Member Article

Northern Golf Masters returns for second year

Following the success of the inaugural Northern Golf Masters (NGM) last year, Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham is again giving amateur golfers from across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria the chance to be crowned the best in the region.

The Northern Golf Masters tournament will be held at Rockliffe Hall Golf Club on Sunday 28th July for the best club golfers across Teesside, County Durham, North Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Cumbria who can represent their club and compete to be named the number one amateur golfer in the North of England.

Category one golfers are invited to apply to enter the NGM at www.rockliffehall.com/golf

Last year the competition, which proved hugely popular and was oversubscribed, was won by was 19-year-old James Simpson, from Whickham Golf Club, who set a new amateur record score at Rockliffe Hall.

Simpson, who has plans to turn professional, was one of only three golfers in a field of 129 to break par and was crowned the overall winner of the NGM, which is now an annual event.

In second place was Rockliffe Hall’s own Jackson Kneeshaw who carded 70, two under par, despite the heavy rain on the day. And Stephen Ridley, from Bishop Auckland, was placed third and was one of three to break par.

The scratch competition, officially launched last year by Rockliffe Hall’s touring professional Graeme Storm, is for category one golfers and adopts the format of a professional tour event with first tee announcements, ball spotters and up-to-the-minute live scoring. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third place with over 100 golfers expected to enter. Places are limited and registration is £30 per person which includes a breakfast roll and tea/coffee before tee-ing off and a NGM gift pack.

Concessionary rates for practice rounds are available for anyone confirmed as participating.

Rockliffe Hall’s world-class golf course is recognised as one of the best in the UK and was strategically designed by top golf architect, Marc Westonborg from Hawtrees. Thanks to its engineering and construction, the course remains open all year round and benefits from no winter greens.

The course is home to a variety of high profile golf tournaments and has this year been selected as the host venue for one of the UK’s most prestigious, televised amateur tournaments, the William Hunt Trilby Tour Grand Final on Wednesday August 28th. In addition, Rockliffe Hall hosts events and golf days for football clubs, businesses and charities such as Daisychain, the Butterwick Hospice and the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

As well as holding high profile tournaments, Rockliffe Hall is also home to a highly-regarded golf academy, offering coaching from respected PGA golf professionals.

Speaking about the NGM, head PGA professional at Rockliffe Hall, Jon Stacey, said: “Last year’s NGM was a major success- we were oversubscribed with golfers from all over the North wanting to take part. As a result, the NGM is a firm fixture in the golfing calendar and we’ve had golfers asking about when they can register for this year’s event.

“Obviously hosting major events, such as the William Hunt Trilby Tour Grand Final, is a huge boost as we have golfers flocking from all over the UK, but the NGM is the only dedicated tournament for amateur golfers in the North of England and it’s a superb opportunity to play our Championship golf course.”

Graeme Storm added: “The region has been crying out for a competition of this nature for amateur golfers for many years. Rockliffe Hall offers a great opportunity to play a really challenging course for golfers of various levels. It’s the ideal location for the Northern Golf Masters as it is certainly one the best courses I’ve ever played with world-class facilities. This tournament is a brilliant chance for club golfers to put their name on the map and it’s really exciting to see it become an annual event.”

The format of the event will be as follows: -

• A rolling three-ball start running from 8am-2pm
• The competition is open to all category one players, with a handicap of up to five, and should be nominated by their host club.
• The format is best gross score to name the best player overall
• A trophy presentation will be made at 7.30pm on the evening of the tournament

Practice rounds are available for entrants at the members’ guest rate of £30 per person

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .