were Huey Cunningham of South Craven and Fulford’s Erin Wells. Macmillan Academy took the team title by 1pt from Bedale High. The SOUTH YORKSHIRE event was staged at Hickleton on March 24 and it went down to a countback to separate Campsmount Academy’s Josh Berry over Jack Whaley from Wath Academy, both on 38pts. In the Girls’ Scratch Charlotte Colley of Tapton School on 29pts was 8pts clear of runner-up Scarlet Brown of Barnsley 6th Form. The Under 16 winners were Dylan Graveling (Westfield School) and Layla Hitchiner (Wath Academy). Wath ‘B’ won the team prize featuring Aidan Silman, Marco Cartero and

Hallamshire member Tom Sadowski notched a remarkable 7th hole-in-one recently. Not ony that, it meant he has now aced all FIVE of the par 3s at the Sheffield club. Tom is pictured being congratulated by one of his playing partners on the day, Pat Lyons.

Chosen for 150th Open Four greenkeepers from Yorkshire clubs are amongst the Volunteer Support team that has been invited to work at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in July. A team of 44 greenkeepers mostly from the UK but with invitees from as far afield as Sweden and the USA, will be helping the St Andrews staff keep the course in mint condition for the tournament week from July 10-17. Volunteer greenkeepers have been on duty since 1984 after repeated concerns from golfers about the varied standard of caddies’ bunker raking. The four staff heading to St Andrews are Adam Brackley of Heworth GC in York, Matthew Milligan from Rudding Park, Alwoodley’s Harry Roe and Jeremy Ward of Bradford Moor.

SKIPTON GC 2022 OPEN COMPETITIONS

THE 2022 DALES TROPHY 36-holes Gross Amateur Scratch Tournament

Seniors Opens (over 55)

FRIDAY 5 AUGUST 2022

THURSDAY 21 APRIL THURSDAY 16 JUNE THURSDAY 15 SEPT

– ENTER NOW – One of the UK’s first gender-equal Scratch Championships

Men’s Opens SUNDAY 8 MAY SUNDAY 25 SEPT

Join us for what will be a future classic tournament

Rabbits’ Open (H.I. 15.5 - 36.00)

Prizes for:

SUNDAY 10 JULY

Overall Scratch Winner

Ladies Opens

Mid-Amateur Champion

SUNDAY 24 APRIL FRIDAY 24 JUNE FRIDAY 7 OCTOBER

Junior Champion Maximum handicap 12.0 Entry fee £25 per person Maximum 2-members from same club per tee time Tee booking round 1, with round 2 to follow on the day

For full details on all of our open events and to reserve a tee time visit: www.skiptongolfclub.co.uk email: enquiries@skiptongolfclub.co.uk

Skipton Golf Club, Short Lee Lane, N.Yorks BD23 3LF

Mixed Opens SUNDAY 26 JUNE SUNDAY 4 SEPT

Tel: 01756 795657

April 2022

With England Golf recognition, these are exciting times at a 27-hole club that’s making its mark. Yorkshire Golfer Publisher DANNY LOCKWOOD reports...

alton & Norton is very much a golf club whose time has come, with a growing reputation that was marked when England Golf awarded the Ryedale club the opportunity to stage the England Girls’ Amateur Strokeplay Championship last summer. “I think a few people were nervous at the time,” explained General Manager and lifetime member Richard Brown, who has been in post the past three years. “You can understand it, when you haven’t hosted a tournament like this before,” he added. “You do ask yourself if your course is at that level, if your facilities are good enough, and even whether you can get enough

Looking back down the 1st fairway from the 8th tee

volunteers to get the job done ... if you can manage to do your club and your members proud.” The answers were very much in the affirmative, after Malton & Norton not only put on a hugely successful event, but found themselves on the four-club shortlist for England Golf Championship Venue of the Year. The awards are on April 22nd, but as Brown said upon hearing of the nomination, “I think we can safely say that having made the shortlist, we’re all winners.” Not that the club is resting on its laurels in any way. “I think it’s time to raise awareness of what we have to offer the golfing public,” said the 6-handicap-

per who is kept very much on his golfing toes by wife Emma – nee Duggleby – one of Yorkshire’s greatest lady amateurs who also happens to work in golf administration, along the A64 at Ganton. “We know we’re not at the level of a Ganton or Alwoodley, but what we have got is very good and offers great value,” he continues. “We know we have an excellent package that ticks an awful lot of boxes. Whether that’s for would-be members, visiting golfers and societies, or tournaments, everyone who gets to know Malton & Norton appreciates just what we do have.” Indeed. And what a package it is. With a footprint of 250 acres, the club has an 18-hole championship course plus another quality 9-hole layout which all start and finish in loops at the clubhouse. A short game practice area that is the envy of most clubs across the

