Three new captains have been appointed at Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club following ceremonial drive-ins with a hickory-shafted club.
The new club captain is 55-year-old Mark Butterworth – owner of Butterworth Cleaning Services, which cleans carpets, floors and exteriors for domestic and commercial clients across Cumbria, Lancashire and North Yorkshire.
Mark, who lives at Kirkby Lonsdale and has a handicap of 13, has played golf since his schooldays. He said: “We used to cycle up to the club, when it was based at Casterton, with our clubs on our backs during the school holidays. I was still a teenager when the club moved to its current site and played a round during the opening day.”
Mark has been a member of the club at various times since, including since 2018.
“Last year, I was asked to captain the Kirkby Lonsdale team which competed against Sedbergh in The Lune Spoon competition. We ended up winning and when I looked at the shield, I saw we had not won it for 30 years. I could not believe it!”
Mark also used to play rugby for Kirkby Lonsdale, and coached youngsters at the club for several years. He still helps at the rugby club along with other former players, serving food on match days. He is also a committee member of the Kirkby Lonsdale Trauma Relief Fund, which provides financial support to local people – and he will be raising money for the charity during his year in office.
Meanwhile, the new lady captain is Kate Rhodes.
Kate, 65, grew up at Whinfell, north of Kendal, and now lives in New Hutton. She runs Castle Fire Limited – a fire and security business based at Kendal – with her husband, Colin.
“I had always fancied having a go at golf and wanted an activity that meant you were out in the fresh air,” said Kate – who took up the game some 20 years ago. “Kirkby Lonsdale is a very friendly club with a really good ladies’ section. The course is beautiful and it’s just a nice place where you can be around friends. My favourite hole is the 16th – it is really pretty, particularly in the spring when the bluebells are out.”
Kate will be captain for a second time in 2025, having previously held the role in 2016. Her chosen charity is the Great North Air Ambulance.
Finally, the 2025 seniors’ captain is 64-year-old Jack Waite – a retired police officer who now works as a contractor for The Pensions Regulator.
“It is my privilege to be seniors’ captain for a second consecutive year,” said Jack, who lives at Storth and started playing golf in 1986 before captaining the Greater Manchester Police A Division team for a year.
“During my year in office, I hope we get even more people wanting to play and be involved in the seniors and build on what I consider to have been a successful year last year.”
A total of 97 members took part in the Captains’ Drive-in event following the ceremonial tee shots – with Graham Procter, Joanne Gascoigne and David Hacking winning the men’s, ladies and seniors events respectively.
