The national and international spotlight has shone brightly on our region’s golfers in 2019.
A highlight, if not the highlight, of the region’s golfing year was delivered by Phil Ridden, Andrew Minnikin and Alex Dixon at the end of October with their victory in the European Men’s Club Trophy at Golf du Medoc resort near Bordeaux. The City became the third English club to lift the trophy – and the first since 1990 – much to the delight of the team and their supporters all across the region. You can read the story of the team’s victory on pages 24-26.
That victory brought down the curtain on a year of northern golfers stealing headlines. There have been international caps for a number of girls this season – including two more this past month – as well as individual success for the region’s best amateurs throughout 2019. We’ve also had a 150th birthday year for Alnmouth Golf Club to celebrate – more on that in the near future.
That last paragraph doesn’t come close to bringing together the success our region’s clubs and golfers have enjoyed in 2019. I’m already looking forward to putting together the year review for our December edition – there’s a lot to get in there!
Back to this edition, and it’s been fantastic to see the good news continuing to come in from players and clubs across the region. While the clocks have changed and winter rules are in force at many of our clubs, it hasn’t put players off in the final few events of the year as you’ll read all the way through this month’s Teeing Off pages.
This month we’ve also got the chance to win your membership for next year with our partners Brewin Dolphin. You’ll find all the details, including how to enter, on page 45.
We also wish a warm welcome back to greenkeeper Simon Olver. Simon wrote an expert column for Northern Golfer a few years ago and he returns to our pages this month. We’ve also got a Tour Life update from Chris Paisley as he sets his sights on the top 20 of the Race to Dubai.
A trip to the coast is always a welcome treat too, and the recent wet weather made a visit to South Shields Golf Club on a bright, if slightly chilly day for this month’s Course Profile even more welcome.
Until next month, make the most of any good weather and continue supporting our clubs.
