Driving ambition shown by club
Jun 10 2009 by Tim Taylor, The Journal
GRIP it and rip it! It’s one of the factors that brings excitement to any golf course and by the time autumn comes round, big hitters are going to be playing to packed houses at Close House Country Club, writes TIM TAYLOR.
The club, owned by Graham Wylie at Heddon-on-the-Wall in Newcastle, are not only staging the European Long Drive Golf Championships, they are letting in spectators for free, following an example set last month by the PGA European Tour.
Spectators were also given complimentary admission to the European Open at the London Club in Kent, where the four days attracted total crowds of almost 90,000.
Close House are hardly expecting those numbers for the three-day event, which starts on Friday September 11.
But the novelty factor – it’s the first time the event, now in its sixth year, has been staged in the North East – is sure to pull in as many non-golfers as those who actually play the sport especially on the final day, a Sunday finish.
The hype would grace a boxing promotion.
The promoters would have us believe these guys can “actually pulverise a golf ball” and that “certain to attend will be the unofficial world longest drive record holder, Paul Slater, who smashed a golf ball over 884 yards in 2006.”
Well, all that remains to be seen, but Close House, building an impressive reputation in the sport for its course, facilities and customer service, has already impressed the organisers.
Neil Hodgson, the managing director of Long Drivers of Europe, said: “I am thrilled to be hosting this event at Close House Hotel, as our company is based in Stockton.
“Close House have by far the best facilities that we have had for any event in Europe and is on a par with the facilities provided at the world finals in Las Vegas.
“With its flat, smooth grid, spectator facilities and practice area, we anticipate a wonderful final and expect some awesome distances.”
Competitors will include Europe’s numbers one and two, Swedes Mikael Lindblom and Patrik Andersson, the world number three in 2005, Adam “Stinger” Stacey and Europe’s no 1 female, Jessica Wallstrom.
Schoolchildren were invited down to the club yesterday for a mini long drivers event on the grid being used for the championships.
John Glendinning, who heads up the golfing facilities at Close House, said: “The Sunday climax will undoubtedly be something special.
“It’s great the North East will play host to a major European golf event.
“We are working hard to put Close House on the map and none of us can wait for the event to take place.”
l FREE admission is still available to watch Ryder Cup winning captains Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, also a former world number one and Masters champion, in The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall on June 25-28.
A limited number of complimentary personalized e-tickets are available by visiting www.devere-hotels.com/pga
