The Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs tournament is back for its 25th year – in partnership with Albatross Golf Holidays & Events.
The prize package for this year’s event has once again been enhanced by Albatross – run by North East-based PGA professional Andy Scrimshaw – with this season’s winners set to receive an invitation to compete in one of Albatross’ pairs events in 2027 free of charge* along with £600 in prize vouchers. Meanwhile, the runners-up will receive prize vouchers worth £100.
The 25th Match Play Pairs tournament will see pairs of golfers compete in fourball betterball knockout matches throughout the season at courses across the region.
The entry fee remains £30 per pair, with the final set to take place in September at a neutral venue.
As well as receiving their prize package, the winners will appear in Northern Golfer magazine and earn a special place in the region’s golfing history books as the 25th winners of the tournament.
*Entry fees and accommodation provided, travel costs not included.
For more information contact Dean Bailey, email dean@offstonepublishing.co.uk
The 2025 edition of the event once again saw pairs of golfers from across the region compete in fourball betterball knock out matches throughout the season at some of the region’s best venues. The final, at George Washington in October, was won by Roseberry Grange’s John Jamfrey and Bob Ellison – read the full report here.
2026 schedule
Entry deadline: Monday April 20
Round 1 (and prelim if required) draw: Tuesday April 21
Round 1 deadline: Sunday June 14
Round 2 draw: Monday June 15
Round 2 deadline: Sunday July 12
Round 3 draw: Monday July 13
Round 3 deadline: Sunday August 9
Quarter-finals draw: Monday August 10
Quarter-finals deadline: Sunday September 6
Semi-finals: To be played in September/October
Final: To be played in September/October
Round two
Matches to be played by Sunday July 12
Match 33
Drew Tipple & Luke McCloskey (Alnmouth) VS Andrew Williams & Brian Crampton (Durham City)
Match 34
Colin Elliot & Ian Coxon (Seaham) VS Neil Mole & Kieran Mole (Longhirst)
Match 35
Alastair Raine & Christopher Woodhams (Cleveland) VS Paul Dobson & Keith McManus (Brancepeth Castle)
Match 36
Stewart Mack & Roger Glenville (South Shields) VS David Dent & Alex Brook (Ryton)
Match 37
Ryan Wootton & Jamie Smith (Hobson/Ramside) VS Kevin Maddison & Malcom Thorniley (Brancepeth Castle/Barnard Castle)
Match 38
Gary Farley & Graham Steele (Woodham) VS Alan Beenshill & James Carr (Tyneside)
Match 39
Kevin Atkinson & Steve Price (Eaglescliffe) VS James Carrick & Gary Fawcett (Close House)
Match 40
Neil Forsyth & Peter Robson (Allendale) VS Stephen Lishman & Ian Richardson (Hexham)
Match 41
Jamie Robinson & Shaun Green (Durham City) VS Martin Mayoh & Christopher Mayoh (Houghton le Spring/Hobson)
Match 42
John Gardiner & Steven Hall (Close House) VS Steve Garbutt & Eddie Graham (Billingham)
Match 43
Hubert Noade & Richard Rust (Ramside) VS Peter Newman & Michael Robins (Durham City/Castle Eden)
Match 44
Doug Ellison & Richard Mellor (Slaley Hall/Hexham) VS Simon Lunn & Andrew Robinson (Arcot Hall)
Match 45
Kevin Broadfoot & Paul Broadfoot (Close House) VS Michael Clough & Dale Young (Crook)