General Manager Richard Brown – excited for the club’s future

county was created when Brown was greens chairman and England Golf’s award-winning coach Steve Robinson was club professional. It’s a highly sought after facility by county and national coaches alike. Alongside it is a driving range with a dozen indoor bays, teaching bay and outdoor summer tees. Back at the pro shop, PGA Professional and himself a lifelong club member Joel Preston has an indoor Trackmanfitted teaching studio. Like many golf clubs, the past two years of lockdowns, furloughs and booming interest in golf saw Malton in good financial stead, with a growing membership across all categories. As such the club’s eyes are very much on improvement, in all areas. Two new driving nets have been constructed adjacent to the first tee, while new greens drainage, a treethinning project and various ‘improvement’ schemes have kept the greens staff hard at work during the past winter including a new road linking the car park to the driving range. The club has a healthy 120 lady

members, while pro Preston and his assistant Sam Wilkinson are also keen on building on the 52 junior members, with local schools groups just one focus. As Brown points out, of all current golf club members 50% played as youngsters. With 20 years working in the golf industry, he knows all about the key demographics. There’s a plan to introduce new forward tees on all 27-holes for both new golfers but also people who want to play a quicker round, with the ‘new’ courses being measured and rated, along with a new scorecard. Further down the road and finances allowing, ideas about improving the clubhouse offering and locker-rooms are percolating. Exciting times then. “There are things we need to improve on,” Brown admits. All of the new members from the past two years were surveyed about what Malton was getting right or could improve upon. “We need better communications with new members, and to better understand members’ needs,” he said.

Continued across the page

April 2022

Main photo - the 4th green with views of Malton and the moors beyond Right – the clubhouse patio, overlooking the 1st and 10th tees, plus 9th and 18th greens ment works on the Derwent ongoing. “We’re going to have competitions on the ParkDerwent and mix and match more, maybe even stage some 9-hole competitions for people who like a 2-hour round of golf,” he added. “We’re very fortunate to have the scope to do so many things, but it’s exciting that there’s so many good things still to do.” And don’t Malton & Norton’s members know it!

There’s renewed focus on social media and marketing and plans in place to improve online bookings through the club website. The club’s social activities are regathering pace after the pandemic, while a keen fiscal eye has seen the food and hospitality operation outsourced. For now, the Welham-Park loops are the club’s competition staple, but even that looks set to change with improve-

Fairway bunkers both sides and a front-left trap add to the challenge.

Malton & Norton GC Welham & Park 9s Yellow Tees

2 - 140yds, par 3 Aim left of the pin, wherever it is, because once over the short left bunker everything feeds down to the right, with punishing run-offs to the front and right.

1 - 548yds, par 5 A daunting opener, with OB lurking left before a dogleg turns uphill to a devilish, back-to-front sloping green.

MALTON & NORTON GC Welham Park, Malton North Yorks YO17 9QE Tel: 01653 697912 www.maltonandnortongolfclub.co.uk Hole 1 2

White 558

Yellow 548

WELHAM COURSE 1-18 Par S.I. Red 5 3 442

Par 5

S.I. 7

151

140

132

364

358

323

196

162

132

538

504

439

6 7

344 322

340 315

4 4

15 13

319 268

4 4

5 13

341

362

350

423 3258

399 3116

White 482

Yellow 474

Hole 10 11

4 1 341 36 2737 PARK COURSE 10-27 Par S.I. Red 5 8 411

4 36

Par 5

S.I. 12

339

334

330

318

308

288

163

149

127

371

316

305

15 16

382 415

351 384

4 4

10 8

311 320

4 4

10 8

341

5 36

190

170

551 3211

500 2986

Hole 19 20 21

White 388

5 6 478 36 2710 DERWENT COURSE 19-9 Yellow Par S.I. Red 383 4 4/3 370

Par 4

S.I. 10/9

154

10/9

136

18/17

344

339

6/5

322

2/1

448

435

12/11

422

12/11

150

147

14/13

138

16/15

24 25

342 314

337 304

4 4

2/1 16/15

254 257

4 4

4/3 14/13

357

349

8/7

335

6/5

486 2983

475 2923

5 36

18/17

465 2700

5 36

8/7

3 - 358yds, par 4 Tree-lined but a broad uphill fairway before a sharp right turn to a green protected front left and right by sand, and slopes from different angles depending on the pin. 4 - 162yds – par 3 Over 30 yards longer off whites, the elevated tee provides handsome views over Malton and the moors beyond. Bunkers front and right, but it’s a big target and the green slopes back towards you. 5 – 504yds, par 5 Two long and two short holes amongst the first five holes on the Welham. An inviting drive to a wide

