Professionals Darren Pearce and Marcus Webb have reached career milestones at their home clubs.
Darren, 54, has been Barnard Castle’s professional for 25 years while Marcus, also 54, has been in charge at Bedlingtonshire for 30 years.
Darren said: “I think there were some newer members who were quite surprised to find out I’d been here that long.” An England Boys international in his youth, Darren has captained the NENW PGA and has been a serial winner on the circuit with wins in the assistants, matchplay and strokeplay events as well as a Northumberland and Durham Open title.
Meanwhile, Marcus celebrated his 30 years at Bedlingtonshire with a special golf day, raising £1,000 for The Children Heart Unit Fund (CHUF), PGA Benevolent Fund, TGI Golf Foundation and Prostate Cancer UK.
“I have to say a big thank you to everyone that supported the day and also my club for letting me host it,” he said. “A special thank you to Ken Ferrie, Ronnie Foreman, Steve Holmes and Brian Mabon as well the clubs that supplied fourball vouchers.”
While Darren has competed throughout his career, including in three Senior Open Championships, Marcus has chosen to focus on teaching. He reckons his last competitive tournament was a Barnard Castle pro-am.
“I was 29 and won £17,” he added. “I decided I was going to concentrate on coaching! I’d moved to Bedlingtonshire thinking I would be in the North East for a few years before returning south.” Since then, Marcus has become a PGA tutor and educational coach, as well as a Fellow of the PGA. He has also received the Golf Foundation’s Critchley Award.
