The golfing year is officially underway in Northumberland and Durham following both county AGMs.
In Durham, two home-grown professionals were confirmed as part of the county executive’s plans for the future.
European Tour player Graeme Storm was re-elected as a vice-president of the county while former European and England Boys champion Simon Robinson was confirmed as Durham’s new county captain. A past winner on the EuroPro and Challenge tours, Simon is thought to be the first professional to hold a county captaincy in the country.
The election of a new president, Chester-le-Street’s Tony Garrity, was the main focus of the annual meeting and he succeeds Billingham’s John Kirk in the role.
A member of the county executive since 2006, he is the third Chester-le-Street member to serve as president. He will be joined by new vice-presidents John Sanderson (Beamish Park) and Neil Burke (Ravensworth).
Meanwhile in Northumberland, John Fletcher has been elected as county president.
A founder member of Close House, John worked in Newcastle University’s chemistry department and has been a member of the county executive for 10 years. He also sits on the Northern Counties executive and is a former chairman and president of the Hadrian League.
Michael Arkle (Rothbury), David Jackson (Dunstanburgh Castle) and John Lee (Slaley Hall) were also elected to the county executive at the annual meeting at Ponteland Golf Club.