fairway that tilts left to right all the way to a green cut into the slope. Beware the bunkers lurking low right to catch your second and third shots. 6 – 340yds, par 4 Position off the tee is key, with trees right and bunkers plus trouble left. An extra club is advised for an uphill second to a steeply tiered MacKenzie green. Being on the wrong level usually ends in a 3-putt. 7 – 315yds, par 4 With trees and OB left, favour the right side of this right-to-left sloping fairway. A short right bunker shouldn’t trouble most, but your approach needs to be high right, with both the slope then a steep run-off left awaiting. 8 – 350yds, par 4 An inviting drive from an elevated tee, but trees both sides and two fairway bunkers await, before your approach to a flattish green protected by water front and right, plus a bunker left. 9 – 399yds, par 4 Straight back to the clubhouse, the road on the left is OB, while fairway bunkers on the right need avoiding if you’re to reach in two. A flat green has left and right traps. 10 – 474yds, par 5 Avoid being blocked out by trees either side and make a decision on your second, as a lateral ditch runs 40 yards in front of a green which

A narrow entrance to the 15th green

gets more slopey the further back the pin is positioned. 11 – 334yds, par 4 Navigate the dogleg right on a narrowing fairway and your second is over a short front bunker. There’s another trap mid-left on a large green which slopes distinctly back to front again. 12 – 308yds, par 4 Another short par four, requiring position from an elevated tee on a slightly right-to-left dogleg. The raised green has run-offs to the front and both sides, plus a front right bunker. 13 – 149yds, par 3 Just as it looks – a large lateral bunker is well short, with others left and right, on another green sloping back-to-front. 14 – 316yds, par 4 Index 2 is a full 55-yards longer off white tees and a totally different proposition. Avoid the water short left, plus the two spaced bunkers sitting on the dogleg. Your second is into a large sloping green not too hard to hit, but tough to read. 15 – 351yds, par 4 Straight on, but a narrow fairway makes anything off line likely to be in sand or blocked out. The undulating green has a very narrow entrance, with bunkers and mounds for extra protection.

16 – 384yds, par 4 Clear the oak tree guarding the centre of the fairway, for an approach over an angled ditch 30 yards short. Bunkers front left, right and rear. 17 – 170yds, par 3 A test of skill and nerve, with trees to both sides of a big circular green, plus three front bunkers to clear. A par is always decent. 18 – 500yds, par 5 A chance to score well on the last, but errant drives could find either the 19th or 27th holes of the Derwent course. Pretty much straight on, but a large oak protects the front left of a large, flat green so your approach needs to be from the right side.

Derwent Course Some members consider the Derwent a more technical test than the Welham or Park, with a slope rating between the two. With a regulation five par-4s, and pair of par-3s and 5s, it’s a track that requires precision off the tee. The 20th has a ditch left and water right, before hopefully having an angle into a very tricky MacKenzie green with more water in front. Likewise the dogleg 24th needs to be long/straight enough to get a view of a downhill green which isn’t easy to get up and down on. The short 25th is a blind tee shot and the 26th a 90-degree dogleg, before heading for home down the par-5, which runs parallel to the 18th.

April 2022

Normanton opens its new studio to public Normanton Golf Club has opened its new teaching facility incorporating a state of the art simulator, which will be available to hire by members of the public as well as members and guests. Using the latest Flightscope X3 technology, golfers can either get to understand their own game better, or choose to play one of more than 120 premium

Skipton’s landmark academy opening worldwide courses, including Royal Troon, Bay Hill and The Belfry. The new facility, in a purpose-built building adjacent to the clubhouse at Hatfeild Hall, is open from 8am to 8pm daily, with sessions lasting 1-hour. The club provides balls for use on the simulator, as each is specially marked to enable ball-tracing technology. Visitors

are asked to wear clean indoor shoes like trainers. Book at www.brsgolf.com/normanton/visitor_month or via the Pro Shop on 01924 377943, or 200900 or in the shop when you are at the club. For a 10% discount quote: Sim2022 (valid until June 2022). The club also offers Simulator Gift Vouchers, perfect for birthdays and special occasions.

