Green staff put ladies back on course
May 1 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
THE Ponteland green staff have pulled off a major rescue act to get the course ready for the Northumberland Ladies Championship, which starts today.
In September, the course was under a foot of water after the River Pont and some of its tributaries overflowed.
But Ray Sentance, an ex-club captain and the highly respected former secretary of the PGA North East North West Region, said yesterday: “Because of the incredible efforts put in by our green staff, our course is ready for the championship.
“Bearing in mind the floods, I am sure the ladies will be pleased, and appreciative of the hard work that has been done.”
Whitley Bay’s champion, England international Julie Ross, defends her title in the three-day event with the final teeing off at 2pm on Sunday.
Last year’s finalist Nikki Hunter (Gosforth) and former champion Kim McKenna (Tyneside) are also in the field.
TODAY is the closing date for entries in the second Green Jacket tournament of the ZFL Golf Order of Merit, the Seaton Salver, at the Seaton Carew club in Hartlepool on May 17.
The 36-hole scratch open is also sanctioned by the Yorkshire Order of Merit.
Golfers of five handicap or better who want to play should ring Geoff Sowerby (01740) 644463 or visit www.yorkshire orderofmerit.org.uk and click on entry forms.
TWO Alnmouth juniors, both students at the Duchess’s Community High School in Alnwick, are showing potential. Lyle Sutherland won best gross for the under-14 category in the Northumberland Junior Golfing Association Spring Meeting at Seahouses, with a 75 for a nett 60.
Alex Stevenson, 15, got something back from daily practice over the Easter holidays by winning the Alnmouth monthly medal with a nett 59, shooting 71 off a 12 handicap which has now been reduced to eight.
ROCKLIFFE Hall, the £50m golf resort in County Durham owned by Middlesbrough Football Club chairman Steve Gibson, are offering free nine-hole taster sessions this month to prospective members.
Full details will appear in the Sunday Sun this week.