Match 46
Tony Kelly & Steve Liles (Romanby) VS Michael Varney & Christopher Henderson (Sharpley)
Match 47
Anthony Coates & Steven Akers (Durham City) VS Gary Wright & George Turnbull (Durham City)
Match 48
Alan Geere & Neil Hathaway (Bamburgh Castle) VS John Lee & Jim Bruce (Slaley Hall)
Round one
Match 1
BYE – Ryan Wootton & Jamie Smith (Hobson/Ramside)
Match 2
BYE – Alan Geere & Neil Hathaway (Bamburgh Castle)
Match 3
Alastair Raine & Christopher Woodhams (Cleveland) BEAT Darren Curtis & Kevin Stubbings (Durham City) 4&3
Match 4
Paul Whittaker & Kevin Sample (Tynemouth) LOST TO Peter Newman & Michael Robins (Durham City/Castle Eden) 19th hole
Match 5
Adrian Handyside & Peter Arthur (City of Newcastle/South Shields) LOST TO Stephen Lishman & Ian Richardson (Hexham) 4&3
Match 6
Neil Charlton & Philip Little (Whickham) LOST TO Jamie Robinson & Shaun Green (Durham City) 2up
Match 7
BYE – Gary Wright & George Turnbull (Durham City)
Match 8
Kevin Maddison & Malcom Thorniley (Brancepeth Castle/Barnard Castle) BEAT Michael Moffett & Neil Spann (South Shields) 4&2
Match 9
BYE – Neil Forsyth & Peter Robson (Allendale)
Match 10
BYE – Michael Varney & Christopher Henderson (Sharpley)
Match 11
Neil Mole & Kieran Mole (Longhirst) BEAT Alan Cowans & John Wardle (Seaham) 5&4
Match 12
Mark Richardson & Antony Osborne (Durham City) LOST TO Kevin Atkinson & Steve Price (Eaglescliffe) 6&5
Match 13
BYE – Gary Farley & Graham Steele (Woodham)
Match 14
BYE – Andrew Williams & Brian Crampton (Durham City)
Match 15
BYE – Stewart Mack & Roger Glenville (South Shields)
Match 16
Jack Ivil & James Ivil (Crook) LOST TO Kevin Broadfoot & Paul Broadfoot (Close House) 2up
Match 17
James Carrick & Gary Fawcett (Close House) BEAT Nicky Younger & Robert Ellison (Roseberry Grange) 2up
Match 18
Cristan Priest & Lee Small (Newbiggin) LOST TO Alan Beenshill & James Carr (Tyneside) W/O
Match 19
Paul Murray & Anthony Murray (Woodham) LOST TO Hubert Noade & Richard Rust (Ramside) 7&6
Match 20
BYE – Martin Mayoh & Christopher Mayoh (Houghton le Spring/Hobson)
Match 21
Colin Elliot & Ian Coxon (Seaham) BEAT Tom Craven & Arthur Dodsworth (Romanby) 3&2
Match 22
Doug Ellison & Richard Mellor (Slaley Hall/Hexham) BEAT Dan Younger & Alan Slater (Hexham/Ramside Hall) 3&2
Match 23
Simon Watson & Russell Taylor (Burgham) LOST TO Michael Clough & Dale Young (Crook) 22nd hole
Match 24
Anthony Coates & Steven Akers (Durham City) BEAT Christopher Fox & Nigel Menzies (Roseberry Grange) 2&1
Match 25
Steve Garbutt & Eddie Graham (Billingham) BEAT Colin Marshall & Paul Tindale (Durham City) 8&7
Match 26
David Wood & Stephen Poole (Rothbury/Linden Hall) LOST TO John Lee & Jim Bruce (Slaley Hall) 5&4
Match 27
Tony Kelly & Steve Liles (Romanby) BEAT Craig Beadling & Jamie Mcphillips (Romanby) 2&1
Match 28
David Dent & Alex Brook (Ryton) BEAT Gary Atkinson & Stephen Carter (Durham City) 3&2
Match 29
Ian Rand & Gary Watson (Billingham) LOST TO Paul Dobson & Keith McManus (Brancepeth Castle) 1up
Match 30
BYE – John Gardiner & Steven Hall (Close House)
Match 31
BYE – Drew Tipple & Luke McCloskey (Alnmouth)
Match 32
BYE – Simon Lunn & Andrew Robinson (Arcot Hall)