Skipton Golf Club has opened its new £55,000 Brian Rasche Junior Academy, a purposebuilt facility attached to the pro shop. The project has been made possible thanks to major input from Brian’s son, David, like his late father a long-serving member of the club, plus investment from club professional Peter Robinson. Four generations of the Rasche family were present at the official opening ceremony, which was performed by David and Brian’s widow, Pat, joined by club representatives. David and Brian’s six-yearold great grandson, Jack, a pupil at Westville House School in Ilkley, were invited to hit the first shots on the new golf simulator. Club stalwart Brian, who passed away in 2016 aged 92, was a member at Skipton for over 60 years. He was a scratch team player and twice served as both Captain and President. He also project managed the building of the new clubhouse and he was a staunch supporter of the junior section and its teams. Son David first joined Skipton as a junior in 1958 and has served on the committee several times, as well as on the board. After he and Pat had cut a

ceremonial ribbon to declare The Brian Rasche Junior Academy officially open, David said: “My father would have felt this was an absolutely perfect legacy for himself to be remembered not just by people he knew, but all involved in the club.” Captain Roger Moore said: “The future of the club lies in our ability to attract new members, particularly the younger generation. The vision of Brian and support and generosity of David and family has allowed us to be where we are today.” Access to the academy is free for juniors, while other members will either pay for coaching, practice or private sessions. The official opening was followed by a weekend nearest the pin competition to introduce the facility to all members. It was won jointly by Joe Deakin and Freddie Pearson with both finishing 3’7” from the pin on a 125-yard shot. Pictured – David and Pat Rasche, centre, prepare to cut the ribbon to officially signal the much anticipated launch of The Brian Rasche Junior Academy at Skipton Golf Club, joined by Men’s Captain Roger Moore and President Sylvia Eastwood.

Men prevail over Lincs Yorkshire Men got their 2022 campaign off to a good start with a 10.5-4.5 win over Lincolnshire in a pre-season outing at Cleethorpes. George Mason (Wath) and George Ash (Hallowes) were first out and edged a 1-up win, a result mirrored by Josh Berry (Doncaster) and Huddersfield’s Dylan Shaw-Radford. Romanby’s Ben Brown and Garforth’s Jake Wallis brought home a 4&3 win before Jake Sowden (The Oaks) and Dan Thomas were beaten 3&2. The morning ended with a 2-up win for Lewis Hollingworth (Rotherham) and Adam Walker (Huddersfield). The afternoon singles saw wins for Ash, Berry, Brown, Thomas, Walker and Hollingworth, plus a half for Sowden. The season proper starts on Sunday May 8 away to Cheshire at Wallasey GC.

Got a story or photo for us? email news@yorkshire-golfer.com @yorkshiregolfer follow us on to advertise call Sandra on 07771 885757

April 2022

2022 PRESIDENT A notable first for Elland club in Halifax, Huddersfield & District Union’s 75th year

Double honour for anniversary President By Chris Stratford

lynn Mellor’s year as President of the Halifax, Huddersfield & District Union of Golf Clubs was guaranteed to be a doubly memorable one – even before he officially took office last month. For Mellor has not only become Elland’s first member to be elected to the prestigious office, he has also done so in the union’s 75th anniversary year. Proceedings began at Halifax Bradley Hall’s annual dinner in March, the first of dozens of events to which the 73-year-old will be invited by the union’s 23 member clubs. He will also represent the union at various gatherings of Yorkshire’s seven other unions – Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate, East Riding, Teesside and York – during a hectic schedule that he jokes is bound to stretch his waistband “to the limit”. But a few pounds gained will be a price worth paying, he feels, and he says he is honoured to represent both his club and the district in the presidential capacity. “When I was first asked to be President it came as a bit of a surprise,” he says. “Obviously I was very delighted to accept and then the pandemic threw it over an extra year, so I had two years as the President

Mr President, Glynn Mellor Elect, which meant the 75th anniversary year is my year. It is a bit special, particularly since it is the first time Elland have ever had it. “For me it is a really good thing and obviously for Elland too. We are a pretty old club and one of the original 18 [member clubs of the union].”

