Course comes first for Murphy

May 1 2008 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

WHEN James Handy captains County Durham in a Northern Counties League match for the first time against Cheshire on Saturday week, it will be an emotional day not only for him but for his home club of South Moor, which hosts the fixture.

The Durham skipper has a strong enough grasp of his roots to politely decline an invitation to play for The Journal Dream Team at Hexham on July 1 to take part in his home club’s Pro-Am the same day. Yet it is grass-roots, literally, which will ensure the South Moor members are proud of their club and their new county captain. And they will turn out in force to cheer on their county next week, as the club captain Guy Carr pointed out. Carr is equally keen to stress the effect the chairman of South Moor’s greens committee, Terry Murphy, has had on club morale.

Murphy first filled the role in the 1990s and in his second spell, which started 18 months ago, he has overseen the spending on course equipment and maintenance of £70,000, which has led to membership rising from 550 to 610. The three main factors have been a shining new tractor and trencher, a fresh club entrance including disabled access ... and elbow grease. “The overall effect has been incredible,” said Carr. “Our course is in excellent condition and this year I reckon our greens are a month ahead of anywhere in the North East and ready for the county match. The green-keeping staff are making the most of the new equipment and, as a club, everything we do is to put the course first and get it in as good a condition as we possibly can.”

ANYBODY who wants to book a team in the South Moor Pro-Am (£195 a team) on July 1 should ring club secretary Michael Brennan on (01207) 232848, option 3, or Tom Flowers on 07958 043403.

The effect has been incredible. Our course is in excellent condition and this year I reckon our greens are a month ahead of anywhere in the North East