place is staggering from when it startMellor, who plays off 14 – “a bit ed back in 1947 to now. too high really, age has got the better “The work that has gone in to take of me” – will play twice a week at amateur golf in this area from just his club rather than the usual three three competitions a year to what we times, but there will also be a lot of have got now is amazing. It has been golf included as part of his ceremonia very enlightening period for me, al duties. working on the brochure, very educaThe course highlight for him, and tional.” an occasion he is anticipating with “Other than playing in union great relish, will be the union’s 75th interclub league matches, I’ve only anniversary golf day, to be held at been involved with Huddersfield the union since 2019 (Fixby) on July and obviously you are 31. “We are well “I took over the role of underway with fixtures secretary which on the fringes of understanding what’s planning for the was a baptism of fire” going on,” he said. event at “When I joined as Huddersfield on President Elect, July 31, so that Trevor Pickles was taken ill, so I took should be a really good day,” comover his role as fixtures secretary, ments Mellor. which was a baptism of fire, but was “We have invited three members good, actually, because it enabled me from each club to attend and play and to understand a lot of the work that then the rest of the competitors will was going on. be made up from past presidents and “I don’t think people appreciate sponsors to create fourballs. how much work goes on in the back“It will be a competition of twoground. There is a tremendous man teams, with a shotgun start, and amount of work involving fixtures, should be quite an entertaining day.” and the work that Frank Greaves He is also involved in the produc(Huddersfield) and John Turner tion of a 75th anniversary brochure, a (Crow Nest Park) do with the coachcopy of which will be presented to ing of our seniors and juniors – it’s each of the member clubs. just an enormous amount of work “Going through the 75 years, it is just amazing the things that have hap- that goes on literally 52 weeks of the year.” pened,” he reflects. He is particularly interested in “Just the growth that has taken

We have a few dates still available at both Cottingham Parks & Skidby Lakes for 2022

helping the union further the development of junior golf although he admits to having failed within his family in that aspect with his 12year-old grandson. “I take him up to the driving range and he’s got a tremendous eye for the ball. He’s a big lad for 12, and he can hit the ball miles,” says granddad with just a hint of envy in his voice. “But at the moment he is into school rugby, school hockey, school rowing, Halifax hockey, and on top of that he’s got his music, so trying to get him on a golf course is pretty difficult.” However, towards the other end of the age scale, his eldest daughter, who lives in Australia, has recently taken the game up, aged 50. “All her friends were playing golf and they have got quite a lot of courses where they live in Adelaide, so she has bought some clubs, she’s having lessons and she’s enjoying golf and having a good time,” says Mellor. “I took a call recently to say my granddaughter is getting married next March, so I’m due to go out for that and my daughter and I will definitely have a few games of golf out there then. If it all works out well, I shall come to the end of my duties as the President of the union and then hop on a plane to Australia the next day.”

Society Guest Review

Packages start from ‘golf only’ Always excellent value For full details please ring 01482 842394

April 2022

Where MacKenzie got his Augusta inspiration S

cottie Scheffler has cemented his world no.1 ranking at possibly the most iconic golf course on the planet, the lauded Augusta National, by lifting his first ever Major, The Masters. The only golf course that stages a Major championship annually, the home to The Masters is a place every golfer dreams of playing. It’s a dream forever beyond the vast majority of us. However the iconic course has much of its inspiration in a fabulous creation of the selfsame architect, our own Dr Alister MacKenzie, which is far closer to home. While the great Doctor himself might not recognise some of his genius in the modern Augusta, given the demands of keeping today’s Championship courses a challenge for 350-yard bombers, a visit back to sleepy Buxton in Derbyshire would be certain to spark great memories. Not without reason is Cavendish Golf Club home to the Alister MacKenzie Society. It is fitting in every possible way, and good reason why the course is a veritable shrine for MacKenzie aficionados. Close by Derbyshire’s Peak District is the golfing haven that is Cavendish. It is not just accepted as the inspiration for the Augusta National that was to be created seven years later, but to this day holds fast to the genius of its creator. The expert eyes of the most lauded golf critics and acclaimed course designers have bestowed their blessings on Cavendish down the years.

Danny Lockwood experiences the superb Cavendish GC For anyone who is not just proud of Yorkshire’s greatest golf architect in Dr Alister MacKenzie, but is also intrigued enough to seek out what made him a golfing visionary, a visit to this quiet retreat is a must. Such as Cavendish is met by a hint of critical observa“The stretch of holes from the 8th through 11th, when a rushing brook comes into play, elevates the course to another class” – top architect Tom Doak who also rated Cavendish in the Top 10 courses in the world with a par under 70; he also cited Cavendish in his best 18 holes from courses that aren’t on anyone’s Top 100 list and the 10th as one of the best 18 holes designed by Alister MacKenzie

tion, it is in being a short course, just under 5,800 yards. But don’t let that fool you. As MacKenzie himself said, length alone doesn’t make a golf hole. But while the PGA and DP World tour venues stretch themselves as far back as possible, that will never be the case at Cavendish, which actually nestles within the borders of Buxton, a town that is all too easy to overlook being quite distant from our crisscrossing motorway network.

It doesn’t actually lie within the Peak District National Park, but it is most definitely an area of outstanding natural beauty, and the fact this meandering, undulating landscape is hidden from the town itself adds to its mystique. One of MacKenzie’s underlying doctrines was to respect the geography he was presented with. He let his eye and what nature presented him dictate the countless intriguing golfing challenges he would craft and mould. In Cavendish’s case, the commission to create this gem came from no less than the Duke of Devonshire, from his Chatsworth House home, a few miles to the east. Cavendish is the ancestral family name, hence the course’s title. The DeChambeaus of the world could theoretically devour a course that many consider the best in the world under 6,000 yards – you’d love to see them try. And wise money would be on MacKenzie’s enduring genius resisting their attempts to batter it into submission. The course throws challenges at golfers that don’t just deserve their respect, but demand it. You walk off virtually every hole thinking “I want to play that again” – not just because you might expect to play it better, but because you will have discovered something in its playing, that changes your regard of how to play it. Going round with club chairman Terry Hayward was definitely a great help, because like experienced Cavendish

players, he saw shots, positions to target, and green behaviours that a complete novice to the course simply couldn’t. Under 6,000 yards it might be, but with a par 68, five par 3s and just the single par 5, it means plenty of the par 4s can stretch their legs when they want. Disrespect at your peril.

t is fitting that the MacKenzie Society is based out of Cavendish Golf Club and the clubhouse is in part a shrine to the great man. Indeed, on the day my colleague Chris Stratford and I rolled up, a touring party from the Top 100 Golf Course organisation was in town. By the time MacKenzie signed off Cavendish, his global reputation was wellestablished and you can imagine the fun he had manipulating his way around the Derbyshire swales and runoffs, hollows and hillsides, streams and ponds. The course is a surprisingly easy walk, given the numerous changes in elevations the

Navigating Cavendish’s immaculate greens is a test of skille and nerve

golfer encounters, with elevated tees, plateau greens and sweeping vistas. It’s often remarked upon by Augusta devotees that watching the annual golfing pilgrimage on our television sets, we don’t fully appreciate the geographical challenges the Masters contestants face. Play Cavendish and you ‘get’ it. There is a renewed spring in the step of the golf club itself these days, after some difficult pre-pandemic times when they shared many of the difficulties others have faced,

from managing to recruit new and especially young members, to coming up with fresh business ideas. Chairman Terry Hayward is a long-time Cavendish member, but also a businessman steeped in marketing and development who took over the role with a mostly new board of directors just about the time when the pandemic hit. Rather than focus strictly on belt-tightening, he and his

Continued on next page

“There are two types of golfers – those that have played Cavendish and those who wished they had” – Eddie Birchenough has an in-depth knowledge of Cavendish where he worked as a caddy before his successful career as a club professional, retiring in 2013 after 27 years as Head Professional at Royal Lytham and St Annes GC, where he oversaw four Open Championships and is now an Honorary Member

April 2022

A fitting home to MacKenzie Society and a thriving club he MacKenzie Society was founded in 1999 to celebrate the work of Dr Alister MacKenzie as a golf course architect in Great Britain and Ireland through the fellowship of golf. The Society now has a membership of 62 clubs and, as more clubs delve into their archives, the hand of MacKenzie continues to be detected. There is an annual inter-club match for the MacKenzie Medallion, first played at Alwoodley in 1999 but subsequently on a different MacKenzie course each year. To commemorate the partnership of MacKenzie and Harry Colt from 19191923, the club winning the Medallion is invited to Stoke Park Club (a Harry Colt design) to play for the Challenge Cup against the club winning the Colt Cup. In 2008 the Committee decided to introduce an Individual Membership, open to all adult members of Society clubs, and to arrange up to six events each year for members and their guests. An annual match against the British Golf Collectors’ Society is held. Numbers are limited to ensure that match entries can be accepted from individuals belonging to a broad range of member clubs. There are now over 80 individual members and 30 member clubs.

Dramatic vistas, elevation changes, natural water hazards ... Cavendish, a taste of Augusta National

colleagues have focussed on improving the club and course’s natural advantages, making sure it stays not just relevant but increasingly attractive to members and visitors alike. With the much-anticipated Centenary being on the horizon in 2025, the club is rolling out the plans it approved at its

2019 annual meeting, drawn up and presented by acclaimed course designer and Cavendish member Jonathan Gaunt. True to the club’s heritage, Gaunt wants to enhance the ideals of MacKenzie – to further set in stone those design principles. One challenge a club in a location like Cavendish faces is the lack of ‘chimney pots’ to

draw new members from. What it means is that attracting visitors is a major part of the club’s business strategy. And that is great news for all we golf fans who want to experience something of Augusta National’s magic without the thousands of air miles and phenomenal expense involved.

Watford Rd, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6XF

Tel: 01298 79708

www.cavendishgolfclub.com

April 2022

TONY HOWARTH

Academy Director, Scarthingwell Golf Academy

Putt for dough? Try putting WITH dough...

e’ve all heard the saying, ‘drive for show and putt for dough’ – but here’s how to putt with the dough! Using coins stacked on top of each other, I’m going to show a simple way to improve your putting technique and improve the roll of your ball. In my studio and on the putting green at Scarthingwell, I use Flightscope’s putting analysis and video software to analyse players’ putting strokes from multiple angles. The ball data and video analysis allow the player to see all that is happening to their ball and stroke, allowing us to work together to improve both the player’s striking and their putting technique (image 1). The slightest mistakes in the golfer’s technique and the movement of the putter itself can result in considerable mishits and inconsistencies in the stroke which will result in missed putts. When reviewing what great putters do with their technique, there are many differences in the movement dynamics of the putter due to varied techniques, putter styles and strokes, yet there are also many common traits when looking at the result of the impact between the club and the ball. The coin drill is a great exercise that can be used to help promote a faster forward roll of the ball which will allow the ball to retain its starting direction as well as improve your distance control. If you have ever seen the ball bounce or skid during the first couple of feet of the putt there is a strong probability that the ball has either been struck with negative loft on the putter and has been pushed into the turf, or the ball has backspin as it leaves the putter face, usually created by a poor impact from your stroke. If you have experienced this before then I encourage you to try the coin putting drill. Here is how to set it up: Place three coins on top of each other and take your normal putting set up to the coins (image 2). Ensure the coins are lined up with the centre of the putter face. Place the ball directly in front of the coins. Make a stroke where your goal is to avoid the coins as you make the through stroke (image 3). This will encourage the putter head to ascend into the ball and create a top spin action on the ball. As you can see in the images this creates a forward roll of the ball as opposed to a bounce(images 4, 5 & 6). A great drill to get the right momentum on your putts.

YORKSHIRE GOLFER SPECIAL READER OFFER Book a 1-hour Flightscope and video analysis session with Tony Howarth for just £30 To book, contact Tony on 07588 355588 or email

TONY HOWARTH, 2004 Sinclair Award Winner, Academy Director and Golf and Marketing Manager at Scarthingwell Golf Course, has over 25 years PGA experience and has taught all levels of golfers. This experience ranges from European Tour, Ladies European Tour and County players through to club golfers and complete beginners. Tony has appeared as guest speaker at many events including the Junior Golf Partnership seminar held at the Belfry, as Key Note Speaker at the inaugural Golf Careers Convention at the University of Northumbria, guest speaker at the UK Golf Show, the Turkish Golf

tonyhowarthpga@gmail.com Visit

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

Federation 1st Annual Coaching Conference and most recently at the GolfEurope Show in Augsburg, Germany. In his role as SNAG Master Trainer, Tony works with International Golf Development implementing first touch coaching and development programmes across the world including Europe, Africa and Asia. Tony’s simplistic style of coaching has been his road to success and he has become known as an expert not just on the golf swing but especially on the short game and putting.

Scarthingwell Golf Course

GREEN FEE OFFER £25 PER PERSON Monday-Friday

£30 PER PERSON

Saturday-Sunday To book telephone reception

01937 557878

For details on our 2022 MEMBERSHIP OFFERS contact TONY HOWARTH

01937 557878

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

ScarthingwellGolfCourse

One of Yorkshire's Friendliest Golfing Venues

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE TO SAY... “I was excited about playing a course with a reputation for a friendly atmosphere. It did not disappoint – I was met with a very professional and cheerful welcome.” “York is blessed with some really good courses and you can put this one right up near the top!” “Thanks again for another great day’s golfing, yet again the course was in immaculate condition.”

April 2022

CENTENARY DAY Hickory golf amongst the many features of club’s well-supported event

Woodsome Hall celebrates in style A

rich and remarkable history was in the air as Woodsome Hall members and invited dignitaries gathered to celebrate the start of the club’s Centenary year. Over 200 members attended the event which included raising a centenary flag, burying a time capsule and unveiling a centenary stone. An award-winning brass band entertained while over 60 golfers played in a special ‘hickory golf’ competition. Newly compiled archives with over 300 items from the past were on show and a 104 page book, ‘100 years of memories’ was produced for the very special occasion. Woodsome’s history started on October 13th, 1921, when a small group met at The George Hotel in Huddersfield to discuss the possibility of developing a golf course at the 16th century hall, which is now the impressive clubhouse. Major Alfred Ernest Yates Trestrail, a lawyer and sportsman who moved to the area thought the Woodsome estate would be a great place to build a golf course. The first committee meet-

ing appointed a golf professional, Mr William Button of Redcar, on a salary of £3.10.0 a week with accommodation in the hall along with free fuel and light. Life membership of the club was fixed at 50 guineas for gentlemen and 30 guineas for ladies. William the 6th Earl of Dartmouth agreed to lease the house, out-buildings, and 134 acres of land to the club for £467 a year. He also accepted being named Honorary President. Incredibly, just a few months after the club had been formed, on 3rd February 1922 it was reported that ‘given favourable weather, the whole of the rough work of construction, will be finished within a

fortnight’. Thirteen holes came into play at Easter 1922 and in May 1923 the full eighteen holes were opened up for play.

On 23rd June 1923, the formal opening was performed, with Woodsome Hall professional Button playing Arthur Day, the professional at Ganton.

Woodsome Hall and its grounds were eventually bought from the Earl of Dartmouth by the club in June 1939 for £10,000. Woodsome has welcomed many famous golfers, including Bobby Locke, American Ryder Cup Captain Walter Hagen, British Ryder Cup Captain Dai Rees, Peter Alliss, Ian Woosnam and many more. Club Captain Mark Fielding is looking forward to a busy Centenary year: “We have a number of special events planned throughout the year and we have a great story

to tell, not just about the past 100 years of golf, but also about our fantastic clubhouse that has seen many more centuries of history. We are very proud of our past and in great shape for the future.” On the golfing honours boards in the clubhouse there are the names of 876 individual members who have played in the 3179 board competitions over the 100 year period. The Grade 1 listed clubhouse hosts hundreds of social functions every year and the first wedding ceremony was held at the club in October.

Success for TNGC ladies The ladies of Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club celebrated a winning end to the winter season, winning the Dales Alliance trophy with a strong final fixture at Ripon. Their total of 106 stableford points took them from third place to first, narrowly beating Catterick. The Dales Alliance comprises six matches, one each month, at six different venues. This is the first time that TNGC has won the event, so there were smiles all round when team captain, Gill Fox, lifted the trophy. Gill congratulated her teammates who played across the six fixtures – Alison Downing, Alison Elder, Denise Brockbank, Rose Burden, Mary Kay, Denise Fawcett, Kathryn Clark and Cath Mills.

April 2022

GOLFING AT WATERFRONT

2022 AT WATERFRONT GOLF

Waterfront Golf has gone through some huge changes in recent years, and our membership numbers continues to rise to the point that we have very limited spaces for 7 day members but still have spaces available for 5 day members. Annual subscriptions of £500 for 5 day and £580 for 7 day offer fantastic value for our 12 month full tees and greens course. We do not have any temporary tees or greens .... ever! Our nine hole course has eighteen different tees and our members have the option of 9 or 18 hole comps throughout the season. Our comps are open to all members gents and ladies alike. We have a thriving senior and mixed section at the club who play every week socially and in competitions.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES PLEASE CALL FRANK ON: 01709 877616 Our floodlit driving range has had a brand new makeover and our new putting and indoor studio which features a Capto putting lab and our Trackman driving range is now open and ready for use. Frank, Danny, Andy and Chris are very busy so call to book lessons, all are available over 7-days of the week in one of our three private studios. All lessons use Trackman, video and Capto for the most comprehensive of lessons. Our Trackman driving range has gone from strength to strength since the installation in March and this March sees the addition of 27-inch screens in every bay to make the experience even better! The brand new Trackman 4 golf simulator is available to rent and is amazing when the weather is bad! Our fitting centre has Callaway, Ping, Taylor Made and Cobra available to try and we will match any genuine quote.

WE WILL NOT BE BEATEN ON PRICE!

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

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

Food available daily